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Published on: 1/19/2010 Last Visited: 1/19/2010
Dr. Srinivasan Kalyanaraman
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Published on: 10/5/2007 Last Visited: 1/4/2008
Dr. S. Kalyanaraman was a senior executive in the Asian Development
Bank for 18 years until 1995.He was responsible for disbursing a
portfolio of US Dollars 60 Billion for over 650 development projects
in 29 countries.He also introduced a world-wide information network
for managing the assets of the bank.He has travelled widely in Bharat,
and has visited many countries around the world.Earlier to 1978, he
was Chief Controller of Accounts, Karnataka Electricity Board and as
member of Indian Railway Accounts Service, a financial advisor on the
Railways, for 17 years.He has also worked in the Accountant General's
Office, Bangalore for 4 years from 1958 to 1961.He was involved in the
introduction of the first computers on the Railways in 1965, as a
member of a Task Force set up by the Electronics Commission of
India.He has a Ph.D. in Public Administration and his two volume work,
Public Administration in Asia has been published which is a
comparative study of development administration in six Asian
countries.His graduate degree is in Economics and Statistics.He was
born in 1939 in Tanjore district.He is well-versed in Kannada, Telugu,
Tamil, Hindi and Sanskrit languages.He took voluntary retirement from
the Bank and returned to Bharat, to devote himself to his life-
activity of researches on River Sarasvati and Bharatiya
Civilization.He directs the Sarasvati Research Centre which is
affiliated with Akhil Bharatiya Itihasa Sankalana Yojana.He has done
researches on the discovery of the courses of Vedic River Sarasvati
and the possibility of this river flowing again as part of a national
network of rivers.He has been involved in promoting the National Water
Grid to ensure water for everyone for several generations to come and
to take the nation to a developed country status by the year 2010.He
has set up a website with over 30,000 files on River Sarasvati and
Civilization at http://www.hindunet.org/saraswati The site includes
his multi-lingual dictionary for over 25 ancient languages of Bharat,
Rigveda rica-s and translation into English based on Sa yana Bhaashya
The Indiancivilization internet group set up by him has over 750
active members from all parts of the world, discussing Bharatiya
Civilization issues..His 1100-page volume on Sarasvati was published
from Bangalore in 2001.His 7-volume encyclopaedic work on Sarasvati
Civilization was published in 2004.The 7 volumes are: Sarasvati:
Civilization; Sarasvati: Rigveda; Sarasvati: River; Sarasvati:
Bharati; Sarasvati: Technology; Sarasvati: Language; Sarasvati:
Epigraphs.He has cracked the code of Sarasvati hieroglyphs as artisan
guilds' activities related to minerals, metals, furnaces and artifacts
of metals in a transition from chalcolithic to alloy (bronze/brass)
phase of civilization.He presented his research findings on Sarasvati
in the World Sanskrit Conference held in Bangalore in 1996.He is a
recipient of the prestigious Vakankar Award in the year 2000.He is
President of the World Association of Vedic Studies in Bharat, and is
associated with many research and non-governmental voluntary
organizations including Rashtrotthana Research and Communications
Centre in Bangalore, India.S. Kalyanaraman20 August
***@gmail.com
http://www.hindunet.org/saraswati
Exploring Religious Conflicts? RAND as New Religious Media (NRM)
By: Dr S Kalyanaraman
August 23, 2005
Views expressed here are author’s own and not of this website. Full
disclaimer is at the bottom.
The author is Former Sr. Exec., Asian Development Bank. Director of
Sarasvati Research Centre, Chennai
Gregory F. Treverton[1], Heather S. Gregg, Daniel Gibran, Charles W.
Yost have authored a RAND Corporation report titled “Exploring
Religious Conflict”. The “new” finding of this report, is an acronym
“NRM” denoting “New Religious Movement”, which, according to the
authors, threaten to develop like tumors into violent organizations
(think “Al Qaida”), threatening the USA and the rest of the world.
Apparently this was the product of a 3-day Worskhop of ‘intelligence
analysts and religious experts’ on religious conflict, hosted by RAND
corporation (estimated cost to the US taxpayer: $100,000). This report
is interesting primarily because it either plumbs depths of
incompetence hitherto unreached by the American “Strategic Affairs”
community, or caters to a strange combination of Marxist Communist
and extreme right-wing Christian fundamentalist propaganda. It appears
that RAND has “found” religion and joined another “NRM”: New Religious
Media
What is cited as the intellectual foundation of the report is
(University of California leftist academic ) Mark Juergensmeyer’s
concept of “Cosmic War”. Is this just an attempt to go one better on
Samuel Huntington’s “Clash of Civilizations”? Hard to tell, but the
reader is welcome to try:
“This concept refers to the metaphysical battle between the forces of
Good and Evil that enlivens the religious imagination and compels
violent action. Cosmic war has roots in the theology of most
religions. In the three monotheistic religions, it is the Day of
Judgment, the cosmic battle between Good and Evil, and the realization
of God’s ultimate purpose for His creation. In Hinduism and Buddhism,
it is the perennial struggle to exit the Wheel of Existences with its
continuous cycle of rebirths in order to return to Brahman or achieve
Nirvana. Cosmic war ensues when this inner conflict between Good and
Evil becomes manifest – physical, not metaphysical.”
If that doesn’t give pause to the reader who thought RAND was a
professional organization, the methodology, data, analysis and
conclusions of the RAND report certainly will. According to Treverton
et al,
"NRMs (New Religious Movements) can be found in Hinduism – the
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS, Israel (Gush Emunim), Christianity
(the US-based Identity Movement) and Islam, including Al-Qaeda, a
global network with a transcendant vision that draws support in the
defence of Islam." And added, “…Al-Qaeda cannot be defeated by force,
but only by reaching out to its roots in religion and promoting
convergence of Christianity and Islam.”
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld had a succinct term: “weasel words”
to describe the contortions of left-wing “analysts” and Saudi-owned
American politicians to argue for appeasement of terrorism. For those
who might depend on RAND for information, let us point out that Al
Qaeda is considered to be a 1992 or 1996 invention. The timing
coincided with the end of the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, when
the Pakistani ISI, funded by the unwitting American taxpayer through
the largesse of “experts” like RAND’s, helped to turn weapons,
training and the surviving hordes of Islamic extremists brainwashed in
the madarssas of Pakistan, against the Infidels of the West – viz,
America. Now let us examine RAND’s list of “New Religious Movements”
that Treverton et al try to club with Al Qaeda – both for what it
includes, and what it omits.
The report’s contribution is a false generalization on metaphysical,
co(s)mic war, flippant comparisons unrelated to cultural or
civilizational contexts. There is little evidence of analytical rigor
and virtually no empirical basis. Lacking original thought or
evidence, the report trivializes the threat of terror with the
arbitrary choice of 'New Religious Movements' (NRMs) cited as examples
of a new innovative category.
The report appears to whitewash Al Qaeda, with its proclaimed mission
of jihad against the world, by clubbing it with a mishmash of socio-
political entities and obscure movements. For instance, “Gush Emunim”
is an organization of Israeli Settlers in the Middle East, with no
evidence of any axe to grind against anyone except those who try to
oust them from their homes. The “Christian Identity Movement” is a
superset of weekend warriors in America who don camouflage and prance
around the pine forests of Alabama or Idaho, imagining a world of
“Aryan Domination”. And with these is RAND’s amazing classification of
the Indian “RSS” (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh”) as a “NEW” Religious
Movement! The RSS, just to give Treverton and his gang of Einsteins a
hint, was formed in 1925. That, per the calendar normally followed
even in California, was 80 years ago. It predates RAND and Treverton
by a long way. It may even predate the American entities such as the
Neo Conservative Movement, the Moral Majority, and the Jubilee Mission
Baptist Church. The RSS is the world’s largest volunteer organization,
with over 12 million volunteers. How RAND came to the conclusion that
the RSS is “new” and poses a threat to the rest of the world, is a
question that the US taxpayers who funded this “Workshop” and “Report”
may well ask.
Is RAND trying to deflect the focus of American lawmakers from the
focus on war on terror? It was not too long ago that RAND’s Parachini
noted:
"Given the thousands of Jihadists trained in Afghanistan, the struggle
with al Qaeda is liable to last for a decade or more."
The principal author of the present RAND report, Treverton, seemed to
have different ideas:
"Al Qaeda may eventually be contained, but new threats are likely to
emerge. So the task is to contain terrorism; it cannot be rooted out.
That task sometimes requires military instruments, as in Afghanistan,
but most of the time it is a matter of patient, multilateral police
and intelligence work."
Both quotes from a symposium held in 2003 by RAND jointly with
Frontpage Magazine.
Garbage in, garbage out is the adage of the information age. Treverton
clarifies what he meant in the above quote, with his new statement in
the present report. Here is an example of terse observations and
profound policy recommendations in the present report:
"…Al-Qaeda cannot be defeated by force, but only by reaching out to
its roots in religion and promoting convergence of Christianity and
Islam."
Such a policy prescription of Christian-Islam religious convergence
has, unfortunately, NOT been backed up by evidence and critical
analysis of the underlying causes and patterns of Islamist terror.
After all, almost all major terror events, recorded so far, have
emanated only from Taliban (that is, madarasa students) or traceable
only to terrorists trained in or with links to non-democratic,
Islamist countries of Pakistan and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. What does
‘convergence of Christianity and Islam’ mean? Should Christianity
adopt Islamist jihad as a central doctrine?
When they take a break from hallucinating on ‘cosmic wars’, RAND
thinkers might consider introspecting on the Hindu response to jihad
in India for nearly 8 centuries. They may find it useful to refer to
Andrew Bostom, 2005, 'The Legacy of Jihad - Islamic Holy War and the
Fate of Non-muslims,' Prometheus Books. Al Qaeda is not another NRM,
it provides the justification for all the terror activities the world
has witnessed so far, be it in New York, Thailand, London or Ayodhya.
See also Andrew Bostom's 'Legacy of Jihad in India', July 2005 in the
American Thinker.
"Rarely understood, let alone acknowledged, however, is the history of
brutal jihad conquest, Muslim colonization, and the imposition of
dhimmitude shared by the Jews of historical Palestine, and the Hindus
of the Indian subcontinent. Moreover, both peoples and nations also
have in common, a subsequent, albeit much briefer British colonial
legacy, which despite its own abuses, abrogated the system of
dhimmitude (permanently for Israel and India, if not, sadly, for their
contemporary Muslim neighboring states), and created the nascent
institutions upon which thriving democratic societies have been
constructed."
Dhimmitude: the Islamic system of governing populations conquered by
jihad wars, encompassing all of the demographic, ethnic, and religious
aspects of the political system. The word "dhimmitude" as a historical
concept, was coined by Bat Ye'or in 1983 to describe the legal and
social conditions of Jews and Christians subjected to Islamic rule.
The word "dhimmitude" comes from dhimmi, an Arabic word meaning
"protected". Dhimmi was the name applied by the Arab-Muslim conquerors
to indigenous non-Muslim populations who surrendered by a treaty
(dhimma) to Muslim domination.
We note that the project was funded by the CIA's Directorate of
Intelligence – the same people who did not see any threat in Mohammed
Atta and Co. as they watched them enter the US and “learn to fly” in
2001. One wonders why the CIA Directorate of Intelligence would fund a
public-release report, especially with such a contortion of logic. Is
this to impress the taxpayer with the forward-looking attitude at the
top levels of the new US Intelligence Administration? Does the new CIA
operate through public conferences and reports to do its intelligence-
gathering? Perhaps the more relevant link to this report is from the
creation in January 2001 of a White House Office of Faith-Based and
Community Initiatives.
Religious Motivation of RAND’s Expertise
Many, including the present author, believed RAND to be a secular,
objective think-tank. We were clearly mistaken. The experts who
participated in the workshop that led to Treverton’s Report have very
clear ideas on how Christianity should spread over the globe. Some
quotes from their works may be apposite. RAND should clearly be
considered to be a New Religious Medium of modern-day crusaders,
producing a denominational newsletter. The Jubliee Mission Baptist
Church would be proud. Let us look at some of the Workshop
participants.
Philip Jenkins, who claims to provide an alternative analytical
framework opposing Samuel Huntington's Clash of Civilizations,
notes:
Moreover, conversions will swell the Christian share of world
population. Meanwhile, historically low birthrates in the
traditionally Christian states of Europe mean that their populations
are declining or stagnant…Christianity should enjoy a worldwide boom
in the new century, but the vast majority of believers will be neither
white nor European, nor Euro-American…But far from Islam being the
world's largest religion by 2020 or so, as Huntington suggests,
Christianity will still have a massive lead, and will maintain its
position into the foreseeable future. By 2050, there should still be
about three Christians for every two Muslims worldwide…I dispute
Huntington's assertion that "Christianity spreads primarily by
conversion, Islam by conversion and reproduction…No less than
Christians, Muslims will be transformed by the epochal demographic
events of the coming decades, the shift of gravity of population to
the Two-Thirds World. Muslim and Christian nations will expand
adjacent to each other, and, often, Muslim and Christian communities
will both grow within the same country."
Jack Miles is best known for his Website: Author of: God: A biography,
Christ: A crisis in the Life of God. He is the author of: 'Ringing
the firebell for freedom of religion - keynote address: 'March of
theocrats' Rally and Teach-in' (LA, June 2005). Quote:
"We are not alone, friends, but many who are our natural allies are
asleep, and it falls to us to awaken them."
Ian Lustick’s views are recorded at this website . Guru that he is,
Lustick comes up with some novel little ideas about big world
problems, like:
"I supported the war [in Afghanistan] but I warned that we needed a
Goldilocks outcome and we didn't get it."
"I think about terrorism in terms of popcorn. You can't tell which
kernels are popcorn and which are not, but you assume you'll always
have some kernels that are going to pop."
According to a book review by Joshua Sinai, Ph.D., which appears on
homelanddefense.org:
"Lustick dismisses the concept of terrorism as a valid conceptual
term. Instead, he embraces what he terms an 'extensive', as opposed to
an 'intensive', definition of terrorism that is not bound by any
limiting 'conditions'. This, he claims, enables one to classify
activities as 'terrorist' if they encompass any violent 'actions and
threats' by governmental militaries and even 'tax collectors', as well
as insurgents."
(source: (1) URL1, URL3
Thus RAND’s new authorities on terrorism appear to such theologians or
Jesuit seminarians with their fire-and-brimstone orations of bigotry.
RAND is therefore appropriately branded as an extension of a seminary
and an entity not unlike the Seventh Day Adventists or Jubilee
Mission. A New Religious Medium.
A splendid exception is Juan Cole who wrote his piece 'Can ethnic
cleansing bring back Jesus?' on May 20, 2004. Juan cites Rick
Perlstein's piece in the Village Voice with admiration.
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0420/perlstein.php
"The gem in the article is the account of how Iran-Contra criminal
mastermind and current National Security Adviser Elliot Abrams tried
to reassure the Christian Zionists that an Israeli "withdrawal" from
Gaza will not interfere with Jesus coming back because it wasn't part
of ancient Israel. Actually, this is right. Gaza was in Philistia, not
Judah, which was to its east. But for that matter, when the kingdoms
split, the West Bank wasn't in "Israel" either, it was in Judah... It
has for some time been obvious to me that the Bush foreign policy in
the Middle East is driven by irrational and often puzzling
considerations. But I hadn't stopped to consider, until Perlstein's
excellent piece, that the White House is trying to bring about an
apocalypse that would hasten Christ's return. And a damn fine job
they're doing of it, if that's what they are up to. Why, the place is
more apocalyptic every day." (Source: Anti war website)
The RAND report said: "NRMs (New Religious Movements) can be found in
Hinduism - the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS, Israel (Gush
Emunim), Christianity (the US-based Identity Movement) and Islam,
including Al-Qaeda, a global network with a transcendant vision that
draws support in the defence of Islam." And added, "…Al-Qaeda cannot
be defeated by force, but only by reaching out to its roots in
religion and promoting convergence of Christianity and Islam."
