Leftist-Jihadis; where is my free speech?

 

On the name of ‘Free Speech’-The sloganeering at the JNU in early Feb, in Support of the Terrorist Afzal Guru was meticulously planned by the Jihadists and supported by the leftists. This combination of leftist-jihadi in India is very peculiar and rather Unusual. The Islamist are the religious zealots, and they propagate Islam and its ideology. The communists on the other hand are known to be Atheist. So, how come they have become the Blood-Brothers!

The slogan, “Bharat tere tookde Hoonge, InshaAllah InshaAllah” is no way an expression of Free speech, Rather it shows, how much tolerant Hindu-India is. Had the slogan, “Pakistan/China tere tookde ho” been raised in Pakistan/China by any minority, He would have been hanged to Death by now.

I wonder, “What is a free speech”?

“Free-Speech”-reminds me instantly of the sloganeering that was witnessed by me in Kashmir, when every Mosque in my vicinity gag-ordered my community to either mingle with them( and become a Muslim) or else be ready to die. I was a victim. I was the oppressed. But, I didn’t had the freedom of ‘free speech’. There is no way, any minority group in a Muslim Majority area can have the privilege of a ‘Free Speech’.

For Leftists, all the problems existing in India is merely because of the Brahmins. Being a Kashmiri Hindu, that too a Brahmin, I am by-default deemed to be fit to be called a Fascist, communal and any attempt to raise my voice against the atrocities meted out to me in a Muslim Majority state will be turned down by the leftists and term it as a Threat to Indian Muslims and the secular fabric of India. The terminology of the “Victim” changes when it comes to the Kashmiri Hindus.

My lands have been encroached illegally by the Muslim Majority, My temples desecrated or burnt Down by the Jihadis, My Brethren murdered in the most inhuman way. But for the people of Leftist-Jihadi mindset, I remain as an oppressor.

The leftists claim to be the messiahs of the oppressed; and they often term their opponents as fascists. USA is a Fascist. Japan is a fascist, so are all the powerful nations where communism failed miserably. They often quote, “The violence of the oppressor is unjustified, but the violence of the oppressed is Justified.”

The oppressed is always who adheres to their ideology. Otherwise how can we justify the stoic silence of the leftists on some of the issues where the Oppressor was a Communist Country and the Oppressed was someone, who did not adhere to their ideology. They condone the atrocities by any communist Nation or Group.

It will be foolish of me to expect that the so-called-liberal-leftist can ever propagate and live in any Muslim Nation; That is why the ideology of communism could not make any inroads in these nations; except for Turkey, where it showed some strength, some resistance, before it got swallowed by the totalitarian-religious-ideology.

In fact both the ideologies are expansionist, totalitarian and there is no room for the dissent.

Tibetans are still languishing in India. They like the Kashmiri Pandits were forced into the Exile by their oppressors. But for the leftists, Tibetan Buddhists and their supreme leader, Nobel prize for peace winner-Dalai Lama is a Fascist.

Kashmiri Pandits, who were ousted by their leftist cohorts-the jihadis, are not allowed to return to their Homes. In fact there are no Homes left now as 50% of the properties were sold in Duress and the other 50% are illegally occupied by those people whom the leftists term as the “Oppressors”. The reason for being them as Oppressor is merely because of the Prefix ‘Pandits’ to Kashmiri Hindus.

The leftist and the Jihadis dream of balkanization of India. They do not recognize India as a Nation and are often heard opining that with so many linguistic differences between so many ethnic and regional groups, The Title or the Nation, ‘India’ is a misnomer; citing examples from the past when there were more than 600 small Princely states under the Britsh.

The Leftist-Jihadi combination are also supporters of all those groups who are advocating for separate Nations to be carved out from India. In short, they are the enemies of the Nation, who are merely propagating the Chinese and the Islamist Propaganda. And get paid for their Endeavour by their masters.

It is a war waged by the Islamists and the Chinese, through their surrogates, Otherwise, how can the incidents of Muslim-Suppression in China be explained. Islamist are under attack in the province of Xinjiang. Imams from its eastern Muslim majority Xinjiang region were forced to dance in the street and swear to an oath that they would not teach religion to children. The imams were also forced to tell children that prayer was harmful for the soul.The Muslim imams were further forced to brandish the slogan that “our income comes from the CKP [Chinese Communist Party] not from Allah”.

