Bharat Vikash Parisad had arranged an Intellectual gathering on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. This event had been graced by Shri Arun Kumar of Jammu & Kashmir Studies Centre and gave a speech on “Transformation of Bharat in the Context of Current Scenario”. In this lecture he stated the following :
What is india. First we have to realize ideology Bharat and then on that that contest we shall try to discuss the Transformation of Bharat in the context of current scenario. Along with that the current things whicj=h are happening in the country that will also be discussed. It’s an auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti. Few days back there was a despondency in the atmosphere, threes where shedding their leaves, power in the Sun ray was less, duration of days were less. A question was coming time and again in mind if negativity, lethargy disappear come to an end. The Makar Sankranti brings a message with it that those would not last perpetually. Days have started becoming longer, gradually the atmospheric temperature will rise. The Spring will come and the greenery will come back. Nature will get back to its full consciousness. The dawning will happen after the darkness of night. In reality also this negativity and despondency does not perpetuate, but during this kind of adverse ambience the most important thing is the survival. Those who can’t keep the patience, those who can’t survive, their very existence come to an end. So many trees which can’t bear the adverse weather, they wilt and don’t flourish back even after the arrival of spring. The changes should happen gradually not at once. Out concept is ‘Makar Sankranti’, not the ‘Kranti’. The change which happens suddenly at once it becomes a disaster, an Earth Quake, a typhoon and it causes destruction. But the change which takes place gradually it is called Makar Sankranti, it lasts. Today we also pay tribute to Swami Vivekananda ji. He was also born on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti. He had a question in his mind. He roamed around the India and the world. The question was that why the oldest and enriched civilization of India is the slave of a foreign country. Condemning oneself every time, following other as the only path in life – What kind of aspiration is this ? After researching in detail he realized that the ambience of Self condemnation and losing self-identity is caused by the lack of self-pride. We have lost our Self- pride. Because of it self confidence is lost and it caused the biggest problem of our society – self amnesia. We forgot who we are. What Bharat is. What Hinduism is. Who we are. Whosoever comes to this world doesn’t just come out of the sky. The almighty has fixed work for everyone. What was the aim of the Bharat, what was the aim of this soil. Bharat is not just a country like other countries of the world , Bharat is a journey. An eternal journey. In reality, under the influence of the western culture and education we forgot our Sanatan Bharat.
When we talk about the transformation of Bharat, the first thing is that we have to understand that what Bharat is . From the western view we cannot understand Bharat. 400 years back army legions from different European countries attacked America. The British, Dutch, French and Spanish etc they set occupied and set up colonies in different parts of America. More than 60 millions of natives were slaughtered by them. Ships full of native American people especially the Negros from different parts of America were brought back to their countries for doing slavery works. More than one third of these slaves died enroute. They were made slaves for hundreds of years. When their development took pace and their fortune flourished then they started fighting within themselves for separation. This civil fight gave the birth of a federation of 12 colonies. This is how the federal structure was born. America was also a victim of this civil war. 20% of their population died
in civil war. This is the history of America which today give lecture of Democracy, Human rights, Religious freedom, Pluralism. Which has a history of merely 250years. Today’s Germany is just 150 yrs old. UK has a written history of 1000 years, when in it transformed to UK from England and it is unlikely that it can sustain 100 more years. Most of the countries in the world has craved out of Fight, Ambition, Imperialism etc. After 1st and 2nd world war more than 40 new countries have been established. Can we understand India from the lens of such countries ? India is the only unique country in the world where the country was born first and the states came later. Here the concept of “Rashtra” is not just a nation state. Our forefathers found the truth. Unity in diversity. The saw “God” in You, in me, us in everywhere and adopted “Atmavat sarva bhuteshu” that is one should feel the happiness and distress of others as his own. They followed welfare for all. Today people talk about Gobal warming, Ecosystem. But our forefathers faced these truths in ancient era. Our forefathers talked about equality for all and that’s why they said “Sarve Bhavantu Sukhina”. So they said “vasudhaiva kutumbakam”. Complexion, Looks, Language, Food and drink habit – all are different but all of the same family. Pleasure is not the aim of our life. We are all from one and we will all unite again after the end. To achieve that they embraced Fire and service as the connector in the philosophy of life. This is the ideology of Hinduism. Of this ideology a sacred society got erected and this formed the “Rashtra” called Bharat. But for running the life and society “Rajya” called states are also required. But whatever the state be, what matters is the society. That is why here culture was given the maximum value. Bharat was the only country in the work when in many states were there but there was only one country. The theme of this country was One Nation, One people and one culture “ Ek Rashtra, Ek Jaana, Ek Sanaskriti “. The King there used to be from a culture.
