Book Review in the Companion

Book-Review

Name of the book: “It can’t happen here”

Author: Sinclair Lewis

Books authored in certain circumstances often depict the social condition the author dwelled in. The book “It can’t happen here” by Sinclair Lewis is a typical example for this statement. An “electrifying novel” as expressed by the author himself, the book depicts the theme “Fascist governance will not be allowed”. The book has a lot of resemblance with the present political scenario of India. The character of the book is a dictator and fascist like Hitler, Mussolini, Franco etc. The Prime Minister of India Narender Modi can also be counted one among them though he is a little below their level. The comparison we feel with Modi when we read the novel is in fact awesome. The similarities of our present scenario create this awesomeness.

The main character “Windripp” says he is the champion of the traditional cultures and customs of America. He also promises 5000 USD (approximately 15 lakhs today) to all citizens if he wins the election even if there arises the necessity of taking loan from the Swiss Bank. Thus he becomes the President by defeating Roosevelt and begins implementing the fascist’s policies by reshaping the administration to a kind of dictatorship.

Any opposition is dealt with a severe blow. Concentration camps are set up to deal with the opposition members. A team called ‘Minute Men’ (similar to Sangh Pariwar) is formed so as to create fear among the people. He implements the fascist policies and the corporate administration using gang power. His first attempt is to decrease the influence of the American congress. This calls for opposition from the legislative assembly but the protest is dealt with iron fist. The rights of the women and the minorities are curtailed. The federal system is man-handled. The members of the ‘Minute Men’ or the representatives of the corporate and industrialists are brought to the key posts of the administration. The innocent protestors are tried in courts and jailed while the culprits and criminals of the Minute Men are let free. Even after all these cruelties and dictatorial tactics the American public view his policies as the “inevitable pain” to regain the vigour and strength of America. Senator Town Bridge along with the protestors declares “it can’t happen here”.

The novel was written in the American scenario 90 years back. Perhaps we can see a reflection of the novel today in India. The issue we are facing here is that we don’t have a leader like Town Bridge or activists like the main character in the novel Dorimus Jessup to face the fascists with courage. Fascism has only ruined any nation where it came to power; it has only divided the people not united them; it has only given misery to the people; Fascism has flourished through riots and havoc – Sinclair Lewis’s novel points out these facts.

https://thecompanion.in/review-narendra-modi-is-similar-to-windripp-main-character-of-sinclair-lewiss-novel/

My latest article in The Companion

‘Orientalism’ – Paving the way for post-colonial studies

The book ‘Orientalism’ by Edward Said published in 1978 was a strong blow to the elite European consciousness. The book exposed the wrong perceptions of colonialism. It has been 40 years in 2018 since this book which paved the way for a systematic study of post-colonialism was published. Though 40 years is a period enough to alter the social, political, cultural, civilizational traits, the methodology of criticism of Said still has space for new readings. The significance of ‘Orientalism’ comes forth as it guided the de-colonial studies that had come up during this period. Said opened new doors of thoughts for his criticizers including his successors. Edward Said’s ‘Orientalism’ has played a significant role in equipping the third world writers to rise to the level of ‘writing back to imperialism from the level of simply listening to the arguments of imperialism quietly. Edward Said presented to his successors through the book the materials and ammunitions to psychologically deconstruct colonialism. He is regarded and revered as the founder of post-colonial studies. Hamid Dabashi comments “Orientalism was the right book at the right time by the right author. Solidly established as the pre-eminent literary theorist of his generation, Said wrote many books and articles before and after Orientalism. But Orientalism hit the right note at the most momentous occasion when the postcolonial world at large most needed it - when the condition of coloniality needed a thematic and theoretical decoupling from the framing of capitalist modernity at large. We on the postcolonial edges of capitalist modernity needed a defining text, a totem pole, a worldly testimony, to bring us all together - and Said was born to write that text and build that edifice.”[1]

                Edward Wadi’ (William) Said was born on November 1, 1935 in Western Jerusalem. He was later known as Edward Said. He grew up in Palestine, Egypt and Lebanon. His father was a Palestinian and mother Lebanese. As a token of appreciation of the services in the First World War, his father was given American citizenship. Edward Said’s primary education was in the British-American schools in Jerusalem and Cairo. Said who has an English name as well as an Arabic name and has an American passport and studies in an Egyptian schools recollects in his auto-biography regarding the identity crisis. He used Arabic and English interchangeably and began to see dreams in both languages. When he spoke in English, the Arabic language echoed inside him. Many of Said’s friends in Egypt became rulers of Arab nations. His family shifted from Jerusalem to Cairo in the background of the conflicts arised as a result of the formation of State of Israel. In 1951 he left for America. He joined Northfield Mount Herman School in Masachusesst. Following that he pursued Bachelors from Princeton University and Masters and PhD from Harvard University. In 1963 he joined Columbia University as a teacher in English literature. He was promoted in 1967 as Assistant Professor in English and Comparative Literature and later on became Professor. He continued in this position until retirement. He has also worked as visiting professor in Stanford, Yale, Johns Hopkins etc. He breathed his last on September 25 in New York City.

                Said who took initiatives in fundamental research in the field of literature, music, culture, politics etc. lead an active public life through his writings and lectures. The cultural criticisms raised by Said were indeed disturbing the sleep of the conventional thinkers and devotees of imperialism. The elite Western academic world in one instance declared sacrosanct against him. But these didn’t deter him from his thoughts or weaken his stands and opinions. He continuously questioned the logic of the imperialist colonialism. The cooks in the kitchens of imperialism didn’t have answers for them.         

Orientalism is subjected to study

                Critical studies of the research of West about the Orient had come up at different levels long before the book ‘Orientalism’ was published in 1978. These studies revealed that the efforts of the West to study and understand the Orient were not completely naive. The search and investigation of the Western scholars about the ethnos of the African nations and their traditional monuments were part of the plans and strategies to create a power and control over the Orient. It was part of the well-planned colonial project. It was not the reflection of the pure thirst of knowledge of the West. This fact was indeed advanced by Norman Daniel before Edward Said. (Book: Islam and the West: The Making of an image - 1960), Abdul Latheef Tibawi (Book: English speaking Orientalists:  A critique of their approach to Islam and Arab Nationalism), Anwar Abdul Malik (Book: Orientalism in crisis, 1963), Syed Hussein al Atthas (Book: The myth of Lazy native, 1977) etc. A lot of articles and essays came out during the 60’s and 70’s.

