Hindus converted to Islam by sword only

Sunil Ganguly prefers to remain nonchalant, eulogize Islamist bosses

Today a new treatise has been published in Anandasbazar Patrika, penned by Sunil Ganguly, an author known for his eloquence and also high-flown styles and rhetoric both in the literary circles of the state of Bengal and rest of India.

Here is the link of the same - http://www.anandabazar.com/7edit3.html.

The article, even if concentrating on Brhamo Samaj and especially Keshab Chandra Sen, one of the foremost Bengali religious reformers and preachers in the 19 th century, leaves no stone unturned to drag Hindus and their Dharma through the mud. Well, many may say that it has been an inherent approach, based on his own conviction, of Suil Babu for decades and the better it is to be indifferent to this sort of malice. But no way! If there is any dearth to challenge this attitude, Hindus en masse will continue to be the casualty only. Such perspectives of namby-pamby and egocentric Hindu religious leaders (as perceived through centuries) have always been considered as the basic flaw and perpetual weakness of Hindu Dharma. And who doesn’t know – history is written by victors and not by the vanquished.

What has the revered author written then? In the 4 th paragraph of the article, the author (sensibly) has stated that Islam, being free of caste, racial conflicts and also of any form of untouchability, has been the best and last sanctuary for Hindus, particularly of low-caste origins, to remain with dignity for eternity. In accordance with him, low-caste Hindus, in throngs, being oppressed by high-caste Hindus like Brahmin and Kayastha, adopted Islam down the ages.

We, with politeness yet with firmness, beg to differ in this context. Even if it is undeniable that high-caste oppressions (grave injustice undoubtedly) made low-caste Hindus opt for other religions, such act has been an exception altogether. And such acts are too minimal if compared with the horrific and forcible conversions of Hindus to Islam through the history and now too. But the aged and respected author prefers to steer clear of the same. And this is not any new design on his part – Hindus are acquainted with such through his other writings.

Has Sunil Babu ever cared to concentrate on the true facts of history? No - he has never had – but we have got to make it or else these preposterous endeavors will go on without qualms. It’s the time for confrontation.

History states that Islamic reign has been the most vicious period in Indian history. Will Durant, globally acclaimed writer, historian and philosopher, has its own forthright views of the same. He has stated, "The Islamic conquest of India is probably the bloodiest story in history. It is a discouraging tale, for its evident moral is that civilization is a precious good, whose delicate complex of order and freedom, culture and peace, can at any moment be overthrown by barbarians invading from without or multiplying within." (Story of Civilization, vol.1, Our Oriental Heritage, New York 1972, p.459)

But we can’t depend on the said historian and philosopher only or else our secular friends (or foes?) will begin to term us as too parochial.

Has Sunil Babu ever heard of Malfuzat-i Timuri? Malfuzat-i Timuri, or Tuzak-i Timuri, to be precise, happens to be an autobiographical chronicle of the Emperor Timur (1336-1405); it was written in Chaghatai Mongol language, and was translated into Persian by Abu Talib Husaini. The Islamic emperor, himself, gives an account of his invasions, in particular the massacre in Delhi in the following lines.

“In a short space of time all the people in the [Delhi] fort were put to the sword, and in the course of one hour the heads of 10,000 infidels were cut off. The sword of Islam was washed in the blood of the infidels, and all the goods and effects, the treasure and the grain which for many a long year had been stored in the fort became the spoil of my soldiers. They set fire to the houses and reduced them to ashes, and they razed the buildings and the fort to the ground....All these infidel Hindus were slain, their women and children, and their property and goods became the spoil of the victors. I proclaimed throughout the camp that every man who had infidel prisoners should put them to death, and whoever neglected to do so should himself be executed and his property given to the informer. When this order became known to the ghazis of Islam, they drew their swords and put their prisoners to death.

One hundred thousand infidels, impious idolators, were on that day slain. Maulana Nasiruddin Umar, a counselor and man of learning, who, in all his life, had never killed a sparrow, now, in execution of my order, slew with his sword fifteen idolatrous Hindus, who were his captives....on the great day of battle these 100,000 prisoners could not be left with the baggage, and that it would be entirely opposed to the rules of war to set these idolaters and enemies of Islam at liberty...no other course remained but that of making them all food for the sword.”