Few days back I had gone to Nepal. Some of my colleague were there worried due to the not so good relation between India and Nepal. I told them not to worry as nothing will happen. The societies should remain good. The kind of Tihri and Nepal used to fight earlier also. When king of Tihri won the war, they did enslave Nepal. Neither Tihri was sacked ever when Nepal’s king won. The kings fought wars, some would win and some would lost, but the people of both the states maintained their relations. People from any part of the country could go and live in any other part of the country no matter which state it was. This country was not born out of the aspiration of someone’s imperial aspiration. So this is a unique country of the world whose life is its “Dharma”. Each country has a speciality. The origin of this Rashtra id spirituality. If we forget our aim then our future will perish and our aim is the Welfare of all.
We had reached at different corners of the world and tried to inspire by our philosophy and asked them to follow our path. We did not enslave any people, neither did we set up colonies. Even the traders from India who went to all parts of the country as well as world, they never tried to do such heinous things. We reached America before European and America became India. So we are called Red Indians there. Our culture can still be seen in South East Asian countries of Java, Sumatra, Cambodia, Laos& Vietnam. The entire central Asia became Buddhist – china, japan. We went all over the world. This is the Bharat we should understand
1000 years of slavery, battles, and down fall of our civilization for 500 years before that, caused the self-amnesia of the society. 15th August 1947, with the independence of this country a new battle started. The bloody battle with the British ended, but the battle for waking the conscience started there from. Is India a new country ? is it a conglomeration of many countries ? If the British did not have arrived here, would not this be a country ? the r
ecent unfortunate things which can be seen in recent scenario of India really hurts the patriotic people like us. During the recent debates an unfortunate trend can be seen. For example few days back Sri Kapil Sibbal, a senior congress leader had stated in a parliament debate that this Govt led by Sri Narendra Modi has destroyed the country united by the congress and Hinduism is a curse for the country. Had congress not been there wouldn’t this country unite ????? And look who are the people he was advocating for – the people were giving the slogans that “Bharat tere tukde honge”. We should analyse the reason for this.
The year 2019 marks a great step towards transformation of Bharat and will be remembered for three significant incidents happened in this year.
1st is the abrogation of Article 370 and enactment of the constitution of India in Jammu and Kashmir. It’s a historic incident. What is the ideology of India : One Nation one people. The preamble of Indian constitution starts with “we the people”. This is not just a phrase, this is the philosophy of India. Dr Ambedkar said that our society is subdivided into small sections based on religion, life style , language etc. But only religion or region or language cannot be the only identity. When the constitution will be in effect, we shall have only one identity – Indian. No one will be discriminated on the basis of anything.
But this philosophy itself got the 1st jolt in 1952 when Nehru signed a pact with Sk Abdullah wherein it was decided that the Indian constitution would not be applicable in Jammu & Kashmir. Tricolour would not the unfurled there it would have its own. The government there would not be appointed by the President of India, it will be selected by their own assembly. During that period Praja Parishad was protesting heavily with a demand of One Nation One Constitution with Tricolour flags in their hands. But after this pact they were tortured brutally, bullets were shot at them, 18 of them sacrificed their lives. Under the pressure of the Sangha it was debated heavily. But Nehru said that Sk Abdullah is apprehensive of the fate of the Muslim majority of J&K under the Hindu Majority of India. So he needed special provision. They need constituoinal guarantee. Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee raised objection to it and pointed out whether we are heading towards another partition. He said that he wanted to know from Nehru that if 45 millions of Muslims of India feels safe under the Indian Constitution, why would not the 2.5 millions of Muslim from J&K feel the same. A separate constitutional provision for one area with for just one reason : Muslim Majority. 14 May 1954 was the darkest day in the history of Indian constitution, when the president of India signed an order under which more than 100 articles of Indian Constitution became for void in J&K. Hundreds of amendment have made, but Article 35A was inducted into the constitution with out any debate. The” We the People of India” got divided into two on that day. One was “ We, the people” of India who are residents of J&K and the other was “ We, the people” who are non-residents of J&K. That they constitution of India also was divided onto two. One which is applicable for J&K and the other which was applicable for rest of India. This ended the very ideology of the Indian constitution – the whole nation within just five years of its inception. Abrogation of article 370 was the greatest tribute to the creators of the constitution when it was passed in 7th August 2019.
