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calm down junior.

I find Ambedkar fascinating too. There are somethings I respect about him, somethings I don't.
I think he let his early life to fuel his bitterness. And he alienated those who meant him well.
But to me, a lot of what he gained in life was through sheer force of will and his hard work.
To me, he summed up the realpolitik game the Ambedkarite Dalit leaders follow.
I remember reading his articles refuting Gandhi's village model, and advocating for urbanization.
In the end, he sought the demolition of the caste system.
Ambedkar is also mysterious. Honestly I know little about him. He had a great deal of willpower no doubt :tup: And I also seek the demolition of the caste system :yay:
But yes, there was considerable bitterness in him - it was unfortunate and in pre-independence India, understandable. :(
 
I am also fascinated by Savarkar. Though I ain't an atheist like him.
Hitler will remain an enigma forever.


This is what Ambedkar had to say about Savarkar -
"Mr. Savarkar... insists that, although there are two nations in India, India shall not be divided into two parts, one for Muslims and the other for the Hindus; that the two nations shall dwell in one country and shall live under the mantle of one single constitution;.... In the struggle for political power between the two nations the rule of the game which Mr. Savarkar prescribes is to be one man one vote, be the man Hindu or Muslim. In his scheme a Muslim is to have no advantage which a Hindu does not have. Minority is to be no justification for privilege and majority is to be no ground for penalty. The State will guarantee the Muslims any defined measure of political power in the form of Muslim religion and Muslim culture. But the State will not guarantee secured seats in the Legislature or in the Administration and, if such guarantee is insisted upon by the Muslims, such guaranteed quota is not to exceed their proportion to the general population." - Ambedkar, Bhimrao Ramji (1945). Pakistan or the Partition of India. Mumbai: Thackers.


Nehru hated this man tremendously - in fact only after Nehru's death Shastri started his pension! Nehru also wanted to demolish the Cellular Jail! :D

@Ravi Nair @scorpionx
Savarkar's design of "Hindustan" was fundamentally weak and looks utterly fragile to its core.For example, he acknowledges that Hindus and Muslims indeed are two nations. This is a debatable statement. Ordinary Muslims in India, by far and large are entirely detached from their Arabic,Persian or any other Middle Eastern counterpart. In fact a South Indian Muslim, in his customs,culture or language was more akin to a South Indian Hindu than to a Muslim living in UP or Bihar. If you notice the Shia custom during Muharram or the rituals followed by upper echelon Muslim nobles when a baby is born, you will see how Muslims for the last thousand years have been imbibed into Hindu culture and essentially Hindu way of performing rituals.By describing entire Muslim community as a distinct separate nation is a flawed concept.Also his idea of a subservient Muslim community living under a powerful Hindu dominance violates every essence of a liberal society;Something definitely conforms with a Ram Rajya after all.
Secondly, according to Savarkar Sanskrit is an essentially "Hindu" language and Hindi should be the Pan Hindu National Language. But how hollow this claim is? Classical Sanskrit is a codified version of Vedic Sanskrit which belong to Indo-European language group. Vedic Sanskrit had direct derivative Prakrita from which Ardha Magadhi and later from which Hindi and Urdu had originated. So, by Savarkar's own argument Urdu becomes an essentially "Hindu" language too!!

I really do not know how much Savarkar was hated by Nehru.There were ample evidences against him. Like the testimony Digambar Bagde gave which was quite comprehensive. But some how Savarkar escaped the wrath of Judicial system. I have no idea what saved him,but there is every chance of a powerful lobby within the ruling party was behind his acquittal.

Oh Wait!! We are in the wrong place. Aren't we? :unsure:
 
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Savarkar's design of "Hindustan" was fundamentally weak and looks utterly fragile to its core.For example, he acknowledges that Hindus and Muslims indeed are two nations. This is a debatable statement. Ordinary Muslims in India, by far and large are entirely detached from their Arabic,Persian or any other Middle Eastern counterpart. In fact a South Indian Muslim, in his customs,culture or language was more akin to a South Indian Hindu than to a Muslim living in UP or Bihar. If you notice the Shia custom during Muharram or the rituals followed by upper echelon Muslim nobles when a baby is born, you will see how Muslims for the last thousand years have been imbibed into Hindu culture and essentially Hindu way of performing rituals.By describing entire Muslim community as a distinct separate nation is a flawed concept.Also his idea of a subservient Muslim community living under a powerful Hindu dominance violates every essence of a liberal society;Something definitely conforms with a Ram Rajya after all.
Secondly, according to Savarkar Sanskrit is an essentially "Hindu" language and Hindi should be the Pan Hindu National Language. But how hollow this claim is? Classical Sanskrit is a codified version of Vedic Sanskrit which belong to Indo-European language group. Vedic Sanskrit had direct derivative Prakrita from which Ardha Magadhi and later from which Hindi and Urdu had originated. So, by Savarkar's own argument Urdu too becomes an essentially "Hindu" language too!!

