Contribution of Mughals to Hindu Genocide:

By Arjun Verma

Many eminent secularist (Read Marxist) historians,  have  portrayed Mughals, as patrons of art and culure. Let us do a reality check.

1.Zahiru'd-Din Muahmmed Babur (CE 1526-1530):

Source: Babur Nama

Place:Chanderi (Madhya Pradesh)

In AH 934 (CE 1528) I attacked Chanderi and by the grace of Allah captured it in a few hours...We got the infidels slaughtered and the place which had been daru'l - harb for years was made into a daru'l-islam.

Babur's poem on killing Hindus:

For the sake of Islam I became a wanderer;I battled infidels and Hindus. I determined to become a martyr.Thank God I became a Ghazi (killer of non-Muslims)

Quoted in Dr. Harsh Narain's article: Rama-Janma Bhumi Muslim testimony Indian Express Feb, 26,1990 Place:Uttar Pradesh

Since the establishment of Zahiru'd-Din Ghazi's rule ...officers and religious leaders spread Islam vigorously destroying Hindu faith. We cleared of the filth of Hinduism from Faizabad and Avadh.

Guru Nanak on Babur's atrocities:

Source:Rag Asa

Guru Nanak Dev witnessed first hand the atrocities Babur committed on Hindus and recorded them in his poems. He says:

Having attacked Khuraasaan, Babar terrified Hindustan. The Creator Himself does not take the blame, but has sent the Mugal as the messenger of death. There was so much slaughter that the people screamed. Didn't You feel compassion, Lord? pg (360)

On the condition of Hindu women in Babur's monster rule:

Those heads adorned with braided hair, with their parts painted with vermillion - those heads were shaved with scissors, and their throats were choked with dust.They lived in palatial mansions, but now, they cannot even sit near the palaces.... ropes were put around their necks, and their strings of pearls were broken. Their wealth and youthful beauty, which gave them so much pleasure, have now become their enemies. The order was given to the soldiers, who dishonored them, and carried them away. If it is pleasing to God's Will, He bestows greatness; if is pleases His Will, He bestows punishment pg(417-18)

On the nature of Mughal rule under Babur:

First, the tree puts down its roots, and then it spreads out its shade above. The kings are tigers, and their officials are dogs; they go out and awaken the sleeping people to harass them. The public servants inflict wounds with their nails. The dogs lick up the blood that is spilled. Source:Rag Malar, (pg.1288)

2. Jahangir(1605-1628):

Source: Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri

Though in the beginning of his rule Jahangir followed the humanistic rule of his father Akbar the great -the policy of sulehkul even issued a proclamation against the forcible conversion of Hindus to Islam, he revoked Akbar's orders that those who have been forcibly converted from Islam could return to Hinduism. He severely punished Kaukab, Sharif and Abdul Latif for showing inclination to Hinduism. He also prohibited the free inter-marriage customs between Hindus and Muslims in Kashmir. Hindus marrying Muslim girls and those who had already married were given a choice between Islam and death. Many were killed.

Jahangir's torture of Guru Arjun Dev ji: Guru was imprisoned at Lahore fort. He was chained to a post in an open place exposed to the sun from morning to evening in the summer months of May to June. Below his feet a heap of sand was put which burnt like a furnace. Boiling water was poured on his naked body at intervals. His body was covered with blisters all over. In this agony Guru used to utter.

Tera Kiya Metha lage, naam padarath Nanak mange(whatever you ordain appears sweet. I supplicate for the gift of name)

The Guru was ordercd to be executed. In addition a fine of Rupees two lakhs was imposed on him. Some historians say that, as a measure of clemency at the intervention of Mian Mir, this fine was imposed in lieu of the sentence of death. The Sikhs offered to pay the fine themselves but the Guru forbade them to do so. He replied to the Emperor,

"Whatever money I have is for the poor, the friendless and the stranger. If thou ask for money thou mayest take what I have; but if thou ask for it by way of fine, I shall not give thee even a Kaurz (penny)." The Guru accepted death by torture.

3. Shah Jahan(1658-1707):

In 1632 Shah jahan ordered that all Hindu temples recently erected or in the course of construction should be razed to the ground.

In Benares alone seventy six temples were destroyed. Christian Churches at Agra and Lahore were demolished. In a manner befitting the Prophet he had ten thousand inhabitants executed by being "blown up with powder, drowned in water or burnt by fire". Four thousand were taken captive to Agra where they were tortured to try to convert them to Islam. Only a few apostacised, the remainder were trampled to death by elephants, except for the younger women who went to harems.

Shahjahan put enormous eonomic pressure on Hindus particularly peasents to become Muslims. The criminals too were forced to become Muslims.

Source: Badshah Nama, Qazinivi & Badshah Nama , Lahori

When Shuja was appointed as governor of Kabul he carried on a ruthless war in the Hindu territory beyond Indus...The sword of Islam yielded a rich crop of converts....Most of the women (to save their honour) burnt themselves to death. Those captured were distributed among Muslim Mansabdars.

Source: Manucci, Storia do Mogor vol-II p.451 & Travels of Frey Sebastian Manrique

Under Shahjahan peasents were compelled to sell their women and children to meet their revenue requirements....The peasents were carried off to various Markets and fairs to be sold with their poor unhappy wives carrying their small children crying and lamenting. According to Qaznivi Shahjagan had decreed they should be sold to Muslim lords.

4. Aurangazeb(1658-1707):

Aurangzeb considered himself "The Scourge Of The Kafirs" (non-believers) and closed Hindu schools and libraries. In his lifetime he destroyed more than 10,000 Hindu, Buddhist and Jain temples and often erected mosques in their stead.

In 1669 in Agra he had hacked off the limbs of the recalcitrant Hindu King Gokla and in 1672 several thousand revolting Hindus were slaughtered in Mewat.

Source: Maasi-i-Alamgiri

Issued general order to destroy all centers of Hindu learnings including Varnasi and destroyed the temple at Mathura and renamed it as Islamabad

· In Khandela (Rajastan) he killed 300 Hindus in one day for they resisted the destruction of their temple.