                The Israeli war of 1967 encouraged Edward Said to view the world in a new dimension. Said made his pen his sword against the cruelty of Israel against Palestinians with the support of the imperial powers. He prepares to search in and out of Orientalism so as to openly expose to the world how Arabs and Islam are presented in an ugly manner by the West. He realized that the colonial projects of imperial powers can only be understood by having a sound understanding of Orientalism. The books and articles mentioned above had already set the academic atmosphere for this purpose. Edward Said himself had authored before writing his book articles such as “Shattered Myths” (1975), “Arab Islam and Dogmas of the West” (1976).

                The oriental studies developed in parallel to the assaults of the colonial powers in the Asian African countries in the twentieth century. The study of the Orient by the West had already started in the thirteenth century in relation to the crusades though it was mainly limited to the needs of the Christian missionary activities like study of Arabic language and translation of Arabic books. It resulted in the transmission of a huge chunk of knowledge. When Arabic studies departments were being set up in European universities in the eighteenth century the aim of the Oriental studies had transformed from missionary activities to colonialism. It was the need of colonialism to degrade Islam and Muslims so as to find reasons for their assaults. Like the missionaries, Orientalists too took up this responsibility. This is how the wrong representation of Islam and Muslims becomes an academic need and catalyst for Europe. It doesn’t mean that there weren’t any solitary scholars who refused to be the shovels of colonialism. But the public face of Orientalism was anti-Islam. The studies of Orientalism reveal the fact that the Oreinatalists didn’t show any compassion or kindness to Islam as they had showed to non-Islamic cultures. Norman Daniel, Tibawi, etc. have explained various dimensions of Orientalism. At the same time they have also registered their thanks towards the good dimensions of Orientalism.

Said’s adaptations

                Ziauddin Sardar has pointed out that before Edward Said’s ‘Orientalism’ was published the Orientalist criticisms encircled around the borders of different subjects like history, politics, social science, religious studies etc. Said was able to gain an upper hand above his predecessors in the arguments. The success of Said is attributed to the fact that he was able to bring the focus of the discussion to the point of ‘Orient’ and open up a strong face of debate. According to Said’s view the ‘Orient’ is a product of the West. The West was formulating the Orient as part of creating the ‘Other’. They saw Orient as an integrity which is subjugated under them and which is under their control. After creating two poles namely the ‘West’ and the ‘Orient’, Orientalism established ‘Orient’ as them and ‘West’ as us. This was necessary to theorize two such opposite poles so as to establish the fact  that we (West) are much more efficient and qualified than them (Orient). In this way ‘Orient’ is an alien entity created in a smooth manner. Following that Orient was marked as the opposite to the West. If the Western individual is decent, logically sound and civilized, the Orient is bad, superstitious and uncivilized. It is natural that the civilized has the responsibility of civilizing the uncivilized and immature. For this purpose control of power was necessary. This is the logic of colonial imperialism. It is the ‘burden’ that the white man has taken on his shoulders to conquer and rectify the Africans and Asians. Edward Said says that the functioning of the Orientalist prejudice can be understood by researching the two thousand year old history of domination of the West beginning from the Greek Civilization. Said asserts that if the Orientalist litigation methods are analyzed vigilantly, the thirst for the ‘Otherization’ immersed in them can be clearly seen.

                Western Orientalists themselves took the authority to construct the knowledge on the East (Orient). Through this they decided what Orient is and what should be Orient. Imaginations and myths had more priority than facts in them. This proves that their objective was not to understand and learn about a civilization or a culture different from them and live in harmony and peace with them. Said calls the imaginations and dreams of the West about the Orient as ‘latent’ Orientalism and the knowledge that is produced from them as ‘manifest’ Orientalism. Racism and untouchability are the inner essence of latent Orientalism. This spoils the image of the West about the Orient. The example for this is the Indian History of Jaimes Mill. According to the definition of, Orientalism has sprouted from the Western experiences. Oriental studies as the name suggests is not Orient.

                Edward Said defines Orientalism in three ways. First is the version of an academic subject and second as a style of thought and the third as a corporate institution. He points out that as an academic institution the emergence of Orientalism is in the eighteenth century. Its rise is in the form of different subjects and sections. This knowledge that has been created through translations, studies, articles, essays etc. are the foundations of the Orient modeled by the West. The academic Orientalism flourished along with the European imperialism in between 1815 and 1914. As a method of thinking Orientalism presented the East as substandard and West as superior. Said affirms that this mental attitude was present in all the scholars of Orientalism. Corporate Orientalism is the effort to establish and ensure political domination over the Orient. This definition of Edward Said gives a comprehensive picture of Orientalism as litigation. All the aspects including social, economical, cultural, political etc. come under this phrase. Following Michael Foucault Said connected and established Orientalism excellently with the power centers. He also says in relation to this that ‘Supremacy and the inequalities in power and money are always present in humanity in all periods’. This inequality based power relation by visualizing the West above Orient is what Orientalism is wishing. Said establishes that this is not a fairy tale and also that this is what they have desired for now and always.

Criticisms

            There is no doubt that Edward Said’s book ‘Orientalism’ when it was published was indeed an intellectual revolution. It gave the courage to the intellectual world to deconstruct the knowledge projects of Orientalism with a new vision insight. Though many thinkers had pointed out these facts, most of them were not able to present the facts with such vigour, clarity and with the support of theories as Edward Said did. It was natural that tough criticisms came from the West against Said. Bernard Lewis, the spokesperson of Western Liberalism titled Said as ‘Anti-West’. The criticism came up that Said was facing the Eurocentric stands and opinions with Occidentalism i.e reverse Euro centrism. Mahault Donzé-Magnier says, “While it is undeniable that Said’s work in Orientalism served as a major entry point world of analysis of post-colonial ideologies, the limitations of his work render it more complex than simply being a linear and universally accepted theory on how the Orient is perceived and treated. Orientalism as defined and supported by Said remains an excellent theory to understand the past relations between the Orient and the Occident. It allowed for great discussions to finally take place between the (former) oppressed and their oppressors but lacks not only a distinction between certain aspects of Orientalism, such as institutional versus social forms but also promotes parts of the ideology it is fighting against.”[2]       

                Ziaudin Sardar blames that Said ignored the criticisms against Orientalism raised by his predecessors. Aijaz Ahmed comments that others have deconstructed Orientalism much better than Edward Said had done. Said didn’t analyze Orientalism in the angle of race; Aijaz Ahmed says this while talking from the Marxist point of view.       