Similarly the Communists were slaughtered by the Islamist forces in Indonesia in 1965-66.It is estimated that in that slaughter nearly 1 million people were murdered. The majority of the people were those, who were active communists or their supporters.

The Jihadis ideology and the leftist ideology though totalitarian and Expansionist, are totally opposite to each other. The leftists who are showing their dissent against India are the puppets of China, and the Islamists represent an ideology, where the world population recognizes Islam as their religion. It is just because India happens to be their common enemy, they have embraced each other. This combination will remain till the Time India remains as a Nation. Otherwise there are ample examples, some of them cited above, that indicate that are these two ideologies can not stand each other.

And for the ‘Free Speech’-As long as it is termed as an expression against Hindus and against the Nation of India ; and as long as India remains a Hindus majority state, they will be tolerated.

Unfortunately…..

 

By-Manish Zijoo

 

Amarnath And The Unctuous Muslim

Time and again, the religious fanatics-who oppose the presence of Hindus in Kashmir-are ingeniously devising new ways to create ruckus and stall Amarnath Yatra on one pretext or the other. It is these fanatics and their supporters who give a religious colour to everything and incite hatred among the majority of the population. The Amarnath agitation of 2008 and 2010 were the results of such devious- conspiracy.

These fanatics and their supporters were responsible for the commotion at Baltal ,just a couple of days back, that resulted in communal conflagration literally and practically. Their sinister planning paid-off and the Yatra was suspended from Baltal-The hotspot where all this action took place-for a day or so.

The real reason, it seems is the control of Business both at Baltal as well as well as Domail. Many Langars(community kitchens, that serve free food to the yatris) are operated upon by the people, who live outside the valley. These volunteers come every year from different parts of the country to serve the devotees free of cost.

The locals (ponywalla, tentwallah etc.) earn at least 80% of their yearly income from this yatra, but still, Some local businessmen, with a certain anti-India ideology, envy them, as they think that can make ten times the money, that they usually earn during the yatra, if somehow the free-langars are not allowed to operate.

It has been a diabolical plan of Pakistani-backed-separatists since 1990 to stall the yatra . Often they give this yatra an anti-Islam colour and incite the majority to oppose this yatra both tacitly as well as blatantly, on the name of Islam. Every year the separatists claim that India is secretly building a township at Baltal and that they are following the policy of Israel. On the contrary, It is these very Pakistan-backed-separatists, who changed the demography of Kashmir by ousting the indigenous Kashmiri Hindus from Kashmir. Their bigotry and double standard is condemnable beyond words.

This dichotomous-sadistic-selective-self-portraying by the religious fanatics is both deplorable as well as sympathizing. Deplorable-because of their double standards and their role in selective projecting of Islam viz-a-viz different countries. Sympathizing-because on their part of acting like Philistines.

Did I say Philistine.( Or should I have said Palestine.)

These days ,Kashmiri Muslims are protesting against Israel too and are supporting Palestine, since majority of Palestine’s are Muslims. And thus they feel a sense of oneness with them. It is not that they always support their co-religionists. Their are few examples that has time and again exposed their moral- duplicity and selective portraying of being a Victim.
Here are few examples:

On Bangladesh
The Muslims of India, particularly Kashmiri Muslims never protested against Pakistan’s role in 1971 Bangladesh liberation war, when at least 2 million Bangladeshis were murdered by the Pakistani army and thousands of Bangla-women were raped(at least 80% of the victims were Muslims). They have maintained a conspicuous silence over the persecution and killings of Shia’s in Pakistan as well.

on Syria
The Muslim world has turned a blind eye towards Syria. Tens of thousands of Syrians are languishing in tents and are waiting to return to their roots with dignity. The jordanese and other Arab nationals are exploiting them to the hilt and have lecherous intentions towards their womenfolk. Why are the Muslims of India, Particularly Kashmiri Muslims(KM’s) silent over this issue!

On Darfur
What about Darfur? Shouldn’t the violence be condemned even though the atrocities are committed by the co-religionists. Isn’t it a shame that in Darfur(sudan), the apartheid has invoked the demons among the two different communities of the same religion. And that religion happens to be Islam.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Darfur

On Iraq
The deafening silence over the cold-blooded murder of Shia’s is deplorable. But since the perpetrators happen to be from the sunni-community, Hence the Indian Muslims particularly K.M’s have turned a blind eye towards the atrocities of ISIS ,  and look at Iraq-issue  through their religious Bifocals. Not only the religious atrocities on shia’s hasn’t been criticized by the Muslims of India, They are in fact supporting the rise of Sunni-hegemony. The demonstrations in support of ISIS in Kashmir is a proof of such decadent mentality.