· In Udaipur all Hindus of the town were killed as they vowed to defend the temple of Udaipur from destruction.

· 172 temples were destroyed in Udaipur.

· 66 temples were pulled down in Amber. All Hindu clerks were dismissed from the office of the Imperial empire.

· In Pandhpur , Maharashtra, the Emperor ordered and executed the destruction of temple and butchering of cows within the temple.

Aurangazeb also tortured to death the disciples of Guru Tegh bahadur before his death and also killed Guru.

Guru Tegh Bahadur - the pride of Hindustan was martyred for he spoke for the persecuted Hindus of Hindustan. Aurangazeb also killed Guru Gobind singh's two children aged less than ten by walling them alive for not accepting the choice of Islam. In Punjab Muslim governors killed hundreds of Sikh children and made Sikh women eat the flesh of their own killed children. Banda Bahadur another great Sikh martyr before being tortured to death was also made to eat the flesh of his own children killed before his eyes. Any Muslim bringing the head of a dead Sikh was also awarded money.

Guru Tegh Bahadur's Supreme sacrifice for Kashmiri Hindus:

In 1674 CE Aurangzeb ordered that the Hindus of J&K be converted to Islam by force from the Kashmir side. Harassed beyond any human measure by Sher Afgan Khan, the Governor of Kashmir, the prominent Brahmins of Kashmir led by Pandit Kirpa Ram (who later became Sanskrit tutor of Guru Govind Singh, appeared before the Guru at Anandpur on the 25th May, 1675 CE, and appealed for protection. In His infinite compassion Guru tegh Bahadur assured them total protection. Guru proclaimed His resolve to protect the Dharma of Bharath,

"Go and tell the Governor that Guru Tegh Bahadur is our leader. If you convert him to Islam, we shall become Muslims of our own accord."

On getting this message, Aurangzeb ordered the arrest of the Guru. For courting arrest, the Guru started towards Agra from Anandpur on the 11th July, 1675 CE At Agra, when the soldiers came to arrest the Guru.

Aurangazeb tortured Guru's disciples before his own eyes to break Guru's resolve.The qazis asked Bhai Mati Dass a disciple of Guru ,

"Embrace Islam and enjoy the pleasures provided by the government. Moreover when you die as a Muslim, you will go to heaven where there will be streams of milk, many kinds of wine to drink and beautiful women to enjoy. If you do not embrace Islam, your body will be sawn into two."

Bhai Mati Dass replied,

"I can sacrifice hundreds of such heavens for Dharma. I don't need women nor wine. I see all the happiness in the path of Dharma."

After his refusal, the qazis asked him his last wish, to which he replied,

'When I am being cut with the saw, let my face be towards my mentor so that I may behold my Guru till my last breath and he may keep on seeing me so that he may be convinced how happily I reach my last destination.'

By the order of the qazis, the executioners sawed Bhai Mati Dass into two by axe on the 8th November, 1675 CE, in Chandani Chowk, Delhi.

On the 9th November, 1675 C.E, the Qazis ordered that Bhai Dayal Dass be seated in a cauldron of boiling water... Before putting Bhai Dayal Dass in the cauldron of boiling water, the qazis said,

"There is still time. Embrace Islam and save yourself from pains otherwise you will face greater agony than your companion. You have seen how cruelly he was sawn."

Bhai Dayal Dass replied,

"You could not harass my companion. Did you notice, how calmly he was meditating on the word of his Guru when he was being sawn. Having made mockery of bodily pains, he had diffused into the Supreme Being. Hurry up and let my soul attain unity with the Lord."

On his reply in the negative, the executioners sat him in the cauldron of boiling water. He stayed on sitting in the water with an unwavering mind. His flesh separated from his bones and his soul merged into the Supreme Being. (Source: From the work of Sri.Santok Singh Jagdev.Published by SGPC) Established in His Divine resolve of Dharma Guru Tegh Bahadur tolerated all the tortures of Aurangazeb with smile. Guru Tegh Bahadur was threatened and given a choice to embrace Islam or death.

Guru chose Death rather than deviating from the path of Dharma. Guru sat in meditation and was beheaded by Aurangazeb. Aurangazeb killed Guru physically but Guru's words eternally power the hearts of every child of Hindustan. He had said in the face of death:

"Bah Jinahn di pakariye, Sar dije bah na chhoriyeTegh Bahadur bolyaDhar payae dharma na chhoriye

Give up your head, but forsake not those whom you have undertaken to protect. Says Guru Tegh Bahadur, sacrifice your life, but relinquish not your Dharma.

Catholic Church in Kerala launches drive against ‘love jihad’ groups specialising in converting girls of other religions into Islam

