In continuation of the series of kidnappings that has shaken the Hindu community in Sindh and also Balochistan, two Hindus were kidnapped while travelling between Khipro and Mirpur Khas in a car. The reasons are unclear but logic suggests that Seth Sharo Mal Deewan and his cousin Dr Washu Mal Diwan were kidnapped for ransom. This is usually the case when wealthy Hindus are abducted. The fact that the amounts demanded as ransom are often paid jointly by a community under siege contributes to the high number of incidents taking place with criminals confident that they will be handed over the money they seek. The minority community naturally has little choice in the matter and has persistently complained of lack of assistance from the police.
For a long time, Sindh was considered a safe haven for Hindus. This is no longer the case. They have come under threat even in areas like Mirpur Khas, where Hindus and Muslims have lived side by side for generations, in some places making up an equal part of the population. The latest incident suggests why things could change soon. Reports of a planned exodus by Hindu families to India continue to come in. The latest report estimates nearly 1,000 families planning to leave their homes from various parts of Pakistan for India, while others have already migrated for the same reason.
The situation does not say much for our ability to protect minorities. The spate of kidnappings has been continuing for far too long. So, too, have other forms of harassments such as the coerced conversion and marriage of Hindu girls. The sense of insecurity among Hindus has clearly reached a peak. The question now is whether it is too late to turn things around. The statements made by politicians have not brought any results to the fore till now. This says very little for the law and order situation in various parts of our country, while the inability to protect our minuscule population of minorities have weakened over the years and consequently placing them in greater and greater peril.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 26th, 2012.
COMMENTS (21)
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@raza: "well done ET for allowing comments here by indians showing true colors once again, hate speech in name of freedom of speech."
Actions speak louder than words. Hindus from Pakistan are escaping to India though India is not a Hindu country. Muslims from Pakistan are not escaping to Pakistan though Pakistan was a country made for Muslims. Shows which country has tolerance and which does not.
@Abhishek Are you sure this will bring peace in both countries ? Hindus in India will not fight in the name of Language (Maharashtra) , Caste , Region (North east / South against North) , Relegion (sikhs/Buddhists vs Hindus) or last but not the least reservations in jobs ??
We Indians have 100 different reasons to fight with each other but only ONE that keep us united and that is being INDIAN.
Dont narrow down identity of my Country by relating it to only a major relegion. India is a homeland for all those who care for this country .I knw many Muslims and christians who care more than many hindus do.
@varuag @gp65 Respect to both for your thoughtful comments.
It indeed is cancer.... needs some radiotherapy and chemotherapy... surely coming through don't worry... by the end of 21st century we might forget about it....
Nitish, Abhishek, Sinclair, and BlackJack,
Well said. There is no need to sugarcoat the problem as most psuedo seculars do. I wish for Bharat (i.e. India) to remain a Hindu majority nation. We are a Hindu nation allowing all religions to thrive but should not at the cost of majority. Once muslims/christians reach a certain critical percentage, we will see if they (muslims/christians) will talk of multiculturalism or equality of all religions or they will start imposing their religious views. To some effect, these are already happening in Kerala.
If muslims feel that their sensibilities are getting affected, it is they who need to sort their issues and follow the rules of the land.
@nitish: He is right in every sense Here he refers to abhishek.
@varuag: I completely disagree with your comment.He is right in every sense.People like you r only good for representing secular credential of india on international stage,but when it will come to actual fight,you pseudo seculars r cowards.You will love to hide behind us.These muslims have zero contribution to the development of india.They r enjoying majorities tax payer money and breed as much as they can.What can be their moto behind it?They r here in india to turn it into muslim majority state.Let us wait till atleast one of the state gets muslim majority,then I will ask you people .Kashmir is the burning example.We have sensibly watched OBC and other caste people's comment and action in the current assam crisis.and on plight of Pandits. .We cant live with muslims,thats i m sure from the part of my community.Growing muslim population is serious threat to our ethos and culture.Recently moslems have stopped us to do pooja in mahaveer temple in my village and the temple is still closed.No one from us can dare to open that. Its about time we 4% r silent.If you people will not come united with us,you will witness a civil war asking a brahminic state for ourselves.And even government and army will not be able to stop us from getting that in such case. ET I know it is little harsh,but please approve this.
@varuag
"I think your definition of multiculturalism is influenced by the recent attacks on the concept by David Cameroon and ilk."
Not at all. All I meant was that multiculturalism is a concept that works only when it is reciprocated from all cultures which form a part. Otherwise, it becomes a cynical game of extortion based on lofty statements.
Name any one country which has muslim as major faction and have not asked for a seperate country or have not made it a Islamic state. There are very few and even if they are there, they are under the onslaught of the hardline factions. Even in Kashmir, they have thrown out the hindus.