On china’s part
Though many a times, I have come across KM’s on facebook who openly support China(as it happens to be Pakistan’s biggest ally).Some of them(KM’s) prefer to accede to China over India, if given a chance. In India, Muslims have the full right to practice their religion and observe fasts(roza).But these self-styled-zealots have maintained a stoic silence , knowing well that Chinese government has ordered a ban on Roza(fasts).Any Uyghurs-the muslims of China-found observing Roza will be persecuted. Had it happened in India, the whole of Muslim community would have come on the streets to protest. But since China happens to be the biggest supporter of Pakistan, Hence they act as if Uyghurs don’t exist at all.

It is not surprising, the way , the Muslim-fundamentalists have been acting during the Amarnath Yatra since 1990. Though the demagogues backed by Pakistan have been showing a rosy picture of Caliphate(united Muslim world) to K.M’s, but they deliberately withhold the information from the Gullible public about the duplicity of the countries whom they adore like Pakistan or Saudi-Arabia. Pakistan has never ever condemned the atrocities of the uygur -Muslims by communist china. And should I have to remind the Muslims of India and Pakistan that they can only be the helots in Saudi Arabia, but never will they get the citizenship, however much, They may act or dress like the saudi’s.

What ever is happening between Palestine and Israel is sad and the acts of violence should be condemned. But it should not be selective as in the case of Palestine. The incidents in Iraq, Darfur, China, Afghanistan, Syria or Bangladesh should also be condemned. I have doubts that these unctuous- Pakistani-puppets will never shun Bigotry and double-standards. And they will find excuses to stall Amarnath yatra yet again, not only this year but, also, through the years to come….

When the trouble-makers of Kashmir remind the general public about the arbitrary-intentions of India to replicate the Israel model, They should have the guts to face their own conscience and tell the same public about reasons of the conspicuous-absence of Kashmiri pundits from the valley as well….

Of Frankenstein’s and Kashmir

I too watched today’s debate between U.S President Obama and Mitt Romney as both of the contenders put forth their views on foreign policy. There was nothing new and both of the contenders reiterated that they will support Israel who has been labeled as Enemy no.1 of Muslims. Both of them debated on how they will tackle the growing influence of China.

On Al-Qiada ‘s former supremo, President Bush said,” Bin Laden would have escaped If pakistan’s permission sought”. This shows the level of Trust, U.S.A had on its ally Pakistan. Mitt Romney reminded whole world about the presence of Taliban, Haqqani in unstable Pakistan and their 100 odd nuclear war heads fearing Pakistan may end up to be a failed state. He also reminded about their powerful Spy agency I.S.I and its role.

What if the fear of Mitt Romney turns out to be true? Who will be responsible if Taliban or Haqqani network or any other Islamic terrorist organization turns Pakistan into a failed state? What will happen to those 100 odd nuclear war heads?

We need not remind anyone about the mentality of so called jihadis. 14 year old Malala was shot at head because she was perceived as a threat to Islam by these fundamentalists. Is Islam so shallow that it needs gun, bombs and terrorists to keep itself alive as a Religion! Have sufis become a passé!, has spirituality been held hostage by the devils !

These terrorist organizations who operate from Pakistan’s soil is being fed by the I.S.I, In fact they are the creations of the ISI. Today these monsters have become the greatest factor that can make Pakistan a Failed State. But as of Today, they are like the tentacles of an octopus which has more than 8 tentacles in many of its neighboring countries and that includes India also.

The tentacles of ISI in India goes by may names ,
In Jammu & Kashmir only they had/have 1.J.K.L.F(Jammu Kashmir liberation front) 2.Hiz-ul-Mujahideen 3.Lashkar-e-toiba 4.Hurriyat conference 5.Allah Tigers 6.Jaish-eMohammed 7.Dukhteran-e-Milat 8.AL Badr 9.Harkat-ul-Ansar and many more…..The funding and logistics is being provided by the ISI to all these organizations. Some of these organizations change their faces and names from time to time, but their producer and Director remains the same.