The Catholic Church in Kerala has launched a campaign to withstand the efforts of ‘love jihadis’, groups allegedly specialising in converting girls of other religions into Islam through coercion after trapping them in love affairs. With this, the police authorities are worried that the situation could even lead to law and order problems if believers begin adopt confrontation strategies in the name of withstanding ‘love jihad’.
The Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Conference (KCBC), the umbrella organisation of all the bishops of the Catholic rites of Kerala, has started awareness campaigns to teach Christian girls and parents about the dangers of the “holy war of love” by certain Islamic groups. The council asks the parents to be on the alert at all times about the responses of their daughters, so that the danger of their falling into the Love Jehad trap could be avoided.
Officials in the Kerala Police Special Branch said they did not think that the problem had become such a menace that we would demand defence help against it or hold campaigns, as this could mislead believers to engage in open confrontations. In this situation, the Home Department has asked the Special Branch to keep a close watch on the alleged operations of ‘love jihadis’ as well as those who claim to be withstanding them.
The KCBC sprang into action against the ‘love jihadis’ as one of the two girls of a Pathanamthitta who were forcibly converted into Islam through the trap of love by two Muslim youths actually was a Christian. Also, there were reports of even Christian housewives with children being converted into Islam through rites held at Ponnani in the Muslim-majority Malappuram district.
In an article appearing in the latest issue of Jagratha, the publication of KCBC’s Commission for social harmony and vigilance, its secretary Fr Johny Kochuparambil writes that love jihad is a new war front opened by international Islamist extremists who want to use any available strategy to make Muslims the majority in the world. “For this, love jihadis accepted the strategy of spreading the pollen of hypocritical love on the campuses,” Fr Kochuparampbil says.
The KCBC advises parents to be vigilant always about their interactions not only in the house but outside the house and on their campuses also. It also puts forward certain practical instructions about controlling the use of mobile phone and Internet by the girls, social and parental observation on places like ice cream parlours, movie halls, parks, beaches, etc, monitoring the girls’ behaviour on a daily basis, etc.
The KCBC says there should have been a well-planned programme behind the 4,500-odd conversions of girls into Islam through love marriages in Kerala since 2005. The council says that ‘love jihadis’ had started to implement their love-conversion programme in Mangalore, Karnataka.
It says that several girls from Christian-concentrated areas of Kerala had become victims of the ‘love jihad’ in this manner. As all these girls were over 18, the parents were unable to question their decision legally, the article points out. It says that most of the girls converted into Islam could have ended up in Muslim orphanages and in the dens of extremists who used them for fulfillment of their carnal desires.
Information about the campaign for planned conversion into Islam through love had come out in the open after the case of two girls, MBA students at a Pathanamthitta college, came up in the Kerala High Court. The case was that Sirajuddeen and Shahehshah, activists of Campus Front, the students’ wing of NDF, had forced the girls to convert into Islam in the name of marriage. The girls claimed that the duo had tried to convert them into Islam after kidnapping them.
The Kerala High Court also directed the Union Home Department to investigate whether such outfits were operating nationally.

Shiv-ling and Agni worship (yajna)
Dr. Subhash C. Sharma

Ever since man first lighted fire and used it to his benefit, he has tried to become the master of his own destiny. Right from the beginning, fire was considered an important gift to man from nature and was revered by him as the terrestrial manifestation of Brahman (Isvara or God). Among the ancient Hindus, the fire deity was known as Agni (the nourisher or generator of life and the destroyer) and they even had several scriptural (Vedic) hymns dedicated to him. For example, in the Rig Veda (the most ancient Hindu scripture composed several millenniums ago) the first hymn (RV, book 1: hymn 1.1) is to Agni, " I Laud Agni, the chosen Priest, God, minister of sacrifice, The hotar, lavishest of wealth".

Moreover, it used to be a common Vedic practice (including during the Ramayana) to seek assistance from Agni while proving one's innocence (such as during Agni-pariksha or the fire test) or even asking for forgiveness. Thus a ritual fire would be ignited (invoking Agni) during such situations and people would pray and use it as a witness to their statements (including innocence). Note for example the following hymn from the Yajurveda (Kanda 1, Prapathaka 8, Hymn i.8.3.d): "O Agni...each fault done in a village or in forest, in society or mind, each sinful act that we have committed to Shudra or Vaishya or by preventing a religious act, even of that sin, you are the expiation..."

As people came to realize that God was functionally and phenomenally limitless and not confined just to the terrestrial regions related to Agni, He was revered in other ways too. They called him Indra in the midair and Savitar in the heavens, for example.

Though the list of names for God was endless according to his attributes, worship of a deity (even other than Agni) would almost always involve a sacrificial fire. Thus, whether the deity was Indra, Savitar or Varuna, the yajna (worship involving a sacrificial fire and dedicated usually to Agni) would always be performed offering libations into it to that particular deity.

Note that the fire used to be ignited long ago by using sticks of special materials and rubbing them against each other. Lighting a fire afresh thus used to be a difficult task. It was a time-consuming and laborious process requiring a great amount of effort and energy. Such difficulties in obtaining a flame would be quite serious during religious and ceremonial rituals requiring fresh fire. Note, in this regard, a prayer in the Rig Veda (Book 1: hymn 94.3), "O Agni, may we have power to kindle thee," implying the need for a healthy person to ignite a ritual fire.

To overcome these difficulties in igniting the fire and make their life easy while worshipping, people started making use of an image of flame (called 'ling' or 'linga') in place of the actual live fire. This was carried out by choosing a linga drawn or sculptured roughly in the shape of a live flame symbolizing the fire in a yajna.

Agni (the terrestrial manifestation of Brahman) in the male aspect is known as Shiva (the auspicious, signifying perhaps the beneficial side of Agni) and as female Shakti. Shiva is sometimes also identified with Agni-jwala (flame). The long and stubby lings (solid symbols) representing the fire of Agni usually depict Shiva and Shakti, respectively. Shiva and Shakti also generally appear together, perhaps due to their common association with Agni.

Agni, in addition to being the giver or enhancer of life, is probably also the biggest destroyer. Thus Shiva and Shakti are considered the life-givers as well as the life-destroyers. Furthermore, Shankra is known as the fiercest among Rudras (destroyers). Thus Shiva (through his association with Agni as the great destroyer) is also sometimes considered (at least in his destructiveness) as Shankra (the greatest Rudra). Note that Agni, in addition to being the basis for Shiva and Shakti, probably is also the cause of a number of other dark colored gods, where their darkness symbolizes the black ash in the yajna.

Thus the solid ling or linga (symbol, image) representing sacrificial fire during the worship of Agni was created originally as a duplicate of yajna flame. The ling or Shiv-ling made the worship of Agni (Shiv or Shiva) possible anywhere anytime by using it in place of live fire and pouring oblations over it. The tradition of smearing the Shiv-ling with ash indicates that it has close ties to fire (Agni) worship. When the Shiv-ling is placed under a pitcher (containing libation) from which the liquid slowly and continuously drips over it, there is a semblance of celebration of an uninterrupted yajna even when there is no worshipper present. Solid ling (or Shiv-ling) in that case represents the live fire (in yajna) and the pitcher (with dripping libation) symbolizes the worshipper pouring oblations into the fire. It is a simulation of the Vedic yajna even without lighting a fire; and it involves basically the worship of a ling (Shiv-ling) representing the deity Agni (as related to a yajna). This substitution of the solid image (ling) for a real flame long ago transformed various rituals and worships making them quite simple and easy. Moreover, it is clear that fire -- in actual form (as a flame) or symbolically (as a ling or image of flame) -- has been an integral part of Vedic (Hindu) yajnas (worships) for a long time whether or not the service is dedicated to Agni.

