Suicide attacks are un-Islamic: Ulema

By Syed Irfan Raza in The Dawn


Leading Ulema of the country declared on Sunday that suicide attacks and beheading of people were ‘un-Islamic’ acts and said that militants in Swat and Fata were pursuing the agenda of Pakistan’s enemies.

The edict was issued at a convention of Ulema and Mashaikh from different parts of the country. This is the first time that prominent Ulema and religious scholars, mostly belonging to the Sunni school of thought, have denounced the Taliban and their inhuman acts in such a categorical manner.

A unanimous resolution adopted at the convention said: ‘The assassination of Ulema should be stopped and sacred places, including shrines, should be cleared of extremists. Suicide attacks and beheading is Haram’.

The convention also condemned the killing of innocent people in the US drone attacks and urged the government to raise the issue at the United Nations.

The Ulema said the US drone strikes were challenging the country’s sovereignty. ‘The government must take effective measures to force the US to halt these strikes.’

They supported the military operation in Swat and other parts of Malakand and declared it a ‘war for Pakistan’s integrity and sovereignty’. The elements engaged in creating a state within the state must be crushed, they added.

The convention also adopted a resolution backing the all-parties conference convened by the prime minister. Maulana Sahibzada Fazal Karim, a leader of Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, said in his address that those trying to harm the integrity of Pakistan should be severely dealt with.

He and other Ulema stressed the need for forging unity against militancy. Some of them expressed readiness to form their own Lashkar against the Taliban if security forces needed their help to eradicate terrorists from the troubled areas.

‘We played our role during the independence movement and we will protect the country and foil every design of the enemy,’ Sahibzada Karim said, adding that the operation in Swat was the need of the hour because some sections of society were forcing people to accept their brand of Islam.

‘These elements kill those who opposed them,’ he said. The JUP leader also vowed to enforce Sharia in the country. He said a number of agencies were working against the integrity of Pakistan and were trying to destabilise its economy.

‘These agencies were pouring millions of dollars and large quantities of weapons into areas along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border,’ he said.

Ruet-i-Hilal Committee chairman Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman criticised the establishment for patronising the militants for almost three decades. ‘We are now harvesting the crop we sowed three decades ago.’

He said the practice to surrender before the gun should end and called for a decisive offensive against the militants. Mufti Muneeb said those who were fighting in the name of Sharia must first abide by Islamic laws.

He said the Taliban were even slaughtering children. ‘This is contrary to the teachings of Islam which calls for protecting people who are not involved in battle,’ he said.

‘If the Taliban have any respect for Islamic values, they should give up bloodshed because it was harming national integrity,’ the Mufti said.

The Ulema also called on the Organisation of Islamic Conference to come forward to help the displaced people of Swat and other parts of Malakand. Dr Sarfaraz Naeemi called upon Ulema to forge unity in their ranks against the conspiracies of the Taliban, Sufi Mohammad and enemies of the country.

He urged the government to reject the US agenda of controlling Madaris. Sarwat Ejaz Qadri said the Taliban had tarnished the image of Islam across the world. ‘All Muslims should stand up against them.’

Haji Hanif Tayyab said security forces were fighting the militants to save the country. He called for trying Sufi Mohammad for mutiny.

http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/12-suicide-attacks-are-un-islamic-ulema--bi-10

Shaving for survival?

By Shyema in The Dawn, Pakistan on 05 18th, 2009

Latest reports claim that the Taliban are shaving off their beards to escape the operation in Swat. The Taliban have maintained that the beards are a sign of being a devoted and true Muslim. Perhaps that is why the Afghani Taliban had gone to the extent of measuring the beards of normal citizens out on the streets of Kabul. Perhaps that is why beard trimmers have been jailed by the ‘religious police’. Perhaps that is also why the Taliban have vandalised barber shops in Buner and threatened barbers to stop cutting hair and trimming beards. So why bring in the razors now?

Already listed as the modern-day barbarians, these men have now taken to shaving off their supposed ‘identity’ in order to escape without being noticed by the Pakistan military. Clever tactic but is it worth shedding off their religious beliefs for? Or do their beliefs allow them to go clean shaven if it’s about the question of their survival? If that is the case then they are no different than the society they target – double standards persist either way.