Pakistan has used these organizations effectively from time to time depending upon the situation , they use the policy of carrot and stick in handling and motivating these groups to spread their ideologue. Among the groups mentioned above everyone including the Hurriyat have had their history stained with the blood of innocents. Hurriyat conference’s role has been to propagate Pakistan as a role savior of Islam. The communal leaders of Hurriyat conference have taken forward the ideology of Pakistan to oppose Hindus in every way.

Time and again they have targeted Amarnath Yatra as it is virtually the last remnant of erstwhile glorious past of hindus who once lived there. Let us not forget Kashmiri Pandits, who were driven out of their motherland. Today out of 4lakh Kashmiri Pandits that lived in Kashmir in 1989, only 4000 are left in the Kashmir Valley.

Hurriyat leaders are fanning the sentiments of common man on the name of of Religion. They had met with a tremendous success in 2008 and 2010 and now they are preparing their ground for 2013.Why are they opposing the construction of road to Amarnath cave? How many more people they want to die during the Amarnath yatra?

Their theory of environmental degradation is hard to swallow for me. Why don’t they shift their focus on the dying lakes of Kashmir? Why aren’t they worried about the receding forest line of Kashmir? Was it the love for environment that made these jihadi mindset people to oust Kashmiri Pandits from their Motherland!!!

Like hundreds of terrorist organizations that have been made in the factory of ISI, The kashmiri terrorist organizations too get their paycheck from Pakistan. It was written in the newspapers today that Pakistan has cut their Budget on the terror funding of Kashmir groups. This war on India has already costed Pakistan billions of Dollars and these Dollars have been paid to them by the USA.

In the Nineties there was not much difference between the Indian and Pakistani Rupee, But as of Today, one U.S Dollar=53 INR and One U.S. Dolar=95 PNR, This disparity is also adding to the woes of ISI. The indirect war of Pakistan on India is eating the economic base of Pakistan.

Coming back to today’s debate between President Obama and Mitt Romney, If these two presidential candidates fear so much about the present situation of Afganistan and Pakistan, why don’t they stop funding billions of Dollars as an aid to Pakistan as Pakistan has been misusing this aid to fund terrorists that includes Taliban also.

If they fear China, as China has become a hub for manufacturing for whole world ,and it is eating the job of Americans ,USA should also fear Pakistan as it has become the hub for producing terrorists and those terrorists have become the greatest threat to whole world including the USA.

The jihadis are no longer in control of Pakistan. Pakistan is no longer in U.S.A’s control as was evident from president Obama’s Statement. If Taliban, Haqqani and other Jihadis are Pakistan’s Frankenstein ,Isn’t Pakistan itself a Frankenstein in the making for the U.S.A……A failed state in process…

AFSPA-should it be repealed from Kashmir?

The present

AFSPA is in the center of limelight for good or bad reasons, some say it should be removed immediately while security experts say that time is not right for the removal of this act in J&k. Mr. Omar Abdullah had hinted  that AFSPA will be removed, Some days later Dr.Mustafa Kamal who is also the uncle of Chief Minister  and leader of  National Conference(NC) circumlocutory indicated the same thing and  alleged that Army was responsible for the grenade attacks in Srinagar so that AFSPA should remain intact . His statement was snubbed by his Brother DR faroq Abdullah and termed it  out of line from NC policy, later on Dr. Mustafa Kamala retracted his statement.

The opposition party PDP also vehemently voiced their opinion on removal of ASFPA, knowing  well that it won’t be removed in the present circumstances, but nonetheless they knew that this outcry will surely garner some more sympathy and probably more votes in next elections.

Looking at the past 1989-90

In Dec 1989, Suddenly it looked as if every teenager Muslim was either going to Pakistan for arms Training  or has already come from Pakistan after the training,  It was promised to them by Pakistan’s ISI  that they will attack India once these armed insurgents attack the politicians, Kashmiri Pandits, Government establishments and officers. In jan 1990 a Doordarshan news revealed that 10,000 militants are active in the Valley to carry out the orders of their masters from Paksitan.

Then Chief Minister Dr. Faroq Abdullah, failed to give any security to anyone whether the politicians, Government officials or Kashmiri Pandits and finally he was removed from his responsibilities on  jan 1990 and Mr. Jagmohan became the new governor of J&k. Incidentally  the major exodus of Kashmiri Pandits also happened on 19 jan-20jan 1990.So no question of Jagmohan being responsible for exodus of Pandits.