I really do not know how much Savarkar was hated by Nehru.There were ample evidences against him. Like the testimony Digambar Bagde gave which was quite comprehensive. But some how Savarkar escaped the wrath of Judicial system. I have no idea what saved him,but there is every chance of a powerful lobby within the ruling party was behind his acquittal.

Oh Wait!! We are in the wrong place. Aren't we? :unsure:
I love this. A real discussion after such a long time. I will puncture this a little later :D And we are unfortunately in the wrong place :tup: :(
 
Puncture !! Ok :D

1. Honestly I know little of the unbiased story about him, so I will take your post as true. :enjoy:

2. Hindus and Muslims can be considered two nations. The two nations need not be mutually exclusive. Indeed, they can be complimentary :agree: The crux of the matter is the definition of the terms - Hindus and Muslims.

----i. A 'pure' (for the lack of a better word) Muslim will be totally different from a Hindu or a Sikh/Buddhist.

----ii. As you said, the similarity exists between a Tamil Hindu and and a Tamil Muslim because as you said - Muslims have imbibed Hindu culture.

^^^Now here in comes the logic of the Two Nation Theory(not necessarily of Jinnah's authorship) - the 'fear' of being dominated socially and culturally by non Muslims so much so that the Muslim identity itself is compromised.
As an example - the cultural mixture of the Muslims and Hindus that you have mentioned and I also cherish is itself considered a danger by many Muslims.

----iii. Also to note is the ability of Indian/Hindu culture is unique - assimilation. A Hindu can and does consider even Christ as God (may be not by everyone) - it is not considered blasphemy. Actually the term itself does not exist. On the other hand, though the Hanafi fiqh has been followed in India and therefore we have been spared the worst of excesses, it remains that Islam remains or at least tries to remain - shall we say unadulterated. This Abrahamic insistence on superiority goes above my head :( It is our good fortune and our Muslims' credit that they have by and large not followed the extremist footsteps. But...

----v. Now the instances of conflicts is rising - not only from historically troubled and repeatedly invaded areas like the North, but also and most stunningly in Kerala. Onam as a festival was and still is celebrated not only by Hindus but also by Christians and others. Now Muslims however are turning away from it - especially in the North. @Manvantaratruti may be able to give you a better idea. The idea of being a better Muslim, unfortunately lies in seclusion - the very opposite to the Dharmic concept of brotherhood, irrespective of allegiance to God.

3. Sanskrit is certainly a very Indian language and by Savarkar's open defintion Hindu too. But I don't think a language can be bound by narrow definitions of Weltangschaung. But then - going by Savarkar's broad definition of the origins of Sanskrit - claiming it to be Hindu(Indic) is not wrong. Please quote a reference for this please, simply because I don't know much about it :)
Besides Urdu is certainly an Indian language as well. I like Urdu as well :tup: Just because Pakistanis speak and write Urdu is not reason enough for me to dismiss it as being non Hindu. It is Hindu - but not solely so. It also belongs to others. :tup:

4. According to Savarkar, as far as my limited knowledge goes - never stated that Muslims should remain subservient to Hindus. Please elaborate where and how he meant that - then we can proceed :) But from Ambedkar's quoted passage it is clear that he was perhaps more secular in approach (even if taken at face value) than all our present leaders today - from across the political spectrum. No special privileges, no special duties - just like any other. The only point of contention - you can say is the primary allegiance. Savarkar wants that to be the 'motherland, the holyland' instead of faith. Pretty close to 'India First' slogan of today. I must say, a commendable idea indeed. :enjoy:
Plus that is a very illiberal definition of 'liberal society' :P


@scorpionx - Yes please move it there - I will be grateful :tup:
 
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1. Honestly I know little of the unbiased story about him, so I will take your post as true. :enjoy:

2. Hindus and Muslims can be considered two nations. The two nations need not be mutually exclusive. Indeed, they can be complimentary :agree: The crux of the matter is the definition of the terms - Hindus and Muslims.

