Thursday, February 12, 2009

Stop monkeying around!


A great deal has been said about the notoriously uncouth ultra-right wing faction called the Ram Sene which recently caused havoc to the lives of many a civilized Indian in Mangalore. Via this post, I want to showcase their stupid antics and the reactions of many urbane Indians for the benefit of understanding and knowledge of my friends in the international community. I'm sure all of you have been following very closely some of the most despicable acts of these hooligans over the last couple of weeks erupting especially in a place called Mangalore which is located in the coastal belt of the Southern Indian state of Karnataka.

To give you an overview of the incidents, a bunch of utterly uncultured ruffians swooped down on a pub in Mangalore on January 24 and violently beat up a young crowd present there stating that they were in violation of the principles, tradition and ethos of the Indian culture! The alleged 'violators' were, as per these sick self-appointed guardians of Indian values, letting themselves succumb to a culture that did not belong to India. Now, what many of you from outside India would not know is the fact that this radical fundamentalist organization is headed by an outlaw called Pramod Muthalik who is wanted in more than dozen criminal cases pending against him in various courts of law across Karnataka.

So, you now know the kind of people who enforce moral policing in India under the guise of protecting the youth from the corrupting immoral practices purportedly exported from across borders. Sounds more like some gut sickening pathetic joke, right? Wait until you hear more of it. Barely seven days later, on Jan 31, buckling under political and ideological pressure, the ruling BJP government in Karnataka set scott free the man behind the disgraceful attacks and as if to showcase unruly power over the law, Muthalik addressed a press conference outside the court where he said "This is a victory for all those who are fighting against pub culture in Mangalore. Our agitation has won, What we have done in Mangalore is a big success story in out fight against indecency. We are thankful to our Mangalore cadre for everything that they have done." The judiciary instead of taking suo moto cognizance of these statements and regarding them as a measure of glorifying terror and violating fundamental rights of innocent civilians, did just the opposite - sit tight on their fat bottoms and lend a deaf ear!

And then on February 06, a bunch of cronies belonging to the same inglorious faction stopped a bus travelling to Mangalore when they got wind that the daughter of a Kerala legislator was travelling with her classmate's bother. The issue - either belonged to different religions and hence were violating the so called sacred Indian tradition by travelling together! Unbelievable? Let me call Ripley's to have this included in their archives. The Chief Minister of Kerala lost no time in protesting, especially in the wake of such a licentious incident affecting his partyman. The Centre made a hue and cry about lawlessness, but India being India, nothing concrete materialized and in the view of the world, the Home Minister of Karnataka publicly stated to the victim's father that he should be lucky to have his daughter back home in one piece! I wonder what more could be shameful for a democracy! All that the Centre could manage to say was that it was watching and taking note of the ongoing developments in Mangalore. Union Home Minister P. C. Chidambaram stated that "Sri Ram Sene is a threat to the country. The Centre is watching its activities with great concern."

Despite international outrage, the Ram Sene outfit worries not one bit and has continued to uphold its actions while also issuing open threats to people calling upon them not to celebrate the upcoming Valentine's Day saying that it too violated the letter and spirit of the Indian social system! Under its supremely sick tie-or-die program, it has said that any couple caught dating will be forcefully married off!

Now, fortunately, India is country which has more sensible people than the few random, radical instances of humanitarian failure, and while all these incidents have been happening, there has been an outrage across the nation especially among the youth who have been targeted for the most ridiculous of reasons. Blogs have been simmering about the Pink Chaddi campaign which was kicked off on February 05. It is a powerful yet friendly and peaceful initiative to oppose the Ram Sene and its perverted ideology. I would liken it to Mahatma Gandhi's non-violent movement and urge you to please take part in it and show solidarity to the people of India who want to rid their nation of malaise. Today is a time when collective efforts need to made to improve long pending issues such as healthcare, education, self-sustenance, infrastructure and homeland security. Contrarily radical political groups are harping upon pre-historic politics which is totally unacceptable. India was founded on democratic principles and its roots will always remain pluralistic and harmonious irrespective of what is attempted by uneducated terror mongers.
And finally, I am supremely proud of having written this post!

Footnotes:

The Pink Chaddi Campaign Blog

The Facebook Group - Pink Chaddi Campaign

What is the Pink Chaddi Campaign?

Contact:

Benson +919845167575
Areeba +919900569456
Samir +919246282223
Nithin +919886081269
Kaushik +919703508756

23 comments:

  1. What to say of all this, Rak! :)

    One side -- the young are letting themselves loose in the streets and pubs to levels beyond condone...

    On the other -- the self-appointed bastions (a more beffiting word is there starting "bast"!) of culture and morality are going to levels that need strict action --Not "great concern" --as Chidambaram puts it!

    But politicians are finally one creed and public another --

    I was rather surprised to see this post from you..But finally I too feel proud...Such voices should come against those taking the job of policing a society, on to themselves...

    love,
    devika

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  2. Glad to see a view from here too! A balanced and objective view, but yes, needs must, and this taking law into their hands should stop!

    Democracy you say.. I am tempted to ask what democracy???!!!

