I agree that history should be looked at squarely in the face and the facts acknowledged and yes, Aurangzeb was mostly a bigoted and intolerant ruler who followed a puritanical brand of Islam.But he also had many Rajputs serving in his army (Remembar Jaisingh who fought Shivaji on behalf of the Mughals?)So it's not exactly black and white.If we go back in time to read about all the atrocities committed where do we stop? The Dalits have been shamefully oppressed for centuries by the so called upper castes.Should we have a museum documenting that as well? Lets look at history in the right perspective.What we are seeing here is people being fed a one sided narrow version which is producing a victim mentality and fanning the flames of hatred and revenge.The people who did what they did are long dead.We need to rise above narrow caste/creed considerations and as Indians work to strengthen and develop our country now, in this age of globalisation or we will be left behind due to our infighting.
RE:Lets move on!
by chetan naidu on Feb 16, 2007 03:32 PM Permalink
Though it is true that we have to move on, but Francious's tirade seems to be against the willful concealment of facts by the Marxist historians and is not a personal vendetta mission against Muslims. It is also important that we see thet truth in its own light, only then can we move ahead into a harmonious future.
RE:Lets move on!
by anuj agarwal on Feb 16, 2007 03:14 PM Permalink
Well what aurangzeb did was wrong and is an accepted fact. Other rulers might be hindus or christians would have wrong and must be condemned BUT IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT AURANZEB WAS RIGHT JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSE DID THE BAD THINGS.
RE:RE:Lets move on!
by Suddhajit Sen on Feb 16, 2007 03:54 PM Permalink
Dear Anuj, Anis has never said Aurangzeb was right,he has mentioned about similar atrocities which are a part of our history. Aurangzeb was wrong and so was our cast system and many other things. It is important that we explore our own history by ourselves rather than by some european historean,so this article is justified. And Anis is justified too as he said we Indians need to rise above these debates and prove ourselves as an emerging economic superpower.
RE:Lets move on!
by Raj Royale on Feb 16, 2007 03:25 PM Permalink
Upper caste Hindus are still paying for all of it since the last 60 years. By giving more taxes, by not being given deserved jobs due to caste based reservations. If you sow, so shall you pay.
RE:Lets move on!
by Dr. Vinay Gupta on Feb 16, 2007 03:42 PM Permalink
Why are you getting defensive???? If you are a true Indian you will stand together with other brothers and sisters of this country to criticize what Aurangjeb did. SO that no one else ever dreams of repeating that.
RE:Lets move on!
by praveen kumar on Feb 16, 2007 03:31 PM Permalink
anis, how is that muslims are masters of sophystry arguments ????... how long are u going to deny the brutality the muslim invaders did to india ???? shall i give the list of number of hindu tempels and monsatrues destroyed by muslim thugs ??? shall i give u tears and pains of millions of hindus butchered by muslim rulers ???
u think all of us are joking or over hyping the issue ??? ... how much hue and cry muslims made when only one masjid was destroyed ,imagine the pain and feelings of hindus when brutally muslim thugs descrated and destroyed our temples .... hinduismis a reformist relgion and we are striving hard to elimiante caste systems ...but is there any reform in islam ??? or perhaps due to know the meaning of "self introspection " .....
Aceept the truth first and we have no hatred against "INDIAN" muslims ..we see them as indian first ..but sadly not muslims brothers who even fail to sing vande matram
RE:RE:Lets move on!
by Anis Farooqui on Feb 17, 2007 04:40 PM Permalink
Pravin I for one, have never denied the brutality and barbarity of Muslim invaders who killed millions and also destroyed temples.I condemn them wholeheartedly and feel the pain and anger that comes on reading about it.But I have read enough history to know that there have been evil tyrants in all parts of the world who have inflicted unimaginable pain and suffering on innocents in wars of conquest.Whether its Genghis khan,Hitler or Stalin there has been cruelty throughout history.A million people were hacked to death in Rwanda just 13 years ago.The question is what do we do about it today? Remember its always been the weak who have been oppressed.As rational civilized beings we need to promote a humane approach but be strong enough to prevent any further attacks upon us.Thats why I advocate a twin policy of humanity (as exemplefied in our constitution)and strength both military and economic to take care of ourselves and deter our enemies.