----i. A 'pure' (for the lack of a better word) Muslim will be totally different from a Hindu or a Sikh/Buddhist.

----ii. As you said, the similarity exists between a Tamil Hindu and and a Tamil Muslim because as you said - Muslims have imbibed Hindu culture.

^^^Now here in comes the logic of the Two Nation Theory(not necessarily of Jinnah's authorship) - the 'fear' of being dominated socially and culturally by non Muslims so much so that the Muslim identity itself is compromised.
As an example - the cultural mixture of the Muslims and Hindus that you have mentioned and I also cherish is itself considered a danger by many Muslims.

----iii. Also to note is the ability of Indian/Hindu culture is unique - assimilation. A Hindu can and does consider even Christ as God (may be not by everyone) - it is not considered blasphemy. Actually the term itself does not exist. On the other hand, though the Hanafi fiqh has been followed in India and therefore we have been spared the worst of excesses, it remains that Islam remains or at least tries to remain - shall we say unadulterated. This Abrahamic insistence on superiority goes above my head :( It is our good fortune and our Muslims' credit that they have by and large not followed the extremist footsteps. But...

----v. Now the instances of conflicts is rising - not only from historically troubled and repeatedly invaded areas like the North, but also and most stunningly in Kerala. Onam as a festival was and still is celebrated not only by Hindus but also by Christians and others. Now Muslims however are turning away from it - especially in the North. @Manvantaratruti may be able to give you a better idea. The idea of being a better Muslim, unfortunately lies in seclusion - the very opposite to the Dharmic concept of brotherhood, irrespective of allegiance to God.

3. Sanskrit is certainly a very Indian language and by Savarkar's open defintion Hindu too. But I don't think a language can be bound by narrow definitions of Weltangschaung. But then - going by Savarkar's broad definition of the origins of Sanskrit - claiming it to be Hindu(Indic) is not wrong. Please quote a reference for this please, simply because I don't know much about it :)
Besides Urdu is certainly an Indian language as well. I like Urdu as well :tup: Just because Pakistanis speak and write Urdu is not reason enough for me to dismiss it as being non Hindu. It is Hindu - but not solely so. It also belongs to others. :tup:

4. According to Savarkar, as far as my limited knowledge goes - never stated that Muslims should remain subservient to Hindus. Please elaborate where and how he meant that - then we can proceed :) But from Ambedkar's quoted passage it is clear that he was perhaps more secular in approach (even if taken at face value) than all our present leaders today - from across the political spectrum. No special privileges, no special duties - just like any other. The only point of contention - you can say is the primary allegiance. Savarkar wants that to be the 'motherland, the holyland' instead of faith. Pretty close to 'India First' slogan of today. I must say, a commendable idea indeed. :enjoy:


@scorpionx - Yes please move it there - I will be grateful :tup:


Bhai teri tabiyat toh dikh hai??? :woot:
 
How to quit PDF in steps:
( lets say how i plan to do it )
step 1:Reduce posting
step 2: post only if quoted or mentioned
step 3: decrease the number of time you log in everyday
step 4: repeat step 3
If this doesn't work change your password and forget it :enjoy:
@Marshmallow @RAMPAGE and other forum addicts
i am on step 3 btw :smokin:
 
How to quit PDF in steps:
( lets say how i plan to do it )
step 1:Reduce posting
step 2: post only if quoted or mentioned
step 3: decrease the number of time you log in everyday
step 4: repeat step 3
If this doesn't work change your password and forget it :enjoy:
@Marshmallow @RAMPAGE and other forum addicts
i am on step 3 btw :smokin:


Adios Amigo, my mártir.

God save PDF.
 