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  3. I was out of the grid for a month as u know.. and when i readched back and came for all this.. i felt so stupid that we slog day and night so that the nation can progress in peace and a few bastards come and fuck it all up

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  4. Very interesting! Some traditions must be saved, but not all and not in the way you describe!

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  5. Hello,
    An interesting post indeed.
    Though I fully endorse the pink chaddi campaign, I am a bit sceptical of the impact it will have.
    I think the whole issue is very complicated and is rooted in the Bharat vs India theory. India is where the bloggers live, that keeps signing online petitions, that has 8% growth and that the whole world is talking about. Bharat has no growth, farmer suicides, ration shops, voters and is where remaining 80% of the country live. And the two never really interact, and are only barely aware of each other's existence.
    The politicians and government need India, but get elected by Bharat. That is the problem.
    Tarsh

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  6. u shud be proud of this post..
    cos u painstakingly accumulated all those links and all in one place for the sake of those who don't know about this issue..
    pink chaddi campaign..hehhee..an innovative and real funny one!

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  7. There are actually some yester generation folk who claim such extremist actions are neccesary to curb these activities.
    As long as the Sene have their support it seems the rampage will continue.
    No matter how many pink articles are gifted.
    :D

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  8. Good stuff Rakesh , your post spells out a host of issues surrounding this incident. I also found it disturbing that the incident in Mangalore gave a very unfortunate publicity to an outfit like this. This does give them a sense of importance. Even with the huge outcry in the country against them , these scums are still out in the open and making public statements which keep appearing the media. I hope the indian media will adopt some kind of moral code to practice media-aparthied towards such maggots in our society.

    I also hear that Muthalaik, despite his age, is unmarried. May be instead of sending chaddies , we shud collect Rs 10 for him to visit a vedi in Mangalore busstand and who knows , may be thats all that he ever wanted .. and so much halla for that!!!
    Cheers mate

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  9. ha ha ha.. i got this too :D anything even more embarrassing or brutal is welcome :D

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  10. That was indeed an innovative idea of protest,, but lets not forget the cause of sending pink chaddis and keep sending them just like that...

    It is great to know that there are still level headed people in the society who don't go astray like the self acclaimed protectors of Indian culture...

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  11. Devika Chechi

    well..... I'm not advocating that our underaged youth flock to pubs and make merry, but I'm also not advocating that responsible people whose choice it is to do what they feel is right, be restrained by some fanatics!

    And yes, I agree hands-down when you say "politicians are finally one creed and public another" Quite true!

    Thanks very much for your comments! Hope your health has improved!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  12. Usha Ma'am

    Thanks very much for a very encouraging comment! Appreciate it! And yes, its time radical fanatic groups stop taking the law into their hands!
    Quite true when you ask "What democracy?" A number of us are with you on this!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  13. Wolfy

    Samby! Welcome back! I missed you long! Good to see you back in action!

    Unfortunately, sutpid politicians rule the roost! Hopefully some day, soon, we shall be liberated from this disease!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  14. Peter

    Thanks for your comments! Via this post I intended to convey that I'm a liberal who believes in freedom of choice which at all times needs to be unrestricted so long as that does not threaten national security!
    I agree that some traditions need to be preserved and well kept.....but not at the cost of some fanatics imposing stupidity?

    Rakesh

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  15. Tarsh

    I whole-heartedly second your thoughts! Though I endorse the PC Campaign, I know for sure that it will not make much of a difference to these radical fanatics who disregard all social values.
    I endorsed it since I wanted to be part of a campaign that snubbed & slapped Muthalik and his cronies!

    Sad but true when you draw the India Vs Bharat theory! Completely agree on the basis and the facts!

    A divided India it is, it was and will always be!

    Rakesh

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  16. Praveen

    Thanks very much budd! I so much wanted to do this post with all the links intact! And I'm so proud that I could be part of this effort!
    Thanks once again for the recognition!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  17. Vivek

    Sadly, yes! A number of people support such radical fanaticism without understanding the implications of their actions!
    And as you rightly said, so long as the sene have their support, things will continue undeterred!

    Rakesh

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  18. Rajoy

    Welcome to my space and thanks very much for leaving me your appreciative comments!
    I do understand and regret the publicity that the sene acquired via the incident, but I assure you that negative publicity will also hold against them! No one civilized will want to be associated with these bunch of fanatics!
    It is political support that has increased the audacity of these thugs!

    Sadly, in our country, fundamentalism and politics go hand in hand and hence the adage "dirty politics"

    Coming to the media, we all know thse hounds who love to gloss over repeats of telecasts and polarize viewers!

    It all lies deep rooted in our society as Tarsh observed in his comments.

    Maybe, many many many educated and civilized generations later.....things would be different?

    Do keep visiting!

    Rakesh

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  19. Vibu

    ;) Thanks very much! Am happy you liked it!

    Cheers budd!

    Rakesh

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  20. Gil

    Thanks very much for your very appreciative comments!
    Yes indeed, wierd human nature.......so much uncivility in a so called civilized society!

    Thanks for giving me a heads up on ur space....will visit shortly!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  21. Bharath

    Well, to me the PC Campaign was an exercise to slap the sene across its face, despite the outcome of the campaign!
    Kudos to the people who started it off!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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