[Reader-list] Have you seen this face of the world's largest democracy?

[Shivam Vij शिवम् विज्]

So how many wrongs make a right? And how many such crackdowns, how
many Kashmiri Muslim lives do you think can compensate for these
aggressions? Is there a measurement index?
best
shivam
(citizen of a country that claims to be democratic, republic, secular
and other things)

On Tue, Sep 2, 2008 at 9:28 PM, Pawan Durani <pawan.durani at gmail.com> wrote:
> The following brief is based on the recorded findings of Historians
> including Muslim chroniclers and foreign non-Hindu travelers).
>
> *TAPER TEMPLES*
> Sikandar the iconoclast desecrated and destroyed this temple which was built
> by Queen of Partapaditya II who reigned in Kashmir from 634 to 648 A.D.
> Zain-Ul-Abdin (1420-70) A.D. used stones and idols in the construction of
> Bund from the Naidkhal to Sopore.
>
> *SHANKARACHARYA MANDIR (SRINAGAR)*
> Noor Jehan, Queen of Jahangir, built the grand Mosque known as Pather Masjid
> (Srinagar) with the sculptured beautiful stones which formed steps of the
> mandir right from River Jhelum to the top of the hill.
>
> *NARPARISTHAN MANDIR (SRINAGAR)*
> Built by Likhana-Naraindraditya who reigned Kashmir from 178 to 191 A.D. has
> been turned into a Muslim ziarat called Narparisthan.
>
> *KALI MANDIR (SRINAGAR)*
> Qutab-Ud-din usurped it (1373-89) A.D. to be converted into a mosque in
> memory of Mir Syed Ali of Hamdan of Persia who had come to the Valley to
> establish Islam. Hindu King Pravarsena ll. had dedicated the Kali-Shrine to
> the Goddess Kali (79-139 A.D.).
>
> *MAHASHRI MANDIR (SRINAGAR)*
> It was turned into a graveyard, Wife of Sikander was buried in its interior.
>
> *SKANDA BHAWAN (SRINAGAR Downtown)*
> Its sacred springs and massive temple construction desecrated and spoilt, it
> was christened as Ziarat of Pir Mohd. Basur.
>
> *TRIBHAWANA-SVAMIN (SRINAGAR Downtown)*
> This temple built by Chadrapida (684 to 693 A.D.) was laid to ruins and its
> vast vicinity used as graveyard.
>
> *KSHANA-GANVISHVARA*
> Built in (950-58 A.D.) was desecrated. Its sculptured stones removed. DIDDA-
> MATHA (Srinagar downtown) Temple converted into Tomb of Malik Sahib.
>
> *VIKRAMISHVERA (VICHARNAG)*
> Built (521-63 A.D.) It was destroyed by Sikander. Material utilized to built
> a mosque nearby.
>
> *AMRITA BHAWANA*
> Constructed by Queen Magavahana (22 B.C -13 A.D.) There are other ruins of
> Hindu temples in its vicinity which have been converted into Ziarats and
> burial grounds and nothing is known about their antiquity.
>
> *RANESHVARA (SHALIMAR GARDEN)*
> Built by King Ramadatiya (414-74 A.D)
>
> On the North Eastern corner of the Dal Lake, Pravarsena II, the founder of
> Srinagar had built a Villa for a Hindu saint named Sukarna Swami. Bernier,
> who visited Kashmir with Aurangzeb, gives an interesting account of the
> garden in his travels and says that the doors and pillars made of stone were
> used in the garden during Mughal era had come from some of the idol temples
> demolished by Shah Jehan and that it was impossible to estimate their value.
>
> *MARTAND*
> Built by King Ramadeva (2936-3005 B.C) with large ornamented and beautifully
> carved stones erecting it to the height of 50 yards. Regarding this British
> Researcher Sir Walter Lawrence has remarked thus:
>
> While the old Hindu buildings defy time and weather, the Musalman shrines
> and mosques crumbled away. Other foreign travelers have recorded that Hindu
> temples were built to endure for all time. Their solidity of construction
> and their gigantic size strike one with wonder that puny man could have
> built them. They often gazed upon them with amazement and lamented bigoted
> Muslim fanatics who laid them to ruins with tremendous efforts.