How to quit PDF in steps:
( lets say how i plan to do it )
step 1:Reduce posting
step 2: post only if quoted or mentioned
step 3: decrease the number of time you log in everyday
step 4: repeat step 3
If this doesn't work change your password and forget it :enjoy:
@Marshmallow @RAMPAGE and other forum addicts
i am on step 3 btw :smokin:

How to deactive PDF account:

1. Change your email address to 123456@gmail.com on PDF account
2. Open notepad and type something like that: sfdsahfoisdhfo8shvfoergsdkjvbgusgf
3. Then select "cut" option on what you just typed, and go to password change option on PDF
4. Type your old password
5. Paste your new password twice that you cut from notepad
6. Log out
7. Delete the notepad you created.
8. Voila


Now you can not remember your password, and can not reset as you would not be able to create a gmail id like: 123456@gmail.com
 
Baby Baboon’s Frightening Encounter with Lions Ends With a Heroic Twist
Baby Baboon’s Frightening Encounter with Lions Ends With a Heroic Twist – News Watch

This is one of the most remarkable wildlife interactions that I have come across in my time. The photographs are amazing, but it’s the touching behaviour of the animals involved that makes this story so unique.

Photographer Evan Schiller and Lisa Holzwarth were on a game drive in the northern Botswana’s Selinda area when they came across a big troop of baboons charging through the bush.

“30-40 baboons were heading in our general direction making a lot of noise,” Lisa recalls.

The baboons were obviously frightened by something and they all scampered up trees, shouting, alarming, and making a big scene. It quickly became clear what the problem was: two large lionesses came out of the tall grass and rushed the baboons into the trees, soon joined by two more lionesses.

“Between the baboons shrieking and the lionesses communicating with deep guttural roars, it was a mad scene,” Lisa says.

But then the real chaos began! One brave baboon descended the dead tree and tried to make a run for it… but got snapped up in the jaws of a lioness.


The lioness grabbed a female baboon on the run. But there was something else there… As the baboon lay dying in the jaws of the lioness, a little baby (less than a month old) slowly disengaged from its mother’s body. Photograph by Evan Schiller


Instinct took over and the baby tried to make a go for a tree, but did not have the strength to climb. At this point the lioness noticed the “little guy” and went over to investigate. Photograph by Evan Schiller


Instead of snapping the baby up in a deadly movement, she started to play with the baboon. Photograph by Evan Schiller


The lioness was inquisitive and gentle at the same time. Photograph by Evan Schiller

“The baby was showing signs of physical harm and fatigue from the whole ordeal. The lioness picked the baby up in her mouth—it was in agony watching the baby’s ordeal—and I kept on turning off the video option on my camera because it was hard to record.”


After a while she picked up the baboon softly in her mouth and walked away, then settled down with the baby between her paws. Photograph by Evan Schiller


In a strange behavioural twist, the baboon started to try and suckle the lioness. Photograph by Evan Schiller

What happened next blew our minds – the baby, in another instinctual moment, held onto the lioness’ chest and tried to suckle…


Photograph by Evan Schiller


The lioness got distracted—this time by two male lions who arrived on the scene. Their advances, however, were met with aggression by the lioness. Was she defending the baby baboon? Or just uninterested in their mating advances? Photograph by Evan Schiller

Here’s where it gets interesting: Waiting in a nearby tree is a big male baboon, who is obviously intent on saving the baby. The male lions were causing such a ruckus that it presented a short window of opportunity for the brave hero to descend the tree, grab the baby and head back to safety.

“I was touched by how gently the father baboon held this little baby who was in tough shape after its ordeal.”


The heroic male baboon, having just saved the baby from the lions, cradled him in his arms. Photograph by Evan Schiller


The father baboon had to make a move. Holding the baby, in all sorts of contorted positions, he tried numerous times to climb down the tree. He tested the lionesses’ interest with each descent. Photograph by Evan Schiller

The baby baboon was really struggling with the heat and the father baboon really needed to get him into the shade. Finally, with the combination of daring courage and the lions own desire to take cover in some shade, he was able to dash to the safety and shade of a neighbouring tree.

And what happened to the baby? It seems the little guy survived with the help of his troop. He was alive and safe in his father’s arms when Evan and Lisa left.

“No matter what,” Lisa says. “The young baboon remains an inspiration to me—and a reminder, that life is fragile and no matter how much we fight to control its outcome, all we can do is live in the moment.”



Paul Steyn is a widely-published travel journalist from South Africa. Having guided throughout Africa for some years, he went on to edit a prominent travel magazine, and now writes about and photographs unique experiences around the world. Follow him on twitter.


 

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