The 2nd significant thing that happened is the Historical judgment by the Supreme Court of India on 10th Nov 2019 for Construction of Temple in Sri Ram Janmabhumi. It is not just not the construction of a mere temple. Many said what does it matter, Temple and Mosque both should be constructed. India is recognized for its philosophy of religious harmony. We gave shelter to all the persecuted. During the era of Prophet itself, when the Arab traders wanted place for building mosque, they were given at once and the 1st mosque of India was buil
t in Cheraman, Kerala. India identity of India can be Cheraman Juma Masjid, but Babri Masjid cannot be the Identity of India. Babar never visited Ajodhya in his life time. The person who dreamt of converting the whole country into an islamic country with a thought of destruction of the fundamental ideology of India : God is one, there may be many paths but one reality in spiritual, and destroyed Ram Mandir in Ajodhya, The battle started 491 years ago and intensified during the British rule. After independence in1947 under the leadership of Sadhu Sants and after 69 years of court case since 1950, finally the justice has been delivered. Till 1984 there was no hearing. After 1984 the movement intensified for justice with involvement of more than 150 millions of people. Shila Puja was conducted, signed petitions were collected. Such was the impact of the movement that yielded the justice on 10 nov judgement. This indeed bears a message. After independence the first thing we did that the union jack was replaced by tricolour at 12 midnight on 15 th August. Because union jack was the mark of Ghulami. Statues of Hastings and others were removed from various parts of Delhi for the same reason. Because the marks of british invadors cannot be a matter of glory for India. The forefathers of Indian Muslims were also invaders from Arab. The marks of destructions by the invaders and erecting a temple there means resurrection of the past glory of this great country.
Along with this a 3rd significant thing happened. A decision was taken on 8th December, it was discussed in detail from 9th to 11th December. The resolution was passed and became an act with effect from 12 Dec known as the Citizenship Amendment Act. This grants citizenship of the persecuted minorities of Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afganistan. We have made special provision for the persecuted minorities of these the countries. We made provisions for persecuted Hindu, Chistians, persi, Jain, Buddhist . After this bill was passed, dissents raised from various sections. Sosaid its against Muslim, some said agaisnt the preamble of constitution, some said it is agaist article 14, 15 21 and 25 of constitution, many said its against the idea of Bharat. I would request them to debate based on data and statistics. I would request the people sitting here to think above the feelings and debate rationally based on data. Today I will share some of the data with you in short. In the history of Indian Constitution, the 1st discussion about citizenship was held from 10th to 12th of August 1949. It was debated in details for three consecutive days and many legislators expressed their concerns about it. Reason being the country was partitioned, a new country Pakistan was born, a major chunk of people became Pakistani overnight against their will. They started being persecuted, huge people started coming to India. Some had arrived already, some would come in future -all such things were discussed in details. Dr Ambedkar ji said that the current form of constitution they were only discussing about only the limited aspects of the Constitution. Who will be the citizens of this country on the date of enactment of the constitution, that were only being discussed? It will be the absolute prerogative of the parliament to decide the future citizenship of India whom to give, how to give, when to give – everything will be decided according to the situation, according to the conscience of the parliament. Now you please compare what happened during the present discussion in Parliament and when what had happened during that period. On 5th November 1950, Dr Ambedkar was the then Law Minister, Nehru proposed a draft resolution before parliament – “Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Bill 1950,” with in just 10 months of enactment of the constitution. What was the bill for : to expel those who entered Assam illegally and with an exclusion for those who have come due persecution in Pakistan . Nehru said those who came due to civil disturbances from Pakistan, are our brothers and it was our responsibility
