INDIAN INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH INTO TRUE HISTORY

NEWSLETTER NO. 47 OF 16 FEBRUARY 2007

1. NEWS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS

1.1 Taj Mahal

Mr Godbole’s book – Taj Mahal: Simple Analysis of a Great Deception was first published in 1986.

His booklet Why Rewrite Indian History? was first published in 1993.

Godbole has prepared a revised draft for both of them. Our friend Mr Ramakrishnayya of London has examined them and Godbole has made necessary modifications to both. It is hoped that both books will be published in March 2007 or a bit later.

1.2 CD on Taj Mahal

With the help of an I.T expert Godbole has started to prepare a CD (power-point presentation) on Taj Mahal. It will take some time as the pieces of information are scattered. But once it is done it will be a powerful tool.

1.3 Prof Marvin Mills.

Some of you may remember Prof Marvin Mills of America. He worked as a Professor of Architecture in New York. He had read Prof P N Oak’s books, met him, visited Taj Mahal and out of curiosity, took some samples from wooden doors on exit from basement of so called Mosque (or Jawab). He sent the samples for analysis by using C14 dating and was surprised that the date of the wooden samples came to several centuries before Shahjahan.

Prof Mills read with interest, Godbole’s series – Taj Mahal: Simple Analysis of a Great Deception, published in Itihas Patrika of Dr Bedekar, Thane. Mills exchanged some letters with Godbole. But for some reason the contact was lost. Dr N K Bhide of Pune found out the E Mail address of Mills and Godbole contacted him. Mills was very pleased. He is now retired and lives in Florida. Godbole sent him a copy of the book Taj Mahal: Simple Analysis of a Great Deception, 1996. Mills is busy with submitting his search on so called Moorish structures in Spain, for a Ph D. Afterwards he would like to get involved in Taj Mahal.

1.4 Prof Shrinivas Joshi

Dr Joshi is a staunch Savarkarite. Godbole had contacted him in the 1980s but lost contact. With the help of a recent visitor (Dr Hardikar) from America, contact with Dr Joshi has been established. He is a Professor in Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Marquette University, Milwaukee.

1.5 Issues of old Newsletters.

Godbole has scanned all the newsletters he had issued since June 1980. It is hoped they will all be put on a web-site.

1.6 Visit to Hindusthan

1.6.1 In January, Mr and Mrs Godbole visited Pune. They made a pilgrimage to Andaman Islands where Veer Savarkar was jailed during 1911-1921.

He will write a detailed letter to the Tourist Board pointing out various deficiencies in information provided.

Godboles joined a tour operated by Saidatta Travels of Pune. The cost for a 10 day trip was about 20,000 Rs/per person.

The Airport at Port Blair is named ‘Veer Savarkar Airport’.

It was interesting to note that many of India’s Prime Ministers and Presidents have visited the (in) famous Cellular Jail. The photos of their visits are displayed in the entrance hall. They were -

Person	Date
Lal Bahadur Shastri (P.M)	Feb 1963
Indira Gandhi (P.M)	1968
Jetti (Vice President)	Feb 1975
Morarji Desai (P.M)	11 February 1979
Reddy (President)	27-11-1979
Indira Gandhi (P.M)	8 March 1981
Zail Singh (President)	23-02-1985
Rajiv Gandhi (P.M)	20-12-1986
Venkatram (President)	23-01-1988
Narasingh Rao (P.M.)	14-04-1994
Shankar D Dayal (President)	10-02-1995

Dr Rajendraprasad, the first president of India is not included in the above list. He visited cellular jail in 1954.

Freedom fighters re-visited Andaman jail January 1974. There is a group photograph of them on display.

Photographs of past prisoners are also on display. Godboles had read the names in Savarkar’s book My Transportation for Life. It was unique experience to see the faces of those prisoners.

Godboles visited the cell where Savarkar was kept and paid homage to him. They also visited Ross Island where the Chief Commissioner and his staff used to live.

1.6.2 Taj Mahal

Godbole met some 25 senior workers of the RSS and he also delivered a public lecture attended by an audience of 60, at Vartakashram in Pune. He stressed the importance of concentrating on 5 major points and forget the rest. This is essential if we hare to be effective.

(A) Tavernier.