Note that Agni (the nourisher and the destroyer) is Isvara (Brahman manifested) and it is represented by Shiva in the form of a Linga or Shiv-ling. The Sanskrit word Linga can be split as Lin + ga, where Lin (or its equivalent nasal lim) corresponds to the second (object) case singular form of Li (meaning breakage, loss or destruction) and ga means 'to go'. Thus Linga implies the remover of loss and signifies Shiva (the auspicious or propitious) as the benevolent aspect of Agni. This leads Shiva (or Shiv-linga) to be that aspect of Brahman which restores the broken (or dridra) to their original and complete form. Perhaps this quality of Shiva indicates the ability of Agni (fire) to fuse together and restore the cracked or broken objects. Note, Shiva (as the restorer) and Visnu (as the preserver) complement each other and with these analogous attributes even appear interchangeable.

It is worth noting that some of the practices involving worship these days relate closely to the original fire sacrifice. For example, lighting of lamps and candles during present rituals may symbolize the original yajna fire. Similarly, the use of incense these days indicates the aroma given off by the burning oblations (soma etc.) poured into the ancient fire. In fact, the present day Hindu Aarti (prayer to alleviate suffering) is itself a type of ancient yajna. For example, the bhajans (songs in local tongues) and mantras during an aarti these days represent the chanting and singing of Sanskrit hymns during the ancient Vedic yajna. Similarly, igniting the camphor (or lamp, candle) and using the incense in a plate nowadays corresponds to the ancient yajna fire which also used to give off aromatic fumes due to the burning of oblations.

Note that the unfortunate confusion of Shiv-ling as a phallus is probably due to the similarity in their shapes and nothing more. Note that the former represents only the Agni symbol (flame or jwala in a yajna) and at no time it should be confused with the latter. Same thing applies to the linga-pedestal. Due perhaps to its crude and mistaken depiction, it is misinterpred and even wrongly glorified (in some songs and literatures) as an image of yoni (female sex-organ). Note that in reality it is not so. The pedestal holding a ling is nothing more than an ordinary base intended to keep the ling (Shiv-ling) pointing upwards so that it represents a live fire (flame) properly. Moreover, the pedestal is shaped in such a way (with an orifice on its side) that it is able to collect the oblations (liquids) poured on the ling and discharge them through the orifice into a pitcher placed underneath.

The pedestal for Shiv-ling should neither be confused as symbolizing yoni nor is to be considered an essential part of the Shiv-ling. Moreover, even when attached to the Shiv-ling, the pedestal does not in any way depict a male-female sexual or reproductive union. Note that when and where the ling can stand on its own -- such as when protruding out of ground -- no extra pedestal (base) is required or superimposed to hold the ling, indicating that this base (pedestal) is not essential to the Shiv-ling. This includes examples of Mount Kailash etc. (considered natural lingas) which have no pedestals or anything similar underneath them. They simply rest on the ground and people still revere them as the true lingas (symbols for Shiva). In a related story from the Ramayana involving Rama, when he was to embark on a journey to Lanka to fight Ravana and free Sita from his prison, Rama worshipped in a hurry the Shiv-ling made from sand. This worship involved a linga (made from sand) to substitute for the actual fire (as in a yajna). As can be understood, Rama's intention in that case was to simply and quickly worship Brahman (as Agni or Shiva) by using the sand-linga symbolizing a fire (yajna) rather than a phallus. This shows that the Shiv-ling basically relates only to fire (yajna) and nothing else.

Note: The author can be contacted at: lamberdar@yahoo.com

Why I am not a Muslim any longer...

Note: These are not my views and I also do not concurr to all the views mentioned here, but copied from the link below...
Link (URL): http://challenge2islam.wetpaint.com/page/Why+I+am+not+a+Muslim+any+longer

My name is Rajesh Kumar. I was born in a Pakistani conservative Ahl-e-Hadith Muslim family on November26, 1973 in Hyderabad, Pakistan. My eldest brother gave me a Muslim name. Having passed 28 years of my life in thorough Islamic background, I did comprehensive research on all the sects of Islam for over 16 years incompliance with my dear father's order "Study your religion yourself and make your own decisions. Keep the here after in your mind".

However, as I could feel the compulsion of my father to stay a Muslim for unknown reasons and got the clue that he wanted me to find the truth on my own. At the end of the sixteenth year, I was sure tha either I was a mentally retarded person who could not understand Islam's philosophy even after such along time under the guidance of renowned Muslim Ulema (Scholars) or that Islam was a false and unethical man made religion.

My findings and debates are on my this blog, which Ihave launched in a period of at least one year.Having found that, I studied other religions for about 6 years and now I am a firm follower of Hinduism as my last and final decision finding Hinduism to be the wisest, most ethical, (though difficult) and true Dharma that leads to the realization of the eternal, transcendental being, the Lord of all universes.

My conversion gave me immensely hard time in my county Pakistan, the well known selfish and terrorist state of the world.

Yet I managed to stay alive by contacting other Hindu citizens and rational highofficials of Pakistan, India, America and Canada. I am working voluntarily for Hindu and ex-Muslim organizations including Faith Freedom International,Canada and Divine Life Society, presided by His Divine Grace, Sri Swami Sivnanda Ji Maharaj, India.

I took my Masters Degree in Commerce from the University of Sindh, Jamshoro Pakistan and now I hold a lump sum of 14 years of experience working inprominent Higher education Institutes of My city. I am the writer of 5 national prize winning books and anauthorized public speaker and workshop conductor.