>
> *TEMPLE OF BUZMA*
> It was usurped and converted into the Ziarat of Baba Bamdin. Another temple
> close by was turned into the tomb of Rukh Din, disciple of Muslim Priest
> Bamdin.
>
> *SHRINES AROUND DAL LAKE*
> The slopes of the mountains overlooking the Dal lake have adorned many
> ancient shrines mercilessly destroyed by bigoted Muslim fanatics.
>
> *SHARDA UNIVERSITY & ACADEMY OF LEARNING (VIJAISHORI, now BIJBEHARA)*
> Sir Walter Lawrence records in his ''Vale of Kashmir'' that all books of
> Hindu learning which bigoted Muslims could lay their hands on were sunk in
> the Dal lake and Sikander flattered himself that he had extirpated Hinduism
> from the Valley. Alberuni an Arab scholar recording his visit to Kashmir has
> stated that in all their grandeur the Hindus of Kashmir never slackened in
> their ardent desire of doing that which was good and right. He also records
> they were men of noble sentiments and noble bearing. Books of science,
> astronomy, space travel, medicine and the like were destroyed - The labor of
> countless ages and countless researchers.
>
> We quote here under from world famous work of *Mr. M. A. Stein:*
> *Rajtarangini - Kalhana (Volume II)*
> Moti Lal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
> Delhi, Reprint 1989
>
> *HILL OF SARIKA*
> Eastern slopes of the latter are now occupied by extensive buildings
> connected with famous ziarats of Maqaddam Sahib and Akhun Mullah Shah. It is
> probable that Mohammadan shrines have taken here place of Hindu religious
> buildings, just as at so many old sites of Kashmir.
>
> Close to the foot of the southern extremity of the hill is a rock which has
> from ancient times received worship as an embodiment of Ganesa under the
> name of BHIMASVAMIN...... In fact, if we are to believe Jonaraja, the rock
> image has changed its position yet a second time. This chronicler relates
> that BHIMASVAMIN from disgust at the iconoclasm of Sikander Butshikan had
> finally turned his back on city.
> Page 446, para 95
>
> *TEMPLE OF SIVA PRAVARESVAPA*
> A short distance to the S. E. to the BHIMASVAMIN rock and outside Akbar's
> fortress, lies Ziarat of Baha-ud-din Sahib, built undoubtedly with the
> materials of an ancient temple. The cemetery which surrounds it contains
> also many ancient remains in its tombs and walls. At the S.W. corner of this
> cemetery rises a ruined gateway, built of stone blocks of remarkable size,
> and still of considerable height. This structure is traditionally believed
> by the Srinagar Pandits to have belonged to the Temple of SIVA PRAVARESVARA
> which Kalahana mentions as the first Shrine erected by PRAVARESVARA in his
> new capital.
>
> ...... Blocks majoring up to sixteen feet in length, with a width and
> thickness equally imposing, were no convenient materials for the builders of
> Muhammadan Ziarats, hammams etc. who have otherwise done so much to efface
> the remains of ancient structures in Srinagar. The position of the ruins is
> very central and might have well been chosen by the founder of Pravarapura
> for prominent shrine in his new city.