It was clear in 1889 that Tavernier visited Agra only twice, in the winter of

1640-41 and in 1665. Historians maintain that Taj Mahal was built between 1631 and 1653. Therefore Tavernier could NOT have seen the commencement and completion of construction of Taj Mahal, and his statement that 20,000 men worked for 22 years is meaningless.

It is strange that Prof Ram Nath of Agra University (1969) and Bamber Gascoigne (1971) accept the Tavernier’s dates of visits to Agra, but do not want to extend logic further.

But once again. after 1971, all Historians have kept quiet about the fact that Tavernier came to Agra only in the winter of 1640-41 and in 1665. Why?

(B) Peter Mundy

This merchant of the (English) East India Company was in Agra during 1631-33.

Shahjahan came back to Agra from Burhanpur on 12 June 1632. Rains would have made any works impossible till October. And yet Mundy says, “Gold and silver are being used as if common metal.”

European travellers after Mundy do not mention any gold and silver in Taj Mahal after 1633. The question is – what happened to all that Gold and Silver?

Only Shahjahan could have looted all that gold and silver.

Historians are silent on this question.

(C) Badshahnama

(C.1)- Persian text of Badshahnama, the official chronicle of Shahjahan was published in 1867 by the Asiatic Society of Bengal. And as yet no Historian or Historical society has been interested in translating this chronicle from Persian into English. Why?

During the British Raj, British scholars translated Baburnama, Humayun-nama, Akbar-nama and Ain-e-Akabari and Tazuk-e-Jahangiri. Why did they stop there?

(C.2) - Elliot and Dowson wrote History of India from the invasion of Sind by Mohammed-bin-Kasim to the downfall of Marathas, based only on chronicles of Muslim rulers. They published this history in 8 volumes during 1867 to 1877. Volume VII deals with reigns of Shahjahan and Aurangzeb and yet the authors did not find any mention of building of Taj Mahal in Badshahnama!! The authors did not express any surprise in any footnote.

Volume VIII contains an Index for all the 8 volumes. We do not find the word Taj Mahal in the index.

Why have Indian historians been quiet on this score? Why did they keep lay public in the dark?

(C.3) - In 1896, Khan Bahadur Syed Mohammed Latif’s book Agra Historical & Descriptive was published. He refers to Badshahnama many times, but not to specific pages. However, he says - Site chosen for mausoleum was late Raja Mansingh’s Palace. Why did Indian historians keep us in the dark about Latif?

(C.4) In 1905, Agra District Gazetteer, complied by Mr H R Nevill, ICS, was published. In his bibliography he does include Latif’s book, but changes the words ‘Raja Mansingh’s Palace’ into ‘Raja Mansingh’s piece of land.’

The falsification is crystal clear.

(C.5) Strangely enough, Maulavi M Ahmad (History of Taj, 1905) and Sir Jadunath Sarkar (Anecdotes of Aurangzeb, 1912) refer to Badshahnama, Volume I, page 403 and state that Shahjahan purchased Raja Mansingh’s piece of land, which was in the possession of his grandson Raja Jaisingh.

Nobody bothered to read that specific page of Badshahnama.

In the 1960s Mr Oak had arguments with many opponents. One of them, a Kashmiri Pandit argued that there was documentary evidence on Taj Mahal. Oak asked him to show that evidence. They both went to Government of India. The Pandit, who was a Persian scholar, started to browse through Badshahnama and came across Volume I, page 403. He was surprised to find a clear cut statement that Shahjahan grabbed Late Raja Mansingh’s Palace for burial of his wife Mumtaz –ul-Zamani. The Pandit confessed that he never read that page carefully. He gave word by word translation of pages 402 and 403 to Oak, who promptly published in his book in 1968.

(C.6) The question now arises – why did H R Nevill twist the facts? Following events speak for themselves.

1901 – NWFP formed by separating many districts from Punjab.

1903 – Curzon announces his intention to partition Bengal

1905 – Curzon resigns but puts partition into effect

1906 -- Vande Mataram is banned

Aga Khan’s petition to Viceroy Lord Minto

Formation of Muslim League in Dacca.

1909 – Separate electorates granted to Muslims.

1910 – ASI divided into 2 sections. Mohammedan & European / Hindu & Buddhist.

(D) Do we find any collaboration?