Currently, I am running a campaign known as DhrmaRaksha Yudh, which primarily targets Islam as a false, hate-filled religion and Muslims as the core terrorists.
My email address: dharma.raksha.yudh@gmail.com

Link in Face Book: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=139912597920..."
Jai Shri Krishna!!

Rajesh Kumar,

Pakistan.

Some people have a habit of saying great things (read nonsense or lies), when it comes to Religion: Like all religions are the same (which I do not agree...), etc. etc...

Here is an example how Pt.Aashish Khan,eminent Indian classical musician, known for his virtuosity on the Sarode, faced the wrath of his illustrious father Pt.Ali Akbar Khan, when he converted to Hinduism some years back.

Below is an old article from the Times of India.

Hence friends learn to distinguish between rice and husk....

Ali Akbar's son claims to be Hindu

Priyanka Dasgupta

KOLKATA: Aasish Khan, the son of sarod maestro Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, has embraced Hinduism, sparking off a raging debate and heartache to the 84-year-old father who has told TOI his son was besmirching his illustrious family’s name.

Aasish, who has already changed his surname to Debsharma through affidavit on August 19, claims his family was never really Muslim. "We were originally Brahmins and used the surname Debsharma. My great-grandfather Sadananda Debsharma took the title of Khan, which is not a surname and is used by Hindus and Christians... due to compulsions. We never converted to Islam."

His dad is distraught. In an email to TOI from the US, where Ali Akbar has settled down, he said: "I do not support his (Aasish’s) choice. Unfortunately, many statements made by my son in the newspaper regarding the history of my family are incorrect. My family has been Muslims for many generations, and we will remain Muslims. It is a shame that he is trying to reinvent the history of our family and in turn hurting the past generation of our family."

Aasish's 'reinvention' is that his ancestors were Hindus. He claims his family even prayed to goddesses Kali and Saraswati. He said he was never asked to follow Islamic rituals or offer namaz and his grandfather had given Hindu names to him and his siblings — Dhyanesh, Pranesh and Amaresh.

"Staunch Muslims have opposed my decision," he said. "They did not realise we were never converted to Islam. I would like to make it clear that the only religion our family believes in is music," said the 60-something Aasish.

Ali Akbar Khan, who juggles his classes at Ali Akbar College of Music and three dialysis sessions a week with his rare concerts across the world, is hurt and the music fraternity stunned by Aasish’s claim.

The Ali Akbar family is not an ordinary family — his father Allaudin Khan is the founder of the Maihar gharana and his disciples, including Ravi Shankar, Nikhil Banerjee and Ali Akbar, have dominated the Hindustani classical music world for years.

WHY I AM A HINDU-An atheist can also be a Hindu!!

[You may not agree with all the points but you can read it in spare time]

Four years ago, I was flying from JFK NY Airport to SFO to attend a meeting at Monterey , CA An American girl was sitting on the right side, near window seat. It indeed was a long journey - it would take nearly seven hours.

I was surprised to see the young girl reading a Bible unusual of young Americans. After some time she smiled and we had few acquaintances talk.I told her that I am from India.

Then suddenly the girl asked: 'What's your faith?' 'What?' I didn't understand the question.

'I mean, what's your religion? Are you a Christian? Or a Muslim?''No!'

I replied, 'I am neither Christian nor Muslim'.

Apparently she appeared shocked to listen to that. 'Then who are you?' 'I am a Hindu', I said.

She looked at me as if she was seeing a caged animal. She could not understand what I was talking about.

A common man in Europe or US knows about Christianity and Islam, as they are the leading religions of the world today. But a Hindu, what?

I explained to her - I am born to a Hindu father and Hindu mother. Therefore, I am a Hindu by birth.

'Who is your prophet?' she asked.

'We don't have a prophet,' I replied.

'What's your Holy Book?''We don't have a single Holy Book, but we have hundreds and thousands of philosophical and sacred scriptures,' I replied.

'Oh, come on at least tell me who is your God?'

''What do you mean by that?''

'Like we have Jesus and Muslims have Allah - don't you have a God?'

I thought for a moment. Muslims and Christians believe one God (Male God) who created the world and takes an interest in the humans who inhabit it. Her mind is conditioned with that kind of belief.

According to her (or anybody who doesn't know about Hinduism), a religion needs to have one Prophet, one Holy book and one God. The mind is so conditioned and rigidly narrowed down to such a notion that anything else is not acceptable. I understood her perception and concept about faith. You can't compare Hinduism with any of the present leading religions where you have to believe in one concept of god.

I tried to explain to her: 'You can believe in one god and he can be a Hindu. You may believe in multiple deities and still you can be a Hindu. What's more - you may not believe in god at all, still you can be a Hindu. An atheist can also be a Hindu.

'This sounded very crazy to her. She couldn't imagine a religion so unorganized, still surviving for thousands of years, even after onslaught from foreign forces.

'I don't understand but it seems very interesting. Are you religious?'

What can I tell to this American girl? I said: 'I do not go to temple regularly. I do not make any regular rituals. I have learned some of the rituals in my younger days. I still enjoy doing it sometimes..."

''Enjoy? Are you not afraid of God?''

God is a friend. No- I am not afraid of God. Nobody has made any compulsions on me to perform these rituals regularly.

'She thought for a while and then asked: 'Have you ever thought of converting to any other religion?'

'Why should I? Even if I challenge some of the rituals and faith in Hinduism, nobody can convert me from Hinduism. Because, being a Hindu allows me to think independently and objectively, without conditioning.. I remain as a Hindu never by force, but choice.' I told her that Hinduism is not a religion, but a set of beliefs and practices. It is not a religion like Christianity or Islam because it is not founded by any one person or does not have an organized controlling body like the Church or the Order, I added. There is no institution or authority..

'So, you don't believe in God?' she wanted everything in black and white.

'I didn't say that. I do not discard the divine reality. Our scripture, or Sruthis or Smrithis - Vedas and Upanishads or the Gita - say God might be there or he might not be there. But we pray to that supreme abstract authority (Para Brahma) that is the creator of this universe..'

'Why can't you believe in one personal God?'