                It is pointed out that one of the main disadvantages of Edward Said is that he failed to see the criticisms raised in the West against the model of approach of Orientalism. Another criticism is that while Said analyzed Orientalism he didn’t do much to defend its onslaught. He was also not able to suggest instead of Orientalism. A criticism has also been raised that the tuning of Said regarding East and West are uniform in nature. Said’s silence about the German Orientalism which hasn’t established colonies in the East and hasn’t joined the imperial powers has also raised criticism. Critics also say he mixed knowledge and ideology. His de-colonial critics think that he borrowed the Orientalist analytical options to analyze and scrutinize Orientalism.

Conclusion

                Criticisms only raise the reading value of any book. Said has addressed about the criticisms while he was alive in the prefaces of the later editions. The books written after ‘Orientalism’ like ‘The question of Palestine’, ‘Covering Islam’, ‘Cultural imperialism’ can be considered as the completion of ‘Orientalism’. These books like ‘Orientalism’ too are milestones in the post-colonial studies.

              

https://thecompanion.in/orientalism-paving-the-way-for-post-colonial-studies/

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[1] Dabashi, Hamid; “Edward Said’s Orientalism: Forty years later”; Al Jazeera, 3^rd May, 2018; https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/edward-orientalism-forty-years-180503071416782.html

[2] Donzé-Magnier, Mahault; “Edward Said: Orientalism”; Research Gate; Feb 5, 2017; https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313360730_Edward_Said_Orientalism

My Latest article in 'Companion' magazine (July 16, 2015)

When youths rewrite their philosophies and cultures…

The Arab spring or Arab awakening was an uprooting phenomenon of many typical frameworks. The Jasmine revolution defeated the Euro-American centred assumptions of Africa and the Arab-Muslim world. This was a fragrant rebellion against political and academic verdicts that Africa is a dark continent and the Arab Muslims are uncivilized societies. It is quite natural that the liberal discourses become anxious and restless when it is said that Islam which is considered as the weak religion, is the backbone and strength of this revolution. The youths of the MENA region questioned the arguments of Fukuyama’s book (The End of History) which created a battle of America as the owner and the world as a slave. George W. Bush had declared that “either with America or with the terrorism”. The Jasmine revolution spread the possibilities beyond the two. The youths of the Middle East presented mind-boggling changes to the world famous historians and the elderly who always accused the youth as ‘good for nothing’. The Arab spring witnessed the biggest public participation ever in the history of the world. The French revolution which is considered as one of the biggest revolutions, only witnessed 2.5% of the public. But in Tahrir Square alone 27% of the public took part. Among them 80% were less than 30 years of age. The generation brought up by Hosni Mubarak, Gaddafi and Bin Ali engaged in protests on the streets and flounced away the tyrants.

The Green Book (Al-Kitab al Akhdar) was the book that was taught in all the schools and colleges of Libya by Colonel Muammar Ghaddafi. The youths who learned this book from their schools which contained the developmental concepts of Ghaddafi, they themselves became his slayers in the end. The same ruler who declared that he will hunt down the Islamists like hunting the mouse was himself captured like a rat by the students and youths of Libya and killed.

The cause of Jasmine revolution was due to a youth called Muhammed Boo Aseesi. The suicide of this youth who was a graduate flared up the Arab Spring. Even the white youths of America, Britain, France etc. had to imitate courage and bravery of the ‘uncivilized’ youths of Africa and Arabia for making their lives possible. The Wall Street protests gained strength in America and its allies where poverty and unemployment are on the increase daily through the pollination of the Arab Spring. We can also see the contradiction of the strengthening of democratic protests in the inner scaffolds of the Western nations who themselves are the exporters of the democratic lessons to the Middle East.

The Arab Spring is shaking the world in a circulatory nature. These historical turn of events didn’t happen all of a sudden when some youths took to the streets. Instead, the creative changes in the skirmish between the philosophies is what has taken place here. The world order which had only accepted the timeworn changes from Communism to Capitalism and from Capitalism to Marxism, the Arab Spring tested the Islamic ideology which gave salvation from this material chemistry. The Tahrir square, Taghyeer square, Jasmine Revolution and Move Azadi square was a warning to those who only analysed the entry of religion in public with fear and anxiety and to those who made the religion small by labelling it as ‘Terrorism’. Islam was able to set the trend of the retaliating youth through the interferences of the Islamic movements.

Arab Spring has turned out to be what has been the re-writing of the philosophy and culture of the youth. The huge presence of the youths is not only the factor that makes this revolution extraordinary. The culture of the youths too participated happily in the spring. All the symbols of the youth culture like the social networks (facebook, twitter etc.), communication devices like mobile, e-mail etc. songs, music, jokes, dances etc. played their roles. The social network group called April 6 movement of the youths initiated the Tahrir square. It was led by WaelGhonaim, a youth of 25 years. After the formation of a virtual square in facebook and twitter lakhs of people gathered in the Cairo city. Hosni Mubarak had blocked the satellite broadcasting of the channels in the beginning. He also jailed the journalists and reporters in order to stop the outside world from knowing of Egypt’s echo for change. At this time the news and photos of the revolution spread to the outside world through the mobiles. The youths made their 3G mobiles one of the biggest means of transferring information. They handed over the images of Tahrir square standing in queues for kilometres near the Al-Jazeera office. The media and the mobile which were criticized as the examples of the freak generation of the youth, were the weapons that brought down the three decade tyrant. They were using the technology knowingly. The promo-videos which clearly exposed the cruelties of Bin Ali and Mubarak were used the spread of the message.