Convergence of Christianity and Islam? A breath-taking prognosis,
indeed. RAND should consider a larger workshop on this issue in the
context of jihad as anti-terror. Sure, dancing with the devil is an
option when all other options are not on the table. Seriously, does
RAND endorse this recommendation to counter jihad?
This innovation of a new definition for a 'New Religious Movement'
which identifies RSS, Gush Emunim, Identity Movement and Al-Qaeda is,
to put it mildly, ridiculous, reducing the cosmic war of Mark to a
comic war.
The US taxpayer might have saved a lot of money by getting Treverton
instead to read to the CIA the report long-since published by Indian
tank ORF (Observer Research Foundation. They might have learned more
about the true nature of Al Qaeda and a vivid scan of religious
conflicts. Indeed, any academic worth his/her salt would have known
the conclusion:
"Al Qaeda is a revanchist organisation, which holds the West in
general and the US in particular responsible for all the evils
afflicting the Islamic world and for the decline of the political
power of Islam since the end of the Ottoman Empire. It wants to avenge
the wrongs allegedly committed against the Muslims since the end of
the Ottoman Empire, re-write history and restore an Islamic Caliphate
from which Western influence would be totally excluded. It is
comparable to the Nazis of Germany in its revanchist ideas and
actions. The Nazis blamed the rest of the Western world for the
decline of Germany since the First World War and for all the evils
afflicting Germany. They wanted to restore the pre-eminent position of
Germany in the world. If the world leaders of that time had said "Let
us address the root causes of Nazism first, before we fight the Nazis
and Adolf Hitler", where would the world be today?
The call to address the root causes of the Al Qaeda today is as short-
sighted as a call to first address the root causes of Nazism would
have been in the early 1940s… The conventional wisdom relating to
terrorism attributes the rise of terrorism to political, economic and
social factors such as perceptions of social injustice, violations of
human rights, suppression of the democratic rights of the people, lack
of economic development resulting in poverty and unemployment etc. It,
therefore, holds that if these so-called root causes are addressed,
terrorism will wither away. Does this theory apply to the Al Qaeda?
No, it does not. If this theory is correct, there should be no
activities of the Jemaah Islamiya (JI) in Malaysia and Singapore, the
two most prosperous and progressive states of South-East Asia. There
should be no Al Qaeda activities in Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Turkey
where there is greater prosperity than in many other countries of Asia
and Africa. There should be no Al Qaeda activities in West Europe
where there is economic prosperity, greater social justice and better
observance of human rights than in many countries of Asia and Africa.
There should have been less terrorism in Pakistan because of its
impressive economic growth since 9/11, but its economic gains have had
no impact on its jihadi terrorists. The Al Qaeda is not fighting for
democratic rights for the Muslims. On the contrary, it is fighting
against the principles of liberal democracy on the ground that they
are anti-Islam…The world has much to learn from India. How to continue
to keep India such an oasis? That is one of the questions we have to
address, while drawing lessons for the future. We cannot afford to be
complacent that India does not provide a fertile soil for the Al
Qaeda. The Al Qaeda may not be active in India, but many of the
Pakistani members of the International Islamic Front are. They could
turn out to be the Trojan Horse of the Al Qaeda. The success of the
Indian example is due to the success of its democracy, its non-
military approach to counter-terrorism, the role of the leaders of
different communities in countering tendencies towards religious or
ideological extremism and the cultural unity in the midst of religious
and linguistic diversity in India."
Source: see link See also: Symposium of RAND and Frontpage: Diagnosing
Al Qaeda "Given the thousands of Jihadists trained in Afghanistan, the
struggle with al Qaeda is liable to last for a decade or more." (John
Parachini)
Naming the US-based Identity Movement in this category is also amusing
and seems to be only for effect, just to show that the RAND report is
unbiased and dares to include a christist movement also in the New
Religious Movement category. A fair appraisal of christist activities
through various denominations in various parts of the globe as
baptizing missions, proselytizers, evangelists would clearly have
demonstrated the core causes of religious conflicts created by such
activities. That such large numbers of christist organizations are
left out is indeed strange considering that the inspiration is drawn
from the concept of 'cosmic wars' between 'good and evil'. If
christism is not a battle between Good and Evil, what other religious
movement, with the exception of Islamism, is? This mysterious,
unidentified 'Identity Movement' has been left undefined in the RAND
report, leaving it to the readers, congressmen, and policy makers to
draw their own conclusions.
We would agree with Nicole Nichols: make the outlaws accountable and
would add: don't give them a cosmic wacko status. Source: See link:
link Has RAND noted the involvement of a Pakistani Hamas leader in the
bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma city?
The absurdity of Juergensmeyer's analysis would have been apparent to
any student of theology, but since Mark wears at least three hats, of
sociology, of global conflict and of religious studies, his work
presents the potential for becoming the basis for any drastic
conclusions and plans of action by the intelligence community. His
postulation should have naturally led to the identification of Dalai
Lama's Tibetan Lama groups as a 'New Religious Movement' entering into
physical conflicts. That the report does not categorize these groups
is indeed surprising. It is also surprising that Mark does not even
refer to sanatana dharma or dhammo sanantano in the context of
'Brahman or Nirvana.' as 'exits'. We will not digress by exposing the
ridiculous nature of analysis by Mark referring to 'exits'.
Unfortunately, Mark has not provided any evidence for this 'exit'
postulation.
The logical application of Juergensmeyer's profound analysis of cosmic
wars and exits should have led to the identification of all the
adherents of Bauddha (aka Buddhism) and Dharma (Sanatana dharma or
Hindu dharma or dhammo sanantano) as prone to violence, manifesting
evil in physical terms, dramatically descending (by some unknown
processes) from the metaphysical levels.
Such a framework should have normally led to the identification of the
entire spectrum of those seeking return to 'Brahman or achieve
Nirvana' as a cult. Unfortunately, this would be absurd because the
'cults' cannot be declared as 'new' since both groups pre-date the
arrival of Christ and certainly Mohammed.
Why Does RAND Squirm When Exposed?
When the principal author, Greg Treverton was asked for
clarifications, he waffled with statements such as:
“The press story is basically accurate, but its headline is not. The
headline implies we somehow link RSS and Al Qaeda. In fact, what we
say, and the story has accurately, is that many religious traditions
have spawned "new" religious movements, and we cite RSS as an example
from Hinduism, along with AlQaeda as one from Islam, along with Jewish
and Christian examples. We also say, and the story quotes, that almost
all of these new movements are non-violent. There is nothing to imply
any connection at all between RSS and Al Qaeda. Do have a look at the
study.”
Apparently it had still not occurred to this uber-genius that the RSS
was created before he was born. When asked for detailed information
on the workshop and papers if any, presented, the response of Greg
Treverton was equally elusive:
"Thank you for your note. You have the report, which has all the
details about the workshops."
Unfortunately, the Report authored by Treveton DOES NOT provide the
details, and he certainly implied that the RSS was not only new, but
was likely to become a threat to US security (what the taxpayer paid
RAND to explore). So much for the way RAND deals with comments
provided in response to the Report, even though the Report proclaims:
"Comments are welcome." So much for transparency in dealing with
issues dealt with in Terrorism and Homeland Security Research Area.
See: Rand.org
We agree with Greg Treverton who said in another context:
"In a world in which everyone is dependent on information processors,
(the CIA) should think of themselves as the shapers and verifiers of
all that information," says Treverton, now an analyst at Rand Corp.
See: link
It is therefore not surprising that the RAND has little information,
logic or evidence of intelligent information processing. The intent
appears to be that the RAND name and the CIA sponsorship label are
enough to propagate the authors’ personal religious agendas.
So DID RAND “Explore Religious Conflicts”?
We would have expected RAND to address the most serious issue of
Religious Conflicts with a careful evaluation of facts and figures. We
find neither facts nor figures in the Report. Here are samples of
statements made and opinions expressed, sans evidence:
"Are there potential NRMs, even violent ones, apart from those spawned
by Islamic radicalism? The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in India,
an ultra-Hindu nationalist movement, is one such organization."
"…the movement was banned for a few years by the Indian government
because of its acts of violence and terrorism and its exhortation to
followers to resort to terrorist methods in the promulgation of its
religious ideas."
"…the RSS continued to gain momentum and was engaged in violence,
particularly against what it viewed to be threats against the Hindu
state, namely Muslims and Christians. Their religious view, with its
cosmic dimension, remains a threat to the idea of India as a secular
state."
"The RSS is largely middle class, as is the BJP."
That RSS has nothing to do with the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi
and that it was a movement born during the fight for independence of
India from the British colonial regime, has been recognized by courts
of law in India ; to cite Wikipedia, which is apparently beyond the
means of RAND to have looked up:
"In 1925, Dr. Balasaheb Hedgewar, a Nagpur doctor formed the Rashtriya
Swayemsevak Sangh. The word "Rashtriya" means "National," and the word
"Sangh" means "Union". The word "Swayemsevak" may be translated to
mean a self-reliant servant of the people and country, a volunteer in
spirit and patriot in action…The RSS fought alongside the Congress for
national independence…the RSS opposed the partition of the country,
and is widely associated with anti-Muslim riots and the assassination
of Mahatma Gandhi, it had in fact performed important work by serving
the millions of Hindu and Sikh refugees coming out of Pakistan,
escaping bloody violence and leaving behind ancestral homes in terror.
Although there was no link whatsoever between the RSS and Gandhi's
assassins…" Source: Wikipedia
See what Jack Miles, an expert who participated in the workshop had to
say in another context:
"'Thus, in India, those who want to respond to Islamist terrorism
originating in Pakistan by reasserting the secularity of the Indian
state have steadily been losing power to Hindu religious nationalists
of India's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). 'Muslims are cancer to this
country', BJP leader Bal Thackeray said in a speech quoted in a recent
issue of The New Yorker; 'Cancer is an incurable disease. Its only
cure is operation. O Hindus, take weapons in your hands and remove
this cancer from the roots'. ' (Larissa MacFarq1uhar, "Letter from
India. The Strongman", The New Yorker, 26 May 2003, pp. 50-57)."
Jack Miles of course did not check, or did not honestly cite, the
facts; Bal Thackeray is not a leader of the BJP. Nor is he associated
with RSS.
Has Jack Miles checked out the figures of fatalities of terror attacks
in the Northeast and in Jammu and Kashmir, caused principally by
christist and Islamist terrorists?
If RSS, an independence movement is categorized as a 'New Religious
Movement', shouldn’t the almost-as new George Washington and his band
who desired to create 'One nation under God' also get categorized as
'New Religious Movement' under the Mark Jurgensmeyer's mythical theme
of metaphysical transforming into physical? What about the Daughters
of the American Revolution? By Mark Jurgensmeyer's definition,
shouldn’t Protestant movement also get categorized as a 'New
Religious Movement'?
RAND appears to be incapable of distinguishing between the Al Qaeda,
out to create a global Caliphate of one religion, from Israeli
movements created in self-defence against terrorists who would not
hesitate to kill even innocent children.
In the face of sustained terror attacks by intolerant Islamists
governed by only hatred as their credo, two democracies, Israel and
India have repulsed the terror attacks despite repeated casualties
suffered by them. Israeli movements to defend their land and the
Indian attempts to counter the terror attacks have been remarkably
restrained, facts which should also have been noted by the RAND
'intelligence analysts and religious experts'.
RAND should ask the 'intelligence analysts and religious experts' to
substantiate these bland statements by evidence.
Some questions which need to be asked and answered by these analysts
and experts are:
-- Were these experts named the only participants in the 'day-long
workshops'? What are the days when the workshops were conducted?
-- Were there any other participants?
-- Does the report represent the consensus conclusions and
recommendations of the workshop?
-- Were there any dissenting opinions?
-- Did the participants submit any written papers? (We have read
through the report again and have noted the bibliographical references
to books and monographs of earlier years appended to the report after
end notes). Were any other evidences and databases used for the
serious conclusions drawn in the report? It is important that all the
papers be made available so that the evidence used to reach the
conclusions of the report can be evaluated. Hopefully, CIA which has
funded the RAND project will seek answers to these questions.
Does RAND Allow Data to Affect It’s Conclusions?
In the face of terror emanating from Pakistan and Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia, it is indeed surprising that RAND tries to invent phantoms of
'New Religious Movements' based on a wacko thesis of 'cosmic wars' and
exits to Brahman and Nirvana. There is no iota of evidence produced by
Greg Treverton's reporting of conversations, to show that the
proponents of Brahman and Nirvana have contributed to the acts of
terror.
Have the fatalities of terror caused by religious conflicts in all
parts of the globe, been taken into account, for example, in just one
country:
1994-2005: Jammu and Kashmir (Islamist violence): 31782 Northeast
(christist violence): 13933 Naxal violence: 5041 Punjab: 175 Others: 6
Total: 50937
Note: Are Naxals (Communist gangs) considered a cult or an NRM? RAND
should answer this question.
US policy makers should take a fresh look at the problem in the
context of the "objective compilation from reports by credible human
rights groups of the genocide, ethnic cleansing, terrorism, and
Islamist laws that Hindus have faced in parts of South Asia where they
are minorities." Source: HAF "The human rights violations that are
occurring against Hindus must no longer be ignored without
reprobation," said Rep. Ros-Lehtinen after reviewing the HAF report.
"Hindus have a history of being peaceful, pluralistic and
understanding of other faiths and peoples, yet minority Hindus have
endured decades of pain and suffering without the attention of the
world." See HAF Release. RAND experts should review and evaluate the
190 attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh from January 1, 2004 to November
30, 2004 detailed in the Appendix of the Hindu Human Rights report
2004: (page 38). RAND experts should also explain the cosmic war
category which will explain these atrocities in Bangladesh against a
minority community called the Hindu in that state.
Are the experts of the workshop conducted by RAND aware that there are
a billion people in India? And, have they computed the numbers of
fatalities caused by 'religious conflicts' worldwide and seen the
fatalities of 50,937 in the last 11 years in India? Have the group
studied the Terrorism Whitepaper brought out by Govt. of India in
2002? Or, reviewed the conflicts detailed in South Asia Terrorism
Portal?
In Buddha nirvana country, Thailand,
"a current wave of jihadi terrorist violence in the three Muslim
majority southern provinces, which started in January last year, has
already cost over 800 lives of Government servants, innocent civilians
and suspected Muslim militants. This is directly linked with the
presence of nearly a thousand Pattanis (that is, muslims of Thailand
so called in Pakistan and Bangladesh) in Pakistan madarasas.” Source:
SAAG.org (15 August 2005).
There is no evidence in the Report on the conflicts resulting from
'conversion' activities by Christian groups. 'Conversions' categorized
as 'propagation of the Gospel', 'baptizing all nations',
'proselytization', 'evangelisation' followed by threat of
'condemnation' of those who do not so spread the Gospel or the
salvific nature of Jesus. Such an exclusion of a whole range of
conflicts which resulted in the phenomenon of East Timor, certainly
draws critical questions on objectivity of the RAND report.
Without an analysis of the impact of 'religious conflicts', the RAND
report reads like a kindergarten account. Some remedial steps are
called for by naming the culprit experts and releasing their 'papers'
presented at the workshop and subjecting those 'papers' to critical,
peer reviews. After all, we are dealing with a serious issue of
homeland security and there can be no compromise with half-baked,
opinionated reports based on absurd, unfalsifiable, ridiculous cosmic
fantasies.
Conclusions
RAND should seriously review the 'scholarly' or 'expert' nature of the
Report in question and examine if it is consistent with RAND’s vision,
aspirations, and advertised credentials and standards.
It is, indeed, shocking that RAND has recommend appeasement of the
Islamist terrorists.
This report clearly shows RAND to be peddling a narrow, bigoted
religious agenda. That this is purported to be a preview of United
States Government policy in the future is indeed scary for those who
believe in the Constitution of the United States.
The ludicrous nature of the report poses serious questions about
RAND’s quality controls, especially since the principal author is
cited as being a “Professor” at RAND’s “university”.
So it is, RAND has become the New Religious Media.
Dr S Kalyanaraman
[1] Gregory F. Treverton, Heather S. Gregg, Daniel Gibran, Charles W.