'We have a concept - abstract - not a personal god. The concept or notion of a personal God, hiding behind the clouds of secrecy, telling us irrational stories through few men whom he sends as messengers, demanding us to worship him or punish us, does not make sense. I don't think that God is as silly as an autocratic emperor who wants others to respect him or fear him.' I told her that such notions are just fancies of less educated human imagination and fallacies, adding that generally ethnic religious practitioners in Hinduism believe in personal gods. The entry level Hinduism has over-whelming superstitions too. The philosophical side of Hinduism negates all superstitions.

'Good that you agree God might exist. You told that you pray. What is your prayer then?'

'Loka Samastha Sukino Bhavantu. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.'

'Funny,' she laughed, 'What does it mean?'

'May all the beings in all the worlds be happy. Om Peace, Peace, Peace.'

'Hmm ..very interesting. I want to learn more about this religion. It is so democratic, broad-minded and free' she exclaimed.

'The fact is Hinduism is a religion of the individual, for the individual and by the individual with its roots in the Vedas and the Bhagavad-Gita. It is all about an individual approaching a personal God in an individual way according to his temperament and inner evolution - it is as simple as that.'

'How does anybody convert to Hinduism?'

'Nobody can convert you to Hinduism, because it is not a religion, but a set of beliefs and practices. Everything is acceptable in Hinduism because there is no single authority or organization either to accept it or to reject it or to oppose it on behalf of Hinduism.

'I told her - if you look for meaning in life, don't look for it in religions; don't go from one cult to another or from one guru to the next.

For a real seeker, I told her, the Bible itself gives guidelines when it says ' Kingdom of God is within you.' I reminded her of Christ's teaching about the love that we have for each other. That is where you can find the meaning of life.

Loving each and every creation of the God is absolute and real. 'Isavasyam idam sarvam' Isam (the God) is present (inhabits) here everywhere - nothing exists separate from the God, because God is present everywhere. Respect every living being and non-living things as God. That's what Hinduism teaches you.

Hinduism is referred to as Sanathana Dharma, the eternal faith. It is based on the practice of Dharma, the code of life. The most important aspect of Hinduism is being truthful to oneself. Hinduism has no monopoly on ideas.- It is open to all. Hindus believe in one God (not a personal one) expressed in different forms. For them, God is timeless and formless entity.

Ancestors of today's Hindus believe in eternal truths and cosmic laws and these truths are opened to anyone who seeks them. But there is a section of Hindus who are either superstitious or turned fanatic to make this an organized religion like others. The British coin the word 'Hindu' and considered it as a religion.

I said: 'Religions have become an MLM (multi-level- marketing) industry that has been trying to expand the market share by conversion. The biggest business in today's world is Spirituality. Hinduism is no exception.'

I am a Hindu primarily because it professes Non-violence - 'Ahimsa Paramo Dharma' - Non violence is the highest duty. I am a Hindu because it doesn't conditions my mind with any faith system. [Collected and Compiled by S S Narendra Kumar, Bangalore]

Half million Indian visas for Bangladeshis each year, yet queues remain

DHAKA: Despite India issuing half a million visas annually to Bangladeshis, the serpentine queues outside its high commission every day have been called worthy of a place among the Guinness World Records.

What complicates the issue is that about 25,000 of the Bangladeshis who get the visa each year do not return home, as Indian High Commissioner Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty said last week.

The figure, diplomatic sources say, is based on statistics gathered from the border check posts and all entry-exit points.

A member of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) last week said that queues of visa seekers outside the Indian High Commission "would find a place in the Guinness Book of World Records".

It may seem a typical South Asian hyperbole, but it underscores the problem's seriousness.

About a decade back, over 350,000 Bangladeshis availed Indian visas a year. The number is growing and is bound to grow further with increasing interaction between the two South Asian neighbours, analysts say.

The queue of visa seekers often shows harrowing sights - a sick person on a wheelchair or mourners seeking to attend the funeral of a relative in India.

There are other reasons for wanting to go to India - a wedding in a Bangladeshi middle class home is incomplete without Benarasi saris and other goodies purchased in India. Many people also find it convenient to seek medical treatment in India.

In 2008, visas were issued to 255,696 individuals for visiting relatives and pilgrimage; 55,489 for medical treatment; 6,786 for business which includes significant proportion of long-term multiple entry visas, and 2,374 for students.

Overall, in 2006, 2007 and 2008, the total number of visas issued by the high commission was 472,644, 481,064 and 523,322 respectively.

Leaving out weekends and holidays, it would work out to about 2,600 visas issued daily from visa offices in Dhaka, Rajshahi and Chittagong. Of them, about 1,600 are issued in Dhaka.

Bangladesh does not announce figures of visas it issues to Indians. But its missions in New Delhi and Kolkata also witness a rush. The outflow from India, however, is only a fraction of the inflow.

There is an element of selectivity. Samaresh Mazumdar, a popular Bengali novelist on both sides of the border, was denied a visa in 2006 because of the contents of one of his books.

In May 2001, India and Bangladesh signed a new visa agreement aimed at meeting the visa requirements for business, studies, medical treatment, tourism, pilgrimage and other purposes.

Around 2003, it became possible to download the visa application from the high commission's web site.

In December 2005, India opened a separate visa application centre to outsource a part of the rush.

The visa remains free (gratis), but there is a visa processing fee of Taka 200 ($3 approximately). It is collected by the State Bank of India. The firm gets Taka 174 per application, while the rest is paid as service tax to the Bangladesh government.

Veterans of the visa process say the "serpentine queues" have come down in recent years, but the arrangement is not fully able to deal with the rush.

Among the suggestions Indian High Commission has made in its clarification issued last week was that Bangladeshis ought to plan their visits.

They resort to "touts and brokers", Chakravarty alleged, to tide over the time taken in processing.

An Indian official who has dealt with this issue in the past, speaking on condition of anonymity, strongly recommended the use of modern technology and management and above all a better understanding between Dhaka and New Delhi.

