8
UK
www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews
Asian Voice | 9th January 2016
CB Patel
Defiance, Defiance, Defiance... As I See It
Amla, the accurate
South African Test cricket captain Hashim Amla has shown the utmost courage, concentration, skill and steely character in scoring a timely double
nation where an Indian origin person is a cricket captain and another Indian origin man is a Finance Minister (Pravin Gordhan). Non-violence is the only way ahead for almost all conflicts and challenges.
Britain is unbeatable
hundred in the second Test match against England at Cape Town. Amla's fourth double hundred in Tests could not have come at a more opportune time for him as well as for South Africa. One has to remember that in the last 10 Test matches, his grand total was just about 100 runs. His lean form led several English commentators to write him off and to speculate on his captaincy. In a way, South Africa, which was the strongest cricket team for several years, had a whitewash in India recently and the English team also
achieved a spectacular victory in the first Test at Durban. In the first innings the English team made a huge score of 629 for 6 declared and the whirlwind batting of Ben Stokes (258) will be a benchmark for a long time. It was such a gigantic score and with one wicket down for 7 runs, Hashim Amla had to regain his unique talent, show patience and carry on regardless, which he did so eminently. Let's not forget Amla, of Indian (Gujarati) origin, is leading South Africa which was, just four decades ago during the dark days of apartheid, generating headlines when it refused to recognise and include Basil D'Oliveira, a coloured South African, in the English team. Nelson Mandela has left a permanent legacy of a functioning rainbow
This small island has always stood defiantly against any aggressors and bullies. Fascism, extremism and religious hatred cannot kowtow Britain as a nation. Several major European cities were
compelled to curtail or completely shut their public New Year celebrations under threats and intimidation. But not Britain. In central London, just a stone's throw away from the Parliament, thousands of people celebrated and welcomed the New Year with all fanfare, without any fear of terror attacks. Similarly, in Edinburgh in Scotland, thousands came out on streets and rejoiced to usher in the New Year with a bang. This is Britain. It may not be the richest or the most powerful nation in the world again, but surely it is a beacon of hope against terrorism and such inhuman aggressors.
Muscular diplomacy: Modi in Lahore Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, known for his spectacular and surprising initiatives, had a historic stopover in Lahore last week. It was
Both Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Army Chief Raheel Sharif (no relation) are working together against Taliban and terrorism. After all Pakistan has paid the heaviest price in blood and toil. Let's not focus on the past. People make mistakes. Leaders make greater blunders. But when both Governments of India and Pakistan are trying to embark on the journey for peaceful coexistence, here comes Pathankot. Some parties in India are politicising the terror attack which is neither necessary nor desirable. It is very sad that some opposition parties in India are equally doing their utmost to throw spanners in the works of economic development which is so crucial for India. The important legislations about the national sales tax (termed Goods and Sales Tax), land reforms for rapid infrastructure development and reasonable labour law reforms have been blocked in the Upper House of Indian Parliament where Prime Minister Modi's party/alliance is in minority.
