Kandhamal, Me and Media

For the last two days The Hindu has been publishing
very elaborately on the issue. I as an Odiya feel quite
ashamed of it. The happenings there, are bad certainly.
But the way media projecting it is unfortunate. The news
paper headlines make the issue sensational for creating
unnecessary turmoils.

I went through the article in The Hindu, 30th Sept. Page 13.
The bishop who reported through The Hindu was telling that
a Hindu family had protected (gave shelter) him and the nun. And
he believed (not sure of?) that the nun was raped. But, the Hindu has chosen
to make "Nun raped" head line on its front page 30th Sept.
Hindu Hyderabad edition. It should have a made sub-heading
of the human-feeling the Hindu family shown to the bishop.

The dynamics of media is distressing. Everybody knows what
media did with Arunashri case in couple of months back.
Sometimes a paper like The Hindu chooses to follow the beaten track!

Hrushikesha

Dalit Odiya Christians' Plea

On 2nd October 2008, The Hindu Hyderabad edition has put up a picture of Dalit Odiya Christians standing at UN office gate at Delhi demanding refugee status. At a glance it made me happy to know that Dlaits from Odissa have guts to ask for social justice. They could go up to Delhi for negotiating their demands.

But at the next moment it made worried too. Asked myself. "Did they have gone on their own? Sure, are they not playing somebody's game? Why did they choose UN office instead of Ministry of Home affairs? Are they making a case for more money from abroad? Have they lost trust on the Governments both the State and Union?" All these thoughts are disturbing.

They should have been advised to look for a good solution rather!

Hrushikesha
2nd October 2008.

Wish it's not True

My head is hung in shame today. Unfortunately, the news of rape of a nun has been confirmed today by The Hindu. It has quoted some official's statement. The vice has spread into odissa. Whoever it could be, deserve rare to rare punishment. And anybody in the name of a religion must not be allowed to go away with this heinous crimes.

I was proudly telling let Odissa be poor I don't bother but let there be peace and human dignity. Seems my pride is evaporated.

Odiyas are being incited to fight among each other. Let's all understand this game plan and condemn such actions vociferously.

Hrushikesha
3rd October 2008

Conversion

Conversion does exist. For example from Hindu to Buddhism and vice-versa has been there in past. Even in Christianity among different sects it's a debatable issue. 4th October 2008, The Hindu reports Pope Benedict XVI cautioning Roman Catholic bishops in former Soviet republics against aggressive means of gaining converts, an issue that has complicated attempts to reconcile his church with Orthodox Christians.
Change is natural. And time is the scheduler. You and I are onlookers. Why should we make our present the hell? As the Pope tells reconciliation is the call of the day. Let's hear it and act on!

Hrushikesha
5th October 2008

Deadly Mixture

As it reveals now, there has been a deadly mixture of religions and politics since long. It was on fermentation and was waiting to happen. Alas! why were we sleeping since then? Our social scientists need to be pro-active in warning such thing before it triggers. We need social scientists more and our educationists must open up from myths of only technology-based (biased) developments. Wish, this mix will not be made deadly further.

Hrushikesha
5th October 2008

Ethnic Conflict Not Communal ???

Another school of thought on this issue tells Kandhamal is an example ongoing ethnic conflict between tribals and non-tribals. Here, Kandha (a scheduled tribe community) fights with another community called Pano that is a scheduled caste community. Seems people from this community had migrated from plains to hilly area and there has been fight among them dates back. Later Panos have taken to Christianity. The fight among them on God's resources is on till now when Kandhas feel being squeezed off it.

Elsewhere in Odissa should have similar anti Christian conflict if the malice has infected Odissa is true. This suggests to look into this nasty episode from different view too. Sometimes I feel looking the episode from this angle is of worth too. See, now what is happening in Assam - a Congress run state. Bodos fight back Bangladeshi illegal migrant as they feel their resources are usurped by new settlers. Now for development purposes we encroach upon Tribals domain ruthlessly and make them rootless. This generates a lot anguish.

However, this is not to whitewash the crime made by hooligans. From today's The Hindu I understand a lot of criminals got into it made an havoc - there is rape of Hindu lady too as the DGP Odissa has reported.

Going back to my point - I would say the strain of this uneven development is becoming unbearable for people standing on lower steps till now. First priority is to bring them up to start as we say now frequently Knowledge Society.

Hrushikesha
7th October 2008.