Yes we do find collaboration in the records of Pelsaert of Dutch East India Company. He was stationed at Agra during1620-27.

In his report – Remonstrante – he describes the city of Agra of 1626. and says, “The riverbank is full of palaces to a stretch of 10 ½ miles. He lists some well known persons at that time. Late Raja Mansigh’s Palace being last but one, of them.

English translation was available in 1925. But Indian historians do not want to know what Agra City was like before Shahjahan came to power.

(E) In 1982, ASI published a booklet – Taj Museum.

They say – on that site until then stood late Raja Mansingh’s Palace.

So, what happened to that Palace? It is now known as Taj Mahal.

The matter is as simple as that.

1.6.3 Rationalism of Veer Savarkar

Godbole delivered a public lecture about his above book at his old school – Bhave Primary, in Pune on 24 January 2007. About 70 people attended.

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1.7 British Democracy - how does work in practice?

On 5 May 2005 Daily Mail published an important letter (p64)

It’s time all Tories returned to the fold

FROM 1992 to 1997, John Major led a divided administration which, with the ignominious exit from the Exchange Rate Mechanism, shattered his party's credibility. That didn't bode well for William Hague in 2001 and, good speaker

though he is, he fought a poor campaign marred by infighting over Europe.

In 1992, John major polled 14.1 million votes to gain an overall majority of 21.

In 1997. Tony Blair polled 13.6 million votes to achieve a 'landslide' majority of 179. Why? Because the Conservative vote was down 4.5 million from 1992.

In 2001, Tony Blair polled 10.7 million votes, but still gained a majority of 166.

The Conservatives polled 8.4 million, another 1.2 million down. The missing

Conservatives didn't vote Labour or Lib Dem — many just didn't vote at all.

The most worrying aspect nationally is the reduction in turnout — 77.7% in

1992, 71.4% in 1997 and just 59.4% (the lowest since 1945) in 2001. This can only damage the credibility of British democracy — as illustrated by Labour's huge victory in 2001 despite the support of only 24.2% of the electorate.

Meanwhile, the Lib Dems won four seats from the Conservatives in 2001 by

majorities of less than the UKIP vote — Cheadle, Dorset Mid, Guildford and Norfolk North. They also held Devon West and Weston Super Mare with majorities of less than the UKIP vote.

Labour gained Dorset South from the Conservatives with a majority of less than the UKIP vote, and held four seats —Kettering, Lancaster, Monmouth and Northampton South — with majorities of less than the UKIP vote.

A vote for UKIP becomes. In effect, a vote for Labour. Tony Blair will be delighted at the way it can reduce the Conservative vote and it may lose this election for the Tones, particularly in marginal constituencies.

Michael Howard became Conservative leader in November 2003. What a difference he has made in this short time with his enthusiasm, passion and energy. Suddenly, Tony Blair's easy mastery of the Commons is over.

It was the Conservative voters of middle England who went walkabout in the last two elections. They should come back now and support Michael Howard.

A. JAMES, Stratford upon Avon, Warks.

[UKIP stands for UK Independence Party]

1.8 Letters to the Editor

We found some interesting letters in the Guardian of 24 February 2005.

Vegetarian diet – where’s the beef?

Professor Lindsay Allen wrongly claims that it is unethical to deprive children of meat (What's missing in this pile of food? February 22). This claim ignores the plethora of research that shows that children in the US and Europe develop quite normally on a vegetarian diet. My own research, which has followed vegan children from birth to early adult life, has proved that children can be successfully reared-on a vegan diet. Ms Allen's research was conducted on 'children in an impoverished community, consuming a corn-based diet, where micronutrient deficiency is likely. As meat is a rich source of micronutrients, the effect of small amounts of meat was not unexpected.

Her pontification about the ethics of feeding children meatless diets in developed countries goes beyond what her data shows. In developed countries vegetarians and vegans consume more diverse diets, which are less likely to be deficient. But parents rearing children on vegan diets must pay attention to ensure their children obtain adequate calcium, vitamin B12 and vitamin D. (I am neither a vegan nor vegetarian.)

Tom Sanders

Professor of nutrition

King's College London

• Ms Allen's attack on parents who bring up their children on a vegan diet is pure

"junk science" from a body —the US Department of Agriculture — controlled by the US beef and pork industries. The American Dietetic Association states: "Appropriately planned vegan and lacto-ovo-vegetarian diets satisfy nutrient needs of infants, children and adolescents and promote normal growth."

