#godhra

godhra butcher being pm: 😌🙏🇮🇳 “well politics is complicated”

Three passengers on a Kabir train

Passenger # 1 : Prahalad Singh Tipanya

In 1978, a 24-year young Dalit government school teacher in a village called Luniyakhedi in Ujjain district of Madhya Pradesh, heard the Tanpura (or Tambura) for the first time in his life and was so captivated by it that he started off on the journey of his life. His name was Prahlad Tipaniya.

Through the Tambura, Prahlad Tipaniya entered the world of Kabir. The words of this fifteenth-century saint-poet are sung in village after village by hundreds of bhajan mandalis, whose have kept alive the oral tradition of singing Kabir’s poetry for the past 600 years. Prahladji entered this world of all-night bhajan sessions as a learner. Over four decades later, he is a household name.

Prahaladji sings in a powerful Malwi style, yielding the Tanpura and the Kartal himself. His troupe consists of accompanying singers and instrumentalists playing manjira, dholak, harmonium, timki and violin. His music is not just entertaining, he connects with his audience at a spiritual level, with dialogues and simple explanations. It spreads Kabir's message - to rise above petty divisiveness, empty ritualism, and the need to adopt love as the ultimate religion.

He is a Malwa Ratna, a Sangeet Natak Academy awardee and a Padma Shree.

In 1997, Prahladji set up the Kabir Smarak Seva Shodh Sansthan (Kabir Memorial Service and Research Institute), on a plot of land granted to him by the state government adjoining his home in Lunyakhedi village. He calls this land Kabir Nagar and organizes an annual event, where thousands congregate to listen to Kabir’s words through bhajans and discourses by gathered singers and spiritual leaders.

In 2010, he started the annual Malwa Kabir Yatra, a 5-day event, which carries musicians, listeners, travelers, seekers, nomads, old, young, rich and poor together, at the same time, on the same path, making Kabir a religion of the people.

That was Passenger # 1 - Prahalad Singh Tipanya.

Passenger # 2 : Shabnam Virmani

Shabnam Virmani began her career in journalism in The Times of India, Jaipur in 1987. Just a few months later, she made history when she wrote about the infamous Roop Kanwar’s Sati, in Deorala, Rajasthan. Her article became one of the triggers for a vibrant women’s movement that led to the ban on Sati. However, she decided to quit journalism. Later, she won a scholarship to do a Masters degree in Development Communication at the Cornell University and became a film-maker. Her impactful documentaries like When Women Unite, about the successful anti-liquor movement of rural women in Andhra Pradesh and Tu Zinda Hai, which was about successful women activists of Madhya Pradesh, have won many hearts as well as prestigious awards and honors. Drishti Media, Arts, and Human Rights was co-founded by Shabnam, in 1993, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

In 2002, she was living in Ahmedabad, when Godhra happened. Hindus and Muslims clashed. She was dabbling with Kabir at that time. And Kabir seemed to say to her - Sadho, dekho jag bauraya- O seekers! see the world’s gone mad. And she set out on a series of journeys, camera in hand, venturing into diverse socio-cultural, religious and musical landscapes, meeting with people who sing, love, quote, revere and make meaning of Kabir. One such person, who became her guru was a Malwi musician from Madhya Pradesh - Prahalad Tipanya.

So, as though nudged by Kabir himself, she made four documentary films.

Had-Anhad: Journeys with Ram and Kabir probes the divides created by religion and nationalism.

Koi Sunta Hai: Journeys with Kumar and Kabir probes the boundaries we create in the realms of knowledge, art and music, in forms of Gharanas, and how some people like Kumar Gandharva and Kabir, challenged them and crossed-over.

Chalo Hamara Des: Journeys with Kabir and Friends shows a friendship between a rural Dalit folk singer, Prahlad Tipanya and an American scholar, Linda Hess.

Kabira Khada Bazaar Mein: Journeys with Sacred and Secular Kabir probes the ironies, compulsions and contradictions that unfold in Kabir Panthis (ones who walk the talk of Kabir).

One of her most touching endeavors is the Kabir Project. The Kabir Project is a series of journeys in quest of Kabir and other Bhakti, Sufi and Baul poets. These journeys inquire into mystic poetry of these saints through songs, images and conversations, curated through documentary films, music CDs, books, urban festivals, rural yatras, workshops and courses and a web archive called Ajab Shahar.

That was Passenger # 2 - Shabnam Virmani.

Passenger # 3 : Linda Hess

Dr. Linda Hess was, for 21 years, till she retired in 2017, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Religious Studies, Stanford University. And she is a scholar, writer, devotee and lover of Kabir.

She was born and raised in a Jewish family. When she was 21, she "got the call" and moved to India. She says she fell in love with Kabir immediately. "He was sharp, funny, vivid and astonishing. What you didn’t want to hear, he would say—over and over, in your face. But you liked it because, really, you did want to hear it.”

She says she started reading other Bhakti poets of North India - Mirabai and Tulsi Das - but couldn't connect with their Saguni mode of Bhakti. Kabir and his Nirguni nuggets of wisdom appealed to her a lot more. She listened to the two most popular forms of Kabir poetry - Dohas and Bhajans.

The two people who touched her the most were - the same old Malwi folk singer, Prahalad Tipanya, and Kumar Gandharva. Unfortunately, she couldn't meet Kumar Gandharva in person, but after he died, she visited his family and they graciously welcomed her and gave her access to rare work of Kumar Gandharva on Kabir.

