Farouk Gulsara's Blog, page 136
November 29, 2017
The liberty to voice
Brother Tariq: The Doublespeak of Tariq Ramadan
Author: Caroline Fourest (2007)
For Mature Readers Only.
For the longest time, Tariq Ramadan has been hailed as a moderate Muslim. He has been looked upon as the person who would be the go-between to help to salvage the good name of the religion. His paternal grandfather established the notorious Islamic Brotherhood, but that did not prevent him from having his voice heard in the international arena. He asserts that he cannot be blamed for the sins of his grandfather and the baggage that he carries with the family name. Nevertheless, he is proud of his heritage. Tariq, probably named after the first Muslim conqueror in Europe when he invaded Spain, also shares his name with the pillar of Europe, the Rock of Gibraltar, called Rock of Tariq in the Islamic world.
His wife is Isabelle, an ex-Catholic, now plays the picture-perfect image of an ideal Muslim wife. His brother, Hani, a non-practising physician, gave up his medical practice to go in the line of dawah (spreading the message, but they do not call it proselytising). Unlike his younger brother Tariq, he lacks the suaveness and charisma. He is said to be too brash in his sermons at his family-run Geneva Islamic Centre that had landed him in hot soup with the Swiss authorities.
I think that is where the controversy starts. Tarif and Hani, according to the author, are actually two sides of the same coin. Tariq, despite his seemingly modern outlook of the practice of the religion and benign look, is said to have the same ideology of the fire-brand Islam as propagated by his grandfather Hassan Al Banna, Al Banna's henchmen Said Qutb and Hani Ramadan. Hani is supposed to spread the word from the inside whilst Tariq spreads his malicious sugar-coated 'doublespeak' message to the ummah in the rest of the civilised world. He says different things to a different crowd; to the non-believers, he emphasises that the Islamic laws should be contextualised to time and people, to the believers, he would adamantly assert that there is a need for the modern Man to go back to the golden age of Islamic Empire. To the kaffir, he would say that Islam is compatible to secularism and modern democracy; amongst his own crowd, he would insist that Muslims are different from the rest and they need to exert their superiority over their newfound state that gave them homage. Lest they forget that the host state 'rescued' them from their native countries, but they would be quick to counter their claim by saying that the West were the ones to fanned the fire in the first place. In so many strong the author accuses Tariq Ramadan to be a Salafi fundamentalist, not a reformist.
Author: Caroline FourestTariq's association with many of the world's notorious jihadists including Ayman Al Zawahiri, the Al Queda No. 2 man, put Tariq into the list of the unwelcomed travellers in many countries including France and the USA. He is accused of being the subversive instigator of Muslims the world over. He encourages youths not to be passive citizens but instead, demand their rights. He wants them not to conform to the majority rule which is unIslamic. Ibn Taymiyyah, the controversial 13th-century Islamic thinker with his dogmatic teachings, is his role model. Tariq seems to condone the terrorism manned by fringe Islamists' group but fail to address the injustices carried out in the name of religion in Islamic nations. He is quick, however, to accuse of a Hamas-Zionist conspiracy or cry Islamophobia when the Muslims are in the wrong.
Tarik Ramadan denies part of his religious activities include proselytising but agrees that his wish is to have Europe, a Dar-al-Harb where Muslims are the minority, to a Dar-al-shahada or House of Witness/Message. In traditional Islamic sense, countries are either Darul-al-Islam (House of God) where Muslims are the leaders or Darul-al-Harb (House of war where Muslims are persecuted). So, in his words, he plans to bring the message of the gospel to the masses and make them believers?
This book was written in 2007 by a French journalist who was in the minority who opposed Tariq's interfaith work. Somehow, being the virtuoso of rhetorical and semantic undermining, he managed to stay in the limelight over the years. It should be interesting to see how he is going to dodge the new accusations of sexual misconduct that sprung in the social media recently and has made it to the French courts.http://asok22.wix.com/rifle-range-boy
http://.facebook.com/farouk.gulsara
www.riflerangeboy.com
Author: Caroline Fourest (2007)
For Mature Readers Only.
