It might be GWB's ignorance that makes him view another culture's rituals (cremation in this case) as "Pagan" and makes him want to dissociate himself from what arose from the ritual - a memorial built for a great huaman being. But how tolerant would it be for us to not respect the religious sensitivities (however ill founded they may be in our opinion) of another human being and blackmail him into performing a political ritual in the name of protocol!!!
Let's start rioting and killing each other, now that he greatest insult ever has been committed.
Come on, people, grow up. This is not an insult. Not Visiting Gandhi's samadhi is no big deal. You do not insult people when you don't visit their shrine.
We really need to learn how to tolerate other cultures ... even Visiting Dignataries'.
Bush insults Gandhi? I am not sure that he has the capability, and Gandhi would be the last person to take offence on that. He endured, to paraphrase a quote from Pierre Eliot Trudeau, 'worse insults from better people'. On a second thought, are we, as Indians, true to Gandhi's path? Are we following his lessons in every walk of life? If not, then we are harming the Mahatma in a more sustained way than a mere premiere of a state?
RE:India ignores insults to Mahatma
by udit on Feb 15, 2006 11:56 AM Permalink
Gandhi's path..what is that? I guess its Ahimsa..good to knw ppl like u still beleive in that. So by taking a lead from u..what India should do give up all N weapons...get rid of the military..and if someone comes knocking on our door...china or pakis...asking for kashmir or north east..we will say please brother take it..as neither we will have the strength nor the resolute..i feel we dnt owe our independence to Gandhi alone..there had been thousands other like bhagat singh, subhash chandra bose to name few. But yes gandhi got the milage and became father of the nation...there is a book by Neerod C Chowdhary on Gandhi ..if possible take a look at that.
RE:India ignores insults to Mahatma
by Veena Pratap on Feb 13, 2006 08:39 PM Permalink
Spoken like a true unpatriotic 'could'nt care less about nothing' Indian.
I request rediff not make fuss about this silly issues. I agree he is Mahatma and father of India but one should not compel others. If a person knows his importance then he would visit his samadhi if he feels necessary.
Is it a part of the Hindu culture to visit samadhi ??? No Hindu is allowed to visit graveyards or cemetries of mortals ? The concept of Samadhis is a culture derived from russia. So no regrets about Bush skipping rajghat.
No Indian prime minister including vajpayee dared to break this tradition.
Now that a Christian and a Muslim have done it I dont see there is anything wrong in Hinuds following suit atleast for the so called seculars
RE:nothing wrong
by Vinod on Feb 13, 2006 10:18 PM Permalink
Hi Mr, i dont know whether you are an indian or not, but can you tell me whether if the same thing happened in the US that our primeminister talks bad abt lincoln or churchill in UK imagine what amount of public protests it would have.
Gandhi shouldnt be treated based on religion and he is an ideal symbol for all people of india. there is no question of christianity or hinduism or islam comes into this picture.
it is a matter of national hertiage and culture,insulting the mahatma is insulting the tri color, and no indian will leave it for open.George W Bush is an evil of the world and he dare has no rights to say abt mahatma and in one way it is a pride of the nation, because the man known for violence should not salute a leader of non violence,because it will be completely stupid and might be done only for political reasons.
President Bush well within his rights declining visit to DON's samadhi!
by Sreenivasan Raju Aiyer on Feb 19, 2006 03:11 PM Permalink
Daddy ofthe Nation(DON) lies buried in Rajghat.I don't think our Constitution which is in tatters (having been amended many times) has prescribed that DON's samadhi has to be visited time and again with flowers, agarbathi & fruits as offerings.For that matter there are so many DONs of the nation (I believe all those who have fathered children are fathers of the nation, I mean Daddies of the Nation -- DONs. Actually our nation has been doing injustice to the womenfolk -- apart from the many bride burning etc. -- by not having recognized the contributions made by the Mothers of the Nation (MONs).But then visiting the samadhis of DONs or MONs are the individual duty (karma, kartavya) of the concerned family to which they belonged. Having donated rich real estate to the DON lieing buried at Rajghat, I think there ends our duty to the DON. Afterall to how many DONs and MONs who sacrified their lives during the freedom struggle (FS)our country has donated such rich piece of land? Lakhs of DONs and MONs sold their entire property to contribute to the FS and died paupers. Have we shown their memory any regard? Why such special treatment to this particular DON alone?
The reason commie rag The (anti) Hindu did not utter a word was because the Saudi Jehadis were throwing some bones to these dogs. Look no furhter, the Mithrokin papers clearly shows how KGB bought these ELM's and planted stories. Since they are gone, now these ELM's are selling country to the current highest bidder.
Could you please research out of 544 parliament members plus upper house member are serious about their loyalty to nation ,national interests,and national pride.# Left parties do not have their own vision they scavange on borrowed principles and slogans from China and Russia ,are bribed by KGB and live on bloodmoney of labourers' contribution to the party. What more do you expect from them . Ask them why they do not discard their policy like Russians and Chinesejust did.?
RE:National Pride and national Interest
by perception on Apr 10, 2006 12:52 AM Permalink
Bush is a Protestant not a Catholic and is not concerned with Catholic opinions in a protestant america
Please take care when you give titles to articles. Dont give such provocative titles. When somebody doesnt want to do something because of their faith why do u rush in to call it an insult and provoke some unnecessary reactions. This is what muslim fundamentalists do ..twist the interpretation and provoke anger and as everybody knows it doesnt do any good to them or their image for that matter. If Bush or Saudi king have said something against Gandhi then this title wld have been apt. But that is not the case. When they refuse to pay homage in samadhi may be if you wish you can debate it as an insult to our faith (though i wldnt do that) or rather our protocols but in no way does it amount to insult of Gandhi!
RE:Provocative title
by Abhid on Feb 18, 2006 05:05 PM Permalink
Visiting the samadhi of the great Mahatma is a protocol followed by even Bill Clinton, Musharraf and many other leaders.
That Saudi king is a wahabbi terrorist. If he didnt attend, then its HIS loss.
If Dubya doesnt attend, then he has NO reason at all, because his predeccessors have. He is just appealing to "religion" to increase his approval ratings back home amongst the Catholix.