In 19 months Prime Minister Modi has travelled to some 30 countries and forged an unprecedented relationship with the leaders in politics and business which could surely assist India, but the irresponsible behaviour of enemies of progress in India is delaying the
AsianVoiceNewsweekly
Subhash Vithaldas Thakrar
Partner, CBW LLP, Accountants Vice President, London Chamber of Commerce Subhash.thakrar@CBW.co.uk
Home Grown Jehadis The Paris attacks bring home the reality that the attackers who commit these atrocious terrorist attacks are not young people who are born somewhere far of but home grown within us. This is the change from when 9/11 when the Taliban attackers were all from Middle East. I was in Brussels at the European Parliament on 20 th November speaking at the World Forum of Ethics in Business. I managed to get away that evening as from the next morning the city was virtually closed. So the impact of these attacks extend beyond the epicentre of the attacks! What is it that is leading to our young people getting so radicalised such that they not only want to give up the comforts of life that we have in the West but then to turn round and develop hatred against that very community. Here, the radicals have become so strong in their minds that they believe killing others and killing themselves along with them is a heavenly act. This is unprecedented if we look back at certain minorities who have committed heinous acts against humanity but they would not dedicate their personal lives for the cause. Hitler and his supporters were a minority and killed so many. Idi Amin was a minority and killed over a million Ugandans. Closure to home, there were the IRA bombers in UK. They had no intentions to kill themselves but were sure to want to kill others. So what is it that is radicalising young people from our own communities in this way? Yes, the finger is firmly pointed at the Muslim community. This is natural as all the attackers have been Muslims. A question that I raised with CB in my recent meeting with him was what would be the situation if these attackers were actually Hindu jihadis instead. The media and members of wider
public would have developed anti Hindu sentiments. What sort of feelings would majority of us peace loving Hindus be getting? How would we react to such extremists who would call themselves the true followers of Hinduism? Their version of the religion would be different to ours but the wider public and most media would not know the difference. So how would we cope with such feelings? I would suggest that we would not be comfortable with our lives in such a situation. We would get frustrated and may be helpless. The pleasure and comfort of leaving in this society may deteriorate for us. I put it to you that this must be the feeling amongst the peace loving moderate Muslims in our society. I would also suggest that we would also not be willing to adopt a ‘quiet no comments’ approach. I believe we would become very vocal and disassociate ourselves from the so called Hindu jihadis. We would also fully cooperate with the government to assist in catching and punishing the extremists. This ,however, is easily said than done. Would you cooperate if you or your family are threatened with physical attack if you are seen to assist the authorities? Or go against the extreme sentiments? The government is faced with serious challenges of terrorists born from our own communities and the majority of relevant community not doing or even seen to do anything to correct the bad mistakes from its own community. This brings me back to asking why is this happening in our own communities. Well, perhaps it is the environment of up bringing of these young people. Today’s terrorists in their 20s and 30 s are today’s generation that started life in similar years back. Were these not the children who did not get the best exposure to education? Were these not
the people who have been kind of neglected when best education, best jobs and best lifestyle were concerned? Muslims suffer from relatively lower education and higher unemployment such that they fall in the lower strata of society. The Muslim prison population is also relatively higher. When you are made to feel neglected, would you not react or do things that will get you more income or attention? Would you not be vulnerable? In these circumstances, if someone starts praising you and gives you that importance that you have never had before, would you not start enjoying this? Would you not start responding positively to this? If this starts early in your age, would you not starting to develop anti establishment feeling? I believe today’s behaviour arises from generational change that took place a generation back. To change society, one must change a whole generation. This means analysing what was happening in this society 2530 years ago and then providing society with relevant support mechanism such that the next generation from this society become peaceful and law abiding. I would give just one example. In South Africa, where I used to travel regularly over last 20 years, there were black teenagers who had been deprived of education, employment and comfort of life when they were small children and right up to when they became young adults. So they did not fit the community when they became adults. The outcome was that these children became thugs and looters. The South African society has moved on a lot and because of decent education and comforts of life being provided to wider community, crime rates are down as citizens are gainfully employed. Their next generation is better behaved and more fitted to the wider community.
Police will be present at a Blackpool school after an apparent threat of a massacre was made on social media. Lancashire Police confirmed that they are continuing to investigate who is behind Facebook messages which described
plans to ‘kill as many people as possible’ at Montgomery High School in Bispham, Blackpool, on Monday. Photos of the two students who killed 12 students and one teacher before committing suicide at Columbine High School
in 1999 were also posted to social media. Lancashire Police have reiterated that there is nothing to suggest that it is a ‘credible threat’ and were continuing to carry out inquiries to find out who is responsible for the messages.
Blackpool school to be guarded by police after ‘massacre threat’ on Facebook
most welcome and appropriate. It has every potential to lead to better environment in that region.
development process. They may delay but can't stop. Sooner they learn, the better for everybody.