>
> *POSITION OF RAMASVAMIN TEMPLE*
> Not far from Baha-ud-din Sahib's Ziarat, to the S.W. stands Jami Masjid, the
> greatest Mosque of Srinagar. Around it numerous ancient remains attest the
> former exist- ence of Hindu Temples. Proceeding still further to S.W, in the
> midst of a thickly built city-quarter, we reach an ancient shrine which has
> remained in a comparatively fair state of preservation probably owing to its
> conversion into a ziarat. It is now supposed to mark the resting - place of
> the saint styled Pir Haji Mohammed. It consists of an octagonal cellar of
> which high basement and the side walls are sill- preserved. The quadrangular
> court in which it stands is enclosed by ancient walls and approached by or
> ornamented gateways. The position of this shrine has suggested me its
> possible identity with the ancient temple of VISNU RANASVAMIN which Kalhana
> mentions as founded by Ranaditya.This temple must have enjoyed considerable
> celebrity up to a comparatively late period. Mankha refers to it an object
> of his father's devotion, and Jonaraja in his comments on the passage speaks
> of VISNU RANASVAMIN as one of the chief shrines of Pravarapura. The evidence
> on which the suggested identification is based has been fully indicated in
> note iii.453.
> Page 447, para 96
>
> *SKANDABHAVANA*
> The site of vihara has been traced by me in the close vicinity of Ziarat Pir
> Muhammad Basur. Certain ancient remains there were locally known and
> worshipped till the middle of the present century as a tirth sacred to
> Skanda. Near the SKANDABHAVANVIHARA there stood once the temple of
> Sivaparavaguptesvara referred to by Kalhana as a foundation of King
> Paravagupta. Page 448, Para 97
>
> *SAMUDRAMATHA*
> A little higher up, if we can trust local tradition, stood the ancient
> temple of VARDHAMANESA mentioned already in King SAMDHIMAT'S reign. The site
> so designated by the purohits of the adjoining mohalla is close to the
> Malyar ghat. I have referred already in a previous note to the curious
> manner in which an ancient linga supposed to be that of VARDHAMANESA was
> recovered a few years ago from a neighbouring mosque and a Mahatmaya
> composed for the newly established shrine.
> Page 450 Para 99
>
> *JUSKAPURA*
> A tradition recorded already by General Cunninghum identifies this place
> (Zukur) with ancient JUSKAPURA. Kalhana names the place as a foundation of
> Turuska (i.e Kusana ) King Juska who also built Vihara there. The Muhammadan
> shrines and tombs of the village contain considerable remains of the ancient
> buildings. Page 456, Para 104
>
> *AMARESVARA*
> On the shore of the Anchar lies the large village of Amburher. It took its
> name from a temple of Siva Amaresvara which Suryamati, Ananta's queen,
> endowed with Agraharas and a matha.The ancient slabs and sculptured
> fragments which I found in 1895 in and around the ziarat of Farrukhzad
> Sahib, may possibly have belonged to this temple.
> Page 456,457 Para 104
>
> *VICHARNAG*
> It is held be a manifestation of Ailapattra Nag who is mentioned also in
> Nilamata. An earlier designation seems to be MUKAMULAKANAGA which is given
> to the locality by Srivara and in the Tirthasamgraha. To the west of village
> and near an inlet of Anchar are the ruins of three ancient temples now
> converted into ziarats and tombs.
>
> *TIRTHA OF SODARA*
> Close to the mosque of Sodarbal and by the lake shore are two pools fed by
> perennial springs. These according to local tradition, were in old times
> visited by numerous piligrims. Now all recollection of this tirtha has been
> lost among the Brahmins of Srinagar. But a name of the portion of the
> village area, Battapor, points to a former settlement of Battas or Purohits.
> It is curious too that we find only half a mile from the village the ziarat
> of Hazatbal, perhaps the most popular of all muhammadan shrines in the
> valley. It is supposed to be built over the remains of the miracle-working
> Pir Dastagir Sahib. Is it possible that the presence of the rather
> ubiquitous saint at this particular spot had something to do with the
> earlier Hindu Tirtha?
> Page 457, Para 104
>
> *PADMAPURA*
> The chief place of Vihi Pargana is now the town of Pampar, the ancient
> Padmapura, about 4 miles south west of Khunmoh. It was founded in the
> beginning of 9th century by Padma, the powerful uncle of puppet King
> Cippata/Jayapida. Padma is said by the chronicle to have also built a temple
> of Visnu-Padmasvamin. To this may possibly have belonged the scanty remains
> of an ancient temple which have been described by General Cunningham. Close
> by is the Ziarat of Mir Muhammad Hamadani with some fine ancient columns and
> ornamented slabs which are likely to have been taken from the temple. Also
> other Ziarats of the town show similar remains.
