South Asia Citizens Web

The champions of death promise more. Two years ago, the Hefazat-e-Islam, an Islamist movement based in madrassas, delivered to the Home Ministry a list of 84 atheist bloggers they wanted punished for blasphemy. The crime of those included: they used words that offended the self-appointed guardians of Islam. Despite their belief in an all-powerful Allah, the death squads were not ready to leave judgement in his hands – what this says about their own belief in a supreme being is a contradiction they never address. . . . how can free thought, science, and humanism in Bangladesh best be defended in an age of death squads?

In ’secular’ India politicians of all make and public officials regularly seek the divine blessings in advertised events such as the inaugural ceremonies of state sponsored buildings and public projects and use religious priests to supervise laying of the foundation stones and undertake bhoomi puja (Worship of Earth) for the approval of the supernatural powers with the chanting of prayer. Even Virgins, Cows and astrologers are deployed at these events and no one bats an eyelid. Was’nt the state supposed to steer clear from religion? Why do Hindu rituals get precedence in a country of multiple denominations?

Sad story of how a serving minister is silenced for speaking his mind Who has the courage of dealing with the enemy within ?

We would have open borders, with Bangladeshis and Indians both having the right to live, work, and study in the other country. There would be no border shootings because there would be no need for illegal border crossings.

The British came to the Subcontinent and brought with them notions of white superiority…and whisky and convent schools, and in time a railway network, a canal system for Punjab, and the concept of rule of law. The foundations of their imperial empire were strong and survive to this day, although we have spared no effort to dig them up.