Animal Aid is celebrating the humane and healthy non-animal diet during Veggie

Month starting March 1

(www.animalaid.org.uk).

Kelly Slade

Animal Aid

• On the day you publish a story about a US nutritionist claiming that refusing to fee children meat is unethical, you publish the Food Standards Agency's list of food items that have been contaminated with Sudan 1 dye — roughly 99% of which appear to be meat-based. Result?

Paul McCartney/veggies 1, US nutritionist/carnivores 0.

Tim Fees!

Guildford, Surrey

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1.9 America pollutes British air

On 12 July 2004, Metro paper of London carried interesting news (p7)

America's polluted air makes us ill

BY JAYNE ATHERTON

POLLUTED air from America is threatening the health of people in Britain,

experts fear.

Sooty particles from 5,000 miles away to are being dumped on northern Europe where they could be to blame for a rise in lung disease, say scientists.

The chemicals, emitted from industrial centres on the US East Coast, sweep north as far as Nova Scotia where they are sucked five miles high into the jet stream, it is feared.

They are then blown across the Atlantic.

A team of 40 scientists from seven British universities is to join hundreds of other researchers in the Azores, in the North Atlantic, on a major project to monitor the pollution.

Researcher Dr Alastair Lewis said: ‘It’s highly likely that air leaving the States contains a cocktail of nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons, which are emitted from vehicle exhausts and power stations.’

'We want to know how these will react together on the way to Europe and notably whether they will form ozone and particles, both of which can be harmful to humans.'

Sooty particles that lodge in the lungs are also harmful and linked to tens of thousands of deaths each year in Europe.

During the 2003 summer heat-wave, levels of ozone and particles soared, resulting in up to 800 extra deaths across Britain.

'Although we know that some of this pollution was produced locally in the UK, we still don't know what the contribution was from other countries,' said Dr Lewis, from the Intercontinental Transport of Ozone and Precursors programme.

'Some, but not necessarily all, of this imported pollution might have come from America.'

Five aircraft, a research ship, and numerous ground stations and satellites

will help scientists examine where the pollution plumes travel.

The researchers will test for-chemical reactions in the air and measure particles reaching Europe.

(Note – So, no one can remain aloof from politics any more.)

1.10 Racism in Spain

On 18 November 2004, Steve Stammers reported from Madrid for the Evening Standard (pp87/88). He says -

FIFA act on race hate row

FIFA today launched an inquiry into the disgraceful scenes of racist chanting which marred last night’s clash between England and Spain in Madrid.

World football's governing body condemned the behaviour of Spain's fans who targeted England's black players with monkey chants. FIFA president Sepp Blatter said: "Racial discrimination does not have any place in sport."

Meanwhile, Jennaine Jenas rounded on the racists who brought shame on Spanish football by branding them "ignorant" - and supporting the Football Association's call for an investigation.

The Newcastle midfielder was one of five black England players singled out for disgraceful racial abuse. Arsenal's Ashley Cole and Manchester City's Shaun Wright-Phillips were on the receiving end of the worst of the abuse and as they left the ground following the match it was clear England's stars were shaken by the experience.

Jenas told Standard Sport: "I was very surprised. It was not nice to hear such chants going on. I didn't realise the people in Spain were like that. It was very ignorant and wrong. It was disgraceful.

"That was the worst I have ever experienced. I have encountered it before when playing for Newcastle in Europe but last night was the worst. Something has to be done or else it will continue to happen. It has to stop.

"Ashley Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips were very disappointed about what happened. Ashley is very upset. I hope UEFA do not let it slide by because it is not something that should be taken lightly

"I hope it doesn't get brushed under the carpet. The only thing you can see happening is to ban people from games or don't let them in the stadium."

Jenas added that comments by Spanish national manager Luis Aragones about Arsenal's Thierry Henry last month inflamed the situation.

"That doesn't help. It is pretty disgraceful that people can get away with such things," said Jenas. "I am not sure if there was an apology over what he said about Thierry Henry — if not, then it is disgraceful that someone at such a high level can make such comments without any backlash."

