In one of the paragraph author referred to rampage by muslims in solapur on Oct 12 2002 after friday prayers.
It was not by muslims, it was organised crime by all major political parties and police, muslims of solapur were denied their right to boycot what one preacher remarked. I was there on that time, my friend has beaten till his both legs fractured after asking his name, so sad I am Hindu so saved but he was muslim so it paid him. But that lesson left me in shame for life.
Truth is very bitter. You have to witness it once in life before writing such vague things.
Col. Anil Athley had given a small example. There are numerous examples where todyays muslim society disagree with their contribution in Maratha struggal against the invaders right from Great Shivaji's time.
Most of the native Musilms lost their voice coz of growing influx of North Indian muslims in the Maharashtra region. These north Indian muslims are more dominant and fierce. They undermine the liberal native marathi muslim voice coz of their lack of history knowledge about Maratha empire.
Col. Athley gave just one example. There are many such examples present in maratha history. Sayyad Banda was body guard of Shivaji when Afjal khan tried to kill shivaji. Sayyad not only covered Shivaji but slit Afjal's neck.
Being a Parsi, I am proud of the region where I grew up and I uphold the legend of great Maratha!
It is really nice that author has tried to remind a few glorious facts to Muslims. It will benefit entire country if Muslims take lessons from it. No doubt we should appreciate them for being calm and normal this time. Barring incidences of provocation from leaders like Abu Azami. For years, even after invading, looting and devastating Hindu land, temples, properties and women, Hindus take Muslims as their fellow citizens. It will be nice on parts of Muslims if they fix their loyalities and faith here in this land. To some extent, at some instances as the auther has described Muslims have shown their loyality, yet to put it frankly thier loyal attitude was wiped out of Hindu minds due to the demand of Pakistan & the massacre that took place while partition. If that wouldn't have taken place many more things wouldn't have taken place either. Its nice that Muslims are learning divisive tacticts of terrorists. As a Swayamsevak of RSS, I would only invite Muslims to our Shakhas. There is no venom we spread against Muslims as a community, only sincerely ponder that we need more Ashafaq Ulla Khan(s) & Abdul Hamid(s) from Muslims. Infact we rever Rashtriya Musalmans in daily RSS Prayers.
I desperately want to share the optimism shown in the article but i somehow can't digest the text! Malegaon probably din't flare up as its an attack on muslims and most likely by mislims. So, they can't blame anyone else for that so easily (Thankfully). Nobody disputed the united front the muslims put up against the british. That's an unneccasry reference here to cook up a story. The talk about going against pakistan/ISI/any terrorist outfit is a totally different ball game. They share a common religion, which is of utmost importance to them. Now lets focus on that Mr. author. I am not sure what induced you into writing such an article, but it was indeed a valiant effort at asserting 'nationalist' credentials of the minorities. I am not doubting even that for the moment, it's just that your article is so aimless and misappropriately directed... i couldn't resist my comments
