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Independence day for a Bengali Muslim Indian

Writing this with an attempt to report a case of human rights violation and bring some media and administrative attention. Once again a group of harmless poor people trying to make ends meet in the big bad city by washing people’s cars, pulling cycle rickshaws, working as maid servants etc. have been verbally abused, threatened,…

Writing this with an attempt to report a case of human rights violation and bring some media and administrative attention.

Once again a group of harmless poor people trying to make ends meet in the big bad city by washing people’s cars, pulling cycle rickshaws, working as maid servants etc. have been verbally abused, threatened, beaten up uprooted and forced to run away to save their lives by the local goons of Vishwas Sarak, Raja Puri, Dwarka, New Delhi.

Their crime? They speak Bengali and have suggestive names like Zakir, Fasal, Jalal, Hajra – yes they are all Bengali Muslim Indians.

It all happened during the last couple of weeks. I heard about these incidents from Hajra our maid servant of 3 years on phone. It clearly is another case of xenophobia / political terrorism (no prizes for guessing the name of the party).

The local goons, who Hajra knows to be working in the cable TV office, been propagating amongst the local Hindi / Haryanvi speaking public that the Bangladeshi (sic) Muslims are all hooligans, they are thieves and thugs and that the area must get rid of them.

Young Bengali Muslim guys like, Zakir, Faisal and Jalal all living in the area of Vishwas Sarak, Raja Puri, Dwarka have been picked up by the local goons, taken to the cable TV office beaten up and threatened to be killed unless they leave the place and never show their face again.

They have also been targeted on flimsy grounds as how could they dare to make enough savings to buy a motor bike or a cell phone. Hajra and her sister were given threatening calls on their cell phone for having made friends with boys and being too fashionable or talking all day with boys on cell phones.

As on date every single Bengali Muslim resident of Vishawas Sarak Raja Puri has run away. Some has gone and taken shelter in Makhsud pur (a slum cluster near the Domestic Airport, Delhi) only to stay there till the time they can buy a train ticket back to their village. Hajra has deported her sister and son back to the village in West Bengal and herself has taken shelter in our home.

The truth of the matter, based on what I hear from Hajra, is that they are NOT illegal migrants. They are all Indians coming from the Cooch Behar district of State of West Bengal. Hajra in particular was born in the village of Chhoto Gharoljhora, GP Nazirhat – I of Block Dinhata – II, Cooch Behar District, State of West Bengal. Back in the village she has her own ration card and a voter’s I card too.

Yet for the only reason that she was born with a wrong religion, this 15th of August when the nation was celebrating the so called Independence Day, Hajra’s life of a dignified independent single mother which she lived on her own terms was crashing. Her sister advised her to sell off all her household items, pack the bare minimum and run. That TV she bought so fondly so that her son don’t go roaming about in the neighborhood was gone, her stove, he utensils, bedding everything was gone. Within a span of 7-10 days her whole world was shattered.

And this nation is supposed to be the land of tolerance.

Though sitting here in Bangalore I am not able to get the exact information as to what all has happened, but I can certainly say these people’s right to move anywhere within the country and pursue any occupation has been infringed. And that hers is not the only unfortunate group that has faced this. I asked her if they called police, she said, “yes but police enter from one end of the street and exit from the other end with money in their hands.”

I also am not too sure in what all ways I can help Hajra. May be she can come to Bangalore and find a job here till the time another local goon chases her away calling her an ‘outsider’.

I am sending this information to some of my journalist friends. Any other help / information would be appreciated.

First reported on Mutiny.IN

—

Addendum:

Additional information furnished by BR via comment thread on Mutiny.IN

The main leader of the bunch of goons is a man called Pawan Lathi. He has his office at the cable TV office in Vishwas Park, Raja Puri, Dwarka, Delhi. He asked these people to work under him. As in, he will collect the monthly salary on their behalf and distribute to them. They didn’t agree. So he decided to throw them out. This incident has got nothing to do with “Muslims” and nor does it have anything to do with “Bangladeshi Immigrants”. I and all others who know about this incident are too coward to report it to the police. If any one of you are passionate enough about making India a better county and that is why you run/read this website I hope you will do something serious about it. Feel free to get in touch with me. Comment back. I will provide all necessary information from Hajra so that this case is acted upon by the police

17 responses

  1. Harshad Joshi Avatar
    Harshad Joshi

    You dont need to worry of them. Its their karma, they are suffering from the fate and its all because of their accepted faith.

