A different perspective of History

During my morning walks, I meet a very old Kannadiga gentleman who had retired as a Head Master of a Government-aided School in Bellary. He comes down exactly at 6 a.m. and walks for an hour.

On  at least two days in a week, I have the privilege of walking along with such an erudite scholar.

This morning, after our walk, we sat down in one of the benches provided in Purva Heights. I knew him as an RSS man and therefore, I enquired about Mr L.K.Advani's resignation from all positions in BJP. With this, he started talking slowly for twenty minutes. Here is the gist of what he said:

Rabindranath Tagore recited "Jana Gana Mana" in 1911 to welcome King George.It is in memory of that visit that "India Gate" was erected in New delhi. It was the same year in which the capital of the country was shifted from Calcutta to New Delhi.Tagore was given a Noble Prize two years later on the recommendation of the British in recognition of the enthusiasm shown by him during the visit of King George. He, however,did not deny Tagore!s other credentials for getting Nobel Prize

Normally in all Indian songs about the country, the country is referred to  as "Mother".In 'Jana Gana Mana, there is no reference  to India as Mother Earth. RSS have never approved of "Jana Gana Mana"It was at their instance, "Vande Madaram" was recited by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. In "Vande Madram, the country is referred to as country of "Durga" and other Gods. Even to-day in all RSS meetings, only "Vande Madaram" is sung.They have no respect for Jana Gana Mana.

He called Advani making a  statement that Mohamed Ali Jinnah was most secular as a statement with personal agenda. He wondered how such a man could now call all BJP leaders as having a personal agenda.According to him, Jinnah made a statement on hearing the death of Mahatma Gandhi such as "It is the death of another Hindu". He wondered how such a man was described as secular by L.K.Advani.  His statements

on the demolition of Babri Masjid were even more critical. When Muslims destoryed many Hindu temples in 19th century, nobody said anything, but when some over enthusiastic Hindus demolished the upper portion of the Masjid, there was a hue and cry becuase of the media.

There was an All India Congress Committee meeting chaired by Shaukat Ali in 1924. When "Vande Madaram" was sung in the beginning, the Chairman objected saying that no muslim meetings starts with a song. When it was pointed out that it was an all-India Congress meeting and a not a Muslim gathering,.he walked out in protest. The British then advised senior Congress leaders that without the support of the Muslims, the country would not get freedom. The leadership then started soliciting Mohamed Ali Jinnah and other Muslim leaders after that.

According to him, there are only two seasons in Bellary--very hot and very,very hot. Finally he stumped me with a personal statement."it is generally believed in Bellary, that people who commit crimes go to Hell and people who commit crimes in Hell  go to live in Bellary"

What an interesting man with his own perspective of History.