The biggest weapon in the Arab Spring was the music and songs. It was a musical revolution where the violin and guitar took over the centre stage instead of bombs and bullets that happened in Egypt, Tunisia and Yemen. In the past guerrilla warfare was used for freedom fighting and the West used atom bombs for their wars. But they were open struggles that happened in Middle East and North Africa. The Arab youth showed the guts to use the magical essence of music to re-write history in between the quarrels of the religious scholars who were discussing about the prohibition and permission of music in the Islamic world. The Arab youth used the poems of HashimRifa’ee and Mahmoud Darwesh, the Islamic rock songs of Sami Yusuf and Maher Zain and the rebel songs that gained popularity in Africa and Latin America as weapons for the liberation of their countries. The rocks and posts of Zain Bek, Ahmed Bukhari, Hamza Robertson etc. spread excitement into the revolution filled field. MuhammedMunir, who is known as the King of Jazz music was a lively presence in the Tahrir square. The people danced and sang instant poems and self-made songs against the rulers and tyrants.

The famous French writer Olive Roy has stated that the biggest democratic youth in the world is present in the Arab world. Though they were furious they didn’t take shelter in arms and weapons. Another aspect of this revolution was the spread of jokes against the rulers and autocrats. As youths usually get together to babble unnecessarily here the youths turned their chatters and babbles to a means of protest against the rulers. The intelligence agencies of Hosni Mubarak gave the report to him saying that two persons namely ‘Facebook’ and ‘Twitter’ are behind Tahrir square. At once Mubarak issued the warrant to arrest these two persons. This is only one among the many jokes spread in Tahrir square. In this way the revolutions that succeeded in these nations were the spring of the colourful new juvenility.

Only two or three persons above the age of thirty were present in the committees controlling the Tahrir square and Tagyeer square. In the beginning Islamic movements including the Muslim Brotherhood were observers of the revolution. But the youth movement of the Brotherhood prepared to join the protest at the Tahrir square. Muslim Brotherhood joined the protests later on only after its youth movement became part of the revolution. The entry of Muslim Brotherhood into the protests made the routes more clear. All the youths of all political parties and religious organizations reached first at the Tahrir square. The youths of the Coptic assembly joined much before their elders came to the protests. Only after that the pastors of the Copts and their mother organizations came out with support for the revolution.

The Tahrir Square in Egypt and the Tagyir Square in Yemen witnessed in the beginning the huge presence and participation of young men and women and their organizations. The young men and women were the ones who brought FJP and Al-Nahda to power. When the voting percentage was analysed the youths who had received the voting rights recently were more compared to the adults. When efforts were made to hijack the free and fair elections the youths again came to the scene to declare protests and revolution. The increased presence of women was much noticed. In the Tagyeer Square in Yemen the protest was led by a 33 year old woman called Tawakkul Kerman. This participation was questioning the concepts of Muslim women and the hijab (head covering). The western liberalists were bewildered when they came to know that the Islamist bloc had the most number of women candidates who got elected to the parliament. The Arab youth not only changed the rotten power structure of their own nations but also brought changes in the world order. Arab Spring surged ahead in defeating the domination of America and Israel. The new world orders ‘either with us or with the terrorists’ was totally changed by the Arab Spring.

A third place was sewed by the youth in North Africa and the Middle East. By defeating the Euro-American centric knowledge and political domination, the Arab Spring has made possible of a more capable and strong world order instead of the anti-democratic content of the new world order. The stand of the Arab nations towards Palestine changed. The Qatar ruler himself came to Gaza. The Palestinian border of Egypt was wide open. The threat of America that it will veto the U.N membership of Palestine didn’t have much support like the old times. The Jewish nation envisioned by Israel centred in Egypt and the Arabian Gulf had only the lifespan of a dream. Among the changes in all other countries the regime change in Egypt is the strategically more important. Egypt is a nation which influences greatly in the literature, culture and politics in the African region. Therefore Tahrir square has a special significance from the other revolutionary squares. Egypt will continue exerting its influence in removing the blackened power structures in the Middle East and North Africa.

The youth who haven’t lost their responsive attitude have ignited the spark for the biggest mass revolution in the world. The Arab youth who were made to stand with Arab Nationalism, Ba’th Socialism, progress and reform are now in the changing lane. Those who were melting their lives in Cafes and night clubs are now quarrelling against the injustice. In fact they registered their protest not only against the puppet regimes but also against America and Europe who installed them. It is impossible for the Kings of the world who are conducting research to kill the most number of people using the smallest weapon to carry out a fragrant spreading revolution. What was impossible for the West and their philosophies have been made possible in the world by the ‘uncivilized’ people in the most civilized manner through the new technology. The democratic content that they hugged into their arms after that, is a ‘barbarian’ philosophy in the tone of West! The Arab youth declared that socialism and capitalism haven’t been able to bring development and eradicate unemployment and poverty to their nation and now it will be made possible by the Islamic movements. That is why they welcomed the Islamic movements with both hands; T-shirts and bags with the photos of Mursi and Ghanooshi were the most selling items among the youth; the new-born babies were called by the names of Facebook and twitter. Yes, the Arab youth haven’t still left the streets and squares. They are celebrating the event by sprinkling colour everywhere. They are not only celebrating the comeback of Rashid al-Ghanooshi and Yusuf al-Qardhawi, but the comeback of their own age and commitment.

https://thecompanion.in/when-youths-rewrite-their-philosophies-and-cultures/

My fifth Published Article

Iranian nuclear program and Israel’s unrest

Iran has been facing the declarations of war on the accusation of developing nuclear weapons. The accusation has now been echoed strongly by Israel. It has been trying to ignite the forest fire which can engulf the whole Arab world by the intention of attacking Iran. America on the other hand doesn’t want to interfere directly as they know that it will cost them much as their experience in Vietnam. But still they are giving silent support so as to put an end to Iran’s nuclear project.

Israel wants to handle the case of Iran in four methods. One is by strengthening the propaganda that the Iranian nuclear project is a threat to the humanity through the media, political circles etc. Second is by strengthening the economic sanctions against Iran. Thirdly is by murder the Iranian scientists involved in the nuclear project and bomb the military areas of Iran. Fourthly is by openly declaring the destruction of atomic energy manufacturing centers.

The first three methods have been continuing for a long time now. The fourth one is being discussed in the media. Ha’aretz reports a statement of Ehud Barack, the defense minister of Israel that the nuclear project should be stopped within one year or else Iran will have moved the enriched uranium to a safer location.

The allies of America – Britain, France and Germany are all on the same side of the court. But they don’t want a war as it will adversely affect their already crumbling financial sectors in these countries. All of them have gone ahead with economic sanctions and the decisions of rejecting the import of oil from Iran. Even though their policy was not stagnant in the Iranian case in the beginning at present they have shifted their policy in favour of Israel.