The build-up to the game was overshadowed by the racial chanting at the Under-21 team on Tuesday Spain coach Luis Aragones's failure to fully apologise for calling Arsenal's Thierry Henry "a black shit" a month ago.

Today, in a bizarre response, a spokesman for the Spanish football federation blamed English journalists for provoking the chants. Fernando Garrido said: "There was racist shouting at some players? This hasn't happened in the Spanish league and in Spain many years. So you will have to ask if you have contributed to what has happened."

Manchester United full-back Gary Neville claimed that if there was such a huge level of abuse from an England crowd, severe sanctions would be imposed.

"I can't understand the abuse and where it comes from I don't know," he said. "But on the major issues in the game — hooliganism and racism — if it is England, we would probably be kicked out of the competitions. England get treated differently when it comes to certain issues in football."

Aragones shamefully failed to condemn the racist taunts. However, Sven-Goran Eriksson was outspoken in his criticism of the Spain fans. "When things like this happen, something must be done," he said.

Captain David Beckham added: "When it happens in football all around the world, you feel ashamed. It wasn't good but people are trying to cut it out."

FA spokesman Adrian Bevington said: "We will be writing to UEFA, FIFA and the

Spanish Federation. I was disgusted. There was a big crowd and a lot of children. What kind of message does that send out?"

Manchester City condemned the racist chanting directed at Blues winger Wright-

Phillips. City head of communications Paul Tyrrell said: "The treatment handed out to several of the England players was sickening and deplorable. Shaun is a strong character who will be unaffected by what happened."

On page 87 we see a picture with caption - Shouting match: Cole confronts Luis Aragones, whose racist remarks about Thiery Henry have been blamed for last night’s ill-tempered encounter.

On page 88 we see a picture of a Spanish fan making a monkey gesture at Shaun Wright-Phillips, who was racially barracked.

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On 19 November 2004 on page 7 Daily Star published pictures of Spanish fans turning their racial abuse on England star Shaun Wright-Phillips - under the caption Bastardos. The faces of the fans can be clearly seen.

>> We just want to remind the readers that Dictator Franco died in 1975 and Spain, like U.K has embraced democracy with King Juan Carlos as its nominal head. And yet after more than 30 years we find outburst of racism in Spain.

Now, we should remember in the 1930s Nehru praised the democrats in Spain and wanted to establish relations with them. Events of 2004 show how Nehru was a day-dreamer. It is time we learned to live on earth and face the reality of life.

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2. AROUND LONDON TOUR OF PLACES ASSOCIATED WITH INDIAN FREEDOM FIGHTERS

In December 2006, Dr Shreerang Godbole of Pune wrote, “Sanskritik Vartapatra” is a fortnightly run by the RSS in Maharashtra & Goa (excluding Vidarbha). It has a circulation of 18000 copies. We also publish two special issues each year on 26 Jan and 15 Aug. The topic for the Jan 26, 2007 issue is Hindutvache Shiledar. We wish to focus on individuals /small organizations who are engaged in rousing Hindutva/patriotism or who are doing aggressive work for the Hindu cause. I wish to write an article on you for this issue especially regarding your work to unearth facts about our freedom struggle abroad, your London tour etc.”

Mr Godbole supplied all the information requested and an article on him and his Special London Tour appeared in the 26 January 2007 issue of Sanskritik Vartapatra

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3. Islam and the West

Muslim fanaticism is affecting all walks of lives in Europe. Here are some examples.

3.1 Teaching nuns hit by Muslim headscarf ban

On 11 October 2004, Kate Connolly reported from Berlin for the Daily Telegraph

NUNS who teach in state schools in the Black Forest region of Germany are to be banned from wearing their habits in the classroom in line with a judgment on Muslim headscarves, a federal court has ruled.

The federal administrative court decreed that it would be unjust if a law passed this year in the southern state of Baden Wurttemberg prohibiting Muslim women

teachers from wearing headscarves did not also apply to Christian symbols.

"There can be no exception. Any form of religiously motivated clothing in certain regions is not in question," said the written ruling from the court in Leipzig, eastern Germany.

Nuns who form an active part of the teaching staff in the predominantly Roman

Catholic state will in future have to change from their habits into ordinary clothing

before they enter the classroom, according to today’s edition of Spiegel magazine, which has published details of the ruling for the first time.