Linda Hess is best known for her book - The Bijak of Kabir - widely accepted as the best translation of Kabir poetry in English, and a couple of other books.

From 2002, Linda started to focus on oral traditions rather than printed texts, spending extended periods of time in India with singers. Hence began her association with Shabnam Virmani. Linda joined the Kabir project bandwagon as a consultant and has been a co-passenger ever since.

That was Passenger # 3 - Linda Hess.

These three passengers boarded the Kabir Express at different times in their lives, took some time to settle down on their berths and get to know each other. But once they did, they created some magic!

Listen to some pure, 24-carat-gold music! Have fun trying to spot Linda in the video. Of course, this video is Shabnam's Ajab Shahar production.

India is a secular country, and its Secularism existed since the commencement of “India.” There is no better country on this planet to equate with India Secularism. By definition “Secularism in India means equal treatment of all religions by the state.” India is the only country on this planet earth where one can find survival and free practice of every religion. Nearly 22 national languages and 1,652 mother languages (local languages) spoken in India. Is it not captivating and a unique mannerism of this great nation “India”? Indeed, we are a great nation, and Secularism is entrenched all over India which does not require any proof or justification.

From ancient days to the modern world nothing has changed for ordinary people. However, In the 21st century our political masters, white collar Naxals-Terrorists, Mullahs, Foreign-funded NGO’s and many other individuals and organizations are trying to twist and alter the entire discourse of real Secularism. Well! These forces are trying their best to find the means of their existence and trying to stay relevant.

India is witnessing a new dimension in the Secularism phenomena, i.e., failing to pay attention to a particular religion means there is a threat to Secularism. I ask the question – why someone will ignore Hindus? Why political masters across parties giving no importance to the majority, i.e., Hindu’s? Why are political masters acknowledging, showcasing and celebrating Ed – Iftaar party, Muharram, importance to skullcap and green color? Why degrading saffron color or not recognizing majority populations festivals and rituals? Narratives built green vs. saffron, Narratives built Durga puja vs. Muharram, and yes Narratives are constructed Hindus vs. Muslims. How come one religion can be secular vs. others. It is sad, but narratives are built by shameless politicians, white collar Naxals-Terrorists, Mullahs, Foreign-funded NGO’s that Hindus are not secular or less secular vs. rest of minorities.

It has become routine that our chief minister’s, Prime Minister, President, and many political party leaders organize Iftar party on tax payer’s money but no celebrations for majorities. I am not against religion, but I have a firm view that if there is appeasement of only one religion, then Hindu should stop paying taxes. I believe in “Appeasement for None and Development for all.” Religion is a personal matter of belief, and it cannot be exploited to define India’s Secularism. Government ideal duty is to refrain from the religious issue and must not use tax payer’s money to appease one religion vs. others. The government is for all, not of any particular faith, so it is not appropriate to pay more attention to one specific religion.

It all started since India independence and even before by Nehru, Jinnah and many more. We have congress leaders like Digvijay Singh who praises terrorist Hafiz because he is Muslim and Congress party supports him. Sonia Gandhi cries for Batala House encounter for Muslim appeasement. Owaisi is another Muslim leader who speaks venom against Hindus. Congress party stands with Ishrat Jahan who was a terrorist. In Bihar Laloo Yadav, a convicted politician plays M-Y (Muslim and Yadav) card to appease Muslims. In Utter Pradesh, Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav gives a public statement that he feels proud in killing Hindus who were doing Kar Seva. West Bengal Chief Minister banned Durga puja rituals and allowed Muharram to appease Muslims. This list is endless but to name few are like Lawyers like Kapil Sibal and Prashant Bhushan, a judge like Katraju, Maulana like Bukhari, Politicians like Laloo, Kejri, Owaisi and Azam Khan, Students like Khalid, Omar, and Kanhaiya. Professors like Nivedita Menon, NGO’s like Teesta Setalvad and many more, the list is endless.

In Godhra sad incident, hundreds of Hindu and Muslim both killed, but entire political class and foreign-funded NGO’s stood for Muslims because that makes them secular. Across the country, foreign-funded NGO’s are running shops of forceful conversion. If we speak against conversion, then someone like Jhon Dayal runs to America to lodge his complaint. We have seen forceful religion conversion in Kerela and many parts of the country. We have leaders like Mamta, Laloo, Mulayam and Rahul Gandhi who are showing solidity for illegal Rohingyas Muslims because of this suite their narrative of secularism. Lacks of Hindus were butchered and thrown out of Kashmir, but no one stands for them because it does not fit in the political description of secularisms.

Enough is enough and we the people of India must not tolerate idiotic theory and narrative of secularism. We live in a Hindu majority nation, and absolutely no one can dare to teach us dirty tricks of secularism. The fact is that our country filled with white color criminals and that is the biggest threat to our secularism. We the people of India need to wake up against white collar Naxals-criminals-terrorists and must break selective secularisms propagated by many.

Bihar Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has  said that after the “disturbances caused by the Godhra tragedy” in 2002, he was critical of Narendra Modi, then-chief minister of Gujarat, but his opinion changed after interacting with people.

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts: PM Modi alleges misinformation surrounding the 2002 Gujarat Riots, says they were portrayed as the biggest. PM Modi notes Gujarat had a history of violence before 2002; no communal violence since. PM describes the Godhra train burning as an unimaginable tragedy, recalling a volatile environment. PM Modi claims political opponents tried to frame him, but the judiciary…

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