CREST ANIMATION: SOME THOUGHTS:

BSE Code: 526785

CMP: Rs.24.20

Special Feature: Crest has an unmatched state-of-the-art technological foundation that is able to service the volume and complex projects at par with world-class facilities. Crest has implemented an end-to-end open standards-based technology infrastructure for its digital animation studio, the first of its kind in India. Its competitive advantage over most major studios is that of Time-Cost-Quality – its ability to provide high quality CGI-animation within a greatly reduced production schedule at a fraction of the cost. Through the Crest Advantage of Time-Cost-Quality, the company has become a revenue differentiating player in the global animation industry. The stock which was looking cheap at around Rs.250 considering the Business Profile of the company, is now available at the price of at Rs.24.20. On the charts the stock is about to explode as Stochastic, MACD and Bollinger Bands are in buy mode. Candle Stick Pattern is also looking good for the scrip....The stock has a strong support around Rs.22, which will be difficult to break on the downside with such wonderful results for Q4FY09.

The Company's shares are listed on the Stock Exchanges at Mumbai, (BSE), and on the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. (NSE). The Global Depository Receipts (GDRs) of the Company are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.

THE TARGETS AND OTHER FEATURES ONLY TO THE PAID GROUPS.........

Crest was founded in 1990 by Shyam Ramanna as an advertising film production company. One of India's largest CG production companies with over 480 animation seats, Crest is widely acknowledged in India to have introduced animation and special effects to the Indian market. It is one of the first players in the Asian region to service the mainstream entertainment industry in the U.K. and the U.S. – demonstrating high quality, timely deliveries and competitive costs. Crest Animation is a full-service studio specializing in the development and production of digital animated properties for theatrical, television, home entertainment and interactive distribution for the global entertainment industry.

Crest is the undisputed leader in the Indian animation industry, and one of the leading CGI animation studios in the world.

Crest Animation leverages its India advantages of highly-skilled talent and cost efficiencies, and the creativity of its Los Angeles arm to provide high quality CGI (computer generated imaging) animation product to the global animation industry. Through the Crest Advantage of Time-Cost-Quality, Crest has become a revenue differentiating player in the global animation industry.

Crest's state-of-the-art technology and world-class facilities, together with its depth and breadth of experience, has earned it an unparalleled reputation in global animation circles. Crest has delivered more than 200 half hours of television and home video titles in CGI animation, working for such clients as Mike Young Productions, Mark Brown, Classic Media, Nelvana, American Greetings, Marathon and Nickelodeon.

Crest has produced animation for several international TV shows such as 'Jakers!' and 'Pet Alien' that have won many awards including Daytime EMMY, BAFTA, FICCI Frames 2005, Humanitas Prize for Children’s Animation, and a nomination for Annie Award.
Crest recently tied up with Lions Gate Family Entertainment to co-produce three movies. Currently under production is Crest's first feature film in partnership with Hollywood's Lions Gate Entertainment, the first of a three-movie deal for worldwide theatrical distribution. The work on the first feature film in Co-production with Lions Gate titled “Alpha & Omega” is on schedule and is progressing smoothly.

With this full-length feature, Crest has successfully transitioned into the theatrical segment. The transaction is significant in that it enables RCA to enhance its reputation as a recognized producer and co-owner of theatrical CG animation films and to expand its library of intellectual property rights.

The Company is focusing its operations to cater to its subsidiary´s feature film production and other co-production opportunities.
Industry professionals have also recognized the accomplishments of Crest as reflected in the numerous awards won and nominations received.
Results: The company after a long time came out with very good results (both on Y-o-Y and Sequentially) for both the TOPLINE AND BOTTOMLINE. The total income of the company for Q4FY09 came out to be Rs.14.14 Cr as against Rs.6.02 Cr in the same period previous year. The profit before depreciation and Tax (PBDT) for Q4FY09 came out to be whooping Rs.6.2 Cr against a net LOSS of Rs.3.85 Cr in the same period previous year. The Net Profit of the company for Q4FY09 came out to be Rs.2.8 Cr as against a net LOSS of Rs.6.64 Cr in the same period previous year.

Besides this the operating profit margin of the company for Q4FY09 came out to be 41.09% against a Negative operating profit margin of 47.06%. The net profit margin of the company for Q4FY09 jumped to 18% (look reasonable) as compared to year on year negative net profit margin of 107.06%. This is very good news for the shareholders of Crest Animation Studios Ltd.

HENCE WE CAN SAFELY CONCLUDE THAT CREST ANIMATION STUDIOS COULD BE A TURAROUND CASE, AND WHICH COULD GIVE MASSIVE RETURNS GOING FORWARD.

Government wants Ambani pact declared ‘null & void’:

The Special Leave Petition was filed by the petroleum ministry, a day after it filed an affidavit in response to Mukesh-led RIL’s petition in the Supreme Court challenging the high court order

New Delhi: The government on Saturday filed a petition before the Supreme Court seeking a direction to declare as ‘null and void’ the private family agreement of the Ambanis that provides for gas supply by RIL to RNRL.

The government petition has named as respondents RIL led by Mukesh Ambani and RNRL headed by Anil Ambani which have separately filed cross-petitions against the Bombay High Court 15 June judgement.

The Special Leave Petition was filed by the petroleum ministry, a day after it filed an affidavit in response to Mukesh-led RIL’s petition in the Supreme Court challenging the high court order.

Just before the government moved its petition, RNRL filed its second affidavit saying the Petroleum Ministry’s affidavit yesterday was aimed at expanding its role and file pleadings that was not permissible to an intervener.

The petroleum ministry’s SLP today comes in the backdrop of a debate about the role the government could play as interevener or a respondent in the ongoing RIL-RNRL case and the latest move would enable the government to take up issues that have not been touched in the high court ruling.

Petroleum ministry also sought a stay on the high court judgement that asked RIL to supply gas to RNRL after mutually working out the modalities.

Besides asking for setting aside the high court order, the petition sought quashing of the interpretation of the June 15 ruling that relates to gas utilisation policy and PSC.