to protect them. And if any law had created any hindrance to fulfil that responsibility they would amend that law too. From 1964 to 1972 more than 150 millions of people to refugee in India. In 1971 after the bloodbath of 3 million Hindus Bangladesh was liberated. In 1972 Indira Gandhi declared that those who didn’t want to go back to Bangladesh, they would all be granted citizenship. A commitment of granting citizenship was given to 19.972 Millions of people then. In a rare consensus in Parliament in the year 2003 when Dr Manmohan Singh was the leader of opposition and Lalkrishnia Advani ji was proposing a bill for granting citizenship for the persecuted Hindus in Pakistan and the bill was hailed by all. Fast track offices were set up to grant citizenship of such cases across Rajasthan and Gujarat and other border states. Next UPA government also extended the same continuously. 28 December 2010, in a large gathering of Matua people in Bengal were promised by congress leader to place bill for their citizenship. CPIM leader Prakash Karat had written to President and Prime Minister of India to consider the case on humanity ground. Veteran MP of CPI Sri Bhupes Gupta was also very concerned about this issue and raised vocally number of times in Parliament in 1964, 1970 and 1974. In 2012 Assam Congress leaders placed a proposal for granting citizenship to persecuted Hindu refugees from Bangladesh. From 1950 to 2014 there was no dissent on this topic. But why after 2014 ? But before finding the reasons of it we should first understand the significance of it. This is not a matter for politicizing, this is not meant for Vote bank politics.
Before partition of India a major portion of it was under British rule. Even before that a huge area was under the Mughals. But this country was one – Bharat. With independence in 1947, a portion of it went to Pakistan. Pakistan was created on the basis of Religion but we did not talk of transfer of population. Under Indian Independence Act, we had said that we were dividing the dominion, and promised that the minorities’ right would be protected. As was promised by Jinnah and Liaqat Ali Khan. Gandhiji said there was no reason not to trust Jinnah. A large number of the population who were living in various parts of Pakistan could not understand what to do. The had lived under Islamic extremists earlier also but they survived. But this time scenario was totally different. Within 2-3 tears large scale violent attacked were unleashed upon them.
A large number of people who slept as indian in the night of 14th August 1947, became Pakistani overnight. Would they ever become Pakistani by heart ? They were from Bharat, They are if Bharat and they will remain of Bharat. They can’t be Pakistani.
After independence out development of the nation was started. For the last 4 generations since independence the joy we have had after independence, but also try to feel the plight of those who started their new journey of slavery after independence of the country. Their properties were looted, their mothers and daughters were dishonoured, their religious right was ended, living their lives on the belief became difficult. They are suffering for the last four generations.
To protect the right of minorities, Nehru made a pact with Liaqat Ali Akhan, Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee had strongly said not to trust Liaqat’s false promises and asked Nehru discuss about transfer of population. And based on the transfer of population proportionate land should also be transferred. The compensation for the properties for those who came here should be demanded. And demand constitutional guarantee for those could not come back. All these apprehensions eventually came true. Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee resigned from council of Ministers. All the promises made by Liaquat Ali Khan was found to be hollow. Pakistan became Islamic Country 1956. The newly liberated country bourn out of the sacrifice of lives of 3 million Hindus became Islamic country in 1977. Afghanistan is also an Islamic Country. The reality was from the day of independ
ence itself the misfortune and persecution started for those Hindus living in Islamic countries. The unfortunate people living in Pakistan – didn’t they sacrifice equally for the Independence that we celebrate today ? But despite sacrificing equally as did we, they started new life of oppression after independency. After tolerating torture for 4 generations if they come to India with a optimism of better future for their next generations should not we accept them ? We are not doing favour for to those unfortunate people. This was their right as for the first time in the history of India they were made not Indian on paper by the partition of India. We talk of Bharat, but that very Bharat does not exist any more after the independence as we have excluded those people out from Bharat.
