The act of a gang that cut off the hand of a college teacher, by wielding an axe on a thoroughfare in Kerala in broad daylight, had Talibanism writ all over it. The State has been noted historically for the peaceful co-existence of different faiths and beliefs. This act of barbarism, however, points to the rise of blood-thirst driven by religious fundamentalism that certain fringe elements may be seeking to impose on the State. That it was a planned operation carried out with brutal intent adds to the shock. Without reference to the nature of the alleged provocation behind the act, what has happened is a challenge to civilised society and the rule of law. After all, the management of the college concerned had suspended the teacher for an inappropriate reference to the Prophet that appeared in an examination question paper and apologised for the aberration. The law has been taking its course and a criminal case against the teacher was being pursued. What the criminal fanatics have managed to do is to put on the defensive those who support the secular-democratic cause, and give a handle to majoritarian intolerance. The culprits need to be apprehended and prosecuted immediately.
If there is a silver lining here, it is that every political party in Kerala, organisations across the country representing both the religions concerned, and democratically minded sections of society have been prompt in condemning Sunday's savagery. Hearteningly, several Muslim youth organisations came forward to offer blood to the victim as he lay fighting for life in a Kochi hospital. To its credit, the State government has acted swiftly and decisively at every stage — a fact acknowledged amply during the course of a discussion in the State Assembly. The House condemned the incident in one voice. Most important, the atrocity did not trigger any communal backlash. But there is a larger lesson here. Freedom of expression has increasingly come under attack from religious fanatics in democratic and secular India and it is the duty of society and the political system to intervene more effectively to defend those who are targeted even if they express unpopular views. At the same time, those who work in academia and those who value intellectual freedom and creativity must be sensitive to the political-social contexts, which are quite often fragile if not volatile. All sections must unite to ensure that the heart-rending tragedy of a teacher making a misjudgment and ending up losing his hand to an act of Talibanesque savagery is never repeated.
Keywords: religious fundamentalism, Kerala
Zero percent tolerance for religious fundamentalism of any kind - This should be a rule of Law.
The article brought important area into highlight.
1.Of course freedom of expression is a fundamental right but everthing has to be in limits, taking in consideration of the religious issue in India which is very private or highly sensitive. Any sensible person would for the peaceful coexistence of the society which is in all interest would keep his hand away from sensitive issues/areas.
2.to the barbaric act, it has to be condemned to the core,there are enough provision of law to keep person under limits.
The law should take its own course not any person or public.
Both are at fault in this case, and both are condemned.
Let law prevail for a peaceful society.
It is the responsibility of Islamic intllegentsia to come forword and speak to to their peers that they should condemn such acts with full voice.
The issue has been politicized to the core. I used to laugh at events in some northern states, like whenever a case comes up against a bigwig there, he used to have some chest pains and is admitted immediately to a hospital. If its against an organisation, then the documents used to be burned and offices would catch fire immediately.
But look at the extent of political games in Kerala now. The popular front offices used to catch fire as if its a coincidence whenever the police went for a raid. The recent lottery case. As the case is being hyped, the lottery office catches fire and most documents are burned and the officials say its a short circuit.
Everything is being turned into a controversy these days and the visual media in Kerala is divided among the political parties.
Now I am not sure whether to laugh, get angry or get frustrated!
Religious Fundamentalism should be treated equally if it takes to violence !
All over the country , fundamentalists across all religious and idealogical sepectra should be controlled and thought peace .Atleast by the moderate educated india ,for it is we that form the example for the illetrate to follow .
This barbarisim is not resticted kerela or religion alone , The inter caste marriages in the north have seen barbarisim at its peek !
So we all should stand up and say NO to such savegry from society !!!!
It is shocking that very "literate" Kerela should have such fundamentalist elements. People in India appear not too knowledgable about their civic system and civic duties that are required of citizenship.
In modern India, you have to seek redress from the government and the courts of law. This mediaeval reaction is totally unacceptable in our society. The perpetrators should be strongly punished by our courts.
But of course, since this matter is too emotional for the government, the criminals are very likely to go scot free and the victim receiving a paltry compensation, if at all.
Freedom of Expression should be absolute and unquestionable and people should be able to express themselves without the fear of such a barbaric retribution.
Sir,
What you stated in this great editorial is all correct, except one point-the case of blood donation. It, in fact, shows the sophistication the group has reached in recent times. Clearly, it is a PR act. The organization involved in the barbaric act had even tried for a settlement of the issue by offering the surrender of the attackers before the court.
