No place for the Hindus...

 Isn't it adequate that Hindus and India preach and educate the world and the coming generations about secularism, inclusiveness and non-violence? However, they are almost silent about the trauma billions face in the Indian subcontinent and other parts of the world. Do we have to splash August 14, or any date, as a tribute to Horrors Day? Now, someone would say that only a sick mind and heart can dwell upon catastrophe, for that's what partition laid bare—an ordeal to go over intrepidly if possible, but not to lay bare dehumanized acts.

Partition of our millennia-old nation was the largest civilizational, human and geopolitical disaster of all ages. Regrettably, a big segment of academia has either been trying to thrash it or even putting riders on its tribute. This is outrageous! That too, in the University campuses which teach papers on trauma and memory studies! The Universities talk about traumas of the entire world but not of the Hindu community and nationality!

The people who talk loudly about 'We stand with Hamas and Palestinians ' are soundless on the issue of Bangladeshi Hindus. In the same way, they are trying to hide the crimes against Hindus. We are living in times in which even academicians who were once natural intellectuals have now transformed into the very fixed and agenda-driven intellectuals whom they dislodged. However, academicians are also bold and aggressive selectively. Remember, the anger of academicians on the Kathua rape case, Hathras, Manipur, Hamas.

'Trauma' and 'Partition'  as categories of inquiry are popular in our pedagogy. Bangladesh events are very important. They tell us the Partition is not simply an event but a dreadful memory playing out in countless ways by blazing its stories into our souls. These young Bangladeshis don't remember the sacrifice of Indians and the Hindus in '71, let alone '47. These young Bangladeshis don't remember '71, let alone '47. And yet deep within they nurture a hatred for, everything India and the Hindus that has roots in that almost forgotten 'memory'.  Even, nothing has been done by the government of India, intellectuals, or even media so far in support of the vulnerable Hindus in Bangladesh today.

Hardly anybody has posted very strongly on my social media pages and in various WhatsApp groups condemning the killing of, and atrocities on, Hindus in Bangladesh, which is to be read in the same manner as any such discrimination anywhere in the world. Terrible events springing from genocidal hatred, are producing terrifying outcomes in Bangladesh, and Hindus are eagerly looking for some really strong words of both support and warning from the Indian PM, and the raising of the violence officially by influential voices and organisations. Hatred of the type we're witnessing in Bangladesh today must be crushed.

Khulna and Jossore were 'Hindu Majority' districts that went to East Pakistan in 1947 due to the treachery of the Late Jogendra Nath Mondal and the lackadaisical approach of Pt. Nehru. Murshidabad came to India despite being Muslim majority. Now, Muslims have almost wiped the entire Hindu population out of Khulna and Jossore where as the Muslim population of Murshidabad has gone up to seventy percent. Bangladeshi Hindus have the equal right to live in their own country without the constant threat of being wiped out.

Encouraging the Hindus to leave Bangladesh and live in India as refugees or migrants is not a solution. That would be repeating the Kashmir mistake! The selective and agenda-driven outrage must be shunned. We persistently raise our voices for what's happening in the Middle East or for the Muslims and refuse to speak up for those suffering atrocities in the neighbourhood and for the Hindus. Hindus coming as refugees or migrants is not the answer. CAA is also not relevant. How long, this weakness and non-violence of Hindus will be helpful to the Hindus? The government of India must claim enough territory of Bangladesh to settle the Hindus.

As far as solutions are concerned, the government of India needs to assert itself. At least send a stern warning across that Bangladeshi Hindus are not orphans. As for the Opposition, they need to support the government and speak up for the Hindus of Bangladesh. Any action taken must have the support of all. We can't have an opposition focusing on lesser matters while Bangladesh burns!

We must speak on behalf of the Bangladeshi Hindus. They're homeless, despite being settled all over the globe. Why should the Hindu minority leave quietly just because the brutal majority community wants the whole State/Nation to themselves? May I ask whether the Palestinian Muslims would ever leave Gaza and settle elsewhere? So, Hindus must stay put to the extent possible. Leaving under duress legitimises majoritarianism.  It is very appropriate to read Dhaka University's Professor Abul Barkat's research on the condition of Hindus in Bangladesh. Based on absolute facts he had declared that if such a terrible condition of Hindus continues, no  HINDU will be left in Bangladesh after a few decades.

The Hindus who dared to resist the Islamist extremists and stay in their Matribhumi are on the verge of depletion. Where have the Hindus of Bangladesh disappeared from 30% in 1951 to 8% in 2011?

KILLED, CONVERTED or FLED!

After Partition, minorities in India were protected and flourished but what is the situation of minorities in the countries which were created- Pakistan and Bangladesh? Very deplorable! Strength in action is the real deal. But let us build that relationship on the grounds of clear communication - unless the minorities are protected, India will be constrained to consider Bangladesh a friendly nation. If they are protected, India will go the extra mile to help Bangladesh's stability. India will talk tough with Bangladesh. Nation wishes to hear strong voices about what were must do. Analysis of the situation is passé. We all know what is happening there. We all know of the horrible plight of the Hindus in Bangladesh today.

A Bangladeshi Hindu raised a very poignant point "Why is it that Hindus and Hindu properties are targeted every time there is a Revolution, regime change, or some such disturbance". Nobody deems all this as a problem that Bangladesh's students, civil society and citizens are trying to control. Till now, no answer to the important question raised above has been provided by the students, members of the civil society and citizens. 

Not just Nehru! The policies of the Indian Government over the decades were flawed!