The Arab Spring which has sent shock waves to the dominance of America and Israel in the region have infact frustrated the position of Israel. Israel is also feeling the pressure of the Anti-Israel tendencies that is been spread around the Arab world. Israel will surely utilize this opportunity to start an attack against Iran and give a warning to those anti-Israeli trends and ensure their dominance in the region.

There are also some frustrations in the Arab camps with some of the Iranian stands in some cases. The support of Iran to the Syrian government, the interference of Iran in Iraq etc. fade the light of the creative and determined stands in the case of Palestine and against the American supremacy.

America, Britain, China, Russia and France who are the permanent members of the Security Council are the declared nuclear powers. India, Pakistan and North Korea have declared that they possess nuclear bombs. But Israel is the only country which has hidden its fact of possessing nuclear bombs.

Israel is the only country in the Middle East that is sitting on a huge pile of nuclear weapons. Israel has 200-400 nuclear bombs which can be attached to submarines and fighter planes. On Dec 12, 2006 Israel’s then Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in an interview with the German Television declared Israel’s possession of nuclear weapons; but the international community didn’t happen to be struck by this declaration. America said that without the official declaration of nuclear weapons by the State of Israel, no step can be taken against them. Iran has demanded that the whole Israeli project of nuclear reactors should be brought under the UN investigating agency. If Israel refuses to co-operate then the 7^th section of the UN charter which declares punishment of economic sanctions and military interference should be applied by the UN.

The important atomic reactors of Israel had started its functioning in the early 60’s. CIA had discovered this in 1968. But still they continued their functioning for two decades. When the former technician of the Israeli atomic reactor Mordechai Vanoonu leaked this matter to the Sunday Times in a very suspicious manner in 1986, the world came to know of Israel’s hidden nuclear project. However Israel’s effort was to hid its mistake and attack the nuclear projects in the Middle East. They had the full-hearted support of America too. In June, 1981 in a combined attack of America and Israel, the atomic reactor started by Saddam Hussein in the 80’s was destroyed and erased from its location.

Iran’s claim

Iran’s nuclear program has been functioning since 1953. Infact America themselves had signed the agreement with Sha Riza Pehlavi during his reign. But when the tide of revolution turned matters upside down and brought down the fall of the Sha, America withdrew the pact. France and Germany who had promised help in the development of nuclear reactor also withdrew their support following the strong pressure from America.

Iran hasn’t till now declared that it will produce atom bomb. Tehran has made it clear that the nuclear program is purely for energy production. Infact the former director of the International Atomic Agency Muhammed Al Baraidi has made it clear that there is no evidence of Iran making any atom bombs. But America and its allies are making the scene worse by saying that Iran is heading in the production of the atom bomb. In 2010, Iran had made a declaration to pacify the western powers that it is willing to transport the uranium in their hands to Turkey. The agreement was signed in a discussion between Brazil and Turkey. But America and its associates are not ready to agree this too.

The building of nuclear reactors and the production of nuclear bombs are both different matters. There is no international law blocking any nation from producing nuclear energy. America is trying to misguide the world by saying that nuclear plant means nuclear bomb. America is the world’s biggest nuclear power in the world. Times magazine reports that America has so far conducted 1030 nuclear tests. The real issue is that America and its allies want only Israel as a nuclear power in the region. The rising of Iran as a nuclear power will affect the supremacy of Israel in the region. Israel will have to control its atrocities. America can’t continue their dominance as the world police in this region. At the same time, the main issue for the Muslim countries in the region especially the GCC countries is the dominance of Iran rather than the threat from Israel. America has succeeded to some extent in turning the issue in that direction.

Sanctions

From 2006 to 2011 in various phases under the supervision of America seven motions were brought against Iran on the nuclear issue in the UN. Six of them were considered with the applications of sanctions and their prolonging. Only in 2010, four Iranian nuclear scientists were killed in very suspicious manner and one was critically injured. Mustafa Ahmedi Roshan who was working in the uranium enrichment plant in Nathans was the latest victim. Iran has accused America and Israel for the killings of the scientists. In the latest incident of Roshan Iran accuses Azerbaijan for leaking the information to America.

Some bad news that has been originating in Iran for a couple of years is the accusations and allegations against Ahmedi Najad and the problems of interior department. We are yet to see the end results of all these in the coming parliament elections. The sanctions which effect the seven and a half population are an important and active topic of discussion. The sanctions have infact caused trouble to the Iranian people. But the experience of survival gained from the sanctions being imposed by America since 1979 has provided the fuel to withstand the new sanctions also. Not only has that America’s order not to buy oil from the second largest producer of oil been rejected by countries including India. Tehran exports 13% of its oil to India. Turkey has declared that it will continue to buy oil from Iran. Turkey buys two lakh barrels from Iran. China is the largest buyer of oil from Iran (22%). 18% of the oil of Iran is exported to the European countries. Iran calculates that in a situation where the European Union will face shortage of oil, it will lead to the failure of the sanctions.

Threat of war

Israel’s plan is to attack the uranium enrichment plant in Nathans, Fordo plants, reactors in Araq and the conversion plants in Isfahan. But this is not going to be an easy task which has been clarified by the American defense officials. The biggest block is that to reach Iran America will have to go through the air space of the countries who are not their allies. Bombs can be showered on the reactors that are functioning underground only after crossing thousands of miles and the defense mechanisms of Iran. There will be a need of 100 planes to accomplish the operation successfully.

Even though many are yelling to bomb Iran Lt. General David A Deptula who had headed the 1991 Gulf war and the operation in Afghanistan in 2001 warns them that it is not so easy to do so. Israeli planes can only enter Iran either through the air spaces of Turkey in the north, Saudi Arabia in the south or Jordan, Iraq in the middle. Jordan is the only country which has a kind of friendly relations with Israel. Iraq which had been under the occupation of America doesn’t have an effective defensive mechanism. Besides that after the withdrawal of the American troops in December, Americans have themselves withdrawn from the responsibility of the air space in Iraq.