Yost, Principal author, Gregory F Treverton, 2005, Exploring Religious
Conflicts, RAND Corporation, USA http://www.rand.org/publications/CF/CF211/index.html
Copyright and Disclaimer:
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and not of
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http://www.ivarta.com/columns/OL_050823.htm
Aryan Tourist Theory (TM)
By: Dr. S. Kalyanaraman
December 24, 2005
Views expressed here are author’s own and not of this website. Full
disclaimer is at the bottom.
The title of this article is borrowed from Rajeev Srinivasan’s
trademark ATT (Aryan Tourist Theory) as a counter to the Aryan Influx
(Invasion) Theory being promoted by indologist creationists who
believe in the creation of the universe in 4004 BC, following the
Biblical tradition.
Close on the heels of this report published on December 20, 2005, on
IVarta.com Harvard's scandal & Hindu conspiracy the renowned
newsmagazine, The Economist of London, has been recruited as of
December 21, 2005, as a co-conspirator in this global Hindu
conspiracy.
The title of the cover story is: The long march of everyman.
Since the information is premium content, only excerpts can be
provided. Coded contents using DNA/Genetic code words and the cypher
will be revealed only to privileged clients such as the Harvard
University group led by Witzel.
The scoop is that Rajeev Srinivasan has trademarked a new version of
AIT and calls it "Aryan Tourist Theory". Congratulations to Rajeev on
this invention which could have far-reaching implications for bringing
the Harvard international scandal to the desired outcome. Romila
Thapar, Michael Witzel have to contend with discovery of tourist visas
used by 'Aryans' as they influxed into Bharatam.
Since the prestige of Harvard University is at stake, new methods have
to be evolved to perpetuate the possibility of Aryan tourist entry
into India in 1500 BCE. One method being contemplated, informed
sources report, is to say that this is another hindutva plot to
humiliate the prestigious Harvard University which alone has the right
to teach Hindu children a lesson. A larger task lies ahead of the
Harvard group led by Witzel: to educate the international community of
parents on what hindutva means. (Hindu conspirators claim that this
means the essence of being hindu in dharma-dhamma-veda-bauddha-jaina
continuum of bharatiya tradition; clearly a tough continuum to contend
with in sixth grade classrooms). Yet the job has to be done; the
prestige of Harvard University is on the line.
Fwd. with thanks, a precise note from Rajeev Srinivasan (Dec. 20,
2005).
[quote]
I'm afraid this link is premium content, but it clearly states that
the evidence from genetics precludes an 'aryan' invasion of India in
1500 BCE. the first human migration to India is around 60,000 years
ago, and europe was populated much later.
however, there are elements of 'conquest' still in the theories about
India, see end of the excerpts below about female and male dna. this
sounds like 'aryan tourist theory' (trademarked by me) warmed over,
and I am sceptical about it. southerners ki jai :-)
TM 'aryan tourist theory': white guys go live in other countries on
tourist visas, marry local women and settle down. thus their genes
appear in the local population.
http://www.economist.com/surveys/displaystory.cfm?story_id=E1_VNJJNDJ
excerpts only, to protect the economist's copyright. it has a great
chart too.
Detail, however is not the same as consensus, and there are two
schools of thought about how people left Africa in the first place.
Appropriately, some of their main protagonists are at the rival
English universities of Oxford and Cambridge. The Oxford school,
championed by Stephen Oppenheimer, believes that the descendants of a
single emigration some 85,000 years ago, across the strait of Bab el
Mandeb at the southern end of the Red Sea, are responsible for
populating the rest of the world. The Cambridge school, championed by
Robert Foley and Marta Mirazón Lahr, agrees that there was, indeed, a
migration across this strait, though probably nearer to 60,000 years
ago. However, it argues that many non-Africans are the descendants of
at least one subsequent exodus.
Both schools agree that the Bab el Mandebites spread rapidly along the
coast of southern Arabia and thence along the south coast of Asia to
Australia, though Dr Oppenheimer has them turning inland, too, once
they crossed the strait of Hormuz. But it is in describing what
happened next that the two versions really part company, for it is
here that the descendants of the Oxford migration run into the
eruption of Toba.
That Toba devastated South and South-East Asia is not in doubt. Thick
layers of ash from the eruption have been found as far afield as
northern Pakistan. The question is whether there were people in Asia
at the time. One of the most important pieces of evidence for Dr
Oppenheimer's version of events is some stone tools in the ash layer
in Malaysia, which he thinks were made by Homo sapiens. Molecular
clocks have a regrettable margin of error, but radioactive dating is a
lot more accurate. If he is right, modern humans must have left Africa
before the eruption. The tools might, however, have been crafted by an
earlier species of human that lived there before Homo sapiens. For Dr
Oppenheimer, the eruption was a crucial event, dividing the nascent
human population of Asia into two disconnected parts, which then
recolonised the intermediate ground. In the Cambridge version, Homo
sapiens was still confined to Africa 74,000 years ago, and would
merely have suffered the equivalent of a nuclear winter, not an ash-
fall of up to five metres—though Dr Ambrose and his colleagues think
even that would have done the population no good. The Cambridge
version is far more gentle. The descendants of its subsequent exodus
expanded north-eastwards into central Asia, and thence scattered
north, south, east and west—though in a spirit of open-mindedness,
Sacha Jones, a research student in Dr Foley's department, is looking
in the ash layer in India to see what she can find there.
Both also agree that Europe received two waves of migration. The
ancestors of the bulk of modern Europeans came via central Asia about
35,000 years ago, though some people in the Balkans and other parts of
southern Europe trace their lines back to an earlier migration from
the Middle East. But the spread of agriculture from its Middle Eastern
cradle into the farthest reaches of Europe does not, as some
researchers once thought, seem to have been accompanied by a mass
movement of Middle Eastern farmers.
The coming together of two groups of humans can be seen in modern
India, too. In the south of the subcontinent, people have Y-
chromosomes derived almost exclusively from what the Cambridge school
would interpret as being northern folk (and the Oxford school as the
western survivors of Toba). However, more than 20% of their
mitochondria arrived in Asia with the first migration from Africa (or,
according to taste, clung on along the south-eastern fringes of the
ash plume).
That discovery speaks volumes about what happened when the two groups
met. It suggests that many modern south Indians are descended from
southern-fringe women, but few from southern-fringe men—implying a
comprehensive conquest of the southerners by the northerners, who won
extra southern wives.
[unquote]
Another co-conspirator has emerged surprisingly from down-under.
Now for the breath-taking ice age footsteps. This is the decisive blow
to the creationist indologists who believe in AIT (Aryan Influx
Theory) because the universe according to the Bible was created only
in 4004 BC. Any evidence prior to this date is a scientific hoax if
the indologists are to be believed. When will the indologists learn to
respect science?
See the photo at
Loading Image...
In this photo released by the Environment Ministry, a footprint
believed to be that of a man is shown in the Willandra Lakes district
in western New South Wales of Australia. Michael Amendolia / AP “The
prints were made in moist clay near the Willandra Lakes 19,000 to
23,000 years ago, the newspaper reported ahead of archeologists'
report on the find to be published in the Journal of Human Evolution.”
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/10566347/
Dr. S. Kalyanaraman
The author is Director, Sarasvati Research Centre. Email:
***@gmail.com
Copyright and Disclaimer:
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and not of
this website. The author is solely responsible for the contents of
this article. This website does not represent or endorse the accuracy,
completeness or reliability of any opinion, statement, appeal, advice
or any other information in the article. Our readers are free to
forward this page URL to anyone. This column may NOT be transmitted or
distributed by others in any manner whatsoever (other than forwarding
or weblisting page URL) without the prior permission from us and the
author.
http://www.ivarta.com/columns/OL_051224.htm
Indian scholar deciphers Indus scriptAuthor
Indian
Date Created
19 Jan 2006
Date Edited19 Jan 2006 08:09:31 PMRatingCurrent rating: 6LicenseThis
work is in the public domain. 1/16/2006 7:28:44 AM HK Correspondent
CHENNAI: The Indus valley script, an enigma for scholars for over 130
years, has been deciphered by Dr S Kalyanaraman, a Chennai based
scholar. Ever since the first Indus seal with script was discovered in
1870 by Alexander Cunningham, efforts were on to decipher the
script."The decipherment of the script is central to unraveling the
true chronology and history of Indian civilization and culture," Dr
Kalyanaraman told Haindava Keralam.
Dr Kalyanaraman, a former senior executive with the Asian Development
Bank at Manila quit his job to devote full time for the research on
Inter-linking of Indian rivers and deciphering the script of the Indus
seal. Over the last 26 years, Dr Kalyanaraman has compiled a multi-
lingual comparative dictionary for over 25 ancient Indian languages
with about half-a-million words and has put it up on the internet.
It was a journey in a Pakistan International Airlines flight which
made Dr Kalyanaraman to quit his high paying ADB job. "I was presented
with replicas of two seals, really paper-weights, by the PIA sincve I
was travelkling by the first class on that day," said Dr Kalyanaraman.
Curiosity forced Dr Kalyanaraman to ask the PIA staff about the
replicas. He was literally shocked by the reply gioven by them. "They
said that the seals were from Mohenjodaro and it established the 5,000-
year old history of the civilization of Pakistan. They kept silent
when I pointed out to them that ther was no Pakistan at that time," Dr
Kalyanaraman explained.
"About 5000 years ago, there was only Bharat mentioned in the Rigveda.
Visvamitra, a Rigveda rishi, refers to the people of Bharat as
Bharatam Janam (that is, people of the nation of Bharata),"pointed out
Dr Kalyanaraman, author of a major book "Saraswathi".
He pointed out that the word Bharatiyo in Gujarati means 'caster of
metals' and goes on to present an array of evidence from about 4000
epigraphs on a variety of objects from what he calls "Sarasvati
Civilization". The epigraphs appear on seals, tablets, potsherds,
ivory rods, copper plates, even on metallic weapons.
The breakthrough in confirming his decipherment has come from two
sources: 1. the presence of Sarasvati hieroglyphs on two pure tin
ingots discovered in a ship-wreck in Haifa, Israel; and the presence
of Sarasvati hieroglyphs on artefacts in archaeological sites of
Jiroft (Iran) and Adichanallur (Tirunelveli, South India).
According to Dr Kalyanaraman, the glyphs are pictorials connoting
homonyms (similar sounding words which could be depicted pictorially)
of metals, minerals, alloys and furnaces. "For example, a jar with a
rim, an antelope, an elephant, a rhinoceros, a heifer (bull-calf) can
be depicted pictorially. The words related to these glyphs are
homonymous with words for varieties of minerals, metals, alloys and
furnaces," Dr Kalyanaraman explained.
Dr Kalyanaraman, claims that the code of the script or writing system
has been decoded simply as representation of the repertoire of smiths,
smithy, mines, and metal workshops. The artefacts are gathered from
many sites; there are about 2,000 archaeological sites on the banks of
a desiccated River Sarasvati (representing about 80% of the 2600 total
archaeological sites of the civilization dated to between 3500 to 1900
Before Common Era, BCE).
Some of the sites are: Rakhigarhi (near Delhi), Kunal, Kalibangan,
Banawali, Ropar (near Kurukshetra, Chandigarh), Dholavira, Lothal,
Surkotada, Prabhas Patan, Dwaraka (Gujarat) and of course,
Mohenjodaro, Harappa (Pakistan), Mehergarh (Afghanistan). A woman's
burial found at Mehergarh contained ornaments including a wide bangle
made of s'ankha; the surprise was that this burial was dated to 6500
BCE. The s'ankha industry continues even today in Tiruchendur, near
Gulf of Mannar, South Indian coastline where West Bengal handicraft
corporation obtains s'ankha to make bangles which are a must for every
Bengali bride to wear during marriage. A remarkable continuity of
culture and an industry unbroken for the last 8500 years !
He quotes profusely from the great Indian epics to substantiate his
claims. "The language of the epigraphs is said to be mleccha (Meluhha,
mentioned in cuneiform records of Mesopotamia). Vatsyayana refers to
cipher writing as mlecchita-vikalpa ( alternative representation by
copper workers)," according to Dr Kalyanaraman.
Mleccha is also referred to as a spoken language in Mahabharata;
Yudhishthira and Vidura converse in Mleccha about the shellac palace
(lakshagriha) constructed to trap the Pandavas with metallic and non-
metallic killer devices. An example of mleccha is 'helava, helava'
comparable to the 'elo,elo' boatmen's song by seafaring and river-
faring navigators who navigate hugging the coastline and along rivers
which were the highways of ancient times, enabling long-distance trade
over very long distances exceeding 3,000 kms., making the Sarasvati
civilization the most extensive civilization of its times.
"Languages of present-day India can be explained from a common source
and the theory is called 'Proto-Vedic Continuity Theory', "says Dr
Kalyanaraman.
These claims could have a significant effect on the study of languages
and contribute to historical studies emphasizing the essential
continuity and unity of Indian civilization and culture as a continuum
from 6500 BCE to the present-day.
haindavakeralam.org/PageModule.aspx
See also: spaces.msn.com/members/sarasvati97
protovedic.blogspot.com (S.Kalyanaraman and Mayuresh Kelkar)
www.hindunet.org/saraswati
kalyan97-AT-gmail.com
haindavakeralam.org/PageModule.aspx
PS: svastika is satthiya in Punjabi; rebus zasta, satthiya
'zinc' (Hindi)
TEHRAN, July 12 (MNA) -- The discovery of a number of shards bearing a
swastika motif astonished a team of Iranian archaeologists working at
Sabz Tepe in the Elamite site of Arjan, Khuzestan Province, the
director of the team said on Tuesday.
"Our team found the shards during operations conducted to save the
site from being destroyed by farming activities," Mahnaz Sharifi
added.
Located 10 kilometers north of Behbahan in eastern Khuzestan Province,
Arjan contains many ancient mounds which are believed to be various
sections of an Elamite city.
"Farmers plow the ground in Arjan, destroying the ancient site. A
cluster of shards bearing unique motifs and inscriptions can be seen
scattered on the ground," Behbahan Cultural Heritage and Tourism
Office expert Farzad Mesbah said.
Agricultural officials of Behbahan gave the land to the farmers.
"The farmers have said that they will continue working on the land,
but Khuzestan cultural officials have filed a lawsuit against the
farmers, in an attempt to solve the problem through the judicial
process," said Saeid Mohammadpur, an official of the Khuzestan
Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department.
In 1983, the first bronze coffin ever found in Iran, was discovered in
Arjan. The U-shaped coffin contained a large inscribed golden ring, 98
bracteate coins, a dagger, some textile fragments, and a
silver rod, which came from the treasury of the Elamite king Kidin-
Hutran.
Archaeologists plan to conduct additional research on the newly
discovered shards in order to learn why the swastika motif was used.
The origin of the swastika symbol is unknown. For thousands of years,
it has been used as a symbol of the revolving sun, fire, infinity, or
continuing recreation, as well as a decorative motif in the Americas,
China, Egypt, Greece, and Scandinavia. Swastikas have been found in
the catacombs of Rome, on textiles of the Inca period, and on relics
unearthed at the site of Troy. The swastika has also been important in
Eastern religions; to Buddhists, it represents resignation; to Jains,
it represents their seventh saint; and to Hindus, a swastika with arms
bent to the left represents night, magic, and the
destructive goddess Kali.
In the mid-20th century in Germany, a swastika with arms bent to the
right became the symbol of the Nazi Party. Some members of the German
Free Corps, who later formed the nucleus of the early Nazi Party, are
believed to have brought the swastika to Germany from Finland and
Estonia, where it had been an official and decorative emblem.
From March 1933, a few weeks after the ascent of Adolf Hitler to power
in Germany, the swastika flag flew side by side with the German
national colors. From September 1935 until the downfall of the Nazi
regime in 1945, the swastika flag was the official flag of the Third
Reich and was prominently displayed. The swastika is still used as a
symbol by supremacist and separatist hate groups.
www.mehrnews.ir/en/Archive.aspx
http://baltimore.indymedia.org/newswire/display/11807/index.php
Ancient Indian History, Distortions, Misrepresentations about India,
Indian History
Placeholder for Saraswati-Sindhu script
5 July 2009 87
This is a placeholder post for various references and resources
related to Saraswati-Sindhu Script.