    Dont try to be a philanthropist..Leave them as they are..

  2. sanjukta Avatar
    sanjukta

    @Harshad Joshi,

    I hear things like that and think What have become of us…? With such hatred and animosity Where is this nation going?

  3. 1conoclast Avatar
    1conoclast

    Sanjukta,

    Very very sad. Try submitting this to the Amnesty International website & the BBC website. International shaming will force India to get her act together.

    harshad joshi,

    Your parents should’ve used contraception.

  4. someone Avatar
    someone

    This is happening throughout the country. In Mumbai, in Delhi, there is resentment against the so called “outsiders” even in Bangalore. & Political Parties use this for their advantage.

    @Harshad
    Its easy to say things when u are born in a good position. Lets c how u feel when u r on the opposite side of the fence.

  5. Karnail Singh Avatar
    Karnail Singh

    Sanjukta I am your concerns are right but you are trying to mix two issues of religion and migrants and that is not fair if it allows the so called moderns to point a finger on the Indians and India alone and to make India “ashame” by posting this story on the BBC websight. The dimesions of the problem of the Bangladeshi illegal migrants can not be seen in the perspective of the right to freedom of movement and that too on the basis of a ration card and name of distant village. You should not write in this manner which looks like proven facts and all. It is also not proper to comment on the intentions of the police without making proper investigations. I beg your pardon but you are not a news channel looking for better TRP. A sensible issue should have been raised in a very sensible manner by you.
    I will say this is shameful to target Muslims
    BUT
    the issue of the OUTSIDERS is a bigger issue and need debates with the involvement of SOCIAL ENGINEERS, SOCIAL SCIETISTS, INTELLECTUALS, THOSE CHASING AND THOSE CHASED
    and
    the Governemnt, the custodian of the fundamental rights of the citizens (and of course their dignity) under the guiding light of the Directive Princilple of State Policy.

  6. sanjukta Avatar
    sanjukta

    @ Karnail

    I never said the facts are all proven. I only reported what I heard from our housemaid. And to report that I don’t need any proven facts.

    That Hajra and few other’s life had a sudden crash is a truth pricking our eyes day and night, what more proof do I want? My family has seen it with their own eyes how shocked and terrorized Hajra and her sister was. All of a sudden Hajra is on the streets, no home to go back to, she can barely speak these days. Her sister and son have gone back to the village in west bengal. Are you still trying to deny the truth behind Hajra’s plight here?

    When I have the means to reach out with Hajra’s story to a bigger audience it is my duty to do so, to find out the truth behind it is not my job but that of the police.

    And when you say the problem about the Bangladeshi immigrant is a different problem – let me ask you – Are you suggesting it is ok to beat the OUTSIDERS / Ilegal migrants up and chase them away like mad dogs? Are you saying if Hajra and others are in truth Bangladeshis then its alright to use violence against them? Is that the way to deal with this problem? No I am sure. Then why are you bringing up the problem Bangladeshi immigrants?

  7. Gopal Sea Avatar
    Gopal Sea

    I dunno much bout this issue but surely like to have my say on something i did notice. Amongst indian muslims… the women are most discriminated against. Even the triple “talaq” utterance rule needs judicial approval in pakistan but not in India. Well, i am not well versed in these matters but this is what comes foremost in my mind when it comes to muslim rights. Wasn’t Taslima Nasreen a muslim. Wasn’t she denied her fundamental rights. And when she was denied all these so publicly… where were the so-called muslim intellectuals/secularists. big example:- the big mouth that Shabana Azmi otherwise has was pin-droppingly silent on this issue. I know i am off-topic… but just something that came to my mind is the double-standards these so called (pseudo)secularists have when it comes to protecting someone from their own community and here we have someone stating the plight of a few normal indian muslims and we still have lot of people in the blog reading world to trash her views and the image she tries to project.

  8. danncyg Avatar
    danncyg

    thr are lot number of people already coming into bangalore :)

    And you should not be questioning about tolerance of nation, based on some stupid housemaid unproven story

    @1concoclast; do you use your brain…? or just write using bum…?

