1. Our mail to Prof. Angana Chatterji
2. Prof. Angana Chatterji's reply.
3. Our reply.
Dear Ms. Chatterji:
I am a member of the Hindu business community in the US
that stands accused by you that "maintains a complicitious silence, refusing to
accept the viciousconsequences of Hindu nationalism. They continue to actively
fund fundamentalist Hindu organizations that are registered as charities in the
US, ostensibly working to promote and protect Indian heritage and culture. Such
organizations utilize funds raised in the name of 'culture' to foment social
division, intolerance and brutalization of minorities in India." Those are very
harsh words, indeed, and I am very sorry that you have chosen a Pakistani paper
to broadcast such inaccuracies and blatant lies. It is sad that an academic of
your stature and experience resorts to writing articles that are just not true.
Let me try and address some of the points that you have raised in your article
to The Dawn:
1. You mention that "India is yet to take responsibility for its systematic violation of the rights and lives of Kashmiris, while Pakistan continues to use terrorism as state policy". If proper research had been done, you would have uncovered that a democratic elected government led by a Muslim, has been in power in Kashmir for decades. If progress has not been at a satisfactory pace, it is because Pakistan sponsored jihadis are creating havoc and mayhem against civilians in Kashmir. Even you will have to agree that India has designed very special measures to help the Kashmiris, and that the standard of living in Indian held Kashmir is a lot better than the conditions in Pakistan held Kashmir. I am sure you are aware that an independent survey done in Kashmir recently revealed that over 61% of the Muslim Kashmiris wanted to stay with India (http://www.sulekha.com/redirectnh.asp?cid=205305)
2."The Indian central government, dominated by Hindu nationalists, continues to prioritize sectarian and non-secular agendas". India is a secular country that DOES have a Hindu majority; however, it is debatable that the Hindu nationalism dominates our social and political culture. A few Muslims in India have been recorded making very inflammatory anti-Indian statements, but do you see them in jails? No madam! We in India have gone out of our way to have Muslim presidents, political leaders, generals, cabinet members, CEOs; in fact, it will be a wonder if you can unearth even one Hindu of any prominence in Pakistan. Are you aware that the Hindu population has decreased from 7% in 1947 to less than 1% today? While the Muslim population has increased In India, IT IS because India provides a secular environment where people of ALL religions are welcome as long as they treat India as their country. If any Indian is unhappy, they are welcome to leave for the country of their choice. Is there anything wrong with this thought? Ms Chatterji, I will be the first Indian to admit that we are not perfect in India, but I am very proud of our secular outlook in India. Have there been lapses? Yes, and there will be more as we evolve and grow. India needs educated and intelligent people like your self to help us achieve our potential.
I do not know you well enough to question your loyalty to
India, but do question your methodology and tactics. I would encourage you to
check out organizations like
http://www.IndiaCause.org.
You will find that we are Indians, AND NOT HINDU
NATIONALISTS, who have banded together to promote India's image and cause in
world media. We are Indians who are proud of our heritage and culture, and do
not want it to be sullied through misinformation and inaccurate research. You
should be glad that you wrote this letter to The Dawn while living in the US.
Imagine your condition if you had been living in Pakistan? Please join us to
help India.
Regards,
Rakesh Sondhi
Dear Mr. Sondhi,
Thank you for taking the time to write me. I am in agreement with you that
Pakistan needs to seriously address the democratization of its national fabric,
human rights violations within its boarders, and its foreign policy. I would
like to point out that my letter was published in numerous papers and journals.
I did not explicitly solicit a newspaper.
I come from a family that has, since the
Bengali Renaissance, been actively involved in shaping India's secular fabric.
It is a legacy I take seriously, and because of which I am compelled to write
what I did.
With all good wishes,
Angana Chatterji
Dear Ms. Chatterji,
thank you for the quick response. You and your family are to be commended for all that you have done for India. India looks upon people of your caliber and intelligence to contribute as much as you can. Your letter to the newspapers, I am sorry to say, had a very strong tilt to condemning India for a few lapses.
Yes, Godhra, is a blip on India's secular record, but has been
given a lot of attention thanks to the press. However, I don't recall a single
newspaper detailing India's secular record to date. Have you read any article
that talks about how well the Muslims, Christians, Parsees, Jews, Sikhs are
doing in India? How every successive government has tried to help the "lower
castes"? Maybe things are not improving at the pace that we would like; but by
condemning us so brutally, you have given further ammunition to our enemies to
manufacture more lies. Given your academic credentials and experience, I would
urge you to write about the "good things" in India, unless of course, you have
given up on India. I hope not! Talent such as yourself is India's most precious
asset!
With best regards,
Rakesh Sondhi
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