Dr. Faroq Abdullah spent major part of his time outside Kashmir from 1990-95, when Kalashankov(AK-47) had become the symbol of Kashmir, Fashion and Its culture, mind you AK-47’s don’t fire Roses but Bullets designed to kill Humans.

The PDP Patron Mr. Mufti mohammed sayed was the home minister back in 1989-90,He is equally responsible for the Kashmir imbroglio. It was during his period that militancy reached a cult status, his dereliction made him  that  fiasco which India will remember for a long time..

Afganistan-pakistan

Then(80’S-90’S)– Pakistan with the support of U.S.A was assisting the Islamic militants in Afganistan against Russia.Zia-ul-Haq had Islamized Pakistan under his  decade old regime, The Frankenstein of Islamic extremism was created by The dictator with the help of ISI.

The soviets withdrew from Afganistan in 1989 leaving the armed Jihadis without job. Pakistan  started exporting these Jihadis to Kashmir as a part of low cost warfare with India.Many Army personnel lost their lives while fighting these merceneries.

Now(1996-2011)

The frankestien created by Zia-ul-haq  has become the greatest threat to the existence of Pakistan.The Baluchis are detesting every move of Pakistani Government , the residents of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir are also resisting Pakistans’s plan to change the ethnic population for long now .In Karachi  sectarian violence is all time high  and  The economy of Pakistan is in a cauldron.This precarious situation of Pakistan can be compared to that of Afganistan in 1980’s and 90’s.

It is most likely that Pakistan will push some more jihadi elements into Kashmir in the present future.

Pakistan China Connection

Pakistan and China are still a big threat to India both externally and internally. It is not a co-incidence that Maoists are coming closer to Jihadis of Kashmir as both aim at destabilising India.It is a well known fact that China gives financial aid to the Maoists of India, Today the Maoists have become a existential threat to India. in some pockets of Chattisgarh, Orissa, Jharkahnd, they are known to use terror tactics and death sentence for those who don’t adhere to their gag orders.

Pakistan on the other hand is also trying  best to use the sentiments of the Muslims in India for its vested interests. So far they have been successful in Kashmir valley and met with some success in Kerala, Maharashtra and Hyderabad. The Madrassa of India unfortunately are palying in the hands of Pakistan and saudi arabia-Madrassas biggest donor’s

In Kashmir, the sousl of Kashmiriyat – Rishi and sufi tradition were mauled by the Saudi funded Wahabis, who have given large sums of donations to the madrassas of Kashmir and are  responsible for the extremist mindset such as that of syed ali shah geelani, who has openly criticized sufis of Kashmir.

China has already taken a large part of Kashmir in ladakh,every now and then we hear from the news channels of Chinese aggression on India-China border. India needs large number of troops to be posted in J&k in order to safeguard our International Borders and also a stand by in case of immediate emergency.Kashmir serves the purpose of that stand-by.

J&K Police(1989-2011)

Back in 1989 and throughout the nineties, the pusillanimous attitude of J&K became evident, In late 89 and early 90’s many policemen turned blind eye on the crimes committed by the militants. The role of the police was almost zero and they did not dare to apprehend any terrorist although they knew everything about them. This attitude was not wrong  as they knew that nobody will come to their rescue .Anyways they paid for being a “policeman” as they were the “pariah’s” of the 90’s in Kashmir..                                                                                                      

The situation has improved a lot since 1996, they have done a good job in the 2008 as well as 2010 agitations as people don’t support the terrorism like they did in early 90’s.Having said that, they won’t be a match to the Pakistan sponsored muslim mercenaries if Pakistan decides to re-create the situation that was prevalent in 90’s of Kashmir.

 

Role of Indian Armed forces in countering terrorism(1989-2011)

 The Indian Army enforced law and order at the time(1990) when there are total anarchy and the rule of terrorism and mobocracy. The local police at that time proved to be total failure. Many government buildings, schools, bridges were burnt down by the new zealots/terrorists, properties of Kashmiri pundits were plundered and burnt down by these gun flaunting extremists ,Girls and women were raped and there was no one to challenge them except the Indian Armed forces who fought them tooth and nail and brought back Kashmir to normalcy. It was the AFSPA that helped the armed forces to counter the Pakistan sponsored terrorism. Even today Kashmir is not totally free from terrorists as still officially hundreds of terrorists are active in the valley, unofficially the figures will run in thousands if we consider those also who are hibernating in sleeper cells.