How come the rules have not been relaxed then if a woman is dying and has a doctor at hand but one who can’t do much to save her because he is a man? Women have died of curable ailments just because male doctors were not allowed to touch them. Does that not come into the debate of survival? Or are women exempted from this exemption list?

The government and NGOs are having a hard time keeping track of the displaced people because now they don’t know who could be a militant and who is a refugee. Are beards the only thing that can determine a refugee from a militant? If so, then the military has an even bigger task ahead of themselves.

http://dawntravelshow.com/dblog/2009/05/18/shaving-for-survival

A 'Ban' smoked away

By karishma Karki, Anubhooti Panda and Mohd. Reyaz

Prachi Dutt (name changed) was 10 years old when she tried smoking for the first time. Since then, ‘let me try it once’ has became a habit. Today, eleven years later, she cannot stop smoking even on her college campus, although the university has been declared a smoke- free zone.

Like Prachi, there are many others who openly flout this ban in various colleges and universities across Delhi. And they seem to have no qualms about it.

Rahul (name changed), a student of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) said, he is sure he would not be caught because he is certain authorities don’t care. “Everyone smokes openly here; even the staff and professors indulge in it. And no one says anything, neither the guards, nor the administration.”

Anand Kumar, a guard at the university concurs. “Students do smoke in the campus. But they hide the cigarette when they see us,” he said.

Apam Kharingpam, an Assistant Professor at the same university believes that smoking zones should be created at various places in the universities, just as in restaurants and airports. “The government earns a lot of money from chain smokers like me. So, I think it is hypocrisy on the part of the government to ban it in certain places and to sell it at others.”

Though the law is being openly defied by many, authorities seem to be sitting pretty after installing hoardings and banners everywhere. Professor Gurmeet Singh, the Proctor of Delhi University says, “We conduct regular classes and awareness campaigns to sensitise the students. More than going behind the students with a stick in our hand, we believe in educating them. We conducted a survey after we started the campaign. And the results show that 23 percent of the students have quit smoking after the campaign was started.”

But going by the number the people who smoke in the campuses, the ground realities seem very different. Monika Arora, Director of Hriday, a NGO working with students against smoking, questions the validity of the claim. “I don’t know how scientifically proven that survey is.”

She, however, agrees that the government and the administration are doing their best to spread awareness about the no-smoking campaign. “Change cannot be brought overnight. But going by the no-smoking hoardings and banners that have come up in the city, it appears that University administration and the government are putting in a sincere effort.”

A possible reason why the students are taking the ban lightly could be that the authorities have not been harsh while implementing it. Though the ban has been in place for quite some time now, there have been no strict actions as of yet in these universities.

Mukesh Ranjan, Assistant to Proctor of JMI says, “I am aware that the university is a smoke free zone. But I have got no official instruction yet on as to how to go about implementing the ban.”

Gurmeet Singh says, “A student can be fined Rs.200 if caught smoking in the campus. But there have been no fines as of yet because we do not want it to be a punitive effort. We want the students to understand for themselves.”

Whether the students understand or not, the fact remains that personal choices of a few are putting the health of thousands at risk. And the open defiance of the law by the educated masses goes on to prove that it is high time that stricter measures are taken so that bans like these are effectively implemented.

Quick facts

• India is the second largest producer of tobacco in the world.
• 25 crore population in India are regular tobacco users.
• Tobacco worth Rs 24,000 corers is sold annually.
• The government has to spend Rs 27,000 corers annually on free health services to offset the harm caused by it
• Every 30 seconds, one person in India dies of diseases related to tobacco or gutkha.
• Every two seconds, 1 Indian child tries tobacco for the first time.
• 4 million children below the age of 15 years use tobacco regularly.

Sources: Data compiled from the Ministry of Health and Women Welfare, Government of India, American Cancer Society, National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3), The World Health Survey, 2003.