Even though Jordan gives permission to Israel to pass through its airspace obstacles are still there. The American made F-15, F-16 warplanes will need a fuel capacity to travel 2000 miles if they intend to go, attack and comeback. Even if American made airborne planes which can refuel from the air can be used, Israel doesn’t have enough of them. Israeli planes can only attack Iran by jamming the air defense mechanism of Iran. Iran still has the 2010 air force defense mechanism after Russia had rejected the sale of new S-300 missiles. But the pentagon officials are stating that Iran’s missiles are a threat to the air force of Israel.

Another headache for Israel is that the missiles of Iran are capable of reaching the cities of Israel. The warplanes of Israel even though they would be able to penetrate the Iranian airspace cannot destroy the plant in Nathans because it is built underground up to 30 feet and also strongly concreted. The plant in Fordho is in between the mountains. The pentagon experts doubts whether the US made Bunker Buster bombs can be used effectively. The former democrat senator Charles F. Wald had demanded to Obama foreseeing these obstacles, the sale of the latest G.B.U kind of 200 bunker buster missiles and three airborne refueling aircrafts. In short when Israel is searching for every means to attack Iran many obstacles are still there on its way. We can hope that Israel will have the consciousness to realize that Iran is not Gaza or Lebanon as they had perceived earlier and act accordingly.

The implications of an attack on Iran cannot be calculated. What will be the reaction of Iran to the attack? Will Iran in turn attack the American naval and army bases in the Gulf? How will it affect the oil prices? What will be the reaction of Hizbollah soon after the launching of the attack? How will the Shia Arabs react to the attack? In the end will America be dragged into a war of which it is hesitant to start? As long as these implications hang as a democlas wall over the head of Israel, we can expect that the attacks may not take place soon.

The Companion, May 2012, Vol:6, Issue:12

My fourth published article

Sheikh Ahmed Yasin – remembering a martyr

Sheikh Ahmed Yasin, a name that reverberates the streets of Gaza and Palestine, a name that thrills the mind of Palestinians and every mind that wishes for the freedom of Palestine, the spiritual force behind all the resistance movements had his long awaited wish of martyrdom fulfilled on the break of this day (March 22 2004) while being wheeled out after the early morning prayer from a mosque near his house in Al Sabra neighbourhood, South West of Gaza city.

Sheikh Ahmed Yasin, the founder of Hamas was the symbolic leader of a wide political spectrum of the Palestinian society. Hamas represents the courage and steadfastness of thousands of Palestinians who do not want to give up their right to self-determination and to return to their homeland. Hamas had taken over from where PLO, Fateh have emerged defeated in acquiring there rights. The growth of Hamas should be seen in the context of the deceit experienced by the Palestinians when PLO signed the Oslo agreement. It was on the basis of this agreement that the justification of the settlements was made and the Palestinian Authority formed to silence the protesters.

Sheikh Ahmed Yasin has no connection with the so called Arab terrorists of Afghan or with Huntington’s ‘Clash of Civilizations’. Even though some of the Hamas activists might have indulged in such activities Yasin was seen as a moderate inside Hamas. He was the one who declared that they were ready for ceasefire in return of the withdrawal of Israel to the 1967 borders. All the movements including Hamas will not be satisfied with no more less than the pre – 1948 Palestine. The refugees of those days infact joined Hamas and the Nationalist movements of Palestine.

The Palestine issue has displaced around five million Palestinians from their houses. The vigorousness and instinct of these people is the fuel of Hamas and other movements. These human rights violation and the critical army interference is the encouragement for suicide bombers. The suicide bombing tactic, even though Hamas is famous for it, Hamas was not the first movement to use such tactics in the fight against Israel.

Sheikh Ahmed Yasin had clarified the facts in an interview that the aim and goal of the present Intifada is to drive out the invasion after 1967. He also emphasized the point that Palestinians are willing for a peaceful nation along with the Jews and Christians. But Jews are in favour of a racial supremacy. Hamas doesn’t want to dominate over others. All human rights must be safeguarded.

The assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Yasin was to hide the shame caused to Israel by the Gaza withdrawal of Israeli troops in 2000. Sharon had boasted that the Palestinian resistance will be curbed and broken down to pieces within hundred days. But the second Intifada had unleashed a strong and powerful resistance from all the groups including Fateh and Hamas which forced the Israeli army to withdraw from Gaza.

Sharon knew very well how the killing of Sheikh Ahmed Yasin will effect the resistance movement. One of the former Israeli army colonel opined that the Israeli Security Cabinet would have been very sad if Sheikh Yasin had died of a heart attack and he had slipped from their hands. He also added that Israel was searching for a mega attack to strengthen the fight against terror and balance of power. This wish has been totally fulfilled.

Israel’s planned assassination killed many of the Palestinian activists including Rantissi and Yasin. The assassinations were carried out by use of explosive devices set in mobile phones, by the side of roads under cars or triggered from the safety of helicopters or F-16 military aircraft. But even then Hamas leaders including Yasin refused to take even the most basic security measures.

A glimpse of his life

How do you expect someone who has been paralyzed since childhood and fighting various diseases to lead a movement against the biggest tyrant in the world backed by America? Well that was Sheikh Ahmed Yasin, paralyzed below the head and leading his people to fight the illegal occupation of Israel. He was an embodiment of intellectual Jihad in which many of the Islamic movements lag behind.

He led a simple life. On several occasions he turned down the request of Yasir Arafath to build a new home. He said “by working hard on earth I will be rewarded with a nice home in heaven”.

He always listened to the needs of the Palestinians with patience and tried to fulfill their needs. This made him more powerful and acceptable among the masses.

His had a prophecy that Israel would disappear off the map of West Asia within three decades. He held this prophecy on the basis of the verse 20 and 24 of Surah no. 5 of the Holy Quran. Zaki Chehab quotes his words in his book ‘Inside Hamas’ “in 1948, the Palestinian people were defeated and lost large tracts of their country, forcing them into refugee camps abroad. Almost forty years later, in1987, a new phase began with the Intifada. I believe that this generation will take the battle to liberation. Twelve years have passed since then and so, from today, Israel has only twenty eight years left. I may be bad at sums, but I’m good at interpreting the meaning of Qur’anic verses.”(Inside Hamas, Chehab Zaki, pg. 105)

His moderate stand on the Palestine issue can be made out from his words about Taliban. Zaki Chehab quotes him, “How dare they ban woman from contributing in our lives by preventing them from working and teaching? Their ways can only harm the Islamic religion.” (Inside Hamas, Chehab Zaki, pg. 108)

Yassin in his own words

On different occasions in interviews with Al Jazeera, the Palestinian leader highlighted his movement's position on the Arab-Zionist conflict, the peace process and resistance. This is a selection of some of these quotations:

"The Oslo accord, as we see it, is an unjust and a bad agreement that will not fulfill our people's aspirations and goals. In my view, [the Oslo Accords] sowed the seeds of disunity among the Palestinian people and aimed at halting the Intifada against the Zionist army. The agreement has fulfilled no goals. What was implemented of it was too little to meet our aspirations, which made this agreement null and void. No Palestinian was convinced that this path will lead to peace, secure Palestinian territories or establish a Palestinian state.