Baden Wiirttemberg state legislators, including the Christian Democrat education minister, Annette Schavan, have said they will fight the ruling.

Ferdinand Kirchhof, a law professor who compiled the legislation banning Muslim

headscarves argued that nuns' habits were excluded because they constituted

"professional dress" and could not be counted as religious symbols.

In September last year Germany's constitutional court, the country's highest, ruled against Baden-Wurttemberg's decision to ban from the classroom a Muslim teacher who wore a headscarf.

But it ruled that Germany's 16 states should decide independently on whether headscarves were deemed to influence pupils negatively and if they should therefore be banned.

As a consequence, a variety of different laws are to be found across the country.

But none of the states that have laws banning religious symbols go as far as France, where an outright ban on headscarves and other "prominent" religions symbols applies to pupils as well as teachers.

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On 30 September 2004 Tim Lott wrote for the Evening Standard (p15) -

3.2 The Left has got it wrong on Islam

GIVEN the continued support of Ken Livingstone for the radical cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi and Tony Blair's announcement of his backing for a law against religious discrimination, I am tempted to think it was a god who gave birth to British socialism rather than those sturdy secularists Karl Marx or Sidney and Beatrice Webb.

The god in question, of course, would be the two-faced Janus. For facing both ways is exactly what socialists tend to do when faced with the intellectual dilemma of Islam. They support gay rights, feminism, democracy and individual freedom, while attempting to mollify and appease a religion that in practice is either opposed or indifferent to these fundamental values.

There is no argument here about "moderate" Islam. Turkey, the most moderate Islamic state, has only just stopped criminalising adultery as a result of EU pressure. And lest I be accused of blurring the line between "extreme" and "moderate" Muslims, I am no fan of moderate Islam — or, for that matter, of moderate Christianity.

This is because religious thinking of all stripes runs against one of my deepest beliefs — the freedom to think for yourself, not treat knowledge as a received revelation from a supernatural being.

The Left is confused about Islam partly because of its tendency to stick up for the underdog. It is confused because it equates Islam with race, since most Muslims are people of colour. But Islam is a belief system, one that tends to reject the scientific and humanistic universe, and is thus usually politically conservative.

Socialists also tend to see the "attack" on Islamic "values" as a form of American cultural imperialism. This kind of Left-leaning cultural relativism suggests that, say, the genital mutilation of young girls in some Islamic cultures is a value-free matter of "cultural choice". It incorrectly identifies "Western" with "American", and attacks consumerism and big business while ignoring all the virtues that tend to flourish in secular society — social democracy, individual rights and so forth.

It refuses to face up to the fact that that Western secularism should be culturally imperialist — if, that is, you believe in individual liberty, feminism, the state-led redistribution of wealth from rich to poor, minority rights, freedom of the press and the principle of tolerance. If we hold these to be absolute virtues — and I do — then we should be fundamentalist about them, and aim to export them. Which is in effect what we are trying to do, albeit ineptly, in Iraq.

THIS is clear-thinking modem socialism, or if you prefer, liberal humanism. It acknowledges that the Western "way" has contributed some terrible developments — the atomisation of society the overweening power of the global corporations and the appalling waste of resources. But it acknowledges at the same time that secularism and democracy, for all their faults, are and must be the future.

Tony Blair and Ken Livingstone alike, although for different reasons, soft-pedal on religion and on Islam. But a real socialist would say it loud and without regret: we're godless infidels — and we’re proud of it.

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3.3 Carey stirs it up

On 26 March 2004, in its Editorial, the Evening Standard said -

Given the polite restraint that normally obtains in inter-faith gatherings. Lord Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury has caused consternation on the eve of a Muslim-Christian seminar in Rome by criticising Islamic states as being undemocratic and Muslim leaders for their failure to condemn suicide bombers. Of course Lord Carey also paid tribute to the formidable scholarly and cultural

achievements of Islam and emphasised that the great majority of Muslims are peaceful people, but this has been over-shadowed by his other remarks. In particular, his observation about the difficulties of developing a critical scholarship of to Koran addresses a sensitive subject. But it is worth asking whether Lord Carey's remarks deserve a reflexively hostile response. It is true that Islamic states tend not to be democratic and it is also true that Christians in those countries do not have the same rights to freedom of worship as Muslims enjoy in the West. These criticisms have been made by Muslims themselves. Lord Carey should have done more justice to efforts by Muslim religious leaders, particularly in Europe, to condemn Islamic terrorism. But for the rest, he is within his rights to be frank. If dialogue between religions does not include truthful criticism, it is not worth having.