Kathak Mahatosav-Showcasing the classic Indian culture

A week long Kathak festival, held at various places across Delhi ended on 29 March. The festival was organized by the Kathak Kendra, a wing of the Sangeet Natak Academy. The festival was a treat for its patrons and was a showcase of India’s culture to the MTV generation that is perhaps not much interested in this rich tradition of cultural expression.

Artists from various cities such as Pune, Mumbai and Kolkata participated in this Mahaotsav (festival) that was dedicated to late Rohini Bhate ji, the great Kathak exponent. The entry was free and all shows were houseful. The crowd cheered equally for the young disciples and their elder gurus.

Many foreign tourists had also dropped in to have a glimpse of the classic Indian art form. Tanya a cultural enthusiast from Russia said that she felt ‘rejuvenated’ after the performance and even showed her interests in learning the fusion of Kathak and Sufi.

What was saddening though was the lack of sponsors despite a heavy footfall. Sangita Chattejee, a trained Kahtak Dancer lamented on the disinterest of the corporate world.

Geetanjali Lal, the great Kathak exponent herself and a Kathak trainer at the Kathak Kendra, had no complaints though. “The Government allocates enough funds to organise festivals and to train people. So we don’t face any real problem”, she clarifies. She also expressed her happiness on the successful accomplishment of the festival.

Simply Spice!

   By Kriti Gupta and Mohd. Reyaz

                                        

Al Bake is an eating joint in New Friends Colony Market (NFC) that has become an institution in the city of Delhi. Its main serving is minced chicken rolled in bread called shawarmas. While, traditionally a Lebanese concept, the shawarmas at NFC have been Indianised and are a rage in the capital.
                                         
Ten years ago, Ishrat Beg came to India with her husband from the Gulf. While she was excited about leaving Saudi Arabia, she realized that the one thing she would miss was the shawarmas. They had become a part of her daily diet. Not willing to give up her addiction, she decided to start a small food place where they would sell shawarmas rolls.
                                           
On the first day they sold two rolls. Now, they have a daily footfall of over 200 people. The family has opened two more joints in the same market. From husband, wife and the two sons working to make ends meet; Today, they hire 30 employees and offer a variety of cuisines – Chinese, Mughlai and so on.

                                           

Their main connoisseurs are young people. Students at Al-Bake came from far and wide. A group of three young people came especially from Faridabad just to enjoy the rolls. Hogging on the food, they said, “We could spend all day here. We really like the food.”

                                        

                                               

                                  
Mrs. Beg says that the student population keeps the joint running, “Our main focus therefore, is good food, low prices and basic hygiene.” The food is good indeed as can be seen by the number of people present at any given time.
                                              
The prices attract the youth. But hygiene is a different matter altogether. The kitchens are cleaned daily. The establishment tries as much as possible to improve the conditions under which food is prepared.

                                     
But the preparation process itself seems to be dirty. Dry, cut meat lying around on floors, cockroaches and so on are easily visible. Young people say that since ‘the food is cooked and so completely delicious’, they don’t mind. They swish away flies with the dismissive wave of a hand.

Irrespective, people seem to come in large numbers to enjoy the delectable taste of the shawarma rolls. And Mrs. Beg can boast of starting with nothing and becoming a successful thriving entrepreneur!

A second chance at life

Five year old Ramu was always
laughed at, but he himself
could never even smile. That
was till 'The Smile Train', a global
charity committed to giving smiles
to those who have never known one,
came to his help. Ramu had cleft lip,
and thanks to the charitable organisation,
he has got another lease of
life.
Cleft is one of the most unfortunate of
all birth defects, for it is one of those few
deformities that can be corrected with
proper medical intervention and surgical
treatment at the right time, but yet isn't in
most cases. Due to lack of awareness and
poverty 50% of clefts remain untreated,
although it is not as expensive as most people
might think, about Rs 8000.