    @ Karnail: agreed

    @someone: if bangalore say not to outsider, 80% population is gone buddy

  9. Sunil Avatar
    Sunil

    I don’t see any difference between u and the politicians…ure reporting is provoking and the differentiating factor is religion

    be responsible – never report a story from side

    u should be aware of your social responsibilities

  10. Response to comments on previous post « This Is My Truth Avatar
    Response to comments on previous post « This Is My Truth

    […] Response to comments on previous post Posted by sanjukta under Issues n concerns   The previous post on Hajra and her community attracted a lot of adverse comments. At the moment there are a total of […]

  11. pratap Avatar
    pratap

    we ppl of india will always live in denial. even after bein persecuted for thousand yrs under various muslim rulers and populace we still feel empathy for them sic. why didn’t these dear bengali muslims walked over to pakistan or bangladesh during partition after all thats what they had desired. they are just here as part of a muslim conspiracy to further break this country into various pieces. rather then writing on there plight why don’t u start a movement to get them independence from india, each and every one of them and i will support you. let them go there own way

  12. sameer Avatar
    sameer

    Sanjukta…first of all i am unclear of what exactly is your point? If its terrorizing minority(religion perspective) then u need to study the history of india how trillions of innocent hindus were massacred/annhilated -women raped-by the barbaric muslim rulers…i know you do not believe in Karma…I do or Just think ‘What goes up comes down!’– -I live in Dubai(Muslims & Govt.:Majority)…should i now start blogging TONS of injustices done to hindus/indians in Gulf( believe me its a horrible fact!!)
    No. I will not- I think lately u dont have much cases being a lawyer.. so your r wasting your energies as well as other’s ppl time….I dont care if u r an atheist,pervert,or believe in Romeo/juliet shit…but please dont waste our time on this secular shit!! Help her secretly not in public pls. Injustice is everywhere #gaza also…innocents die.. I too am concerned!! But “What goes around comes around” It’s coz of ppl like Thackeray/RSS/VHP/Modi that i am safe here as Hindu…come to Dubai or goto Saudia and c 4 yourself!!..anyway will first find some case 4 u 2 fight in court and then will take care of the Hajra…(by the way where is she exactly now?

    Sameer Soni

  13. Ayam Avatar
    Ayam

    hi,
    sameer i am 100 % agreed with you.
    i am a asamese , n leaving in australia, i know exactly how the muslim (either the bangali or arab of lebenese decent or turkish )hate hindus of india.
    dear sanjukta, as a bangali by decent, may be u know or not what is the condition of hindus in bangaladeah? how the chakma are treated? almost all hindus are wipe out from their native land.
    And asam is now becoming another bangaladesh.
    due to the high birth rate and large scale illegal immigration bangladesh they r going to outnumber native assamee. they r d main cause of vilonce in north east.
    i hope our politician realise this, although it is already too late.

  14. Sheik Avatar
    Sheik

    I have gone through the above letters and i am now going to put myviews post which many of my co readers can term me communal. But yes if expression of fundamental right is expression of communalism ( for some readers ) then i am communal .Many of my Hindu friends like Mr.Soni have for ages blamed muslims for what ever ill has happened in this country. Probably this is one of the many reasons which led to partition about 62 years ago. Hindus have carried forward & nurtured the idea that its they ( muslims ) who have ruined the country. They ( muslims ) are the main propogaters of partition. But b4 partition were the hindus secular or tolerant about muslims?? Why on earth muslims wanted a separate nation? I am ready to do a joint exercise with anyone who wants an answer to this. But the problem lies in the minds, in the genes. Hindus have always considered muslims to be foreighners, invaders, looters, barbarians, aliens etc etc. This thought process is nurtured, ignited by Hindu organisations since pre-independence era. The British policy of divide & rule further aggravated the situation which ultimately led to partitation which actually fulfilled the British policy of divide & rule and our dream of a free, united India remained unshatterd. Now since partitation has happened then I think my Hindu friens like Mr. Soni should rejoice , otherwise just imagine all the muslims of Pakistan & Bangladesh would have pulled the muslim % to almost 50% in 2009. Imagine undivided India with 50% muslim population. God knows how my Hindu friends like Mr. Pratap, Mr.Soni,Mr.Gopal, Mr.Ayam would have reacted . They would have cursed & cursed & cursed muslim from dawn till dusk. After all they ( not all hindus ) sincerely believe that muslims are the root of all evil in India.

