Dalit dog – by Dr Manzur Ejaz

A distinction should be made between feudalism as an economic phenomenon and feudal culture, which can retain its grip for a very long time; the feudal culture can survive or take other forms long after the economic base has been changed from feudalism to industrialisation

According to a BBC report, in Madhya Pradesh, India, a dog named Shero was thrown out by his owner, Amrat Lal, because he was fed by a Dalit (untouchable) woman, Sunita. Further, the donating Dalit was fined Rs 15,000 by the village panchayat (court) for feeding the dog of a higher caste Rajput Hindu. Now the poor dog has been left tied to a tree in a predominantly Dalit area and Ms Sunita has lodged a complaint in the police station against the village court and the matter is being handled by the authorities. …

Read more >> WICHAAR

Ayodhya Verdict: Musings of a Now Hardened Agnostic – By Yoginder Sikand

As neither a Hindu nor a Muslim, but, rather, now a hardened agnostic who suspects there is an invisible force behind the universe but is fully distrustful of all religions, I could not be bothered in the least if a temple or a mosque or a profane structure—or, indeed, nothing at all—is now to occupy the disputed spot in Ayodhya. As far as I know, the force that I want to believe exists and pervades the entire universe and beyond is supremely indifferent to who the new owners of the contested spot are to be. This force knows no distinction of religion, caste, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, and so on and so forth. For all I care, you can smear your head with ash and fall flat in front of the toy-like idols that now stand on the disputed spot and mumble mantras in incomprehensible Sanskrit, or you can don a skull-cap and bend and bow while muttering phrases in Arabic of which you understand not a word if the mosque that once stood on the spot is reconstructed. The universal force I sort of suspect exists is, I know, supremely unaffected by what you do on that measly bit of earth. …

Read more >> indianmuslimobsever

Media Tasked to Build Grounds for Martial Law?

The most active topic on entire Pakistani media is weather army should take over and remove incompetent government. The storm started shortly after three hours long meeting of MQM’s leader Altaf Hussain with American consular in London, followed by his speech where he demanded Martial Law against current government. …

…. Regarding the role of media, is it justified to discuss the martial law or what kind of system Pakistan should have when every single minute of air time should be dedicated for information and help of 20 million flood victims? Has media been given task by army through agencies to build grounds for martial law (code word “Maahol Banao”) in shortest possible time?

Is this the reason why some columnists and anchors are now actively and shamelessly advocating the biggest crime in the law of land in their columns and programs? …

Read more >> PKPOLITICS