>
> *SANARA*
> Only a mile to the south east of Khruv is the village of Sar, until recently
> the seat of flourishing iron-industry, Kalhana mentions it by the name of
> Sanara as an Agrahara founded by King Sacinara------. The Ziarat of Khwaja
> Khizar which stands here near small springs is built with the remains of the
> Hindu Temple. Page 459, Para 105
>
> About two miles south-west of Sar are found the well preserved ruins of a
> temple near the village Ladu (not marked on survey map). They have been
> described by Bishop Cowie, but I am unable to trace any old reference to
> this shrine in the texts I have examined. It is remarkable for having a
> circular cellar, the only one known to me in Kashmir. A small square cellar
> to the east of this temple has been annexed to a neighbouring Ziarat.
> Page 459-60, Para 105
>
> *CAKRADHARA*
> It was once the site of one of the oldest and most famous shrines of the
> volley, the temple of Visnu Cakradhara.... The plateau is still as TSAKDAR
> UDAR.... The shrine of Cakaradhara is often mentioned as Tirtha of great
> sanctity. The temple seems to have been subsequently restored, and Jonaraja
> mentions the statue of CAKRADHARA among those chief divine images which
> Sikandar Butshikan destroyed.
> Page 461-62, Para 107
>
> *TEMPLE OF SIVA VIJAYESVARA*
> The old Linga of Siva Vijayesvara seems to have been destroyed by Sikander
> Butshikast.
> Page 464, Para 109
>
> *DISTRICT OF VAMAPARSVA*
> It forms the modern Pargana of Khovurpor. An old site is undoubtedly the
> large village of Hutmar. Its modern name seems to identify it with the
> SAKTAMATA which Ksemendra names as one of the stations in peregrinations of
> his heroin Kankali. The chief mosque of the place is built with the remains
> of a Hindu temple and preserves in its walls some sculptured fragments of
> remarkable beauty.
>
> *SHRINE OF BHIMAKESAVA*
> About a mile below Hutmar and on the bank of a branch of Lider lies the
> hamlet of Bumzu which contains an ancient structure of considerable
> historical interest. The Ziarat of Baba Bamdin Sahib is nothing but a well
> preserved resting place of a Muhammadan saint.
> Page 465, Para 110
>
> *TEMPLE OF MARTANDA*
> The ancient remains at the sacred spring itself are very scanty. All the
> more imposing are the ruins of the great temple which King Lalitaditya
> erected at a short distance of the presiding deity of the tirtha. The
> destruction of the sacred image is ascribed to Sikander Butshikast.
> Page 166, Para 111
>
> *SAMANGASA*
> About four miles to the north east of Kother and on a branch of Arpath river
> lies the populous village of Sangas, the ancient Samagasa......... some old
> carved slabs built into the chief Ziarat of the place attest its antiquity.
> Page 467,468, Para 112
>
> *DISTRICT OF KARALA*
> In the lower portion of the district and on the left bank of Visoka, we have
> the ancient Katimuso, the present village of Kaimuh. The place Is mentloned
> by Kalhana as Agrahara, founded by Tunjina I, and contains some old remains
> built into its chief Ziarat.
> Page 471, Para 116
>
> *PARIHASAPURA*
> It has received its name from the ancient Parihasapura which King
> Lilitaditya had built as his captal. The identity of the names Parspor and
> Parihasapura is evident on phonetic grounds, and was well known to the
> authors of the Persian abstracts of Rajatarangini. Yet curiously enough the
> site of Parihasapura had remained unidentified until I visited the spot in
> 1892 and traced the ruins of Lalitaditya's great structures as described by
> Kalhana on the Plateau known as Paraspor Udar.