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4. BEHAVIOUR OF CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS TODAY

4.1The Muslims

On 12 July 2004, Metro paper of London reported on page 2

4.1.1 Rebels mutilate spy suspect, 14

MUSLIM rebels in Kashmir sliced off the nose, tongue and ears of a young girl they suspected of being an informant to the Indian army, police said yesterday. The militants abducted Madam Begum, 14, from her home in Srinagar last week. She was later released, but her face was mutilated as a warning to others. Increased rebel activity is threatening to disrupt talks between India and Pakistan over the disputed region.

4.1.2 History of Ingratitude

While in Pune in December 2005 I picked up a copy of Saptahik Sakal of

3 December 2005. On page 9 I found an interesting article. The author says,

“Bharat freed Bangladesh from the military dictatorship of Pakistan. Our citizens paid a heavy price for the same. But Politicians, Military and Civilians of Bangladesh did not remember the help given by Bharat. Lt general Jagjitsingh Arora played a crucial part in the liberation of Bangladesh. He died recently. And yet the Bangladesh Government did not send any condolences to relatives of Jagjitsingh or to Government of India.

Strange enough General Asif Nawaz Janjua, under whose command Bangladeshis suffered terribly, also died recently in Pakistan. And immediately Begum Khalisda Zia expressed sorrow and sent her condolences.

History of Bangladeshi politicians is a history of ingratitude. Even Muzibar Rahiman was not an exception to it. History of their attitude towards us for last 34 years teaches to be ever vigilant, cautious. We have paid heavily in the hope of improving relations with them.

It is astonishing that Bangladeshi leaders are now controlled by the very Pakistanis (ISI) who were responsible massacre of Bengalis. In 1971 Jamat-e Islam supported Pakistan and today they are the main supporters of Begum Zia.

Jamat-e Islam and other organisations have vowed to establish Taliban style government in Bangladesh, with the blessing of and help from Pakistan’s notorious ISI. The western governments have ignored this situation, may be because it is troublesome for India.

(Our comment – why do we always grumble about Pakistan? There are many factions in their society. Why can’t we exploit them?)

4.1.3 Inter Tribal fighting in Pakistan

On Friday, 23 July 2004 Metro paper of London reported (p20) –

Pakistan

A couple whose marriage set two opposing tribes at loggerheads are on their way to asylum in Norway. Shaista Almani and Balkh Sher Mahar fled the Sindh province after their year-old marriage, which violated tribal codes of honour, led to stand off between the Mahr and Almani tribes. At one stage, Shaista’s tribe vowed to kill the couple. But in March the Sindh High Court said they had done nothing illegal and could go anywhere they liked. President Pervez Musharraf said the couple should be protected.

We thought that this sort of thing does not happen in Islamic countries where everyone is equal!! Just shows how little we know about the Islamic world.

4.1.4 Dress of Muslim women

In England, Muslim women are insisting on wearing full veil in public. We read some interesting stories about the same as follows -

On 24 October 2006 The London Talk - free paper published some letters on p13.

Amazing - even local girls wear bikinis

It is not true that women in bikinis get things thrown at them in Muslim countries.

Rimmer, who said that, has probably not visited any. May I suggest beaches in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, the Red Sea, Egypt. You'll be amazed. Even local girls will be wearing some.

FATIMA

People should adapt to a country's culture

I think people wearing veils in this country and all other people from other cultures should adapt to this country's rules. For example, we don't go to Pakistan and insist that we get a bacon sandwich while they are fasting. We'd be shot!

SANDEEP, BEDFORD

We fought and died for Western values

As I am watching Channel 4's debate Muslims and Free Speech. I am disgusted by the political correctness of C4 and its willingness to please their Muslim audience. Do we have to question our Western values again after all the people died and fought to get these rights? The West accommodates the Muslims, not the other round!

BABAS, BAYSWATER

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Campaign needed to highlight vital issues

Sir,

The current protest regarding the right of Muslim women to wear any kind of veil, in any setting in the UK saddens me. It begs questions about how UK Muslims decide which issues to challenge and which to ignore.