Religious extremism is a well-oiled machinery in Kerala. It has different wings for different needs (including social service and development), different versions (mild and extreme) for different followers. Just a few days after the attack on the professor, there was a sabotage attempt on a train, another train was found with explosives and there was an email threat to cause explosions three cities in Kerala. The situation is alarming.
The brutual act of some fanatic minds can never distroy the ever beautiful communal harmony that exists in Kerala for hundreds of years. If at all the prophet were there in Kerala he would never support what his followers(?) have done now to the teacher who has already apologised for the mistake from his part. According to Quran even God almighty will readily forgive those who regret and repents for their mistakes. Then which Islam and which Quraan has permitted these anti social organisations to take laws in their hands? Will these insane minds find time to read Quran at least once?
As the editorial says, i would like to say that attacking against a teacher in the name of Religious belief is not correct..it is punishable..,Ther r a lot many incidents happening against innocent people who actually does their work and inturn get punished deadly..,it is an atrocious act..,And the one who delivers the message should be very careful while explaining so that it doesnt has any impact on emotional sentiments of different classes..,people who r wicked and does extreme loss to the people should be punished severely..,it should set as an example for the result of depravity..,
Sometimes I wonder if we should not banish all the padres, poojaris, mullahs, bikhus, rabbis etc., to the deepest recesses of the Atlantic Ridge. Whatever litle good religious teachings may bring to human society is far outweighed in the real world by the harm done by religious fanatics.
As everybody expressed, without any question it is a brutal act .It is not necessary to highlight the act of several muslim youths donating blood. One need not cut individual's hands or legs to initiate or motivate youth from thier religion to donate blood. In our country so many blood donatin camps are happening without thier names appearing in any of dailies .
Apart from this most of the news channes are partial about this subject. Take a example of recent pub attack at Mangalore. Do any one think that Mangalore pub attack is more brutal than cutting a hands for expressing one's thinking.Definetly not. But how news channels and other media hyped this. It looks like media is also biased towards the relgion by just mentioning a single or few sentences about incident happenend in Kerala.
Talibanism in Kerala again in national news. There have been many incidents in the recent past which reveal that talibanism has many supporters in the literate Kerala.
Government or the society has not done anything constructive to handle this menace. In the question paper case too, the government and the society succumbed to the pressures of various extremists groups, even from the start.
The question was taken from an essay in the prescribed syllabus written by P T Kunhumuhammed, a veteran film director and writer. There is nothing blasphemic in the essay or the part that was put in the question paper for punctuation.
The media publicized the question as a blasphemy and the extremists made it an issue on the verge of riot. It's really unfortunate that nobody questioned the media reports. Even the actual author did not say a word to reveal the truth. The extremists used this opportunity to push their agenda. Instead of handling the rioters the government agreed with the allegation of blasphemy and punished the professor and college!
Even after the brutal attack on the Professor, the extremists continue their acts by picketing the police station, threatening the police officer in charge of the investigation, and protecting the culprits.
The dangerous trend in Kerala is the belief that with black money, media-people and some people in judiciary, extremism is unstoppable.
It is high time the government, media, judiciary and the people of model Kerala made stringent action, in unison, against the butchers of peace.
Its really surprising that such things happens in a rather peaceful state like Kerala.This incident, would have a huge impact on the children, as well as the teachers,& provoke much more in future.Hence the authorities must take appropriate action & prosecute the guilty.Rather they should penalize the guilty with harsh punishment & create an example for the people that they cannot take the law for granted by taking it in their hands.
The act of the religious fundamentalists are crossing the limit in all ways. The teacher already apologized for the mistake he done. In a country like India the authorities should take stern steps against such brutal acts. The state government may not be capable to take any firm steps against such talibans, due too the connections of the main ruling party with the leaders of this fundamentalist groups.
As your editorial states, the incident was apparently barbaric. It must be condemned and to be treated as terrorism. In the meantime the enthusiastic intervention of state government as well as of religious leaders of both community can be considered as an excellent specimen for the other states of the country as well. Which is heavenly praiseworthy since their stand was helping to protect the state from a communal clash. The actions of some muslim organisations, such as they were consoling the relatives of victim and donated blood to ensure his safe recovery, obviously advocate what the message is being propagated genuinely by the religions.
Sir, the act committed by the gang is unislamic to the core. When we have a judicial system then its completely accpetable for a msulim to wait for the system to take its own course. In no way can we take law in our hands and start "dispensing" the judgements.
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