Dr Kalyanaraman-ji’s work:
http://sites.google.com/site/kalyan97/mlecchitavikalpa
http://sites.google.com/site/kalyan97/indus-script
http://sites.google.com/site/kalyan97/a-new-decipherment-paradigm
http://sarasvati97.blogspot.com/
Varnam’s posts and research:
http://varnam.org/blog/2009/05/undeciphered-scripts/
http://varnam.org/blog/2009/04/indus-script-a-formal-language/
http://varnam.org/blog/2009/05/hostile-reactions/
http://varnam.org/blog/2009/05/indian-history-carnival-17/
Asko Parpola’s works:
http://www.helsinki.fi/~aparpola/
Please feel free to add any other links (to articles/documents) that
you may be aware of – using the comments form below.
Thanks.
Related Post: Breaking the code: the Sarasvati-Sindhu Script
*** UPDATE ***
I am traveling until the 10th of July with very limited internet
access. There will be some delay before I am able to respond to (and
moderate) comments.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
***
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To avoid this, pl. enter a valid email address OR use this email
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. 14 Comments »
1. B Shantanu said:
Some of you will find this interesting:
Can Computers Decipher a 5,000-Year-Old Language? by David Zax
.20 July 2009
2. B Shantanu said:
In a paper which renders the issue of ‘illiteracy’ moot or of little
practical value, Kalyanaraman has claimed that the script was used for
smith guild tokens encoding speech repertoire of smiths and that the
legacy of the writing system continued in mints which issued punch-
marked coins during the historical periods using Indus script glyphs.
The paper also reiterates that the critique of Massimo Vidale has not
so far been answered by the ‘Harappan illiteracy’ proponents.
The paper can also be downloaded from here
.5 August 2009
3. B Shantanu (author) said:
Some more research from Dr Kalyanaraman:
Decoding Indus Script – Mleccha, mlecchita vikalpa in Sarasvati
hieroglyphs
Monograph
Ppt slides
Abstract of Lecture at Rojah Muthiah Library at 5 PM on 26 February
2009 by S. Kalyanaraman
Script is decoded as sarasvati hieroglyphs composed of all pictorial
motifs — over 100 — and signs — over 400 – and read rebus in mleccha
vācas (as distinct from arya vācas — Manu). The context is: miners’
and smiths’ repertoire (not unlike the viśwakarma working on utsava
bera in Swamimalai following the cire perdue technique of Sarasvati
civilization bronzes or asur/agaria working in iron ore smelters in
Ganga basin of 18th century BCE).
Sarasvati hieroglyphs are in mleccha, mlecchita vikalpa (Vatsyayana).
Hypothesis posited: Language X + Proto-Munda = Proto-mleccha (with
borrowings in Sarasvati Linguistic Area).
Rebus readings of almost all glyphs (pictorial motifs as well as
signs) relate to mine workers’ and metalsmiths’ repertoire. The
writing system is a vikalpa (alternative representation) of their
vernacular, mleccha, cognate: meluhha. Presented in 15 e-books at
http://sites.google.com/site/kalyan97
In view of the essentially pictographic nature of the writing system,
the presentation is made in three parts:
a. monograph on vernacular (deśī), the linguistic area and the
continuity of proto-mleccha vernacular; structure and semantics of
hieroglyphs of mlecchita vikalpa, the decoded writing system;
b. powerpoint slides with selected glyphs and readings; and
c. Epigraphica Sarasvati of about 4000 inscribed epigraphs on photo
albums. http://sites.google.com/site/kalyan97/epigraphica-sarasvati
Two fundamental questions should be researched further:
1. the continuity of the civilization evidenced by cultural markers
all over India and the neighbouring regions;
2. the formation and evolution of languages in a linguistic area of
the Sarasvati civilization continuum in India, proved by the decoding
of the Indus script (Sarasvati hieroglyphs).
***
Separately from a blog post by Jayasree :
…This finding makes me recall some instances from the past. One is
from Valmiki Ramayana wherein Hanuman debates within himself on what
language he could speak to Sita who was languishing in the Ashoka
vana. Should I speak in the language of the learned persons (in
Sanskrit) or speak in the language of common persons, Hanuman asked
himself.
Sanskrit was the language of education and was used in discourses on
intellectual stuff. This existed in written form. But the dialect
spoken by people was different and it was not given a written form. We
come to know from Megasthanes that transactions were done orally.
There was no habit of recording or writing anything in trade. It was
because people adhered to word of mouth and rarely indulged in
cheating. Wherever writing was done it was done in Sanskrit. But the
common dialect that people spoke was not given a written form.
This had existed till the times of onset of Jain and Buddha culture.
The Jains were the forerunners in giving written form to spoken
language of the commoner. In a scenario dominated by Sanskrit based
Vedic religion, the Jains wanted to reach out to the common man. They
could reach him easily only by speaking his language and making him
read their views in the language they speak.
The earliest books written in language other than Sanskrit were by
Jains. They were in Prakrith. The earliest Jain book of astrology is
‘Surya Pragnapti’ which was an adaptation of Lagadha’s Rig Jyothisha.
This was in ‘Arthamagadhi Prakrith’. Lagadha’s Jyothisha was written
when the sun entered Dhanishta in uttarayana. Jain’s Surya pragnapthi
has the sun entering Abhijit in uttarayana!
That means this book of the Jains was written when Abhijith was still
part of the sky. Abhijit is placed in between Utthradam and ThiruvONam
(shravaNa). Abhijit was part of the sky until Mahabharatha times. Even
if we want to discount the existence of abhijith for lack of evidence
now astronomically, we can still enumerate the period of this book.
This book was written when the sun entered uttarayana at a point left
of Shravana star. Today the sun enters uttarayana in Moola star. The
time gap can be ascertained and it is possible to find the time of
Surya pragnapti from this. That time is when the spoken language of
the people of most of Bharatham was given a written form.
From Prakrit, other Indian languages sprang with a written libi.
But Tamil was a case apart from all these.
When Mahabharatha war happened, Tamil was already there in written
form supported by the sophistry of a well developed Grammar. A verse
on the praise of the Cheran king who supplied food to the armies
engaged in Mahabharatha war is found in PurananUru. Another verse is
about the Pandyan king who lived in the now- submerged landmass, south
of present day Kanyakumari. Tamil was referred to as “Agastheeyam” in
one of Srivaishnava books (Acharya Hrudhayam) Agastheeyam is said to
be a grammar work of Tamil done by sage Agasthya. This sage is also
said to have given a written form to Tamil.
That means Tamil had once existed as a spoken language among the
masses. There are however many Sanskrit terms in Tamil (eg daanam,
thavam) as part and parcel of Tamil language itself. Unless Tamil had
co-existed along with Sanskrit, this can not have happened. The aiding
tool for this combination is Hindu dharma or Sanatana Dharma as it was
the only dharma prevalent everywhere in those days. Since the Tamil
lands were stretched far down the South and were part of a huge
landmass connecting Africa and Australia, my guess is that Tamil was a
spoken language in that part of the world.
Coming to the findings of Dr S.Kalyanaraman, he has pointed out an
interesting similarity in the writing on metallurgy and of artisans of
India in those days. The cast for making statues (utsava bhEra)
recovered from Harappan sites (Saraswathy sites) are the same as what
the Vishwakarmas settled near Swamimalai in Tamil nadu do today! It
was because there was a single cult of Vishwakarma, a single cult of
Maya followed by artisans all through the Ithihasic and Puranic times.
As such, these informations are not news to me! Without even going
into research of this kind, we can say everything about the antiquity
and unanimity of Bharatheeya culture just from our arm chairs with the
help of Ithihasas, Puranas, Samhitas and a host of other texts given
by Maharishis.
.14 August 2009
4. K. Harapriya said:
“Since Tamil lands stretched far down south and were a part of a huge
landmass connecting Africa and Australia”
This statement is an anachronism. The continental drift that split the
various land masses from the one large continent called pangea
happened some 400 million years ago.
India split from the southern portion of what is now Africa around 55
million years ago. (This is known by the dating of the Himalayas).
However , man , as a species separate from other primates has only
existed on this earth around one million years. Of this, civilization
existed only for the last 10,000 years. So the contention that Tamil
was a language spoken in the entire southern hemisphere is inaccurate
to say the least.
Secondly, Tamil’s borrowings from Sanskrit as evidence of them
coexisting at the same time and/or originating at the same time. That
is like saying English originated at the same time as Latin since
there are so many latin terms in it. One interesting note is that
while Tamil has many sanskrit words, the reverse is not true–we do not
find Tamil words in Sanskrit very often.
Let us look at what the facts tell us. The oldest literature in Tamil
(of the Sangam period) dates back two thousand years–approximately the
beginning of the common era (exact dates betw. 3rd Century BCE and 3rd
Century A.D). Since the language was highly developed, it is assumed
that it had a longer history.
In comparison, the Rg Veda originates, even when conservatively dated,
1500 BCE. Even by conservative estimates, that is at least a 1000
years before the appearance of Tamil literature. Since the literature
of the Vedas is also highly developed we have to assume an older
history for the language. If we use the internal evidence of the Rg
Veda (i.e cosmology, astromical positions of stars), the Rg Veda can
even be dated anywhere from 5000 to 10,000 years old (depending on the
scholar).
It is almost a truism accepted in India that Tamil is the oldest
language. But is it really true?
Here is an article on the dating of the Mahabharata War by a fairly
respected scholar.
http://www.ece.lsu.edu/kak/MahabharataII.pdf
.19 August 2009
5. gajanan said:
Markov model of the Indus script
Rajesh P. N. Raoa,1, Nisha Yadavb,c, Mayank N. Vahiab,c, Hrishikesh
Joglekard, R. Adhikarie, and Iravatham Mahadevanf
aDepartment of Computer Science and Engineering, University of
Washington, Seattle, WA 98195; bDepartment of Astronomy and
Astrophysics, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai 400005,
India; cCentre for Excellence in Basic Sciences, Mumbai 400098, India;
d14, Dhus Wadi, Laxminiketan, Thakurdwar, Mumbai 400002, India;
eInstitute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai 600113, India; and fIndus
Research Centre, Roja Muthiah Research Library,
Chennai 600113, India
Abstract.
Although no historical information exists about the Indus civilization
(flourished ca. 2600–1900 B.C.), archaeologists have uncovered about
3,800 short samples of a script that was used throughout the
civilization. The script remains undeciphered, despite a large number
of attempts and claimed decipherments over the past 80 years. Here, we
propose the use of probabilistic models to analyze the structure of
the Indus script. The goal is to reveal,
through probabilistic analysis, syntactic patterns that could point
the way to eventual decipherment. We illustrate the approach using a
simple Markov chain model to capture sequential dependencies between
signs in the Indus script. The trained model allows new sample texts
to be generated, revealing recurring patterns of signs that could
potentially form functional subunits of a possible
underlying language. The model also provides a quantitative way of
testing whether a particular string belongs to the putative language
as captured by the Markov model. Application of this test to Indus
seals found in Mesopotamia and other sites in West Asia reveals that
the script may have been used to express different content in these
regions or unreadable signs on damaged objects can be filled in with
most likely predictions from the model. Taken together, our results
indicate that the Indus script exhibits rich synactic structure and
the ability to represent diverse content. both of which are suggestive
of a linguistic writing system rather than a nonlinguistic symbol
system.
Published in Proceedings in National Academy of Sciences 2009. USA.
http://www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.0906237106
This is very good science, if you can go thru this site above. It is
very difficult to understand for those not conversant with Markov
maths. They recently published in the journal Science and some more is
probably in the offing.
.19 August 2009
6. B Shantanu (author) said:
Harapriya and Gajanan: Thanks for the links and comment.
Harapriya: Interesting question about Tamil. I don’t know. Perhaps
other readers would wish to comment?
.21 August 2009
7. K. Harapriya said:
Here is a good link on the latest archaeological findings.
http://www.archaeologyonline.net/
.22 August 2009
8. B Shantanu (author) said:
Pl. read Varnam’s latest post The Markov Model of Indus Script
.14 September 2009
9. B Shantanu (author) said:
From an email sent by Dr Kalyanaraman:
Source: http://www.harappa.com/indus2/index.html Slide 142 reports the
discovery in 1998 of a four-sided molded tablet — ca. 2450-2200 BCE.
“Molded tablets from Trench 11 sometimes have impressions on one, two,
three or four sides. This group of molded tablets shows the complete
set of motifs. One side is comprised entirely of script and has six
(five?) characters, the first of which (on the very top) appears to be
some sort of animal. A second side shows a human figure grappling with
a short horned bull. A small plant with at least six branches is
discernible behind the individual. The third panel portrays a figure
seated on a charpoy or throne in a yogic position, with arms resting
on the knees. Both arms are covered with bangles, and traces of a
horned headdress and long hair are visible on some of the impressions.
A second individual, also with long hair and wearing bangles, is
seated on a short stool to the proper left of the individual on the
“throne.” The fourth panel shows a deity standing with both feet on
the ground and wearing a horned headdress. A branch with three pipal
leaves projects from the center of the headdress. Bangles seen on both
arms.”
This is decoded as a professional calling card of a smiths’ artisan
guild, as may be seen from the homonyms of all glyptic elements (both
signs and pictorial motifs) — presented on two slides.
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/11869632/Slide-142-harappa
Addendum: man.d.a ‘twig, branch’ (Te.); rebus: man.d.a_ ‘warehouse,
workshop’ (Kon.)
namaskaram. kalyanaraman
.25 September 2009
10. B Shantanu (author) said:
Those of you with an interest in this topic will enjoy Varnam’s
excellent post on this from last week: The Harappan Volumetric System
.7 December 2009
11. Shaan said:
@Harapriya, @Jayasree
There is no proof that Tamil lands would have stretched too much
southwards. Tamil literature talks about Kumari kandam and the
incident of it submerging in sea but it may have been a small area
beyond kanyakumari. Regarding Udhiyan Cheralathan there is an
explanation that the nootruvar(100 men) given in the poem are actually
Satavahanas. But Mahabharatha itself mentions that Pandyas, Cheras and
Cholas were fighting alongside Pandavas and against the Kauravas.
When it is debatable that whether Tamil as old as Sanskrit, atleast in
written form it must have been in written form before Sanksrit. There
is a term ‘ezhuthaa kiLavi’ in Tamil denoting Sanskrit. It literally
means ‘the language that is not written’. Earlier it was believed that
Tamil Brahmi was created after Ashoka era Brahmi script was introduced
in the South. But the latest discoveries point that Tamil Brahmi was
in existence even before Ashoka’s time.
.14 December 2009
12. I Gege Putrayasa said:
I found the sincere and trusted work on Indus-Sarasvati script
decipherment by Dr. Natwar Jha. Please follow the link below. I hope
that more scientists will continue and expand the work that had been
done by Dr. Jha as been shown by NS. Rajaram.
http://placelife.com/timeline/sarasvati-indus/sarasvati-script/natwarjhabyrajaram.html
.23 January 2010
13. I Gege Putrayasa said:
Forgot to include in my previous post. Here’s another link of Natwar
Jha and NS. Rajaram work on book reviewed by IndiaStar:
http://www.indiastar.com/wallia27.htm
.23 January 2010
14. B Shantanu (author) said:
Thank you. I will have a look at the links.
.24 January 2010
http://satyameva-jayate.org/2009/07/05/saraswati-sindhu-script/
Dr. S. Kalyanaraman using the Doe Library in University of California,
Berkeley (June 22, 1998); he acknowledges gratefully the use of
indological resources of this library, the Green Library in Stanford
University, Library of Congress, University of the Philippines Library
System, Manila, Adyar Library and Connemara Library, Chennai, National
Museum, Delhi, National Library, Calcutta and the British Library,
London, apart from the resources available on the web.
From Indology to Reviving City Waterways:
From "The Hindu" - 29-09-1997.
Despite his pre-occupation with high profile activities, Dr. S.
Kalyanaraman, former senior executive of the ADB, has varied interests
including matters mundane. He shares them with T. Ramakrishnan.