>
> The full destruction of the temples is attributed by Abu-l-fazal and the
> Muhammadan chroniclers to Sikandar Butshikast.
> Page 477 and 478, Para 121
>
> *VARAHAMULA*
> Varahamula, situated on the right river bank, has left its name to the
> present town of Varahmul, usually called Baramulla by Punjabis and other
> foreigners. The ancient temple of Varaha which seems to have been one of the
> most famous shrines of Kashmir, is repeatedly mentioned by Kalhana.
> According to the tradition of the local Purohits it stood near the site of
> the present Kotithirtha, at the western extemity of the town and close to
> the river bank. Some ancient Lingas and sculptures found at Kotitirtha may
> have originally belonged to the temple. The destruction of its sacred image
> is noted by Jonaraja in the reign of Sikandar Butshikast.
> Page 482-483, Para 124
>
> After India achieved freedom and Kashmir acceded to Union of India, temple
> desecration was resumed. Temple lands, cremation grounds etc. of Hindus were
> usurped for expansion of Islam. The famous Bhairavnath Temple of Chattabal,
> Srinagar was got locked through police. The judicial case pending in court
> concerning this temple was never allowed to be decided. Precious lands
> around Hari Parbat hill, Durganag Temple of Srinagar and lands at several
> Hindu placcs of worship in the valley were slowly and steadily turned into
> lands under occupation of Muslim trusts (Maqboozai-Ahali-Islam). In 1967
> Shivala Temple, Chotta Bazar, Srinagar was desecrated. Again in 1984 Shri
> Hanuman Temple at Hari Singh High Street was damaged and in the same year
> Arya Samaj Temple of Wazir Bagh, Srinagar was burnt. From 1986 the law and
> order situation in the valley deteriorated day by day and temple desecration
> became order of the day.
>
> On Tue, Sep 2, 2008 at 7:17 PM, Shivam Vij शिवम् विज् <mail at shivamvij.com>wrote:
>
>> Rage in Kashmir meets India's brute force
>>
>> http://in.reuters.com/article/topNews/idINIndia-35279820080902
>>
>> By Alistair Scrutton
>>
>> SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) - The world's largest democracy locks up
>> protest leaders without charge, shoots dozens of demonstrators dead,
>> beats and intimidates ordinary citizens and raids homes without
>> warrants.
>>
>> Welcome to Indian Kashmir, where the biggest separatist protests in
>> two decades have clashed with the might of the state.
>>
>> "They are ruthless, trigger happy," said Ghulam Rasool Bhat, a
>> labourer who says he was beaten by federal police after he tried to
>> buy milk for his two nephews under a curfew in Srinagar, the summer
>> capital of Indian Kashmir.
>>
>> He lay in a bed, both legs bandaged where a soldier, shouting "Get
>> your milk from Pakistan" had smashed a rifle into his shins. His legs
>> felt, he said, as if in a continuous cramp.
>>
>> Police have shot dead at least 35 Muslim protesters in the
>> Muslim-majority Kashmir Valley after a row over land for a Hindu
>> shrine spiralled into marches and strikes against Indian rule.
>>
>> More than 1,000 people have been wounded in clashes over three weeks,
>> hospital officials and police say, with the Kashmir Valley often under
>> curfew. Hundreds of people have suffered police baton beatings and
>> bullet wounds, doctors say.
>>
>> The Indian government says its security forces have been fired upon by
>> protesters on several occasions, and said authorities had "acted
>> within the law and with restraint".
>>
>> Witnesses said some protesters had thrown stones at police, but said
>> that most were marching peacefully. India's hardline response to the
>> protests has highlighted what critics say is its lack of strategy to
>> find a solution to a problem that has already sparked two wars between
>> India and Pakistan, who both claim the region in full but rule it in
>> parts.
>>
>> The crackdown may also be counter-productive. Residents say the deaths
>> and violent crackdown have fuelled anger against India and boosted the
>> separatist cause after years of relative peace.