“Indian parents pay
more attention to
the correction of
deformities of girl"
child

The Smile Train has over 160 centres
across the nation and provides financial
support to poor cleft children. Satish Kalra,
the Regional Director-South Asia of the
Smile Train says, "Smile Train does much
more than offer free surgeries. We actively
promote the training and development of
medical professionals, sponsor all the other
rehab services cleft kids need after surgery.
And also carry out a lot of awareness generation
activities through partner hospitals,
state governments, voluntary organizations
and others".
A cleft is a sub-division in the body's
natural structure, formed before birth.
Though exact cause of it is still unknown, a
cleft lip or palate leads to speech defect,
breathing problems, distorted face and psycho-
social stigma. For Dr. Harsh Jain, a maxillofacial
surgeon, in countries like India,
cleft is more of a socio-economic problem
than medical.
Superstitions often mislead people to
believe that cleft is a form of punishment
from god for our sins and is hence a bad
omen. Children with clefts become the
objects of ridicule and are treated as 'virtual'
outcasts. In the past, children with cleft,
often girls, were either killed or abandoned
after their birth. But things have improved a
lot now. Dr. Subodh Kumar Singh, director
and chief of plastic surgery at G.S. Memorial
Plastic Surgery Hospital & Trauma Centre in
Banaras affirms, "The average age at surgery
for girls in my hospital is one year less
compared to that for male patients. Indian
parents pay more attention to the correction
of deformities of girl child". Dr Singh
operated on Pinki, the girl who featured in
the Oscar winning documentary 'Smile
Pinki'.
Till a decade ago, corrective plastic surgery
was expensive, but things got much
better after the arrival of Smile Train in
2000. Dr. Vimala Rajan, a consultant plastic
surgeon at Max and Apollo Hospitals confirms,
"Earlier I used to perform surgery
even for poor in the Moolchand Hospital.
But now, most of my patients are elites
from the country or from abroad. The Smile
Train is really doing a great job".
Though most common of all birth
defects, the government does not even
recognises clefts as a disability. Everyone
associated with the cause hopes that 'Smile
Pinki' would help create awareness, especially
amongst poor and help children with
clefts or those cured in integrating with the
society, thus giving them a second chance
at life. Dr. Kumar wishes that it creates
“awareness about the plight and problem
of cleft patients and also about the fact that
it can be treated by plastic surgery and
other associated treatment.”

St Valentine must be sobbing

St. Valentine was one of the greatest shepherds who led his life in the path of god and for the redemption of mankind. Consequently he had to face miseries and was ultimately martyred like all other messiahs of peace. He was buried on February 14, and hence the day is celebrated as ‘Valentine’s Day’ the world over.
But here lies the ambiguity. The day is not actually included in the
Liturgical commemoration list of the Catholic calendar of saints for universal liturgical veneration as revised in 1969. More than a Christian festival, it has become a day of celebration by lovers, assumed lovers and couples, to express their love-publicly or in private.
Traditionalists and fundamentalists see it as an ‘attack on our culture and rich heritage’. Hence, the moral policing brigade becomes very active on this day, especially in our country. Dukhataran-e-millat (Daughters of the community) in Kashmir, or Ram Sene in Mangalore, or Shiva Sainiks in Maharashtra, or their slight variations in other parts of the country are all products of this politics of hatred, based on ‘inferiority’ complex as also the inherent prejudices that they have. But it does not end just with the condemnation of the day. At times, they get really violent and every year there are instances of attacks by those hoodlums in some part of the country. They go to the extent of physically abusing young couples, some of whom are barely in their teens.
Who is right? And who is wrong? Really difficult to say. Things are not as black and white as they appear to be. Both sides have genuine reasons and grievances. But then, none is really patient enough to sit and talk. Perhaps, St Valentine will have to visit the pastor again to preach his flock of sheep, who have deviated from their path. But till then, who is going to decide in a Democracy as to what is right and what is wrong?
Whichever way it is, one thing is sure. St Valentine must be sobbing in the Heaven. And tears must be in both his eyes. He must never have thought that his birthday would become a ploy for big corporate giants of greeting cards, chocolates and flowers to exploit his naïve sheep. But then he never have approve either that if his flock became delinquent, unchecked ‘moral police’ would curb them forcibly.


Happy Valentine Day to all the sheep of the flock!!!