 

THE PRESENT AGAIN(KP’s VIEW)

Kashmir has somehow left the past and has emerged into a new era but its past will haunt it for a long time.4 lakh kashmiri pundits were forced to leave their hearth and homes in the middle of night to save their lives and honor, For many years this beleaguered community lived in tattered tents and in penury, but as born survivors bounced back and today with their hard work they are among one  of the most educated community in India and many of them are working in India and abroad at high positions. Still many of the KP’s would love to come back to their motherland .

“Kashmir will not be same unless Kashmiri Pandits come back to Kashmir” has been said by many Muslims in the past including some of the separatists leaders, but even today time is not ripe for the return of the Kashmiri Pandits, still their biggest threat remains-security

 

CONCLUSION

It is eventually the army who has to decide when to quit from the valley of Kashmir. They have already  reduced their numbers in the valley, they can not depend upon the state leadership as the state governments will try to politicize everything in order to be in power. The Two patrons of main political parties of Kashmir in 1989-90 deserted Kashmir and left it in a lurch, there is no reason that they will not do it again in case AFSPA is repealed and Pakistan pursues the same old policy…

AFSPA should stay for the time being…..

Muslims of tibet

Muslims of Tibet

By Masood Butt
Tibetan Bulletin
January – February 1994
Tibet had pockets of Muslims entrenched within its borders although there is no documentary evidence on how Muslims first came to settle there. In fact, information on Tibetan Muslims in general itself is scarce. But the existence of Tibet appears to be known to the Muslim world from the earliest period of recorded history. Arab historians like Yaqut Hamawi, Ibn Khaldun and Tabari mention Tibet in their writings. In fact, Yaqut Hamawihas, in his book Muajumal Buldan (encyclopaedia of countries), refers to Tibet in three different ways Tabbat, Tibet and Tubbet.

During the reign of Umar bin Abdul Aziz (717-720) of the Persian Empire, it is believed that a delegation from Tibet and China requested him to send Islamic missionaries to their countries. Caliph Umar is said to have sent Salah bin Abdullah Hanafi to Tibet. The Abbasid rulers of Baghdad also maintained re1ations with Tibet in the eighth and the ninth centuries.

Kashmir and Eastern Turkestan were the nearest Islamic regions bordering Tibet. It is said that Muslim migrants from Kashmir and Ladakh areas first entered Tibet around 12th century. Gradually, marriages and social interaction led to an increase in the population until a sizable community came up around Lhasa, Tibet’s capital. There was no large-scale conversion to Islam though. Thomas Arnold, in his book, The Preaching of Islam, published in the early part of this century says, “Islam has also been carried into Tibet proper by Kashmiri merchants. Settlements of such merchants are to be found in all the chief cities of Tibet: they marry Tibetan women, who often adopt the religion of their husbands…”

Tibetan Muslims trace their origin from immigrants from four main regions: China, Kashmir, Ladakh and Nepal. Islamic influence in Tibet also came from Persia and Turkestan.

Muslims are known as Khache among Tibetans. This appear to be because the earliest Muslim settlers to Tibet were from Kashmir which was known as Khache Yul to Tibetans.

The arrival of Muslims was followed by the construction of mosques in different parts of Tibet. There were four mosques in Lhasa, two in Shigatse and one in Tsethang. In recent years, one mosque in Lhasa has been renovated, with Tibetan Muslims from India sending religious inscriptions to it for use. Tibetan Muslims were mainly concentrated around the mosques that they constructed. These mosques were maintained well and were the centres of Muslim social life in Tibet.

Tibetan Muslims led a reasonably free life in a Buddhist environment. In fact, during the time of the fifth Dalai Lama, Tibetan Muslims received the following special privileges:

i) They were permitted to settle their affairs independently, according to the Shariat Laws. The government permitted the Muslim community to elect a five-man committee, known as ‘Ponj’ who looked after their interest. From among the Ponj, a leader – known as Mia to Muslims and Kbache Gopa – (Muslim headman) among non-Muslims – was elected. ii) Tibetan Muslims were free to set up commercial enterprises and were exempted from taxation. iii) Tibetan Muslims were also exempted from implementing the ‘no meat rule’ when such a restriction was imposed in Tibet every year during a holy Buddhist month. Muslims were also exempted from removing their caps to Buddhist priests during a period in a year when the priests held sway over the town. Muslims were also granted the Mina Dronbo (invitation to different communities) status to commemorate the assumption of spiritual and temporal authority by the fifth Dalai Lama.