A paperweight may be a routine dull object for most people, but it can
trigger unexpected reactions among some: such as a deep desire to take
up Indological studies.
One such scholar eventually went on to do a unique work of writing a
multilingual dictionary of the Dravidian, Aryan and Mundarica language
families.
The author of the dictionary, Dr. S. Kalyanaraman (58), started on his
voyage of discovery in the office of his boss, Dr. Trujillo from the
U.S., while working in the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The
paperweight, given to him by the officer, was a brass replica of an
Indus seal depicting a short-horned bull and some Indus script as an
inscription.
In the meantime, an Indologist wrote a letter to Dr. Kalayanaraman
asking for comments on the former's decipherment of a script. The
paperweight and this letter led him to embark on studies on the
subject.
At present, he is working on the `mythical' Sarasvathi river which can
be revived by tapping groundwater resources and making the Thar desert
in Rajasthan bloom. His study is centered on providing leads for
resolving the decipherment problem of the Indus script.
Dr. Kalayanaraman has interest in a variety of subjects. A graduate in
economics and statistics from the Annamalai University, he became a
Member of the Indian Railway Accounts Service in 1962. He secured his
doctorate from the University of Philippines in 1982 and his Ph.D.
thesis was a comparative study of development administration in six
Asian countries.
In the '70s, the Indologist's performance on coal accounting for and
the drawing up the Railways' perspective plan for information
technology (IT) came in for praise and subsequently, he was deputed to
the ADB. Dr. Kalayanaraman helped establish the Bank's IT network with
2,500 workstations. He administered loan disbursements on a multi-
currency portfolio of equivalent US $60 billions on 600 development
projects in the Asia-Pacific region.
Despite his high-profile activities, the ADB's former senior executive
has not lost sight of the more "mundane" things. The beautification of
the city waterways is one of his pet subjects. "The waterways are, in
a way, a blessing for the city. Otherwise, the situation will be worse
when Chennai receives heavy rainfall."
His suggestion is that as a demonstration project, the Cooum can be
taken up first. The execution of its improvement should be split into
different segments, which can be entrusted to different contractors.
In addition to desludging the waterway, a series of checkdams can be
built along the Cooum for regulating the discharge of water. Tanks,
located on the outskirts of the city and functioning as sources for
the waterway, have to be renovated.
For improving the water supply network for the southern suburbs of
Chennai, Dr. Kalayanaraman says the aquifer of the Palar river can be
tapped. He wants the Government to act strongly against those who
pollute the river.
As the senior ADB executive, he had exposure to the Chinese system of
governance. "China has made rapid strides, particularly in the area of
local self-governance. It is not just because it's a communist country
but its rulers have immense faith in decentralisation".
One lesson that can be drawn from the Chinese, he says, is to grant
more powers to the Chennai Mayor. In Beijing, the Mayor is the focal
point of all activities and has the authority to mobilise resources
and personnel from various agencies and departments for improving the
state of affairs in the Metro.
The same thing is possible here as the 74th Constitutional amendment
has made it mandatory that the Metropolitan Planning Committee and
other local bodies falling within the Metro to take up responsibility
to prepare and implement urban development schemes. The existing
mechanism for utilising financial and personnel resources should also
undergo suitable changes.
Moreover, this amendment can be used for strengthening urban local
bodies and bringing about a revolutionary change in their functioning
and administration, Dr. Kalyanaraman feels.
As his presentation to mark the golden jubilee of Independence, Dr.
Kalyanaraman has created a website running to 2,500 pages of
information on India at www.investindia.com. As his social obligation,
he offers his Internet access at the domain address http://www.investindia.com
free of cost to the younger generation with the goal of preparing them
intellectually and academically.
See also the Sarasvati River Website: http://www.probys.com/sarasvati
Indian Alchemy: Soma in the Rigveda (in press, Delhi, Munshiram
Manoharlal)
His email: ***@netscape.net
http://www.hindunet.org/hindu_history/sarasvati/html/hindu29091997.html
Sanatana Dharma Foundation Honors Dr Subramanian Swamy and Dr S.
Kalyanaraman for their Courageous Effort in Protecting the Historic
Rama Sethu
Sanatana Dharma Foundation, Dallas, Texas organized its first Hindu
Unity Day, at the DFW Hindu Temple, in Dallas on the 19th and 20th of
July, 2008. Symbolizing Hindu Unity, Representatives of Dallas
Chapters of several organizations like the Art of living Foundation,
Ammachi Satsang, Hare Krishna ISCKON group, Gayatri Parivar,
Brahmakumaris, Carribbean Mandir, Chinmaya Mission, Hanuman Temple,
Sathya Sai groups, Datta Yoga Peetam and other prominent Hindu
personalities from the local Dallas-Fort Worth community in Texas,
were present at this unique event. Dr Subramanian Swamy's latest book
"Rama Sethu Symbol of National Unity" was released and distributed at
the Event, to key members of these organizations and other prominent
members of the community.
Rama Sethu Symbol of National Unity
Hindu Dharma Rakshaka Kshatriya Award
This award, a first of its kind, has been instituted to honor and
celebrate the 'Kshatriya Spirit', specifically the courage shown by
Hindus in taking risks and standing up to fight for the protection and
preservation of Dharma. The word Kshatriya is a Sanskrit word that
refers to the royal and noble class of Hindus who historically
defended their nation, and the Dharma of the land.
Rama Sethu Symbol of National Unity
Dallas, Texas (PRWEB) July 26, 2008 -- Dr Subramanian Swamy, PhD,
visiting professor of Economics, Harvard University and former Union
Law Minister of India, and Dr S. Kalyanaraman, Director, Saraswati
River Research Center, and President of Sri Rameshwaram Rama Sethu
Raksha Manch, received awards in Dallas, Texas for their courageous
effort in protecting the historic Rama Sethu, from being destroyed by
the Government of India in the name of a development project.
NASA Photograph of Rama Sethu
Rama Sethu is the original Sanskrit name given to a bridge built by
the legendary King Rama, who crossed over to Sri Lanka from India to
fight the King of Lanka, Ravana, recover his wife Sita, and restore
Dharma (Order) in the land of India. While it is difficult to
establish the exact historical age of these events, the bridge is
thought to be at least 5000 years old, if not much older, making it
the oldest causeway built across an ocean channel. The Rama Sethu is
referred to in numerous ancient Sanskrit texts and scriptures, as a
man made structure, and in recent times, it has been vividly
photographed by both NASA and Indian Satellites.
When India fell under Colonial rule, the British renamed this
construction as "Adam's Bridge". The Government of India, in recent
years, has been trying to establish a Shipping Channel between India
and Sri Lanka, by breaking and destroying the continuity of this
ancient structure. Hindus in India and around the world have been
protesting and fighting this decision of the Government of India, and
have demanded that the Rama Sethu be declared a monument of historic
importance and a world heritage site. On May 8th, 2008, the Supreme
Court of India directed the Government of India to go back to the
drawing board to see if it can create an alternate shipping route, and
at the same time, study the Rama Sethu as a monument of historic
importance. It is yet to be seen if the Government of India will
comply with the Court's direction, and thereby uphold due
constitutional process, or continue on its path of destroying the Rama
Sethu, dis-regarding the Supreme court's direction.
Sanatana Dharma Foundation, (www.sdfglobal.org) a Dallas based Non-
Profit organization inspired by the Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha,
(www.acharyasabha.org) the apex body of Hindus in India, presented the
"Hindu Dharma Rakshaka Kshatriya Award" to Dr Subramanian Swamy & Dr
S. Kalyanaraman on the occassion of the Hindu Unity Day organized at
the DFW Hindu Temple in Dallas, Texas on July 19, 2008. Speaking on
the occasion, the President of Sanatana Dharma Foundation, Kalyan
Viswanathan, said that "This award, a first of its kind, has been
instituted to honor and celebrate the 'Kshatriya Spirit', specifically
the courage shown by Hindus in taking risks and standing up to fight
for the protection and preservation of Dharma. The word Kshatriya is a
Sanskrit word that refers to the royal and noble class of Hindus who
historically defended their nation, and the Dharma of the land."
The Highlight of the Hindu Unity Day Event was the speech by Dr
Subramanian Swamy on his personal experiences during his defense of
Rama Sethu in the Supreme Court of India, which was greeted by a
spontaneous standing ovation. In presenting the "Hindu Dharma Rakshaka
Kshatriya" Award, his fearless defense in the Supreme Court of India,
getting a critical and timely stay order, the subsequent withdrawal of
the Government of India's petition, and the later Verdict of the
Supreme Court were all highlighted.
Dr S. Kalyanaraman made a scholarly presentation on the River
Saraswati, highlighting the recent research findings, the origins of
the Vedic civilization on the banks of River Saraswati and the fact
that it holds the central "Key" to the re-writing of the history of
India and re-establishing the real historicity of the Vedas. While
presenting the Award, his dedicated research in supporting the
struggle of the Rama Sethu, and his pioneering contributions in
researching and resurfacing the River Saraswati were lauded.
Symbolizing Hindu Unity, Representatives of Dallas Chapters of several
organizations like the Art of living Foundation, Ammachi Satsang, Hare
Krishna ISCKON group, Gayatri Parivar, Brahmakumaris, Carribbean
Mandir, Chinmaya Mission, Hanuman Temple, Sathya Sai groups and other
prominent Hindu personalities from the local Dallas-Fort Worth
community in Texas, were present at this unique event. Dr Subramanian
Swamy's latest book "Rama Sethu Symbol of National Unity" was released
and distributed at the Event, to key members of these organizations
and other prominent members of the community.
Smt. Ranna Jani, President, DFW Hindu Temple in Texas speaking on the
occassion on behalf of the Temple, thanked both Dr Subramaniam Swamy &
Dr S. Kalyanaraman for coming to Dallas and sharing their experiences
with the participants. On the second day, a workshop was organized,
where challenges facing Hinduism today, were discussed. Presentations
on the state of Hindu Temples in India, challenges posed by
Christianity and Islam were also discussed. The session was very
interactive, and educational, as per the feedback received.
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The challenge of terrorism
S. KALYANARAMAN
ON 23 December 1929, a bomb planted by Indian revolutionaries exploded
under the Viceroy’s special train but without causing any serious
injury to Lord Irwin. At the Lahore session of the Indian National
Congress held the very next week, Mahatma Gandhi pushed through a
resolution ‘condemning the cowardly deed of the misguided youth.’
Though he urged that the resolution be passed unanimously, a reluctant
Congress did so by a thin majority of 81 in a house numbering 1713.
Subsequently, Gandhi wrote an article in Young India titled ‘The Cult
of the Bomb’, in which he dismissed bomb-throwing as nothing but
‘froth coming to the surface in an agitated liquid.’ At the same time,
he warned that it is an ‘easy, natural step’ from violence done to the
foreign ruler ‘to violence to our own people whom we may consider to
be obstructing the country’s progress.’
To rebut Gandhi’s condemnation, Bhagawati Charan, in consultation with
Chandra Shekhar Azad, drafted a manifesto in 1930 titled ‘The
Philosophy of the Bomb’. Terrorism, the manifesto asserted, is a
‘necessary’ and ‘inevitable’ phase of the revolution. ‘Terrorism
instils fear in the hearts of the oppressors, it brings hopes of
revenge and redemption to the oppressed masses, it gives courage and
self-confidence to the wavering, it shatters the spell of the
superiority of the ruling class and raises the status of the subject
race in the eyes of the world, because it is the most convincing proof
of a nation’s hunger for freedom.’ The manifesto went on to note that
it is reason and conscience which force the revolutionary to ‘risk his
life’. And it concluded by proclaiming that the revolutionaries will
take ‘a people’s righteous revenge on the tyrant’ and that theirs is
‘a war to the end – to victory or death.’
This episode is indicative of the divide that exists between the idea
that terrorists are freedom fighters and martyrs, the characterisation
of terrorist attacks as cowardly and dastardly, and the in-between
view that while terrorism is indeed unjustifiable, the genuine
grievances that drive terrorists cannot also be overlooked. In
addition, the debate on terrorism has also thrown up the question of
‘state terrorism’. After all, the origins of the modern usage of the
word terrorism lie in the ‘state terror’ unleashed by the French
revolutionary regime to intimidate those opposed to the revolution or
otherwise sympathetic to or nostalgic about the ancien régime.
Moreover, states also deliberately target civilians and non-combatants
in the course of wars and internal conflicts.
Are we to therefore simply conclude that terrorism is a relative term
best defined as ‘violence that I don’t support?’ To chart a path
through the minefield that is the debate on defining terrorism and how
to address this phenomenon, one approach is to look at terrorism as a
strategy, a means to achieve an objective. A strategy adopted by a
political group in which civilians and non-combatants are deliberately
targeted to generate terror as well as to highlight the cause. The
objective is to undermine the foundations of the state, its
legitimacy, and its ability to command the people’s compliance.
Terrorist actions are conceived as either ends in themselves or
designed to be precursors to a mass uprising. Terrorism is thus a
subset of political violence.
Terrorism, however, needs to be distinguished from other forms of
political violence employed by armed rebel groups. This is
particularly the case with guerrilla warfare (or insurgency) with
which terrorism is often confused and conflated. True, guerrilla
warfare, like terrorism, is a weapon of the weak, employed precisely
because weakness precludes a rebel group from engaging in regular war
against organised state forces. Notwithstanding this surface
similarity, the two strategies proceed along very different paths.
Guerrillas (or insurgents) primarily target state forces, mobilise
people and acquire popular support, establish a parallel government in
‘liberated zones’, and over time seek to expand control over
surrounding territories and transform their ragtag forces into a
regular army. Guerrillas, in Mao’s famous formulation, are the fish
and people the water.
In contrast, the people have become the target of terrorist violence,
especially since the 1970s. Gandhi’s prophetic words about the ‘easy,
natural step’ from violence done to the oppressor to violence
inflicted on non-cooperative or unresponsive compatriots, have indeed
become a reality. The deliberate targeting of innocent civilians is a
hallmark particularly of the contemporary avatar of terrorism. This
was not the case in the historical practice of terrorism, which
largely involved targeting the symbols of political authority – heads
of state, viceroys and proconsuls, ministers, civilian and military
officials, leading political figures, among others. These attacks were
intended as ‘propaganda by deed’ in an era when terrorism was
considered the ultima ratio, the final resort. But the ‘new’ terrorism
does not discriminate in its choice of victims and its motto is,
‘there are no innocents.’
Further, while the earlier practice of terrorism was largely directed
against tyrannical or despotic regimes and colonial or imperial
authorities, democracies have emerged as principal targets of the
contemporary exercise in terrorism. Thus, from ultima ratio terrorism
seems to be becoming the prima ratio of political protest. Another
significant difference between ‘old’ and ‘new’ terrorism is state
support for and sponsorship of terrorist groups. While the earlier
breed of terrorists by and large operated on their own, the employment
of terrorism as an instrument of statecraft (a cost-effective means of
destabilising adversaries) is a key feature of latter-day terrorism.
Terrorism has acquired a pejorative connotation over the last few
decades precisely because of these changes.
There have been various hues of armed rebellion in India since
independence. Telangana and Naxalbari were insurrections. The Maoist
groups operating across many states are engaged in a classic
insurgency. Most armed political groups in the North East also began
as separatist or autonomist insurgencies. But, over the years, some
have become mere extortion rackets, while others like the United
Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) in particular have taken to terrorism.
Terrorism, the deliberate targeting of civilians, was first practised
by separatist groups in Punjab. In the 1990s, this practice also
became prevalent as part of the separatist struggle in Jammu and
Kashmir. The involvement of Pakistani and transnational groups in the
so-called jihad in Kashmir has contributed to the further expansion of
the terror campaign to the hinterland.
The most significant terrorist group in the North East today is ULFA.
Founded in 1979 with the aim of establishing a ‘sovereign socialist
Assam through armed struggle’, it built up its armed strength and ran
a parallel government in Assam in the latter half of the 1980s. When
it initiated armed action in the 1990s, targets were limited to the
security forces, railway lines, the oil pipeline, and political
opponents. However, after the group was expelled from Bhutan in 2003
and it relocated its base areas in Bangladesh, ULFA has initiated a
terror campaign inside Assam. Most targets struck since then have been
civilian.
