Senior writer blames British of dividing Hindu and Muslim communities

Senior writer blames British of dividing Hindu and Muslim communities

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Oct. 6, 2012: Speaking after releasing a book titled “Vaastavada Vodakugalu – Ithihaasada Todakugalu” written by Dr. Barkoor Udaya, professor of history at Mangalore University on Oct 6, Saturday, senior writer and social activist Shivasundar blamed the British of creating a rift between Muslim and Hindu communities.

The book release ceremony was jointly organized by Chintana Pustaka of Bangalore and Tulunadu Publications.

Stating that Muslim history as documented by the British before 1857 is very different from that documented after 1857, he said that the British tried to divide the two communities because they were feeling insecure about the Hindu – Muslim unity during the mutiny of 1857. The British, therefore, tried to portray Hindu history as better than Muslim history to create differences of opinion between the two communities.

Stating that Vande Mataram was written with a pro-British and anti-Muslim feeling, he said that Vande Mataram is a clarion call to Indians to unite with the British against Muslims and regain their lost Hindu glory.

Further, he said that modern history books are wrongly portraying Islam as having entered India violently and Muslims as looters of Hindu temples. He pointed out that even Hindu kings had plundered temples, adding that King Harshavardhana had a separate minister to handle the task of looting temples, which were sources of great wealth.

He also said that a British historian had mentioned that Islam entered India in 711 AD in the Sufi form, preaching a message of peace and love that people found to be very attractive and an ideal alternative to the suppressive caste system.

He urged students to question the history they are taught in schools and colleges, warning that students’ lack of curiosity might result in them accepting the history taught by their teachers as the truth.

C. J. Laxmipathy, sociology lecturer from Bangalore, voiced his opinion about the newly released book.

Prof. K. Abhaya Kumar, head of the Kannada department of Mangalore University; Umar U. H., director of Tulunadu Publications Mangalore; and Vasanth Raj of Chintana Pustaka Bangalore were present.