  15. Sheik Avatar
    Sheik

    After going through Mr.Sonis letter I would like to make certain comments. Any foreign Invasion or war leads to deaths, destructions,massacre etc. before the advent of Muslims were there no wars fought in India?? Didnt the Hindu rulres fight with other Hindu rulers? Didn’t those wars leave trails of destructios,vandalism behind them? What about Kalinga war. Did Asoka spare anyone there? Or does Mr.Soni thinks that kings of those period were kind enough not to loot & kill in those period . Rulers irrespective of religion, race , lineage left behind trails of destruction after any war. Infact war means , destruction , rape , loot and other horirble things.But people like Mr.Soni sincerely believe ( and make others believe ) that Muslims are the worst of all. Its true that when Muslim rulers started attacking India in the 10th century they were not communal in their outlook that they are attacking Hindus. They were a Nation out to conquire another nation by war. Besides that was a normal penomenon in those days . China had to build the great wall to protect themselves from Hans & otherforeign tribes. on the contrary in India people like Jaichand joined hands with ( muslims ) outsiders to defeat Prithviraj Chauhan. And God knows how Mr. Soni arrives at superficial figures like trillions of Hindus? If all the Hindus had been butchered ( according to Mr. Soni ) then none would have been left out till date. Then where did all the Hindus of India ( about 85 crorers ) come from then ? Well its not the fault of Mr Soni that he is making such statements. Its the problem of his upbringing. As i have mentioned in my previous letter that comunalism has gone into the genes.

    Secondly Mr.Soni talks about injustices on Hindus/Indians in Middle east. I agree with him . But injustice is done on all south Asians pakistanis.indians,bangladeshis, Sri lankans, irrespective of their religion big deal. Still indians are going there. Direct flights from Indian metros to Cities in middle east have increased. Mr. Soni my sincere request if you have self respect please come back to India. Even if you are unemployed you are 1st class citizen here not a degraded 3rd class citizen in Dubai and harrased by locals ( muslims ) there. Beisdes Indians are viewd as Labour class people there. ( Though many indians are in Good jobs & businesses ) Besides how can we expect them ( locals ) to respect foreighners ( Indian ) labours at a time when they have outnumbered the locals . ( Do we in India respect labour class people. But people like Mr.Soni always measure things based on religion only. He is forgetting that after all they are his employers and he is earning ( muslim ) money.

    Mr Soni says he is safe in Dubai because of VHP/RSS/ Modi . I cannot get any clue as to how its possible. or what RSS has to do with Hindus in Dubai. Hindu organisations actually are more concerned about muslims than hindus. They are concerned about Muslim birth rate , Muslim infiltration from bangladesh. No. of mosques & madrsas etc. Now they should start concentrating on the welfare of Hindus as well. After all there are still crorers of Hindus ( Indians ) who are poverty stricken, illetrate, hungry, backward.

    Besides Mr.Soni stresses on the fact that what goes up comes down. He is a strong believer in Karma. Good. So what ever happened in Naroda Patia or Gulbarg Soceity in Feb 2002 ( after godhra carnage ) will surely come down to people behind those incidents.

    Besides people like Mr.Soni talks about justice in the India context .As if Justice in India is a much sought after thing in India, where the real criminals go free & innocents go behind bars. I think while living in Dubai he has forgotton whats happening in India. Where it takes decades to punish even killers of our Prime ministers ( Indira Gandhi/Rajeev Gandhi ) . What about the Injustices on the weaker sections, the tribals the lower class/caste people?? After all they are a part of the Hindu community Mr.Sony ( according to the constitution ) So there is no point comparing India with Dubai ( only on the grounds of religion ) . You are a foreighner there so dont compare & dont expect much from there. If things are pinching you so much then you can get yourself ousted from there, before the locals actually oust you.

  16. Karma is a Cop Out | The Atheist Indian

    […] Independance Day for a Bengali Muslim Indian – A maid in a similar situation, note how cruelly some of the commenters use the concept of karma to justify the woman’s plight. […]

  17. Sambit Avatar
    Sambit

    Why only Bengali Muslim-why not Muslim of other languages such as Urdu or Hindi!And those who are sympathetic with these barbaric hooligans of child molester Muhammad should be aware of what is happening with Hindus of Bangladesh or even in WB.In BD women are molested,raped,beaten,converted to Islam…absolutely no voice for Hindu!!Why don’t you people educate yourself little bit and consider about future dangers?

    Even in west they are starting the same process-read this blog-time to kick Islam out of Britain.

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About Sanjukta

Sanjukta Basu is a Feminist Scholar, Journalist, Lawyer, Published Author, Photographer and more. This blog is a repository of her more than 17 years of writing on diverse topics. Click here to read her bio and find contact details.

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