What I believe is that the Palestinian Authority has no option but to go back to the path of resistance, unify the ranks of the Palestinian people in the face of the Zionist occupation. Up to the moment, the position of Hamas is that jihad is a strategic option that we will not deviate from, unless Israel agrees to a truce.

As I see it, Israel was founded on oppression and the confiscation of land. Any entity which is based on oppression and land grabs is doomed for disintegration. If I am killed there will arise a thousand like me. They [the Zionists] should know that the battle will continue and that our people will hold them to account and make them pay the price of their crimes.

I believe our predicament is tough and calls for sacrifices and patience. But the future is on our side, God willing.”

His last moments

When he woke up, as usual, one hour before the dawn prayers, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin had no idea this was the day he long dreamed of and yearned for. Sheikh Yassin performed his ablution, read some verses from the Holy Qur'an and supplicated for God to liberate Palestine from the Zionist occupation. The wheelchair-bound spiritual leader of the Palestinian resistance group Hamas was then helped by two associates to Mujamah Al-Islami mosque, only 200 meters from his home. There he waited until the dawn Adhan [call for prayer] was raised (around 03:00 GMT).After prayers, worshippers flock to greet him and inquire after his health, as if they were giving him a farewell. The Criminal hand came down to destroy the silence of the dawn prayer. The aircrafts fired three rockets at the paralyzed man. They wanted to put an end to his beliefs. Instead, they rose over the clouds and showered down on those thirsty for water. Despite the thunder or treachery, the good people received the water gladly. Wailing their sirens, ambulances raced to the scene while dumbfounded Palestinians gathered the remains of the nine victims, including the dashed out brains of Sheikh Yassin. Two of the aging leader’s sons, Abdul Hadi and Abdul Hamid, survived the Israeli strike with serious wounds

Sheikh Ahmed Yasin was a fearless brigadier of God’s army. Even when he was alerted that Israeli forces had closed in on him to finish him once and for all he feared only God. Zaki Chehab describes the moments just before his assassination: “Around three hours before, Yassin’s son, Mohammad, had remarked to his father that a reconnaissance drone had been spotted in the sky. ‘We seek martyrdom to Him. We belong to Him and to Him we return,’ was the Sheikh’s reply to his son. As Sheikh Yassin was leaving the mosque after dawn prayers, another of his sons, Abdul Ghani, warned him: ‘Father, there is an assassination plane in the sky.’His philosophical response was: ‘My son, I’m waiting for it’. (Inside Hamas, Chehab Zaki, pg. 121)

For Palestinians, the 66-year-old veteran resistance leader is symbol who left his indelible marks on the history of the Palestinian cause against the Israeli occupation.

The Companion, April 2012,Vol:6, Issue:11

My third published article

Libya In The Throngs Of Change

March 25, 2011

By The Companion

“Blame the era in which we live, don’t blame me. I am going and I will not be coming back. Notice I haven’t cried and no tears have fallen from my eyes. There is no room fro reproach or blame in the ages of treachery in the People’s land. I am not feeling normal and not in my right state. I am travelling and I ask who leads the travel to forget.”

These are part of expression posted by the Tunisian

Youth Mohammed Bouazizi in Face book

addressing his mother before he committed

suicide. The repercussions of his suicide led to the

revolution in Tunisia.

The shock wave of the Egyptian and Tunisian revolution

has now started its tsunami effect in Libya with the

opposition gaining ground. The protests that broke out in

the major cities like Benghazi have now reached the

outskirts of the capital Tripoli. The 42 year regime of

Muammar Al Ghaddafi is under serious threat. He has

resorted to violence to curb the protests which in turn has

resulted in the initiation of a civil-war like situation.

Libya’s strongman Muammar Al Ghaddafi who came to

power through the 1969 coup was indeed a leader of the

people in the initial stages. His determination for Arab

Nationalism which he gave up after two decades won him

many laurels among the Arabs.

Libya’s oil riches and tiny population – Libya has the

world’s ninth largest known deposits and just 6.5 million

people – allowed him to spend money freely on pet causes,

including the PLO and a number of Islamic groups.

Relatively little was spent on his people: a Gallup poll

released last year showed that 29% of young Libyans were

unemployed and 93% described their condition as

‘struggling’ or suffering. Even a large section of the society

is living on an income of less than two dollars at present.

Libya’s eastern part which was the power centre of

King Idris who was toppled by Ghaddafi in 1969, felt the

weight of discrimination under Ghaddafi. The Gadhafa tribe

to which Ghaddafi belongs, residing in Tripoli got much of

the benefits during Ghaddafi rule. So, there is no amusement

that the revolt started from Benghazi, east of Libya.

Human rights issue has also sparked the present

rebellion. The detention of Fathi Tebril, a human rights

lawyer based in Benghazi was the ignition that fuelled the

rebellion. He represented the families of around 1000

inmates who were killed in 1966 by the regime in Tripoli in

Abu Slim prison. The families of the inmates participated

in a planned protest following the detention of Fathi Tebril.

The youth in Libya has been inspired by the dethroning

of the dictatorship in the neighbouring countries. They have

realised that with careful preparations changes in the

traditional and dominant political structures is indeed possible.

Unlike the Tunisian and Egyptian youth the Libyan

youth has resorted to the use of a popular football site to

plan and organize the protests.

Another catalyst that has fuelled the recent uprisings

can be attributed to the offensive policy of the regime

towards its opponents abroad. Libyan expatriates who are

educated and left the country in the 1980’s have been

targeted by the regime for their anti-regime activities. Many

of them have been assassinated by the agents of the regimes

for raising opposition groups. They are playing active role

now in the internet to amass huge support for the Libyan

cause.In this critical juncture Ghaddafi has also alienated

the Libyan clergy who are now part of the revolt. In a recent

statement the network of Ulemas has condemned the use of

violence against the protestors.