For the longest time, Tariq Ramadan has been hailed as a moderate Muslim. He has been looked upon as the person who would be the go-between to help to salvage the good name of the religion. His paternal grandfather established the notorious Islamic Brotherhood, but that did not prevent him from having his voice heard in the international arena. He asserts that he cannot be blamed for the sins of his grandfather and the baggage that he carries with the family name. Nevertheless, he is proud of his heritage. Tariq, probably named after the first Muslim conqueror in Europe when he invaded Spain, also shares his name with the pillar of Europe, the Rock of Gibraltar, called Rock of Tariq in the Islamic world.
His wife is Isabelle, an ex-Catholic, now plays the picture-perfect image of an ideal Muslim wife. His brother, Hani, a non-practising physician, gave up his medical practice to go in the line of dawah (spreading the message, but they do not call it proselytising). Unlike his younger brother Tariq, he lacks the suaveness and charisma. He is said to be too brash in his sermons at his family-run Geneva Islamic Centre that had landed him in hot soup with the Swiss authorities.
I think that is where the controversy starts. Tarif and Hani, according to the author, are actually two sides of the same coin. Tariq, despite his seemingly modern outlook of the practice of the religion and benign look, is said to have the same ideology of the fire-brand Islam as propagated by his grandfather Hassan Al Banna, Al Banna's henchmen Said Qutb and Hani Ramadan. Hani is supposed to spread the word from the inside whilst Tariq spreads his malicious sugar-coated 'doublespeak' message to the ummah in the rest of the civilised world. He says different things to a different crowd; to the non-believers, he emphasises that the Islamic laws should be contextualised to time and people, to the believers, he would adamantly assert that there is a need for the modern Man to go back to the golden age of Islamic Empire. To the kaffir, he would say that Islam is compatible to secularism and modern democracy; amongst his own crowd, he would insist that Muslims are different from the rest and they need to exert their superiority over their newfound state that gave them homage. Lest they forget that the host state 'rescued' them from their native countries, but they would be quick to counter their claim by saying that the West were the ones to fanned the fire in the first place. In so many strong the author accuses Tariq Ramadan to be a Salafi fundamentalist, not a reformist.
Author: Caroline FourestTariq's association with many of the world's notorious jihadists including Ayman Al Zawahiri, the Al Queda No. 2 man, put Tariq into the list of the unwelcomed travellers in many countries including France and the USA. He is accused of being the subversive instigator of Muslims the world over. He encourages youths not to be passive citizens but instead, demand their rights. He wants them not to conform to the majority rule which is unIslamic. Ibn Taymiyyah, the controversial 13th-century Islamic thinker with his dogmatic teachings, is his role model. Tariq seems to condone the terrorism manned by fringe Islamists' group but fail to address the injustices carried out in the name of religion in Islamic nations. He is quick, however, to accuse of a Hamas-Zionist conspiracy or cry Islamophobia when the Muslims are in the wrong.Tarik Ramadan denies part of his religious activities include proselytising but agrees that his wish is to have Europe, a Dar-al-Harb where Muslims are the minority, to a Dar-al-shahada or House of Witness/Message. In traditional Islamic sense, countries are either Darul-al-Islam (House of God) where Muslims are the leaders or Darul-al-Harb (House of war where Muslims are persecuted). So, in his words, he plans to bring the message of the gospel to the masses and make them believers?
This book was written in 2007 by a French journalist who was in the minority who opposed Tariq's interfaith work. Somehow, being the virtuoso of rhetorical and semantic undermining, he managed to stay in the limelight over the years. It should be interesting to see how he is going to dodge the new accusations of sexual misconduct that sprung in the social media recently and has made it to the French courts.http://asok22.wix.com/rifle-range-boy
http://.facebook.com/farouk.gulsara
www.riflerangeboy.com
November 27, 2017
Georgetown, Pride of Penang.
An MGM presentation.
James . Fitzpatrick's Travel Talk
The Voice of the Globe. (the 1930s)
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November 26, 2017
Need more than music, love and sunshine to live!
Sairat (Wild, Marathi; 2016)
The Marathi cinema has the reputation of producing the first-ever full-length Indian film in 1913. Honouring the doyens of the yesteryears, the Government of India gives out an annual award to an icon of Indian cinema for lifetime achievement, named after the director of this movie, Dadasaheb Phalke.
Unfortunately, over the years, it lost out to its glamorous, world acclaimed and well-funded cousin, Hindi films of Bollywood. Of late, Marathi films are making a come back of sorts after the Government of Maharashtra made it tax exempted.
Many Bollywood actors and directors are jumping the bandwagon to dwell on the craze. 'Sairat' is the highest grossing Marathi film and is the first to cross the ₹50 crore mark.