>>
>> "The government of India does not have a strategy," said Siddharth
>> Varadarajan, diplomatic editor of The Hindu newspaper.
>>
>> "It is relying heavily on coercion, arresting top and middle-level
>> leaders in the hope it will break the back of unprecedented protests."
>>
>> In rare criticism last week, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
>> called on India to avoid using excessive force. It drew a rebuke from
>> India for interfering in its affairs.
>>
>> SIMMERING RESENTMENT
>>
>> For decades there has been simmering resentment at the hundreds of
>> thousands of Indian troops stationed in Kashmir, making it one of the
>> most militarised regions on earth.
>>
>> Roadblocks, verbal abuse from soldiers and raids on homes have long
>> been a part of daily life. But as protests spiralled in August, the
>> government sent in battalions of the Central Reserve Police Force
>> (CRPF), a federal police force of mainly Hindus who do not speak
>> Kashmiri. Strangers to Kashmir, most residents appear to despise them.
>>
>> In interviews in Srinagar and nearby villages, tales were similar:
>> CRPF beatings, night raids on homes, verbal abuse and smashed windows.
>> Life has been worse than in previous years.
>>
>> "They are not human," said Raja, a villager from Newtheed less than an
>> hour's drive from the city. She said soldiers smashed up her home,
>> shouting "We'll show you what freedom is".
>>
>> In Srinagar, the CRPF has taken over from the local Kashmiri police to
>> enforce curfews and riot control. Residents complain of abuse at the
>> slightest provocation -- selling bread, buying milk.
>>
>> One surgeon, who asked to remain anonymous because of fear of
>> retribution from Indian authorities, said he has received around 400
>> wounded people in three weeks, 150 of them hit by bullets.
>>
>> "These are target killings. It's simple to see," said the doctor,
>> explaining that many of the chest wounds were from weapons such as
>> AK-47s. "Most of these were intended to kill. They were not to
>> disperse a crowd."
>>
>> Shabir Ahmed Dar, 22, lay in one hospital bed after three operations.
>> He was shot in the abdomen during a protest march to the Pakistani
>> Kashmir border.
>>
>> "There was no warning from the police. They just fired."
>>
>> The police firings drew criticism from Human Rights Watch. "To end
>> this cycle of tragedy, the government should order security forces to
>> act with restraint," it said in a statement.
>>
>> It is not just a hardline response to street protests. Authorities
>> have detained several separatist leaders without charge. Other
>> leaders, many committed to democratic change and who publicly reject
>> militant violence, were in hiding.
>>
>> Asiya Andrabi, chief of Kashmir's women's separatist group
>> Dukhtaran-e-Milat (Daughters of the Muslim Faith) who had led some of
>> the protests, has been detained under the Public Safety Act that
>> allows for a year in jail without trial.
>>
>> The violence still pales in comparison with previous years when
>> officials say more than 43,000 people have been killed in clashes
>> involving Indian troops and Muslim militants since 1989. Human rights
>> groups put the toll at about 60,000 dead or missing.
>>
>> Some analysts say authorities were in a difficult situation.
>>
>> "This is a place where security officials are getting attacked every
>> second day," said Brahma Chellaney, professor of strategic studies at
>> the New Delhi-based Centre for Policy Research, referring to the years
>> of militant insurgency.
>>
>> For Shameema, a 35-year-old woman who sells bread, the fear of police
>> was clear. She talked about how police smashed her and her family with
>> batons for selling bread under curfew. Her husband displayed a wound
>> to his head.
>>
>> She fell silent for a moment as a federal policeman official walked up
>> to her shop, ominously tapping his baton. Then, realising he could not
>> speak Kashmiri, she talked again.
>>
>> "I am scared," she said "But we have nowhere to go."
>>
>> (Additional reporting by Sheikh Mushtaq; Editing by Simon Denyer and
>> Megan Goldin)
>> _________________________________________
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