Ghaddafi’s Libya or Libya’s Ghaddafi

Col. Muammar Ghaddafi toppled King Idris regime and

seized power on September 1, 1969. He had the help of his

own militia and the backing of other tribes. After the seizure

he never neglected those who supported him in the coup of

1969. Thus they remain loyal to him even today. He has not

allowed them to get strengthened and instead he has kept a

vigilant eye on the revolts inside Libya than the threats

from outside. Moreover his sons and the Al-Gadhafa

tribesmen control their own battalions and hold key

positions in the government.

The above situations defy the possibility whether Libya

can turn out to be the next in the house of cards to fall to the

public unrest. The fall of Muammar Ghaddafi and his regime

will not happen very soon as it occurred in Egypt and

Tunisia. Also the advantage of oil weapon which is the most

volatile one will make Libya less susceptible to international

pressure. The West will have to worry more than Libya if

Ghaddafi decides to shut down his pipelines to the

Mediterranean. It’s difficult to predict how it will end.

Revolutionary council: divided or united

The revolutionary council or the rebels fighting Col.

Muammar Ghaddafi seems to be not going hand in hand on

some issues. They have emphatically opposed foreign

intervention but are seriously considering to ask the

Western powers to strike key-military assets of Ghaddafi’s

army. They have added to this consideration that such airraids

fly under a UN banner.The unified decision on this consideration is yet to

come out. Some have shown their displeasure and

dissatisfaction that such air-strikes carry great risks. One

of the senior council official opined that he’d be happy if

Ghaddafi falls without intervention, but if he is going to

create a massacre his priority will be to save his people.

The council members who agree to the airstrikes want it to

be on a limited scale such as dislodging Ghaddafi from

crucial strongholds and radar stations.

On March 8, the rebels faced a setback in Zawiyah and

Ras Lanuf at the hands of Ghaddafi’s army. The opposition

council members have come out publicly with their

difference of opinions on foreign intervention. The

opposition’s capabilities will be decisive as they are having

troubles with the tribal division which the government plans

to exploit. Abdel Hafidh Ghoga, the deputy leader of the

provisional leadership has requested that international

community to start its duty. The situation seems to be

turning against the rebels as it looks like a mismatched

civil war.

In the initial stages effective weapons and plentiful

supply of ammunition added to the beauty of the

advancement. North Korean and Russian ammunition was

readily available. But these weren’t enough for them to

defend Ras Lanuf, a strategic refinery town.

Another feature of weakness of the rebels is with regards

to the leadership. Specialized branches of Libya’s army who

joined the fight have senior officers who are also seen at

the front. But the rebel soldiers include bankers, policemen

and the unemployed who are very much enthusiastic but

are hapless brigades.

No effective communication is visible between the

opposition groups and no leadership to take care of the

situation. Opposition groups in America, Europe etc. works

for themselves. Attempts to unify them have failed.

America and the Libyan uprising

US has been watching the uprising in the Middle East

and North Africa continuously. US officials have not

reached a decision on what position to be taken in Libya’s

case as they understand the consequences of the political

fallout if US again attacks a Muslim nation. Therefore they

are searching for other options to handle the situation.

US had intervened earlier in 2003 in a deal with

Muammer Ghaddafi to proliferate Libya of nuclear weapons.

The nuclear technology that Libya handed over to the US in

the 2003 deal was very large. There were more than 4000

centrifuges for producing enriched uranium. Also blue

prints for how to build nuclear bomb were also handed

over. Former president George W Bush said that with this

action Libya has resumed normal relations with the world.

Now as the rebels are begging for US strikers on the

Libyan troops and weapons so as to oust Muammar

Ghaddaffi US is considering options other than direct

interventions. The administration official said that

preparation for a passive operation like using signal

jamming aircraft operating in international airspace could

muddle Libyan government communication with its military

units are under way. Another tactic was to air-drop weapons

and supplies to rebels. Other options like inserting small

special operations teams, perhaps just a dozen drops to

assist the rebels. The support for a no-fly zone was voiced

both from the Democratic and the Republican senators.

The NATO’s positions on the use of armed force are not in

union. Russia has called the idea of a no-fly zone

‘superfluous’ and Turkey dismissed NATO military

interventions as unthinkable.

Libyan unrest and the oil world

Oil and petroleum which can be considered the mother

of all commodities is facing a crucial situation following

the unrest unleashed all over the Arab world. Libya which

is rich in oil resource has also not been exampled from the

crisis. The geographical positions of Libya also add to

European market commanded as important advantage over

Middle East oil. Also the country’s oil export pipeline runs

solely across the country’s own territory, making them less

vulnerable to damage.

But these advantages didn’t come to help when the

rebels started advancing in to major oil fields of Libya and

creating restriction on oil production. Several of the

refineries were left stricken by workers too afraid to go to

work. It might take weeks before normal production resume.

One of the main consequences of the Libyan uprising

is the shooting up of oil prices to $100 barrel again. Even

though the heavy weights like Saudi Arabia can make up for

the difference, it cannot be predicted for how long this will

continue. The balance between the supply and demand is

very delicate and it cannot withhold more disruption in

supplies.

Al-Qaeda and the Middle Eastern uprising

Don’t misunderstand that Al-Qaeda has something to

do with the unrest in the Arab regimes. In fact it has nothing

to do with it. Al-Qaeda who called for the downfall of the

Arab puppet regimes through extremism and violence has

faced a major setback. The demonstrators have shown the

world and the Al-Qaeda (if it exists) that autocrats can be

toppled by peaceful and non-violent means. They have also

treated Islam as an afterthought and embraced democracy

which are against the tenants of Al-Qaeda.

The existence and formation of Al-Qaeda needs to be

questioned here especially when Ghaddafi had alleged the

hands of Al-Qaeda behind the appraisals. Al-Qaeda is nowhere

in the picture of the changes happening in the Middle East. A

hypothesis can be this (that certainly require research to

reach any final conclusion) that Al-Qaeda was a creation of

US to serve their interests in the Middle East and when the

matters went out of their hands Al-Qaeda too had to be

submerged so that their interests are not exposed.