Those who are raising questions today under the current scenario, they should first take these questions before they raise any questions themselves. Mr P Chidambaram, a senior congress leader and lawyer, has written with big words “ Majoritarian Arrogance”. He says that the bill has been passed in hurry with out detailed discussion in just three days. This is what he has termed as arrogance. From my little knowledge of the Constitution I do fail to understand his logic. This bill was already tabled on 19 July 2016 as the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016. It was referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee on 12 August 2016. The Committee submitted its report on 7 January 2019 to Parliament. The Bill was taken into consideration and passed by Lok Sabha on 8 January 2019. It was pending for consideration and passing by the Rajya Sabha. Consequent to dissolution of 16th Lok Sabha, this Bill has lapsed. So it is clear that the bill was not placed in a hurry, and neither with “ Arrogance”. I would like to ask them if the proposal made by Dr Manmohan Singh in 2003 favouring the persecuted minorities was illegal and against the Bharat too.
They still talk of Arrogance. Romesh Thapar, then a noted communist, was the printer, publisher and editor of a new English weekly called Cross Roads printed in Bombay. Cross Roads published articles which were critical of Prime Minister Nehru’s policies, especially his foreign policy. So he was arrested under Nehru’s direction. When Thapar challenged his arrest in high court, he was acquitted on the basis of freedom of expression On 26 May 1950 . The next thing Nehru did was In June 1951, within seventeen months of the Constitution coming into force, the Constituent Assembly amended Article 19(2) to include new enumerated restrictions to the right to free speech. And then put Thapar in Jail again. Those who speak of Arrogance they should be asked what is the definition of arrogance? When Article 356 was introduced, the legislators debated about its necessity. Nehru argued them that this is an emergent provision for the unity of the country and he assured that it is expected that not to be applied ever . But till the Supreme courts judgement in 1990 in the case of S. R. Bommai v. Union of India, when it set some check and balances by stating some preconditions before imposing Art. 356 to suspend an elected state Government, the congress part had grossly misused this article 140 times.
Now they talk about arrogance. So much was their Arrogance and Majoritarian attitude that Indira ji used this article 35 times from 1966 to 1975 for suspending elected state governments. Emergency was declared, oppositions were in Jails the emergency was passed in parliament in the absence of oppositions. These questions are required to be asked too. Abhishen Manu Sinvi of congress talks of constitutional morality. The pramble of our constitution contains a word “Secularism” which is our commitment. This bill is against the secularism hence its unconstitutional.
I had been in Jammu & Kashmir for a long time. Congress has the right of Secularism!!! In the 42nd amendment of constitution in 1976, when the opposition was in Jail, it was passed and two words namely “Secularism” and integrity was inserted in the preamble of the cons
titution. But it was not applied to J&K. For that it was to be approved by the govt of J&K. Although it was the congress govt there, they didn’t dare to enact this in J&K. From 2002 to 2014, congress was in power again in J&K with alliance, So called the secular leader Ghulam Nabi Azad was the Chief Minister there form 2005 to 2008, many a times people from there proposed to induct the “ Secularism” in the constitution of J&K similar to the constitution of India. They appealed to include J&K under the Jurisdiction of Minority commission and give the minorities of J&K their minority right. But it was never enacted in J&K. Reason: Secularism is against the tenets of Islam. And they wouldn’t allow to alter that. That is why National conference, TDP, Congress all of them were united against the enactment of secularism in J&K. “Secularism” has finally been enacted in J&K on 5th Aug 2019. So is the Unity and Integrity of the Nation.