It has been found that in general, the tolerance level of muslims are less than most others, though they might claim otherwise. This is proven by the fact that the whole of muslim world in under turmoil either because of factional fueds, idology feuds or succumbing to external minor instigations.
One factor might be that right education (science and logics) which are universally accepted has not been available to tehe masses - it has been available in pockets in many muslim countries.
It needs a lot of introspection from muslim countries to rise above victimhood and see the big picture of chaos and calamity, the muslim countries (at least a part of it) is moving towards.
@varuag: "@gp65: Well nationality doesn’t matter. Such ideas do exist. my only concern is that they should flow normally from an avowed disciple of God, not from a non-believer."
Stalin was an atheist and so was Mao. Enough said.
@Sinclair: Since you elaborated about the "problem", let me assure you that we have problem with the right wing. And here no community so to speak is spotless. To generalize, the so-called communal parties support the right wing of the majority community and the so-called secular parties support the right-wings of non-majority communities. And to top it all we have the "egalitarian" left wing extremists who have the support of all the limousine liberals and marginalized sections of all communities. So there is extremism galore and to single out one strand is nut-picking and against the ethos of secular ideas that you seem to support. I think your definition of multiculturalism is influenced by the recent attacks on the concept by David Cameroon and ilk. This space calls for brevity else I might have elaborated.
@BlackJack: Cultural ties having a one-is-to-one mapping with religion is news to me. All faiths (especially the Abrahamic ones) are regressive in their puritanical essence. Its the lack of reforms that impedes the development of faiths so at a snapshot, some religions will be progressive while other will have stall-en. Its not going to be the same religion which progresses or regresses for we seems to have forgotten the Dark Ages. Well an atheist openly taking sides in a debate of faith is a masquerader for me, so sue me. The cryptographic analysis and the sleigh of hand on my handle was too simplistic to be true but the result was fun to read.
@gp65: Well nationality doesn't matter. Such ideas do exist. my only concern is that they should flow normally from an avowed disciple of God, not from a non-believer.
I would like to clarify that I know many people who have concerns about political Islam. I just do not know anyone who thinks 180 million Muslims do not deserve the protection of the Indian state and can be shipped of anywhere.
If you are truly an Indian Abhishek, I have a question for you. Who died and made you king.
@varuag: I very much doubt that Abhishek is an Indian. More likely a Pakistani making outrageous statements to imply that Indians are as intolerant as they are.Even my most conservative relatives have not proposed such a preposterous idea ever.
@giri i am sorry but the population increase is not because of conversion but because of no family planning in muslim society. something like bol film scenario.
@varuag: Actually, you are naive to assume that an athiest has no cultural ties to any particular community, or that he would feel that all faiths are equally progressive or regressive just because he does not believe in God. Loss of faith does not mean loss of judgement. He sports as Hindu a name as you do (although Gaurav has less religious connotations), so I think the masquerading and 'particular community' nudge was uncalled for. I don't agree with his post btw.
@varuag
It is naivete to ignore the problem Islam may become just so you may get a few more days to celebrate the title of multicultural India. If indeed there is a challenge to the state, I hope you stand by the secular state rather than the ethereal idea of multiculturalism to which the religion in question has NO commitment to begin with. I have no inclination to convert, I can assure you of that.
@Abhishek, Don't worry. We will all be converted to hindus within 100 yrs and India will be an islamic republic. They we don't have to bother about the minority issues.
@abhishek: Dude, I am appalled at your naive suggestion. India is a multi-cultural society, always has been, always will remain. Your suggestion to purge a specific community is akin to the puritanical strand that is held dear by the extremists. There are people with extreme ideologies everywhere and by your statement you seem to fit the bill. We see the believers of extreme faith propound exact similar claims and thus you seem to be the follower of a particular religion masquerading as an atheist. I just hope that you get to experience the real India and its true pluralistic ethos. Real sad at this outrageous suggestion :(
Reminds me of "Another Day in Paradise ... " by Phil Collins.
No tolerance is shown towards these Hindus who have lived together for centuries with their Pakistani Muslim brethren. Yet somehow we feel that loosening the visa regime and allowing these people to visit India will increase tolerance and lead to Aman?
The purge of hatred and tolerance has nothing to do with visa liberalization and everything to do with updating textbooks, modifying laws that accentuated Muslim supremacist thinking and prosecuting hate speech and providing justice to people of ALL faith not just Muslims.
Forget actually doing these things. No one will even dare to say them in Pakistan today. We can and should be good neighbours, hoping for friendship is a pipe dream.
i m afraid of my future in india where there r 180 million muslims and r growing. As an indian atheist i m afraid of islam. In indonesia atheist was jailed for 2 years leaving islam. I wish we can exchange all muslims of india for all hindus in pakistan . This will bring peace to both countries.