I have no doubt as to the sincerity of the views of the women you quoted in your front page on October 20. I am sure that they do feel this is an issue fundamental to equality and choice. But it isn't a matter of life or death, any more than the publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed in a Danish newspaper was, and we saw quite a furore about that too.

The citation of negative remarks about the Prophet by Pope Benedict XVI also attracted widespread and in some cases violent, complaints. But again the lives of Muslims were not endangered by the Pope's lack of Tact.

By comparison we are now witnessing atrocities on an unprecedented scale in Iraq. Almost all the killing of children, women and men, the vast majority innocent non-combatants, amounts to Muslim on Muslim violence.

Wouldn’t it be refreshing to see Bedford's Muslims taking to our streets to call on the murderers in Iraq, who claim to share their faith, to stop the senseless violence?

Wouldn’t it be impressive to see such small nucleus of protest in our town replicated across the UK perhaps a catalyst for worldwide condemnation by Muslims of those who defile their religion?

Would such a campaign not help restore faith in the Muslim community in their ability to distinguish between the issues that are important, and those that are literally vital?

Wily White

Brook Street, Bedford

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If we find veil intimidating or worrying - tough

Sir,

What good does it do to give views on Muslim women wearing veils? Our heritage and culture that has been ours for thousands of years are of no interest to them. If we find the veil intimidating or worrying-tough.

We have had to change and adapt to immigrants coming into this country-they have just brought their country with them.

At last we are beginning to get the same freedom of speech as the minorities, and they are not used to it. Jack Straw was only doing and saying what the minorities have always been able to do – say what he felt, and it’s about time

JM Fisher (Mrs)

Bedford Road, Cranfield.

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Veils should not be worn by those serving public

SIR – I am against the wearing of full face veils during normal working hours as facial expression is important to enhance body language.

But I can see no problem with Muslim women wearing the full face veil "off duty" or in their own social time. If people find this difficult then they have the choice not to do public service after all they are in the UK which is not a Muslim state.

Mary Backhurst

by email

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Every Muslim should adhere to dress code

SIR-Reference the veils debate. This is a delicate and emotive issue and should be dealt with carefully and tactfully. It should not be a political issue, nor made a football to be kicked around without any sensitivity whatsoever. Instead we should tackle it in a responsible manner, with sensibility and sensitivity.

As the Koran states (Surah 7, Verse 26): "I have sent down clothing to cover your shame and for adornment. But the best clothing is that which guards against evil."

The other ordinances in the Koran regarding dress apply equally to both men and women, which instruct men to lower their gaze, guard their chastity, and to control their passions, and women to do the same. It also says to cover the head and the bosom, except the part which appears decently, thereof. This is corroborated in the 'hadith', in which the Prophet (PBUH) said to his wife's sister, "You should cover your body except the hands and feet"

The implication is that what is desirable is modesty.

Islamic dress is not national. But international and even universal the question of 'hijab' or 'niquab' comes down to culture, as well as religious significance. For this to be practical, every Muslim, male or female, has got to adhere to the behaviour and the dress code in accordance with the principles laid down in the Koran and the hadith, depending on the environment in their own country.

Imam lrshad AIi

Bedford Islamic Centre

Castle Lane. Bedford

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On 24 October 2006 the Evening Standard commented – (p12)

Veils and jobs

THERE is no doubt that the public discussion over the niqab, or face-covering veil worn by some Muslim women, is highly charged, but it does not help for the

Mayor, Ken Livingstone, to say as he did today, that the debate "carried echoes of Nazi Germany". He feels that attention should focus instead on the high levels of unemployment among the Pakistani and Bangladeshi community He was drawing on a report which he launched today with the Muslim Council of Britain, to highlight problems faced by Muslims.

It is indeed a matter of concern that Bangladeshis and Pakistanis suffer disproportionate levels of unemployment. But glib references to Hitler and Goebbels do not help clarify the issues involved. The debate about the niqab is perfectly valid: a face covering is not, as Mr Livingstone suggests, comparable with a Sikh's turban. Rather the discussion focuses on the particular problems raised for and by Muslim women if their veil makes it impossible for anyone to see their face, particularly at work. No one is suggesting that Muslim women should not be free to veil their heads.