The story is nothing spectacular. It is a tale teenage love of members of contrasting classes (a fisherman's son and a landowner's daughter). The lovebirds are hellbent on being with fulfilling their youthful desires despite the massive opposition from the girl's thuggish father. There is a lot of running, bashing and display of injustice and inequality. The positive feature of this flick, unlike its counterparts of filmy unrequited love, one does not see a lone macho boyfriend fighting tirelessly against the whole tirade of hard-core gangsters. He gets bashed up hardly giving a fight. The heroine is the dominant one who actually kickass to get things done.
The cinematography is pleasing to the eye and the narration shows the reality of love. Desire may feel the heart but the truth is, in the real world, we need a roof, food, place to call home and above all, money to get things in order. We cannot live on sunshine, air, music and undying love!http://asok22.wix.com/rifle-range-boy
http://.facebook.com/farouk.gulsara
www.riflerangeboy.com
The Marathi cinema has the reputation of producing the first-ever full-length Indian film in 1913. Honouring the doyens of the yesteryears, the Government of India gives out an annual award to an icon of Indian cinema for lifetime achievement, named after the director of this movie, Dadasaheb Phalke.Unfortunately, over the years, it lost out to its glamorous, world acclaimed and well-funded cousin, Hindi films of Bollywood. Of late, Marathi films are making a come back of sorts after the Government of Maharashtra made it tax exempted.
Many Bollywood actors and directors are jumping the bandwagon to dwell on the craze. 'Sairat' is the highest grossing Marathi film and is the first to cross the ₹50 crore mark.
The story is nothing spectacular. It is a tale teenage love of members of contrasting classes (a fisherman's son and a landowner's daughter). The lovebirds are hellbent on being with fulfilling their youthful desires despite the massive opposition from the girl's thuggish father. There is a lot of running, bashing and display of injustice and inequality. The positive feature of this flick, unlike its counterparts of filmy unrequited love, one does not see a lone macho boyfriend fighting tirelessly against the whole tirade of hard-core gangsters. He gets bashed up hardly giving a fight. The heroine is the dominant one who actually kickass to get things done.
The cinematography is pleasing to the eye and the narration shows the reality of love. Desire may feel the heart but the truth is, in the real world, we need a roof, food, place to call home and above all, money to get things in order. We cannot live on sunshine, air, music and undying love!http://asok22.wix.com/rifle-range-boy
http://.facebook.com/farouk.gulsara
www.riflerangeboy.com
November 23, 2017
The modern theologians
Credit: New York TimesIs it just me or is it plain for all to see? I feel that the economists are the new leaders of the modern world. They seem to portray the image that they have a crystal ball in front of them and they are well aware how our society is heading. They talk as if they hold the steering and have total control of the rudder to manoeuvre the human race in the right direction. Their destination is the abode of the money God and its path is paved with gold. The lure of it seems so lucrative in a world where God is dead, and we killed him for something so fulfilling.These economists, the new theologians, speak in meaningless jargons like 'quantitative easing', 'ROIs', 'paper loss' and 'bull run' which are just rhetorics to pacify concerned laypersons.
Funny a few centuries ago, we may remember of yet another brand of leaders who used to talk in doublespeak invoking fascinating fables and inspiring words like 'Grace', 'original sin' and a promise of an eternally peaceful place so beautiful that beats everything on Earth.
In both cases, the followers are left confused, not comprehending whether such a place actually exists, the Xanadu or the Shangrila! Some are left wounded, burnt or confused while the leaders laugh all the way in the cover of the night, under the cloak of wizardry, chuckling all the way to their own havens!
The modus operandi is the same. When money replaced ethereal God as the most important thing, so did the gatekeepers. They just wear different costumes and chant different mantras. Economists and bankers are the new theologians.http://asok22.wix.com/rifle-range-boy
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November 21, 2017
November 19, 2017
November 18, 2017
First world problem in the third world!
Credit: weknowmemes.comLook around us! We are indeed living in a third world, ruled by leaders whose subjects are still caught in the feudal era, at least in their mindsets. Even though they enjoy the benefits of modernity, their subservience is reminiscent of the natives of the bygone era; not of the thinking and curious one reflective of years of education spent on them. Anyway, the learned ones have all left the roost. The ones left to occupy the vacuum are runaway employees, economic refugees, fly-by-night snake-oil salesmen and overstaying sojourners who had been legalised through umpteen amnesties that were carried out to smokescreen the authorities' incompetence, to create economic opportunities and to fish for potential voter bank.Some of the ones who opted to stay behind or lost out in the chase to scoot off the country when the opportune was ripe are generally too patriotic for their own good or had missed the gravy train.