In addition, Muslims had their own burial place. There were two cemeteries around Lhasa: one at Gyanda Linka about 12 km from Lhasa town and the other at Kygasha about 15 km away. A portion of Gyanda Linka was turned into a garden and this became the place where the Muslim community organised their major functions. Gyanda Linka is said to contain unmarked graves believed to be those of foreigners who came to preach Islam to Tibet. Kygasha was mainly used by Muslims of Chinese origin.

The above privileges were contained in a written document provided to the Tibetan Muslim community by the Tibetan government. These privileges were enjoyed until Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1959.

Tibetan Muslims confined themselves mainly to trade and commerce. Hardly any of them indulged in fanning. As the community grew, Madrasas (primary schools) were set up in which children were taught about Islam, the Koran and the method of offering namaz (prayers). Urdu language was also part of the curriculum. There were two such Madrasas in Lhasa and one in Shigatse.

After finishing their stuthes in these Madrasas, students were sent to India to join Islamic institutes of higher learning such as Darul-U1oom in Deoband, Nadwatul-U1ema in Lucknow and Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi. The annual report of Darul-U1oom for the year 1875 mention the presence of two foreign students there: a Burmese and a Tibetan. Jamia Millia Islamia received its first batch of Tibetan students in 1945.

In those days, transportation within Tibet was a problem. Students were sent along with Muslim merchants making their annuals trip to India. This took months as they had walk or ride on yaks for most of the way. Therefore, once the students got admitted to institution in India, they usually did not return to Tibet until the completion of a stage of their education.

Quite a few Tibetan Muslims have successfully completed their stuthes in India, with many being well versed in Arabic, Urdu and Persian. The most famous among them could be Faidhullah who undertook the ambitious task of translating into Tibetan Gulestan and Boastan, Persian poetry of Sheik Sadi. Faidhullah’s is well known among Tibetans for his popular book aphorism Khache Phalu (few words of advices from a Muslim). Even today, Tibetans continue to quote from his book, (an English translation of Khache Phaluh as been done by Dr. Dawa Norbu and published by the Library of Tibetan Works & Archives).

Tibetan Muslims were able to preserve their community’s identity while at the same time absorbing their traditional Tibetan social and cultural traditions. They elected a Ponj committee to look after their affairs. The Tibetan government approved the formation of this committee and gave it a free hand to undertake its activities and to decide on matters concerning the Tibetan Muslim community. Tibetan Muslims have also made significant contribution to Tibetan culture, particularly in the field of music. Nangma, a popular c1assica1 music of Tibet, is said to have been brought to Tibet by Tibetan Muslims. In fact, the very term Nangma is believed to be a corruption of the Urdu word Naghma meaning song. These high-pitched tilting songs, developed in Tibet around the turn of the Century, were a craze in Lhasa with musical hits by Acha Izzat, Bhai Akbar-la and Oulam Mehdi on the lips of almost everyone.

After the Tibetan National Uprising of 1959 His Holiness the Dalai Lama went into-exile in India followed by a significant number of Tibetans. However, a majority of Tibetan Muslims, particularly those residing in Lhasa, could go out of Tibet only a year later. In between they had to suffer extortion, terrorism and cruelty under the hands of Chinese occupation forces, like their fellow Tibetans. During this critical period, Tibetan Muslims organised themselves. They approached the Indian mission in Lhasa to claim for Indian citizenship, referring to their Kashmiri ancestry, to escape Chinese tyranny. Mr. P.N.Kaul was the head of the Indian mission then. At that time, the head of the Ponj of Tibetan Muslims was Haji Habibullah Shamo. He was, however , under Chinese detention along with other leaders like Bhai Addul Gani-la;.Rapse Hamidullah, Abdua1 Ahad Hajj, Abdul Qadir Jami and HajiAbdul Gani Thapsha under various charges. While Bhai Abdu1 Gani-la was charged with the putting up of anti-Chinese posters, Rapse Hamidullah was arrested on account of his connection with a senior Tibetan official. The initial response of the Indian Government was lukewarm. It said only those whose Permanent domicile remained in the state of Jammu & Kashmir and who visited India from time to time, whose parents or one of whose grandparents were born in undivided India, are potential citizens of India”, and it would , only accept them. But some time later, in later 1959, the Indian Government suddenly came out with the statement that all Tibetan Muslims were Indian nationals, and started distributing application forms for Indian nationality among them.