DIGITAL LOVE : Room for Maturity in Modern Dating Age
By Ellen McCarthy

A few weeks ago Pepper Schwartz, a sociologist who studies relationships at the University of Washington, spent the day giving a friend a crash course in online dating. Never mind that the friend in question is an 80-year-old woman -- she wants "what every girl wants," Schwartz says, "love, compatibility, someone to experience life with."

And with a few clicks, Schwartz's octogenarian pal joined the legions of seniors turning to their computers for a second (or third or fifth or 25th) shot at romance. By 2007, the over-50 set had become the fastest-growing group of subscribers for online dating companies, and double-digit growth has continued since, according to industry watchers.

"They're seeing their sons and daughters use online dating and have success with it," explains Joe Tracy, editor of Online Dating Magazine. "And we've been seeing online dating services really target the senior citizens and baby-boomer market."

Schwartz, an adviser to online dating company Perfectmatch.com, cheers the trend. If a person in their 60s or 70s lost a spouse 20 years ago, "the chances of pairing again were small," she says, because the avenues to meet new people were limited mostly to churches, senior centers and friends of friends.

Today single seniors can go online and "be opened up to literally thousands of options," she says.

Susan Paisner has been. And the 59-year-old editor, who was widowed in 2007, has all the online dating adventures and misadventures to prove it. There are the surprising solicitations from much younger men, the dates who turn out to look nothing like their profile pictures, the guy who threw a tantrum in the middle of the street on New Year's Eve.

"It's become absolutely fascinating -- it's a never-ending supply of fabulous stories," says Paisner of Rockville. Despite some strange experiences, she still considers it an "unbelievable opportunity."

Paisner isn't looking to get remarried -- at least not right away -- but she likes people and great conversation and having company as she finds fun in the city. Even when she travels abroad, she'll sometimes go online beforehand to see if there's someone interesting there who might join her at a museum or a restaurant.

It all seemed bizarre to her at first, but one question fueled her motivation: How else was she going to meet people?

Linda Wertlieb did have marriage in mind when she signed up for JDate.com, a site for Jewish singles, in 2005. She was 13 when she began dating her first husband, who struggled with ALS disease before dying when she was 61. Wertlieb wasn't sure how to go about dating, but one of her three daughters and a few friends had had some success online, so she decided to try it.

"I just figured, 'Well, I'll see what this is all about,' and had a friend help me write a profile," recalls Wertlieb, now 67. "I was very honest -- I wanted to meet someone to marry and spend the rest of my life with."

The Potomac woman went on a few so-so dates and then, against her daughter's advice, started communicating with a man whose profile didn't have a picture. Turns out Alan Deresh wasn't ashamed of his looks -- he just didn't like the idea of business associates seeing his picture on a dating site.

The two met in January 2006 and married that October. They discovered that they lived just five minutes apart and had friends in common who might never have thought to set them up.

"We both feel very blessed and lucky," says Wertlieb, whose daughter married a man she met online the following year.

Nataki Clarke, directing of marketing for AARP's Web site, says two of the most viewed items ever posted on the site were an article about how to get started in online dating, and a tool that helped members build online dating profiles. "Anything with dating, relationships, sex -- that content does really well with this audience," says Clarke, who helped build a new version of AARP's site that acts like a Facebook for seniors, to facilitate more interaction among members. "They're really hungry for this information."

That's because, Schwartz says, the desire for companionship doesn't decrease with age: "Neither love, nor romance, nor adventure are the private property of the young."

There are pitfalls, of course. Safety is always an issue with online dating, and so is disappointment. Just like their younger counterparts, seniors who log on to find love are also risking heartbreak. "The downside," Schwartz says, "is when you meet someone you think is wonderful, but they don't think you are. You've gotta be resilient."

And about that 80-year-old friend of hers? She had a coffee date lined up by the end of her first day online.

Six sexual highs he craves for

He might not have ever revealed, but your man definitely craves for something unusually seductive that pushes his passion-buttons the right way! So, what are you waiting for, we bring to you 6 sexual highs that he always craves for...
1. Listening: Some men are curious about all kinds of sex, while others are overtly conservative. Some however are just not sure of the specific sex moves they want to ask for. If your guy looks bored with the sex you're having it's probably because he's a bit bored. So the hottest thing you could ever do is to tell a man that he is free to ask you for anything. Even if you choose not to do what he's asking for, your guy will love that you listened and tried to understand and this is sure to turn him on.
2. Toys: Men have a love-hate relationship with your sex toys. While most men are convinced that these gadgets take the pressure off male sex performance, all dudes realise that they don't have long-lasting batteries like these machines. But what your guy may not be telling you is that he loves watching you use. So, what's stopping you from starting off a steamy sex romp? Get down and dirty and watch your man watch you get playful with your favourite sex toy! It will blow his mind.
3. Porn watching: All men dig porn, now here's how you can be part of the brat pack. Watch porn together on a steamy night. Your guy is bound to get aroused watching you becoming out-of-control sexcited at the sight of male porn actors. Men also fantasise about their babe mimicking the woman in the porn flick. So, get into some serious role play and scale new heights of desire.
4. Surprise them: Most men love to be pampered and caught off guard. So, why not service your man's fantasy by organising a match night where he's watching his favourite cricket match with you alone. Pour him a chilled beer, massage his back and shoulders with your hands and whisper sweet nothings in his ears. Don't jump into the sack right away. Stimulate his mind, sit on his lap and kiss him all over the body. The girlie make out session will have him charged up in bed later.
5. Fantasise: All men share kinky fantasises of making indulging in role play or being dominated with whips and chains in true bondage style. Now, instead of shunning his kinky desires - give them a concrete shape by participating in them. Catch your man by surprise clad in a leather cat suit, tie him to the bed post and allow him to live out his wildest sexual thrills!
6. Cross Dressing: Men wear trousers and a shirt. Everything else is just a variation of the same dress code. Why not raid his wardrobe and get in touch with your androgynous side. Put on his shirts, spray his strong manly scent and seduce him. And if your man wants to try on your lacy lingerie - don't say no, fun lies in experimentation afterall.