The other day, I heard an interesting conversation between a few millennials who were, at least from the impression that I had, feeling 'guilty' of being privileged for having the comforts of modernity. They think that they had to pay back to the society. One of them suggested working at a soup kitchen. She related her fulfilling moments serving the needy, reminiscing the glistening of moist eyes of the persons of a full stomach. Another narrated her experience teaching the homeless and the sheer bliss of educating the ignoramus and the joy opening the inner eye of knowledge.
Some of us, the baby boomers and Generation X, who had the privilege (or misfortunate) of growing up through the trying times when the country was jubilant of extricating itself from the colonial yoke, experienced the feelings of underprivileged first hand. We do not have to imagine the hunger pangs and being missed in a conversation or joke that is over our heads. We were there and would like to believe that we had passed that! There is no guilt feeling, and there is no need to 'payback'. We realise our good fortunes, lucky stars and good karma that we give back to society in our own ways.http://asok22.wix.com/rifle-range-boy
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November 16, 2017
Are we truly empowered?
Funny, this thing called empowerment. The person who holds the strings to power stays in the background and remains incognito. He does not want to be seen to be powerful. He looks simple enough and abhors to be under the spotlight. He scorns attention. He is happy to be the invisible play-maker.
http://clipart-library.com/On the contrary, the powerless naively tries to exert his authority through the pompous display of his thoughts. He yearns to be in the limelight and wants to make his stand clear, loud and succinct his viewpoint. Even though his two-cents' thought is not cared for much by anyone, he feels contended. He had stood for his rights like it would change the course of the celestial bodies! Feeling contented that he has done the right thing, his life is blissful. He knows he would be rewarded handsomely one fine day.
The puppet-master and the wise ones remain in the background, smiling to themselves, watching the drama unfold and probably chomping on their popcorn.
Take women empowerment, for example. A person who earns her living through the flesh business would insist that it is her prerogative to do whatever job she so wishes. It is her right. A lady donning the hijab or purdah would insist that nobody can tell her what to wear. Conversely, her counterpart who does not believe that she should cover her bare essentials to show her piety would utter the same. That it is her right to don what she wants. Nobody could curb her freedom or her fashion sense. See how both parties use the same right to prove their point. A third person would just snigger, trying his best not to tell them that they are both being used.
The poor would say it is their right to have McDonald in their backyard. They should not be denied of modernity. When the effects and diseases of modernity affect them, they would insist that it is only human rights to be treated for diseases that they would not have got in the place, if they were contented with their old way of living.
We are just sheep, following the herd marching willing and religiously to the slaughter without realising our folly but convinced that it is the best and only thing to do.
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http://clipart-library.com/On the contrary, the powerless naively tries to exert his authority through the pompous display of his thoughts. He yearns to be in the limelight and wants to make his stand clear, loud and succinct his viewpoint. Even though his two-cents' thought is not cared for much by anyone, he feels contended. He had stood for his rights like it would change the course of the celestial bodies! Feeling contented that he has done the right thing, his life is blissful. He knows he would be rewarded handsomely one fine day.The puppet-master and the wise ones remain in the background, smiling to themselves, watching the drama unfold and probably chomping on their popcorn.
Take women empowerment, for example. A person who earns her living through the flesh business would insist that it is her prerogative to do whatever job she so wishes. It is her right. A lady donning the hijab or purdah would insist that nobody can tell her what to wear. Conversely, her counterpart who does not believe that she should cover her bare essentials to show her piety would utter the same. That it is her right to don what she wants. Nobody could curb her freedom or her fashion sense. See how both parties use the same right to prove their point. A third person would just snigger, trying his best not to tell them that they are both being used.
The poor would say it is their right to have McDonald in their backyard. They should not be denied of modernity. When the effects and diseases of modernity affect them, they would insist that it is only human rights to be treated for diseases that they would not have got in the place, if they were contented with their old way of living.
We are just sheep, following the herd marching willing and religiously to the slaughter without realising our folly but convinced that it is the best and only thing to do.
