By Staff Reporter
Bangalore: Fighting unitedly against terrorism is the need of the hour – this was the predominant opinion that emerged during the photo exhibition providing an intense vision of the atrocities perpetrated on the Hindus of Kashmir and Bangladesh. This exhibition created by FACT (The Foundation Against Continuing Terrorism) and organized by the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS), was held in the auditorium of the M.S. Ramaiah Institute of Management (MSRIM), MSR Nagar, Bangalore on 18.10.07 between 11.30 am and 6.00 pm.
The exhibition was inaugurated by the lighting of the lamp by the Dean of MSRIM, Prof. V. Narayanan. Shri. Kuldip Pandit, a Kashmiri, who has made Bangalore his home after migrating from Kashmir, was also present on this occasion. Shri. Pandit has served as the General Secretary of the Kashmir Hindu Samiti. He is also a Trustee of the Kashmiri Hindu Welfare and Cultural Trust and a Member of the All India Kashmiri Samaj. This was followed by a screening of the audio-video CD “………….and the world remained calm.” The Dean and Shri. Kuldip Pandit were felicitated with a bouquet and memento.
The photo exhibition was attended by over 200 students and faculty members of the M. S. Ramaiah Institute of Management and M. S. Ramaiah College of Law. Most of the viewers expressed a feeling of horror and grief at the atrocities committed by the terrorists, and said the exhibition was an eye opener.
We all need to work unitedly – Prof. V. Narayanan.
Speaking on this occasion, he appreciated the fact that the HJS is taking the initiative to awaken public opinion on this issue. He hoped that the students would come together to work unitedly to put an end to terrorism.
Terrorism is not merely a Kashmiri problem; it is everyone’s problem – Shri. Kuldip Pandit.
Shri. Kuldip Pandit spoke out against the shabby treatment being meted out to the Kashmiris by the Indian Government. He said that people from other countries like Tibet, Burma and Afghanistan are being treated better in India as compared to the Indian Kashmiris. He expressed anguish over the fact that the Kashmiris have to live like refugees in their own country; till today, there is no representative of the Kashmiri Pandits in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. He further cautioned the audience against thinking that this is a problem restricted to Kashmir alone – terrorism strikes everywhere and Bangalore is not immune, as proved by recent incidents like the bomb blast at the Indian Institute of Science. He called upon the students to dedicate themselves to the cause of combating terrorism.
The purpose of this exhibition is to make us introspect – Sow. Poornima Prabhu.
In her speech, Sow. Poornima Prabhu of the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti clarified the objective behind organizing the FACT exhibition. Fighting against terrorism is the need of the hour, and the students should make use of their education for serving the nation. She also provided information about the Samiti’s activities for awakening righteousness and national security and the website of the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti, www.hindujagruti.org.
When Hindus raise their voice against atrocities, they are branded as communal – Shri. Adhip Chaudhuri, Chief Executive, Gokula Education Society (which runs the MSRIM).
The government is not doing anything significant to combat terrorism in these places. We have only ourselves to blame because we are the ones who elect our leaders. It is important to awaken public opinion in this matter. Anyone who speaks in favour of people of other communities is called “Secular”, whereas a Hindu talking about himself is said to be communal. This mindset has to change.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- When approached by the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, Shri. Adhip Chaudhuri readily granted permission for the photo exhibition at MSRIM. Although unable to attend the inauguration ceremony, he made it a point to visit the exhibition and view each of the posters displayed, reading each one in detail.
- The Dean of MSRIM, Prof. V. Narayanan and one of the faculty members, Prof. Raja Ram provided total co-operation, and all facilities for conducting the exhibition, in spite of being busy with their routine activities.
- They also provided student volunteers to help the HJS members throughout the programme. Their affectionate encouragement made the entire event a unique one. They also provided the HJS with details of another organization working for social justice, who could be contacted to arrange this exhibition.
- Another faculty member, Prof. Subhash expressed the opinion that the public should take some action to ensure that the displaced Kashmiris are relocated to their homeland.
- One of the technical staff Shri. Jayachandra interacted with the HJS members on the previous day while the exhibition was being set up. He said that he was happy to see this good work being done and voluntarily provided contact numbers of two of his friends who would help to arrange more such exhibitions for their groups.
- Many of the students who saw the exhibition expressed their willingness to be associated with the activities of HJS by informing their friends and contacts through the internet.
Some of the students felt that this exhibition should not be held in educational institutions since it will hurt the sentiments of their Muslim friends.
Comments of a few students (most of them Muslims and also some Hindus) in the feedback form:
- The exhibition was biased since it portrayed only one side of the problem; what about the pain of the Muslims who were tortured in Gujarat?
- This exhibition will cause communal clashes in India. You should focus on Pakistan vs India, not Hindu vs Islam. The name of your organization suggests communalism. Change your name to Hindustan Jagruti instead of Hindu Jagruti.
- Terrorism affects both communities. Your exhibition does not make people aware of the real problem, instead it will create rift in society and add to communal conflict.
- If you want to educate about terrorism, you should also deal with the terrorism being done by Bajrang Dal etc.
Read Further
Terrorism Exposed Through FACT exhibitions