Definitely Sunil Babu has read the exploits of Muhammad Ghori and the same individual, according to history, committed genocides against Hindus at Kol (modern Aligarh), Kalinjar and certainly Varanasi. During these onslaughts, under the order of Muhammad Ghori, 20, 000 Hindus, being infidels, were slaughtered and their heads were given to crows. This testimony is vindicated by Hasan Nizami's Taj-ul-Maasir. Did other Hindus, desperate to subsist, have any other way than to accept Islam? All these barbaric acts were done to unfurl the flag of Islam and stamp down any other view or religion.

Here is another account of reign under Firuz Shah Tughluq.

“An order was accordingly given to the Brahman and was brought before Sultan. The true faith was declared to the Brahman and the right course pointed out. but he refused to accept it. A pile was risen on which the Kaffir with his hands and legs tied was thrown into and the wooden tablet on the top. The pile was lit at two places his head and his feet. The fire first reached him in the feet and drew from him a cry and then fire completely enveloped him. Behold Sultan for his strict adherence to law and rectitude.” [History of Firuz Shah Tughluq by Jamini Banerjee – published by Munshiram Manoharlal].

Here are two accounts of the reign of Tipu Sultan, termed as Tiger by many thus far. While C. K. Kareem states unequivocally that Tippu Sultan issued an edict for the destruction of Hindu temples in the state of Kerala, Hayavadana C. Rao, famed historian, maintains that Tipu’s "religious fanaticism and the excesses committed in the name of religion, both in Mysore and in the provinces, stand condemned for all time. His bigotry, indeed, was so great that it precluded all ideas of toleration".

Has Sunil Babu ever focused on the religious persecution on Hindus in Bangladesh, erstwhile East Pakistan? Perhaps he is too busy for the same; his main job being eulogizing Islamists and demonizing Hindus at each time. What was his role in 1971? The whole world was almost shell-shocked perceiving the state repression and genocides of Hindus in East Pakistan. As per records, 2.5 million among 3 million people killed by the Army of Pakistan were Hindus. Ramna Kali Mandir, used to be one of the most famed Hindu temples in the Indian subcontinent, was razed by the Army of Pakistan on March 27, 1971. Jagannath Hall (famous hostel of Hindu Students) in the campus of University of Dhaka on March 25, 1971, was another target. A huge contingent of Pakistani Army including 22 Beluch, 32 Panjabi regiment and several battalions encircled the campus and within hours, along with others, Hindus of Jagannath Hall, containing both teachers and students, were exterminated.

Did Sunil Babu shed his tears in memory of those Hindus? We are yet to know it!

Here is an excerpt from the report of Senator Edward Kennedy submitted to the U.S Senate Judiciary Committee.

“Nothing is more clear, or more easily documented, than the systematic campaign of terror-and its genocidal consequences-launched by the Pakistani army on the night of March 25th. Field reports to the U.S government, countless eye-witness journalistic accounts, reports from international agencies such as the World Bank, and additional information available to the Subcommitte document the continuing reign of terror which grips East Bengal. Hardest hit have been members of the Hindu community who have been robbed of their lands and shops, systematically slaughtered, and, in some places, painted with yellow patches marked “H”. All of this has been officially sanctioned, ordered and implemented under martial law from Islamabad. America’s heavy support of Islamabad is nothing short of complicity in the human and political tragedy of East Bengal.”

“In some areas, according to eyewitness reports in the late summer,

Pakistan

troops were painting large yellow "H" signs on Hindu shops, so as to identify the property of the minority which had become a special target. To show they were not Hindus, members of the Muslim majority-although not fully exempt from the army's terror-were painting sign saying "All Muslim House" on their homes and shops. In turn the small community of Christians were putting crosses on their doors and stitching crosses in red thread on their clothes. Not since Nazi Germany were so many citizens of a country publicly marked with religious labels and symbols.”

What can Hindus (both high-caste and low-caste) do in such an Islamic rule? They have two options – either to become Muslim or face death. And this has been the practice ever since the appearance of Islam.

Thus, demonization of high-caste Hindus and notion of its oppression making low-caste Hindus turn into Muslims evokes laughter only. Hindus have always been condemning and making efforts to halt any such oppression of Hindus by their co-religionists but to term it as the only villain is the gravest offense.

Sunil Babu, through a few lines, has done the same once more. He can't just be neglected or excused.