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http://.facebook.com/farouk.gulsara
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November 14, 2017
Liberté
BBC Timewatch: The Princess Spy
(2006; Documentary)
Her maternal great-great-great grandfather is Tipu Sultan, the Mysore Ruler who died defending his nation against the marauding British forces on his Motherland. But Tipu Sultan himself is listed by the Hindutva movement as one of the monarchs who was engaged in the systematic destruction of Hindu civilisation. (But that is another story for another day!) Her father, Hazrat Inayat Khan, is a Sufi Master, a musician and a pacifist. Her mother is an American, Ora Ray Baker @ Pirani Ameena Begum, was a poet and a musician. She, Noor-un-Nisa Inayat Khan, was born in Russian, grew up in France and had to flee the Nazi invasion.
If her great ancestors fought the tyranny of the British, Nisa Inayat Khan @ Nora Baker @Madeline @ Nurse @ Jeanne-Marie Renier, worked on the side of the British against another savaging army of the time, the Nazis. She was an established writer, musician and a child psychologist. During the war, she served as an undercover British secret agent, masquerading as a wireless operator. She was parachuted into France to send in invaluable coded messages back to the UK. She was, however, captured by the Germans and executed in a concentration camp with a shot at the back of her head. She maintained her silence throughout the enemy interrogations, and her last spoken word was 'Liberté' (freedom). After the war, she was honoured posthumously with the George Cross, the highest award for bravery displayed away from a battlefield.
The story of Nisa Inayat Khan @Nora Baker is the story of a Muslim fighting on the side of the Allied Forces. She is also one amongst the millions of victims, like many Jews, who perished in the Holocaust that some people still deny having existed.
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November 13, 2017
Never strayed from its intentions
Dr Rama Subbiah Scholarship Fund
Golden Jubilee Celebration (1967-2017)
Most of us who studied in the local universities are quite familiar with Dr Rama Subbiah Scholarship Fund which had been a boon to many underprivileged varsity students of Indian descent. Not many of us, however, know much about Dr Rama Subbiah and the genesis of this fund.
Dr Rama Subbiah (1933-1969) is first Malaysian Ph D holder in the field of Linguistics. Working as a lecturer in University Malaya and Chairman of NUPW-PPN Hostel Management Committee, he financed, out of his pocket, accommodation for TAR College Indian students who had to commute long distances on a bus from out of town to study their A-levels. That started in 1967.
From then on, the hostel students contributed their hostel security deposit money to start a scholarship fund. Many individuals later pledged small but regular contributions to this embryonic scholarship endowment which was initially named 'The Indian Students Scholarship Fund'. After the untimely demise of Dr Rama in a tragic motor vehicle accident, it was renamed 'Dr Rama Subbiah Scholarship Fund'.
The help via this fund reached out to many students of humble backgrounds. They, in turn, after reaping the benefit of this endowment, continued the trend. Beneficiaries were required to reimburse what they had received into a revolving fund once they started working. Over the years, the Board which manages this resource has increased their base capital through social fundraising activities.
It recently celebrated its Silver Jubilee, its fifty years of existence.
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Golden Jubilee Celebration (1967-2017)
Most of us who studied in the local universities are quite familiar with Dr Rama Subbiah Scholarship Fund which had been a boon to many underprivileged varsity students of Indian descent. Not many of us, however, know much about Dr Rama Subbiah and the genesis of this fund.Dr Rama Subbiah (1933-1969) is first Malaysian Ph D holder in the field of Linguistics. Working as a lecturer in University Malaya and Chairman of NUPW-PPN Hostel Management Committee, he financed, out of his pocket, accommodation for TAR College Indian students who had to commute long distances on a bus from out of town to study their A-levels. That started in 1967.
From then on, the hostel students contributed their hostel security deposit money to start a scholarship fund. Many individuals later pledged small but regular contributions to this embryonic scholarship endowment which was initially named 'The Indian Students Scholarship Fund'. After the untimely demise of Dr Rama in a tragic motor vehicle accident, it was renamed 'Dr Rama Subbiah Scholarship Fund'.
The help via this fund reached out to many students of humble backgrounds. They, in turn, after reaping the benefit of this endowment, continued the trend. Beneficiaries were required to reimburse what they had received into a revolving fund once they started working. Over the years, the Board which manages this resource has increased their base capital through social fundraising activities.
It recently celebrated its Silver Jubilee, its fifty years of existence.
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www.riflerangeboy.com