Chinese illtreatment of Tibetan Muslims continued Chinese authorities duped Tibetan Muslims into selling their property to them in return for the freedom to emigrate to any Muslim country. Seeing this as a possible way of saving their religion and culture, many Tibetan Muslims willingly parted with their property. But having acquired these property, 1ibetan Muslims were not allowed to emigrate. Instead, restrictions were imposed, and a social boycott declared. Nobody was allowed to sell food to Tibetan Muslims. Many old and weak Tibetan Muslims as well as children thed of starvation.

Those Tibetan Muslims who were able to cross over into India in the border towns of Kalimpong, Darjeeling and Gangtok in late 1959 gradually moved to Kashmir , their ancestral homeland from 1961 to 1964. They were accommodated in three huge buildings in Idd-Gah in Srlnagar by the Indian Government. At that time, His Holiness the Dalai Lama had sent his Representative to inquire about the conditions of Tibetan Muslims.

During the first two decades of their life in exile, Tibetan Muslims attempted to rebuild and re-organise themselves. Lack of proper guidance and leadership proved to be an obstacle in their development. Also, housing in Idd Gah was inadequate to meet the requirements of a growing family. In the process, Tibetan Muslims began to scatter, emigrating to Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Nepal as well as moving to other parts of India in search of better opportunity .

His Holiness the Dalai Lama continued to keep in touch with the situation of Tibetan Muslims. Knowing their problems, His Holiness, during his visit to Srinagar in 1975, took up the matter with the Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir. He also encouraged the formation of the Tibetan Muslim Refugee Welfare Association. This Association began to chalk out projects for the economic and educational upliftment of Tibetan Muslims. With an initial financial assistance by His Holiness, coupled with assistance received, later from Tibet Fund, New York, a handicraft centre, a co-operative shop and a school were established. A group of young Tibetan Muslims were given training in Carpet making in Dharamsala.

The Association was able to get some land for resettlement. Saudi Arabia provided funds for the construction of 144 houses and a mosque in the new settlement. Construction was completed in 1985 and the houses distributed among the people. Not all people could be accommodated and some continued to reside in the old settlement.

A primary school had been started in 1975 in a rented building to provide modern as well as traditional education to Tibetan Muslim children. Although the school was shifted to a comparatively better place in the new settlement, it still faces problems: it is run on donations and does not have a separate compound. However, some students are being sent to Central Schools for Tibetans elsewhere in India. To date, 22 Tibetan Muslim children have been admitted to Central School for Tibetans in Shimla and Dalhousie in Himachal Pradesh state.

The Association has eight office bearers who look after the affairs of the community . There is a Tibetan Muslim Youth Association which plays an important role in social upliftment of the community . This youth association is in contact with the Tibetan Youth Congress. The Department of Health in Dharamsala has set up a primary health care centre to look after the medical needs of the settlers.

Nothing much is known of the present condition of Tibetan Muslims inside Tibet. According to one report there are around 3000 Tibetan Muslims and around 20,000 Chinese Muslims. Since the opening up of Tibet, some Tibetan Mus1ims outside Tibet have been able to visit the country while quite a few have also come out.

The total population of Tibetan Muslims outside Tibet is around 2000. Of them, 20 to 25 families live in Nepal, 20 in the Gulf countries and Turkey. Fifty families reside in Darjeeling-Kalimpong areas bordering Tibet in eastern India. Tibetan Muslims in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Nepal have a joint Tibetan Muslim Welfare Association based in Kalimpong. Its present general secretary is Mr. Amanulla Chisti. During His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visit to Darjeeling in April l993. Tibetan Muslims there dressed in their traditional garments participated in a ceremony. There are around 1200 Tibetans in the new settlement in Srinagar consisting of 210 families.

Tibetans in general have suffered greatly under Chinese occupation. Tibetan Muslims have undergone great mental and physical strain on account of their peculia situation. They continue to look upon their Muslim brethren throughout the world to support peaceful solution of the Tibetan problem so that the, too, like their Tibetan Buddhist brethren, can return to their homeland. When asked whether he would return to Tibet in the even of a solution, a young Tibetan Muslim responded, “It is better to live under the bridge in one’s own homeland than be a refugee in an alien land.”