Those who spreads false propaganda, I want to ask then straight – “Do you have the right to ask such things ?” An organisation from the United States of America (with the most number of hate crimes do place annually in the country), namely the U.S. commission on international religious freedom alongside various newspapers like The Washington Post, New York Times, Reuters etc they are propagating about the Rise of Hindu Rashtra. They propagating new Nazi rules, persecution of minorities and thie C.A.A. is against the secularism. I would like to share an interesting fact here. In 1990 the Sovient Union collapsed and numbers of small countries were created. Of these countries, Christians became minorities in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and they started of being persecuted. The Lautenberg Amendment much like the CAA today was ratified on 21 November 1989 by the same U.S. government to protect the Jews and Christians from persecution in erstwhile state of Soviet and has been renewed annually by the US Congress since. This act give priority in giving citizenship for the persecuted Jews and Christian refugees from the countries born out of Soviet Union, where they are minorities. The Lautenberg Amendment was eventually extended to include ‘persecuted minorities’ from Iran in 2004 through the Specter Amendment. What’s most intriguing is that the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRSF) that has passed a scathing verdict against the Modi government has itself championed the Lautenberg-Specter Amendments. US can bring such bills, but India cannot for the persecuted minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh & Afghanistan!!!! Should they be sent to hell ?? All these self proclaimed religious freedom watchdogs should be asked this question.
When congress fought the election in the name of Unity of Bharat in 1946, the entire nation stood by them unitedly. And what they got in return ? A divided country inflicted upon them without their consent. Immediately after winning the provincial elections they hurriedly signed the Bifurcation proposal of Bharat.. Dr Rajendra Prasad wrote a book “India Divided” wherein he pointed out the adverse effects of Partition. But his voice along with similar voices of many others were readily discarded by Nehru. The people who blame us for dividing the nation indeed signed on the proposal of Partition of India without even thinking of the people who would be the victims of that partition. The British gave us one year for implementing the Partition. But without trying to mend the situation to stop this partition, they hurriedly Partitioned the nation. Frontier Gandhi termed as the great betrayal with the people of west frontier. Partition of the country caused death of more than 1 million people. 25 millions of people got dislocated. This 15-20 millions of people for whom this Citizenship Amendment Bill has been brought they came much later but due to the same reason.
The reality in current scenario is adverse too. We should be careful about the people who are propagating a negative ambience in the country. We should be aware the culprits behind them too. Of course someone has the right to protest, the right to express, but there is limiting line too. The conspiracies should be understood. They are saying that the students and universities are on roads. Which universities ? Which students ? Same few organisations for the last six years : Popular front of India, AISA, Ambedkar Students Association whith no real follower of Sri Ambedkar ji and backed by PFI etc. These extremists are actually fighting for their own survival in the name of “Tukde Gang”. One leader is saying that difficult time has come. Of course it has come which can be seen from the reducing number of seats in election. These selfish groups along with some political parties who indulge in vote bank politics, are trying to create disturbances in the country in the name of lynching, intolerance, sometimes in the name of Bhima Koregaon, sometimes in the name of atrocities and some times explioiting the unfortunate incident of Rohit Vemula. But surely they will fail in their agenda. Because this country is now coming out of the self-amnesia. This Citizenship Amendment Act is a constitutional and moral responsibility. The ideology of Bharat is One Nation, One People and One Culture. Some are saying to make this amendment for all. Then I say a simple thing : Abolish the partition. We did not want Partition. Abolish the Partition. Let one come and go wherever they want. Regarding NRC, every country has got its NRC. It is pertinent from the security point of view of the Nation. The first provision of NRC was introduced by our very own Pandit Nehru in 1950. This world is no more borderless. Criminals goes to other after committing crimes. Every country has adopted it for the security of their citizens. We have our own right too. You may come forward with proposals for methods of implementations of NRC. Bharat is not China nor is like Arab countries. Our country has a traditional history of nt doing injustice to any one. Bharat will judge in Bharat culture. But Bharat will no longer bow down under pressure from these extremists and separatists. Every one should understand this. This transforming Bharat is proudly saying the whole world that One Nation, One People and One sanaskriti. We want to tell everyone that only language or region or religion can no longer be the only identity of the nation. Every section of the country has to be uplifted, but not by hurting someone. The history invaders cannot be the history of any section of the nation. With this transformation of this Bharat, New Bharat is finding its own glory within. It not only give pride but also responsibility. Finding ones’s root is also giving us self confidence which itself has got spirituality within. And we will no longer deviate from our aim. With the ideology of “vasudhaiva kutumbakam” we have to make a consensus for the CAA so that all sections of the country, including the political parties will agree that the persecuted minorities in those countries will not only be given mere citizenship, but we shall embrace them with dignity. Let us endeavour to achieve such consensus and I thank you all.