The August 2004 bombing in Dhemaji town, which killed 17 people,
mostly children, has come to be seen as the turning point in this
regard. 73 bomb explosions were triggered in 2005, 59 in 2006, 54 in
2007, and 10 in 2008 – all in public places. ULFA has also been
targeting Hindi-speaking migrant labourers over the last couple of
years. Its turn towards terrorism seems to have coincided with its
linkages and dependence upon the intelligence agencies of Bangladesh
and Pakistan. The support it receives includes arms training, safe
havens, funds and weaponry. ULFA is also known to have links with the
Bangladeshi jihadi group, Harkat-ul-Jehadi-e-Islami.
In Punjab, competitive politics led to the emergence of a religious
extremist like Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale as a key figure. Inspired by
the vision of leading the Sikhs to ‘ultimate purity’ and an
independent Khalistan, Bhindranwale started an incipient campaign of
violence against his political opponents in the early 1980s. But a
full-blown terrorist movement emerged only in the aftermath of
Operation Bluestar, the consequent assassination of Indira Gandhi and
the anti-Sikh riots that followed. The terror campaign unleashed by
the various groups was indiscriminate in nature and saw the killing of
political leaders, officials, journalists, businessmen, and the common
people at large, both Sikh and Hindu.
K.P.S. Gill notes that in the peak years of 1990 and 1991, 1702 and
1851 Sikhs, respectively, were killed by the terrorists. The number of
non-Sikhs killed in these two years was 765 and 740. One of the worst
massacres was the mid-air bombing of the Kanishka in 1985, killing all
passengers and crew on board. Bombs were also placed in public
transport in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir. In all,
11,500 civilians were killed in Punjab between 1981 when the terrorist
violence first manifested itself and 1993 when the back of the
terrorist movement was broken. About 1750 security forces personnel
also died during the same period. A significant factor in the greater
intensity of violence was Pakistan’s provision of sophisticated
weaponry and explosives as well as training to the terrorist groups.
Punjab, in many ways, was a training ground for Pakistan’s sponsorship
of cross-border terrorism against India in Jammu and Kashmir. An armed
separatist movement arose in the state in the wake of the fraudulent
elections of 1987. Some 20,000 youth crossed the border into Pakistan
for military training by the mid-1990s. The pro-independence Jammu and
Kashmir Liberation Front stood at the forefront of this movement in
the initial years. But Pakistan threw its weight behind the Hizbul
Mujahideen, which favoured Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan. When India
gained the upper hand against the separatists in the next few years,
Pakistan began to funnel its own citizens and other ‘graduates of the
Afghan war’ into Jammu and Kashmir.
With groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Harkat-ul-Ansar, and Harkat-ul-
Mujahideen assuming a greater role, what was hitherto an internal
rebellion, albeit with considerable support from Pakistan, degenerated
into cross-border terrorism. Mass killings, especially of minorities,
began with the introduction of transnational jihadists. Neither have
they spared Kashmiri Muslims, in whose name they wage their so-called
jihad. Overall, between 1988 when the violence first began and 2008,
some 14,500 civilians have been killed in terrorist violence in the
state. In addition, more than 5,800 security forces personnel have
also lost their lives during this period.
Involving foreign jihadists has provided a lever for Pakistan to
scuttle any movement towards peace in the state, as demonstrated
during the short-lived Ramzan ceasefire between Indian security forces
and the Hizbul Mujahideen in the year 2000. When Pakistan’s Kargil
misadventure failed to revive the flagging interest for the struggle
within the state and in the world at large, transnational groups began
to engage in fidayeen attacks against security forces. Subsequently,
this campaign was extended to other parts of India as well. The first
target to be attacked was the Red Fort in Delhi in December 2000. A
year later, it was the turn of the Indian Parliament. India’s threat
of war against this grave provocation, combined with international
condemnation and pressure, forced Pakistan to lower the intensity of
operations being carried out by terrorist groups based on its
territory. But even as infiltration from Pakistan into Jammu and
Kashmir showed a decline in the succeeding years, a terror campaign
targeting India’s hinterland began to unfold.
Links between Indian citizens engaged in this new wave of urban
terrorism and their friends, if not masters, in Pakistan are gradually
unravelling. The shameful tragedy of Gujarat 2002 and the earlier
demolition of the Babri Masjid served as catalysts for a handful of
youth to travel to Pakistan, acquire training in arms, and forge links
with the Establishment as well as transnational groups there. These
men have come together under the banner of Indian Mujahideen. The
group is a diffuse network spread across several states. Its aim
appears to include causing maximum casualties and mayhem by targeting
places where people congregate, arousing communal passions by
targeting mosques and temples, and disrupting the economy by targeting
important sectors like tourism and information technology.
Thus, seven bombs were placed on Mumbai suburban trains in July 2006,
killing 209 people and injuring over 700; the Sankatmochan Temple in
Varanasi was bombed in March 2006 and the Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad in
May 2007; and, Jaipur and Bengaluru were targeted in May and July
2008, respectively. According to the email claiming responsibility for
the multiple bomb blasts in the markets of Delhi in September 2008,
the group’s aim was to ‘stop the heart of India from beating.’ Other
places that have been targeted as part of this terror campaign include
Ahmedabad, Faizabad, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Surat and Varanasi.
A significant feature of the Indian Mujahideen’s tactics is the use of
the widely available fertilizer ammonium nitrate as explosive. The
group has also demonstrated its coordination capabilities by carrying
out serial bomb blasts on successive days in more than one place – the
July 2008 attacks in Bengaluru, Ahmedabad and the bombs that failed to
detonate in Surat. Their use of email to claim responsibility, the
manner in which emails were sent from hacked wi-fi connections, and
the ability to vary the intensity of the explosions in Bengaluru and
Ahmedabad, all point to the group’s technological capabilities.
Even as Indian agencies were attempting to piece together the Indian
Mujahideen puzzle, 10 well-armed and well-trained Lashkar-e-Taiba
terrorists landed in Mumbai and launched a commando-style operation
against the maximum city’s symbols. 164 people and security forces
personnel died in this assault, including 26 foreign nationals. The
trail led to Pakistani territory and Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist
commanders and many in India suspected the role of elements within the
Pakistani establishment. The reasoning was that the attack was meant
to divert the incoming Obama administration’s central focus from the
Afghanistan-Pakistan frontier towards the India-Pakistan border.
Coincidentally, unidentified militants in Pakistan targeted American
and NATO military supplies meant for their war efforts in Afghanistan,
seemingly to remind the West about its vulnerabilities. It is not
clear what kind of a grand bargain was being hinted at. But the
Machiavellian strategy came to nought because of the restraint shown
by India in the face of such an enormous provocation. However,
Pakistan’s conviction that terrorist groups serve as ‘strategic
assets’ in its foreign policy repertoire is likely to continue,
notwithstanding ongoing American efforts to force a change in
thinking.
Each of the above challenges necessitates a distinct policy approach.
Separatist groups have to be dealt with through a policy of political
accommodation and concessions backed by counter-insurgency and counter-
terror measures. In the case of Pakistan-based terrorist groups,
domestic counter-terror measures have to be accompanied by diplomatic
and covert intelligence campaigns to disrupt and dismantle the
terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan. And dealing with domestic urban
terror groups would involve counter-terror measures, including the
strengthening of laws, police and intelligence efforts to trace and
neutralise terrorist cells and leadership, and mobilising communities
and the people at large against subversives living in our midst.
India’s counterinsurgency strategy has been dealt with elsewhere in
these pages. Suffice it to note here that since the 1950s India has
followed a consistent and successful policy of using minimum force to
deal with separatist groups and bringing them into the political
mainstream through accommodation and concessions. While this approach
is likely to prove useful in dealing with ULFA in Assam, it is
inadequate for dealing with the situation in Jammu and Kashmir where
the principal indigenous group, the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, has become
inextricably intertwined with Pakistani and transnational terrorist
groups under the umbrella of the United Jihad Council.
Any attempt by the Hizb to seek a separate peace is likely to result
in the whittling down of Pakistani support (as happened in the case of
the JKLF) and consequent marginalisation and irrelevance. Under the
circumstances, the security efforts in Jammu and Kashmir need to be
supplemented by measures to force Pakistan to cease support for
terrorist groups targeting India as well as measures to disrupt and
dismantle the terrorist infrastructure in that country.
At the diplomatic level India’s leverage vis-a-vis Pakistan is
limited, especially at this juncture when the state of affairs in that
country is delicately poised and when more powerful actors are engaged
in attempting to save it from itself. All that can be done at the
diplomatic level is to continually highlight Pakistan’s continuing use
of terrorism as an instrument of policy and sustain international
pressure to force Islamabad to take meaningful action against
terrorist groups targeting India. At the same time, military measures
aimed at either coercing the Pakistani establishment or disrupting the
infrastructure of the terrorist groups would also be ill-advised. As
seen during the crises of 2002, military coercion of the Pakistan
government on one hand and leveraging military tensions for
international diplomatic support on the other can yield only limited
dividends.
It was also realised at that time that military strikes against
terrorist camps would have only limited impact on the terror
infrastructure. Moreover, military action would aggravate bilateral
tensions, strengthen hawkish elements, and generally provide Pakistan
an excuse for not taking action against terrorist groups which it
continues to perceive as ‘strategic assets’. Instead of overt military
strikes, India should adopt covert measures to both raise the cost to
Islamabad as well as to degrade the terrorist leadership and
infrastructure on Pakistani territory. A good example in this regard
was India’s response in the late 1980s to the support Pakistan
provided for Khalistan groups.
At the same time, India also needs to focus on domestic counter-terror
measures, which have indeed received a fillip in the wake of the
Mumbai attack. The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act has been
legislated to provide the legal framework for counter-terrorism, and
the National Investigation Agency has been established to investigate
and prosecute terrorist offences. In addition, a number of measures
have been taken to raise ‘the level of preparedness’ and enhance ‘the
speed and decisiveness’ in responding to terrorist attacks or threats.
These include a fresh mandate to the Multi Agency Centre and its
subsidiaries to smoothen the collation and sharing of intelligence,
and the establishment of National Security Guard hubs in different
parts of the country to enable a quicker response to terrorist
attacks.
However useful these institutions and mechanisms prove to be in the
coming years, the key to counter-terrorism is the police force which
falls within the purview of state governments. Until such time state
governments shed their apathy and begin to appreciate the imperative
of modernising and de-politicising their police forces, India’s
counter-terrorism efforts are likely to remain ineffective.
http://www.india-seminar.com/2009/599/599_s_kalyanaraman.htm
Sarasvati (7 Vols-Set)
S. Kalyanaraman, Baba Saheb, 2003, 2044 p, 7 Vols, figs, plates, maps,
ISBN : 81-901126-1-0 (Vol. I); 81-901126-2-0 (Vol. II); 81-901126-3-0
(Vol. III); 81-901126-4-0 (Vol. IV); 81-901126-5-0 (Vol. V);
81-901126-6-0 (Vol. VI); 81-901126-7-0 (Vol. VII)., $231.00 (Includes
free airmail shipping)
Contents: Vol. I: Civilization: 1. New light on Sarasvati
civilization. 2. Sarasvati: discovery and rebirth. 3. River Sarasvati:
archaeology, culture and heritage tourism. 4. Ecology, River Sarasvati
and roots of civilization of Bharat. 5. Revival of River Sarasvati
begins. 6. River Sarasvati: archaeology, tradition and water
resources. 7. Bharati, Sarasvati. 8. Vidya_devi Sarasvati. 9. Dilmun,
Magan, and sea-faring merchants of Meluhha. 10. From Sarasvati to
Haraquaiti. 11. Mleccha, Mlecchita vikalpa: language and writing
system. 12. Hieroglyphs of Sarasvati Civilization. 13. S'ankha,
Bhairava, Man.d.ala. 14. Sculptural tradition. 15. Bead-making
tradition. 16. Archery tradition. 17. Mahabharata as the sheet-anchor
of Bharatiya Itihasa. 18. Sarasvati Civilization. Index.
Vol. II: R.gveda: 1. R.gveda and Sarasvati. 2. Vedic roots of early
metallurgy. 3. Soma. 4. Vedic Ratha. Index. End notes.
Vol. III: River: 1. River Indo-brahm, River Sarasvati of quaternary
periods. 2. Riverine traditions of Bharat. 3. Maritime traditions of
Bharat. 4. Seafaring artisans of Meluhha. 5. Settlements and forts. 6.
Kot., fortified settlements in Sarasvati Sindhu River Basins. 7.
Sarasvati Civilization. 8. Archaeological sites. Bibliography. Index.
End notes.
Vol. IV: Bharati: 1. Westward migrations out of Bharat. 2. Veneration
of ancestors. 3. Bha_ratam Janam. 4. Vra_tya and building a ra_s.t.ra.
5. Maritime, riverine trade in Vedic times. 6. Vedic and Avestan
people. 7. Vedic and Avestan. 8. Defence. 9. Roots of civilization.
10. Evolution of traditions of the civilization. 11. Contacts. 12.
Sarasvati Civilization. Index. End notes.
Vol. V: Technology: 1. Metallurgy tradition. 2. Natural resource map
of ancient Bharat. 3. Tin from Meluhha. 4. Ancient trade in Tin. 5.
Copper hoard weapons: autochthonous evolution and links with Sarasvati
Civilization. 6. The cultural markers of legacy of the civilization.
7. Words for copper. 8. Tradition of sacred weapons. 9. Bronze age
artifacts in areas neighbouring Sarasvati Civilization. 10. Bharat,
Hurrian, Mitanni. 11. Harappan spoked wheel. Index. End notes.
Vol. VI: Language: 1. Lingua Franca. 2. Linguistic area of Bharat,
circa 5500 years before present. 3. IE homeland. 4. Language and
archaeology. 5. Desi_, bha_s.a_: substrate. 6. Silver ingot with
Hittite (?) hieroglyphs. 7. Rim (karn.aka, kan-) of a jar, kan,
'copper'. 8. Svastika, endless-knot and other glyphs. 9. On Siddham
and other symbols used in Bharatiya inscriptions. 10. Tiger, three
ligatured tigers, tiger looking back. 11. Human-faced markhor and
other glyphs. 12. Orthography of the one-horned bull (ibex, urus) and
the standard device. 13. List of possessions: copper ingot merchant,
metal furnace. 14. Squirrel and glyphs on weapons. 15. Dholavira sign
board. 16. Inscribed weapons. 17. Glyphs on Gundestrup Cauldron and
parallels with Sarasvati hieroglyphs. 18. Sarasvati Civilization.
Index. End notes.
Vol. VII: Epigraphs: 1. Sarasvati hieroglyphs: Mlecchita Vikalpa. 2.
Method to decode sets or categories of inscribed objects. 3.
Hieroglyph sign list (after Mahadevan). 4. Discovery sites. 5. Writing
system: structure, form and function. 6. Speculations on the functions
of the script. 7. Mlecchita Vikalpa: minerals, metals and furnaces. 8.
Tools-of-trade and property possessions of artisans depicted in
epigraphs. 9. Bastion, kottala, trough. 10. Smithy, pasra. 11.
Mineral, stone. 12. Tin, Pewter. 13. Iron, ib. 14. Bronze. 15. Alloy:
brass and bell-metal or bharan. 16. Metal ingot, trade. 17. Gold,
mint. 18. An alloy of five metals. 19. Erka, era, 'copper'. 20.
Duplicated and paired glyphs. 21. Person (woman) seated on a tree
branch, a spy, eraka. 22. Portable stove of a goldsmith, ban:gala. 23.
Fire-pit, furnace, kulme. 24. Smith, karma_ra. 25. Copper work. 26.
Smelting furnace, bat.i. 27. Smelting furnace, kut.hi. 28. Goldsmith's
tool, saw. 29. Standard device. 30. Dotted circles. 31. Rosetta
stones. 32. Dotted circles and standard. 33. Double-axe. 34. Glyph
ligatures. 35. Fish and lizard. 36. Standing person glyph. 37. Tree
glyphs. 38. Fish glyph. 39. Sarasvati Civilization. Index. End notes.
