Thursday, August 17, 2006

16th August

16th August is also of course the day of the Great Calcutta Killings. On this day, sixty years ago, the city of Calcutta witnessed a frenzy of killings by Muslims and Hindus. That put the seal of finality on the partition of India, which came a year later, and brought on another frenzy of killing accompanying the transfer of populations.

Having witnessed and suffered this slaughter, may my city one day become a beacon of peace, harmony and justice.

(On the subject of the partition of India, a must-read article is by Ayesha Jalal: "Exploding Communalism: The Politics of Muslim Identity in South Asia". This is accessible here.)
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1 comment:

Bonita said...

I offer this, from the 'Hidden Words' of Baha'u'llah:

Children of Adam!

"Holy words and pure and goodly deeds ascend unto the heaven of celestial glory. Strive that your deeds may be cleansed from the dust of self and hypocrisy and find favor at the court of glory; for ere long the assayers of manfind shall, in the holy presence of the Adored one, accept naught but absolute virtue and deeds of stainless purity. This is the day-star of wisdom and of divine mystery that hath shone above the horizon of the divine will. Blessed are they that turn thereunto."

9:40 pm, August 17, 2006

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