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The First Konkani E-Cinema
BLACK Nhesop Atanchem Fashion
Premiers at Masrah, Hawalli Auditorium, Kuwait on Aug 10, 2007
http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2007-August/060201.html
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Gomantak Times, 2/08/07
Commualism posing danger to democracy: Puniyani
Margao: "Communalism is a very serious political infringement on
democracy of a country. Communal violence is a supreficial manifestation
of a danger called communal politics that can come from any religion in
the world," remarked Prof Ram Puniyani at the N.D. Naik hall, Margao on
Wednesday.
Speaking on the topic "Communal Threats to Secular Democracy in India"
organised by the Citizens' Initiatives for Communal Harmony (CICH), Prof
Ram Puniyani stated, "Religion should not be mixed with politics.
Politics should be fought to strengthen the human rights of those
deprived sections of society. But religion has been seen as a dividing
force by the communalists, whilst Mahatma Gandhi used it to unite the
people that led to his assassination by fundamentalist elements in society."
Cautioning Goans to be wary of such violence taking place in their
state, he requested them to prevent it by promoting the values of
humanism that according to him was far greater than any religion.
"Religious identities have been fragmented by various castes and sects.
We have to see all as a part of the same fraternity," he quipped.
Narrating various examples in history throughout his over 30 minute
speech that also highlighted various communal incidents that occurred in
the country, the IIT professor in the field of bio-medical engineering
was extremely critical of what he called 'selective historiography' that
had been used to further the process of communalism.
And claimed that the British historians had introduced it as part of
their "Divide and Rule" policy so as to prevent the emergence of another
superpower (India) in Asia by ensuring the birth of Pakistan, which saw
the breakaway of Bangladesh. And was of the opinion that the destruction
of holy places of worship by various rulers in ancient times was not to
propogate their faith as is widely believed but due to the status these
religious symbols held as places of political significance and the
wealth lying within that was to be appropriated.
Referring to the recent sentence that has been passed on film actor
Sanjay Dutt, Prof. Puniyani surmised that "in a democracy, punish the
guilty, protect the innocent, should be the norm."
But in communal violence, this norm is forgotten since innocents get
killed during communal violence, whilst the perpetrators can easily
escape without being punished. He also stated that it is not correct to
take revenge for past atrocities committted."
Making a fervent appeal to the audience gathered to maintain secularism,
Prof. Puniyani further claimed that "equality and social justice is
under threat from communalism, both majority and minority. Violence is
the end of communal harmony and national integration. No country can
survive without a feeling of fraternity."
Sangodd, the monthly magazine of the CICH was also released on the
occasion in the presence of the CICH convenor Ramesh Gauns, Adv
Albertina Almeida, Gurunath Kelekar of Movement for Amity Towards Roads
in Goa (MARG) and the chairman of All-India Milli Council, Iqbal
Mohidin, who were seated on the dias.
The talk was followed by a highly interactive question-answer session
that saw plenty of participation from an attentive audience.
--
Question everything -- Karl Marx