From the foreword: "This septet constitutes a fitting homage to
Babasaheb (Uma_ka_nt kes'av) Apte, particularly in the wake of the
centenary celebrations planned for 2003 in memory of this patriot who
wanted a presentation of the history of Bha_rata from a Bha_rati_ya
socio-cultural perspective.
"The dream of the late Padmashri Vakankar, archaeologist is also
partly fulfilled with the delineation of the peoples' lives over 5,000
years on the banks of the Rivers Sarasvati and Sindhu.
"The Sarasvati Nadi Shodh Prakalp which is headed by Dr. Kalyanaraman
under the guidance of Shri Haribhau Vaze, All-India Organizing
Secretary, Akhila Bharateeya Itihaasa Sankalana Yojana should be
complimented for bringing to successful completion this important
phase of writing of the history of ancient Bha-rata.
"The River Sarasvati has not only been established as ground-truth
(bhu_mi satyam), but the vibrant civilization which was nurtured on
the banks of this river has been exquisitely unraveled in the five
volumes, covering virtually all aspects of the lives of the pitr.-s,
many of whose a_s'rama-s are venerated even today in many parts of
Bha_rata.
"The seven volumes provide a framework for understanding the writing
system evolved ca. 5,300 years ago to record the possessions and items
traded by metal- and fire- workers, the bharata-s. The language spoken
by the people is also becoming clearer, with the existence of a
linguistic area on the banks of the two rivers - the substrata and ad-
strata lexemes which seem to match the glyphs of inscribed objects are
a testimony to this discovery. This calls for a paradigm shift in the
study of languages of Bha_rata with particular reference to the
essential semantic unity of all the language families, thanks to
intense socio-economic and cultural interactions across the length and
breadth of Bha_rata.
"Hopefully, this work should generate many more research studies of
this kind to further study the impact of the civilization on the
cultural unity of the nation."
https://www.vedamsbooks.com/no34694.htm
Dr. Jai Maharaj
Jul 4 2009, 8:44 pm
From: ***@mantra.com and/or www.mantra.com/jai (Dr. Jai Maharaj)
Date: Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:44:47 GMT
Local: Sat, Jul 4 2009 8:44 pm
Subject: WITZEL, HARVARD PROFESSOR LAUNCHES ANTI-HINDU CRUSADE
Forwarded message from S. Kalyanaraman
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Witzel, Harvard professor launches anti-Hindu Crusade
Dr. Srinivasan Kalyanaraman
Quiz #1:
"Hindus in the USA are lost or abandoned people!"
"NRI stands for Non-Returning Indians!"
"Indians in the USA do not invest in the higher education of their
children!"
Who in the USA do you think would have made derogatory statements to
this effect?
A. A Ku Klux Klansman
B. A Bible thumping fundamentalist from Alabama
C. A Xenophobe who is paranoid about immigrants settling in the USA
D. A Harvard Sanskrit professor
Correct answer: D.
I am sure none of you scored right on this. So, read on and get
informed.
Harvard professor disparages Hindus
Recently, in a Communist-leaning political list better known for its
uncritical beliefs in myths like Aryan Invasion and its negation of
historical facts, Harvard professor Michael Witzel made some
startling claims about Hindu immigrants to the USA. One of his
acolytes invented the acronym HINA for Hindus in North America.
Witzel disingenuously and infamously transliterated it as "hiina"and
translated it as "lost" or "abandoned." This Sanskrit word has many
other derogatory meanings such as "inferior," "insecure," "lowly" and
"defective."
It caught my attention that Witzel had described Hindus using the
very same phrase -- "lost people" -- which a rabid Christian
fundamentalist and anti-Semite had used to describe the Jews a few
years ago.
Rev. Bailey Smith, then-president of the Southern Baptists, had
infamously declared:
"God Almighty does not hear the prayer of a Jew" and added, "without
Jesus Christ, they [the Jews] are lost." [1]
One does not know whether, or to what extant, Witzel shares Smith's
fanatical and bigoted beliefs. But Witzel was instrumental in urging
activism against the Hindu initiative, as a result of which his
cosignatory urged a Hindu-bashing Christian fundamentalist to
mobilize a show of strength against the Hindus of California, as we
will see later. Witzel also makes fun of the Hindu custom of
cremating their dead:
"[Hindus immigrants to the USA] have begun -- as an old, very
conservative US Brahmin friend pointed out to me already in 1994—
building crematoria as well." [2]
Witzel also makes fun of Hindu Gods, rituals and second generation
American Hindus:
"Second generation [Hindu] people just understand [Hinduism] as
"boaring rituals" (puja, etc.), temple visits and Indian
(mythological) comic books ... All such items add to the heady brew
that we have seen emerging here..." [3]
Considering that our Harvard professor has specifically enclosed the
words "boaring rituals" within quotes, one cannot but assume that it
was intended to make fun of the Hindu God Vishnu, who incarnated as a
boar.
Background
Some of the proposed textbooks for grade six of the State of
California portrayed Hinduism in the most derogatory manner. A
textbook described Goddess Kali as "bloodthirsty" and, while talking
about the Ramayana and Lord Hanuman, asked the students to look
around and see if there was a monkey in the classroom. Another
textbook claimed that Hinduism taught that women were inferior. Yet
another textbook repeated the long discredited racist theory, which
contrasted the supposedly tall, blond and blue-eyed invading Aryans
with the supposedly curly-haired, snub-nosed native Dravidians.
Naturally, Hindus in California were offended by this offensive
treatment of their religion and culture. So, they worked with the
State Board of Education, understood the procedures and submitted a
list of proposed changes with due explanation. Perhaps, Max Muller,
the 19 th century German racist and Christian fundamentalist, who had
stated very clearly that Hindus as a race are inferior to the Whites
but superior to the Blacks, [4]would not have countenanced such
audacious gestures from erstwhile colonial slaves seeking parity with
other religionists according to rules. A section of Eurocentric
academics that faithfully propagate Muller's racist theory and
chronology of Indian history too did not tolerate such a gesture from
the Hindus.
'Rev.' Witzel launches anti-Hindu Crusade
Witzel and some of his cosignatories admitted that they knew nothing
about the nature of the changes proposed . But, in the same breath,
they concluded that this is an unacceptable Hindutva initiative,
which must be opposed tooth and nail. On Sunday, November 06, 2005
9:46 AM Steve Farmer [a cosignatory and originator of Witzel et al's
protest petition] wrote:
"There is little time to research and respond to exactly what is
happening in California, since we only learned about organized
Hindutva challenges to California history textbooks yesterday. ...
The final School Board meeting on this will apparently occur in
Sacramento (the state capital) in three days. Even given the short
time, a collective response of some nature by internationally known
S. Asianists is certainly in order. At a minimum, the Board should be
made aware in some way of the religious and political nature of the
attacks, be provided with a quick overview of similar attacks on
textbooks in S. Asia in the last decade, and be given notice of the
opposition of the vast majority of S. Asian researchers to such
changes. Given the short time frame, the response may have to be
largely symbolic, but a letter endorsed by a dozen or more
internationally known S. Asianists from every continent might still
have some effect."[5]
Witzel, on behalf of another 46 signatories, petitioned the State
Board of Education [SBE] against the proposed changes [the nature of
which he and his cosignatories were unaware]. He launched an ad
hominem and slanderous attack on the Hindus who had proposed the
changes.
The petition, like Lallu Prasad's election campaign, provided a
"balanced" mix of ignorance, slander and comic relief. Jonathan Mark
Kenoyer, whose parents were Christian missionaries in Asia, was one
of the signatories on the petition. He is also the author of the
proposed textbook from the Oxford University Press. California Hindus
had reviewed the OUP textbook and suggested changes in a meeting with
OUP officials. The OUP officials informed in writing that Kenoyer
agreed with the suggestions. Should one then suspect the inclusion of
Kenoyer's name in the petition or was Kenoyer filled with the Holy
Spirit and began speaking in tongues [The New Testament, Acts 19:6]?
Sometime back, in a review of Edwin Bryant's 2001 book, The Quest for
the Origins of Vedic Culture -- the Indo-Aryan Migration Debate,
Witzel wrote:
"[Bryant's book is] A balanced description and evaluation of the two
century old debate dealing with the origins of the Indo-Aryan
speaking peoples of South Asia. [Bryant] presents both sides of the
issue, that is the traditional western, linguistic and philological
consensus of immigration from Central Asia, and the more recent
Indian position that denies any immigration and that asserts an
indigenous South Asian origin."
Now, the same Witzel calls it Hindu Nationalistic propagandawhen
California Hindus say the same! Perhaps, he is filled with the Holy
Spirit and speaking in tongues!
The SBE of California capitulates
In 1850 CE, when the Harvard Medical School admitted three black men
and a white woman, racists protested against the move. The school
capitulated. [6] Just like those racists offered no substantive
arguments for throwing out the blacks and the woman, this time too,
the infamous petitioners offered no substantive reason for
campaigning against the changes suggested by Hindus. Still, the SBE
capitulated. One wonders if the SBE wanted to emulate the Harvard of
1850 CE.
The SBE went a step further. It appointed two of the signatories --
Michael Witzel and Stanley Wolpert -- and James Heitzman, who
protested at the venue repeating Witzel's ad hominem attack to review
the suggested changes. Is not appointing a petitioner to review
suggested changes tantamount to conflict of interest?
On the other hand, the SBE is not known to have acted on a letter
signed by over 30 distinguished experts that included world's
foremost archeologists who have been working on the IVC and its
script for decades. These signatories cited many references showing
why Aryan Invasion is merely an unsubstantiated myth.
The above said letter was sent on November 21, 2005. The SBE, for
reasons unknown, did not accord it the same respect it accorded
Witzel's defamatory petition.
Crusaders form an axis of protestors
Witzel made it clear that he was a political activist. On November
26, 2005 17:26, he wrote his fellow petitioners:
"There will be a meeting with California Dept. of Education [...]
Please note that on Dec. 1/2 a higher body than last time, the
Curriculum Commission, is scheduled to take up this issue in the
morning on December 2 (note all times are tentative—if they move
through the agenda faster than expected, things will happen earlier).
This is not a public hearing. But all that means is that there is no
official published time for the public to speak before the
commissioners take action . Nonetheless, each meeting has a time for
"public comment" and people will be allowed to come up and speak.
(Thus, we have to be present).
If they follow the order of the published agenda, public comment
comes after the actual vote. They will only hear Tom Adam's (CA Dept.
of Education) report on the earlier (Hindutva-inspired) and our
(Wolpert, Heitzman, Witzel) findings.
But if they see the huge Hindutva crowd expected and decide to let
them speak first, it is possible votes will be swayed back the other
way simply because no political person likes to say no, in public, to
an unhappy minority group seeking redress of grievances.
It also appears that in the afternoon of December 1, the day before
the vote, the History-Social Science subcommittee will hear reports
about recent events in the adoption of the text books. This should
not involve any discussion of the "Hindu" issue. But the Hindu groups
might show up for that discussion too. Public comment is allowed and
it will give them a chance to speak to some of the commissioners
before the vote the next day.
SO PLEASE TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION: Alert your friends in California
to attend!" [7]
How appropriate is it for a reviewer on contract with the SBE who is
expected to be neutral, to indulge in political activism, falsely
label California Hindus as of a political persuasion and seek
unethical mobilization of support? How appropriate is it for the SBE
to hire such politicized academics to review school textbooks?
In any case, Lars Martin Fosse, a cosignatory on the petition and a
collaborator of Witzel, wrote John Dayal and Amarjit Singh, citing
Witzel's letter:
"It would probably be an advantage if Dalits were present and could
demonstrate that the Hindutvavadins do not speak for all Indians. I
have been reluctant to announce this on the Dalit lists because we
don't know if they are infiltrated, we therefore turn to you for
advice and help. Is there a way to (discretely) mobilize Dalits in
California and elsewhere in this matter? Could you get some support
from Afro-American organizations here?We don't want to create the
impression that only a few outsiders are against the Hindutva version
of history." [8]
Please note that Fosse uses the word "WE," clearly indicating that he
is writing on behalf of a group while seeking mobilization of
protestors. The only group one could think of in this situation is
the list of cosignatories on the petition whom Witzel had addressed
in his email. So, who are these people -- John Dayal and Amarjit
Singh -- whom Fosse writes? P.N. Benjamin, a distinguished Christian
scholar and the coordinator of Bangalore Initiative for Religious
Dialogue [BIRD], says of John Dayal:
"[John Dayal] opens his mouth and wields his pen only to spew venom
on the Hindu community." [9]
Benjamin then goes on to expose the kind of lies that the likes of
Dayal perpetrate when they invent stories of Hindu rape of Christian
nuns and propagate those abroad with the sole intent of discrediting
the Hindus. John Dayal is also infamous for ardently supporting Benny
Hinn, who defrauds the poorest illiterates in the Third World by
promising them "miracle healing." [10]
According to the South Asia Terrorism Portal [SATP], Amarjit Singh is
closely associated with the banned terror organization International
Sikh Youth Federation [ISYF]. [11] Many countries such as the USA
[12] and the UK [13] have designated ISYF as a terrorist
organization. Singh also heads the Khalistan Affairs Centre [KAC]. I
am not implying that KAC is connected with Khalistani terrorism as I
have no means to judge that but it is a well-known fact that
Khalistani terrorists have massacred 21,000 innocent civilian Hindus
and Sikhs, and have committed untold crimes such as rape of countless
Sikh women. [14] A US State department notification states:
"Sikh terrorism is sponsored by expatriate and Indian Sikh groups who
want to carve out an independent Sikh state called Khalistan (Land of
the Pure) from Indian territory." [15]
Khalistani terrorists were also tried for the bombing of the Air
India civilian aircraft"Kanishka" in 1985, killing hundreds of
innocent passengers. [16] Amarjit Singh is an advocate of Khalistan
ideology.
There is no indication that Witzel or any other signatory on the
petition condemned Fosse [himself a signatory] for unethically
mobilizing political support and that too, by instigating highly
controversial persons. It is beyond my comprehension how an academic
could join hands with a rabid Christian fundamentalist and a
proponent of the lethal Khalistan ideology. What kind of academics
would sign the petition but remain silent and not condemn unethically
seeking support from such controversial individuals?
Quiz #2:
"The miraculously undecayed body of Saint Francis Xavier is still on
public view in a glass coffin at the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa."
Who in the USA do you think would have made a statement to this
effect?
A. A pre-school child visiting Goa for the first time
B. A Bible thumping Catholic Christian fundamentalist
C. A Creation scientist
D. A U C Davis history professor
Correct answer: D.
I am sure you got this too wrong. So, read on and get informed.
An SBE appointed reviewer advertises Christian miracles
James Heitzman, professor of history at U C Davis, is one of the
three reviewers appointed by the SBE. It does not seem as if he
accepts that mummified bodies do not decay. [17] He is wonderstruck
that it is a miracle that the mummified body of the infamous St.
Francis Xavier, who sought the terrible Inquisition of Goa, [18]
which persecuted Hindus, Indian Orthodox Christians, Jews and Muslims
in the most vicious manner, should be preserved for five centuries.
Someone needs to direct our distinguished professor to any museum of
natural history, where Egyptian mummies are preserved. Of course, one
cannot guarantee that Heitzman will return scientifically informed.
He may see the hand of miracle in their preservation too!
It seems as if Heitzman strongly believes that history should be
supplanted with false propaganda if it suits the proselytizing
efforts of the Christian Church. He writes:
"Christianity, represented by almost all denominations, traces its
history in India back to the time of the apostles and counted 19.6
million members in India in 1991." [19]
Numerous scholars have refuted this dangerous fiction, which falsely
painted the Brahmin ethnic minority as Thomas-killers, and resulted
in their demonization and persecution, just as the false myth of the
Jews as Jesus-killers resulted in their historic persecution. The
Vatican itself has declared that this is an unverified claim.
Numerous distinguished academics such as E.J. Rapson, Sylvain Levi,
K.S. Latourette, Fr. H.Heras etc, to name a few, have refuted that
St. Thomas ever came to India. [20] It seems as if Heitzman prefers
dangerous Christian fiction to facts.
Heitzman believes in revelations
Heitzman unquestioningly accepts revelations. He writes:
"Muhammad received visions in which the Archangel Gabriel revealed
the word of God to him . After 620 he publicly preached the message
of these visions, stressing the oneness of God (Allah), denouncing
the polytheism of his fellow Arabs, and calling for moral uplift of
the population." [21]
Since Heitzman is mesmerized by revelations, he is unimpressed by the
inquiries into the truth, a common feature of Hindu philosophy, which
he dismisses as speculations. He writes:
"Some of the later hymns of the Rig Veda contain speculations that
form the basis for much of Indian religious and philosophical
thought." [22]
Heitzman, while discussing Hindu festivals, calls Hindus cross-
dressers:
"Major Hindu events include Ramanavami, the birthday of Ram in the
month of Chaitra (March-April), and Holi, celebrated at the end of
the month of Phalguna (February-March), when people engage in cross-
dressing, play tricks on each other, and squirt colored water or
powder on each other." [23]
How can the SBE nominate an academic, who believes in miracles and
fits history to suit Christian propaganda, to review contents
relating to Hinduism in school textbooks, especially when he is also
a signatory on Witzel's petition? Does the SBE agree with Heitzman's
uncharitable remarks on Hinduism and Hindus?
Quiz #3:
"The most important invasion in all of India's history, since the
Aryans brought with their Caucasian genes [is Aryan invasion]."
Who in the USA do you think would have made a statement to this
effect?
A. A Ku Klux Klansman
B. A eugenics advocate
C. A White Supremacist
D. A U C Los Angeles history professor
Correct answer: D.
I am sure you got this too wrong, unless you have by now learnt that
only Western historians can make such statements. Anyway, read on.
Wolpert celebrates the Caucasian gene
While discussing Aryan invasion theory [AIT], Stanley Wolpert, a UCLA
historian writes:
"This was the most important invasion in all of India's history,
since the Aryans brought with their Caucasian genes a new language --
Sanskrit -- and a new pantheon of gods…"[24]
It seems that to our UCLA professor the importance of an invasion
depends on whether it involved the inflow of Caucasian genes! Hey,
what is next? The most important invasion in all of Americas' history
is the 16 th century invasion of Europeans because it brought in
Caucasian genes? Thank god, African Americans, who do not possess
Caucasian genes, did not invade Americas!
I could not but think of the 18th century racist Benjamin Rush's
writings on "Lovely White"skin contrasted with the Black skin as I
read Wolpert wax eloquent on the importance of coming in of the
Caucasian genes. Benjamin Rush, a medical doctor, attributed Black
skin to leprosy and advocated "curing" African-Americans by bleeding
and purging. [25]
Not to be outdone by Heitzman, Wolpert also repeats the dangerous
Christian propaganda of the imagined visit of St. Thomas to India. He
writes:
"A small but influential group of Syrian Christians in Kerala persist
in claiming that their sect was founded by St. Thomas, who may have
sailed to Malabar in the first century and who was supposedly
martyred at Mylapore , a suburb of modern Madras, in A.D. 68. The
tiny Jewish community of Cochin also claims to have been founded in
the first century, but no clear historical evidence of such early
Jewish settlement in Malabar has as yet been discovered." [26]
The reference of Mylapore is to the mythical killing of St. Thomas by
a peaceful and scholarly ethnic minority of Tamil Brahmins. A
rational person might be at a loss to understand how St. Thomas, who
did not even visit India, could have been killed there. But, Wolpert
has no compunctions in repeating this perniciously false propaganda,
which, since the Portuguese colonial period, has resulted in the most
terrible persecution of Brahmins. Is anything acceptable if it helps
demonize Hindus and help perpetuate Christianity?
Why is the SBE nominating such a biased academic, who is also a
signatory on Witzel's petition, to review contents relating to
Hinduism?
Conclusion
1. I have shown that the SBE capitulated to political pressure
by nominating a trio of academics who have indulged in the most
despicable form of political activism, disparaged Hinduism or
collaborated with controversial elements.
2. The SBE did not accord any respect to the scholars who
supported the Hindu initiative by presenting solid references.
3. One of these academics has also expressed his admiration for
Christian miracles, while another has propagated falsified [over 80
years ago!] Christian propaganda.
4. Is it not a clear violation of guidelines, and law, to
subject Hinduism and Hindus to such treatment? Does the SBE want
Hindu children of California to be indoctrinated in false propaganda?
5. It is heartening to note that the Commission constituted by
the SBE dismissed virtually all demands made by this trio -- Witzel,
Wolpert and Heitzman -- with the contempt they deserved. According to
a report of December 4, 2005 by the HPI, Heitzman unsuccessfully
pleaded to replace Aryan Invasion Theory [AIT] with Aryan Migration
Theory [AMT]. But Commissioner Metzenberg, a biologist, objected on
scientific grounds. He said:
"I've read the DNA research and there was no Aryan migration. I
believe the hard evidence of DNA more than I believe historians."
It was finally agreed to say, "Some historians believe in the
theory of an Aryan migration."
This shows how false theories motivated by racist politics never
stand scientific scrutiny. Of course, there is no justification even
in retaining AMT, which is merely a belief, and not supported by
facts. Hindus must meet the SBE to ensure that theories which are not
scientifically substantiated be removed altogether.
6. Heitzman, apparently frustrated that his advocacies failed
the test of scientific evidence, said to the Commission:
"I advise you to err on the side of conservatism and be very careful
about adopting any of these changes."
Commissioner Metzenberg replied pointedly:
"On the contrary, to err on the side of conservatism, we should use
the Hindu suggestions. After all, it's their religion."
7. Metzenberg also felt a comment by Witzel's panel on one edit
was "insensitive."The edit was to fix the incorrect statement that
the Ramayana was written later than the Mahabharata. Witzel's group
wrote condescendingly:
"Who in Sixth Grade cares which epic was 'written' first?"
Metzenberg observed that "it obviously matters to Hindus."
8. Hindus must also make it very clear to the SBE that no
academic that is known to be inimical to Hinduism or known to have
distorted facts to fit pet beliefs be not allowed to have any say in
the process of reviewing and amending textbooks. As such, the trio of
reviewers was admitted into the process without justification. I have
presented solid evidence that they indulged in political activism
contrary to the spirit of their contract with the SBE. Hindus must
demand that the SBE should terminate their contract right away.
9. Hindus must demand that the SBE does not entertain any of
the signatories of Witzel's petition in the textbook review and
adoption process as I have already demonstrated that they are biased
and politically motivated.
10. Witzel has ridiculed the most sacred of the Hindu mantras or
sacred chants. He writes:
"Many short mantras (the later biija mantras) like oM have humble
origins the Veda. Him (hiM) is used in the Veda to call your goat ..
and your wife." [27]
Steve Farmer's [who initiated the petition] and also signed on
Witzel's petition declared, in pathetic attempt at humor, that he
would try this mantra on his girlfriend. [28] Hindus must demand that
academics with a history of disparaging Hinduism cannot influence
what goes into textbooks meant for children.
11. Finally, only academics and experts on religion with a non-
controversial record should be nominated to influence the process of
textbook adoption. Academics that are accused of having used
unethical means of scholarship should not be used for this purpose.
Prof. B.B. Lal, the world's foremost archeologist and expert on Indus
Valley Civilization, in his most recent publication,The Homeland of
the Aryans -- Evidence of Rigvedic Flora and Fauna & Archaeology, pp.
85-89 (New Delhi, 2005) writes that Dr. Witzel unethically and
willfully assigned two opposite meanings to two occurrences of the
same Sanskrit word to artificially make the verse support Aryan
migration into India, whereas the verse actually makes it very clear
that Aryans migrated in two branches, one to the West and another to
the East, from northwestern India.
It was a very sad day for Sanskrit scholarship in general, and
Harvard in particular when one of its academics was accused of and
disgraced for willfully and unethically mistranslating a verse. When
the error was pointed to him in the past, Witzel conveniently blamed
it on the editor of the relevant publication concerned, despite the
fact that the same mistranslation has been printed by him in many
other publications of his.
12. Even in the petition he sent the SBE, Witzel claims that one of
the signatories, S. Palaniappan as: "S. Palaniappan, PhD, Indology,
Texas." It must be pointed out that Palaniappan, who works for the
Minute Maid Company in Texas, is not an Indologist by any stretch of
that word. Certainly, he is not a Ph.D. in Indology as Witzel
misleads in his petition. Palaniappan received his doctorate in
engineering. Should one then infer that Palaniappan is a 'made in a
minute' instant Indologist? Did Witzel use Heitzman's miracle to
transform engineer Palaniappan into an Indologist?
Dr. Srinivasan Kalyanaraman, a former Sr. Exec. of Asian Development
Bank, is a Hindu. His two grandchildren, US citizens, study in US
schools. His email id is ***@gmail.com
[1] http://www.religioustolerance.org/jud_chrr.htm
[2] Vide message number 2300 at Yahoo groups Indo-Eurasian_research
[3] In the above message
[4] Muller, M.: History of Ancient Sanskrit Literature, page 294.
Also see, a paper presented by Arvind Kumar at the SBE
hearing:
http://jitnasa.india-forum.com/Docs/ProAryanInvasionTheoryargumentspr...
[5] Vide message number 2225 Yahoo groups Indo-Eurasian_research
[6] Takaki, R.T.: Iron Cages -- Race and Culture in 19th Century
America, p. 137
[7] This email was posted vide message number 8893 at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Bahujan/message/8893
[8] Cited from the abovementioned email
[9] Benjamin, P.N .: When Intolerance Begets Loss Of Reason.
Available at http://www.hvk.org/articles/0905/43.html
[10] http://www.rickross.com/reference/hinn/hinn32.html
[11] http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/kpsgill/security/04Feb21Pio.htm
[12] http://www.state.gov/www/global/terrorism/1999report/appb.html
andhttp://japan.usembassy.gov/e/p/tp-20040430-33.html
[13] http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/security/terrorism-and-the-law/terrorism...
[14] Bruce Hoffman "Holy Terror": The Implications Of Terrorism
Motivated By A Religious Imperative RAND Paper P-7834, 1993
http://www.nwcitizen.com/publicgood/reports/holywar3.htm#endn39
cf. Komerath, N:
http://www.geocities.com/charcha_2000/essays/Lashkar-e-Pinocchio.html...
[15] http://www.state.gov/www/global/terrorism/1999report/appb.html
[16] http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/punjab/backgroun...
[17] Heitzman, J. and Worden, R.L.: A Country Study: India, Chapter 3
-- Religious Life by James Heitzman (section: Other Minority
Religions -- Christianity), Library of Congress Call Number DS407.
cf. a paper presented by Arvind Kumar at the SBE hearing:
http://jitnasa.india-forum.com/Docs/ProAryanInvasionTheoryargumentspr...
[18] Priolkar, A.K.: The Terrible Tribunal for the East -- The Goa
Inquisition. In a letter dated May 16, 2005, St. Xavier writing D.
Joao III, king of Portugal, demanded Inquisition against the Jews and
Muslims of Goa. Even though the wise king turned down the demand,
ultimately, due to intense pressure from the Catholic Church, the
most terrible Inquisition would be unleashed, first on the Jews of
India, then the Muslims and finally, in a most oppressive manner, on
the Hindus.
[19] Heitzman, J. and Worden, R.L.: A Country Study: India, Chapter 3
-- Religious Life, Library of Congress Call Number DS407 .I4465 1996,
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/intoc.html
cf. a paper presented by Arvind Kumar at the SBE hearing:
http://jitnasa.india-forum.com/Docs/ProAryanInvasionTheoryargumentspr...
[20] For an excellent discussion, see Sharan, I.:The Myth of Saint
Thomas and the Mylapore Shiva Temple, p. 73
[21] Heitzman, J. and Worden, R.L.: A Country Study: India, Chapter 3
-- Religious Life by James Heitzman (section: Islam -- Origins and
Tenets), Library of Congress Call Number DS407 .I4465 1996,
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/intoc.html
cf. a paper presented by Arvind Kumar at the SBE hearing:
http://jitnasa.india-forum.com/Docs/ProAryanInvasionTheoryargumentspr...
[22] Heitzman, J. and Worden, R.L.: A Country Study: India, Chapter 3
-- Religious Life by James Heitzman (section: The Roots of Indian
Religion -- The Vedas and Polytheism), Library of Congress Call
Number DS407 .I4465 1996,
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/intoc.html
cf. a paper presented by Arvind Kumar at the SBE hearing:
http://jitnasa.india-forum.com/Docs/ProAryanInvasionTheoryargumentspr...
[23] Heitzman, J. and Worden, R.L.: A Country Study: India, Chapter 3
-- Religious Life by James Heitzman (section: The Ceremonies of
Hinduism -- Public Worship -- Festivals), Library of Congress Call
Number DS407 .I4465 1996,
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/intoc.html
cf. a paper presented by Arvind Kumar at the SBE hearing:
http://jitnasa.india-forum.com/Docs/ProAryanInvasionTheoryargumentspr...
[24] Wolpert, S.: A New History of India, Fifth Edition, page 27 cf.
a paper presented by Arvind Kumar at the SBE hearing:
http://jitnasa.india-forum.com/Docs/ProAryanInvasionTheoryargumentspr...
[25] Takaki, R.T .: Iron Cages -- Race and Culture in 19th Century
America, pp. 28-32
[26] Wolpert, S.: A New History of India, Fifth Edition, page 84.
[27] Vide message number 2133 at Yahoo groups Indo-Eurasian_research
[28] Vide message number 2164 at Yahoo groups Indo-Eurasian_research
A REFRESHER -- DOWN "MEMORY LANE"!
http://tinyurl.com/c3f4b
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian/msg/41fb7e5f908af736?
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian/browse_thread/thread/3ad4924dd284570e/58802713d74b0c6b#58802713d74b0c6b
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian/search?q=S.+Kalyanaraman+&start=0&
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian/search?group=soc.culture.indian&q=S.+Kalyanaraman+Sid+Harth&qt_g=Search+this+group
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/19684779/lalumanagementguru
http://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_z_misc_navagraha/mangala108.itx
http://www.hindubooks.org/history/sarasvati/sarasvati_1.html
http://newstodaynet.com/printer.php?id=18010
Horseplay in Harappa: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/f9b738e079fef9fb/29e89ff9c3ac525d
Troubled Tribal: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/e728acc31e0d52d7#
Indian Morality Meltdown: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/ec479835613abd41#
Hindus'Tantrum: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/8a1efe054a3bf157#
I Write, Therefore I am: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/4cb1ce65c9d8f4c5#
Indian Morality Meltdown: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/37334fb34fbe6d7c#
Sex and CD Scandal: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/3f5e2a3be4798e7d#
Not Required Indian, NRI: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/672c3ae8cc9b567c#
Why 'Marathi'?
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/4be9d2a2e20ab43f#
Telangana Tempest: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/b7da74ebd932a5fa#
Of States and Statesmanship: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/73c89074ecfe9966#
Sa for Sanskrit Pop: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/9f6d369c7793990f#
Black Money Monster: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/109aa8a66442ca6d#
Superpower Syndrome: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/85f8a222fd275c15#
Indian Power-Pow-Wow, Wow!: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/54cba427083f4e4f#
26/11 Saga Continues: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/20d42cd9546b852b#
Superpower Syndrome: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/008ed3e81dbcd9cc#
Of Justice and Injustice: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/dc3ba7935f641e60#
Sangh Parivar Pageant: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/a91a817395e54639#
Stop this terroristic activities of Shiv Sena
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/93908482518b9228#
BJP RIP: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/20def0d930fc511f#
Superpower Syndrome: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/b6aa5a8a1b675046#
Sangh Parivar Pageant: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/9c4ff65e38c4b924#
Sudharma, Sanskrit Newspaper: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/51f22c78acbc72b1#
Hindu Worldview: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/c8a515cc34f18a5a#
Shimla Shenanigans: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/64bddaf4fb04bac5#
...and I am Sid Harth
