HOME :: Our Mission is to educate, entertain and invoke critical thinking in creating a cohesive environment to work, socialize and function effectively through the medium of Poetry. Our purpose is to establish a new stream of Pluralism poetry in Urdu and Hindi languages - indeed, it is the 2nd most spoken language in the world. Mike Ghouse, Foundation for Pluralism, Studies in Pluralistic societies

Saturday, November 28, 2020

Poetry on communal Harmony

 The following is a selection of ash’aar all sensitively calling for communal harmony.

MOHAMMED IQBAL

firqa-bandi hai kahiN aur kahiN zaateN haiN

kya zamane meN panapne ki yahi baateN hai

 In some places we are divided into (religious) communities, in others into castes. Is this the way to survive in this world.


ALTAF HUSAIN HAALI

ummat ko chhaaNT Daala, kaafir bana kar

Islam hai faqiho, mamnuN bahut tumhaara

. You have divided up the community by pronouncing this or that as un-Islamic. Islam is greatly indebted to you O jurist.


KRISHAN BIHAARI NOOR

parda-e dair o haram ab to miTa de yaa rabb

ho chuka jitna tamasha vo tamasha hai bahut

O lord, at least now erase the curtain/division between temple and mosque. Whatever mischief we have had, is more than enough!


Eeshvar kahiye use chaahe Khuda kahiye magar

vo MusalmaaN ki tarah hai na vo Hindu ki tarah

Call him Ishwar or Khuda, if you please, but he is neither Muslim nor Hindu.


MOMIN KHAAN MOMIN

momin na toR rishta-e zunnar-e barahman

mat kar vo baat jis se koii dil shikasta ho 

momin (pious man) do not cut the thread of relationship with the brahman (used to mean Hindu, not in the casteist sense). Do not do anything that will break hearts.


BRIJ NARAYAN CHAKBAST

balaa-e jaaN haiN ye tasbeeh aur zunnaar ke phande

dil-e haq-biiN ko hum is qaid se aazad karte haiN

The heart can see the truth (of love/faith) but the noose fashioned by the tasbih and the janev has imprisoned it. We are going to free the heart of this curse.

azaaN dete haiN but-Khaane meN jaa kar shaan-e momin se

haram ke naara-e naaqoos hum eejad karte 

Chakbast declares that he/they (the broad minded) will intermingle the rites of the mandir and the masjid. We issue a (Islamic) call for prayer from the temple with the dignity/composure of the muezzin. We invent conch shell sounds for the mosque.


MIRZA GHALIB

kaabe meN jaa raha to na do ta’ana kya kaheN

bhoola huN haqq-e sohbat-e ahl-e kunisht ko 

Ghalib rhetorically declares that he has not forgotten the rights/demands of his Hindu friends. Just because he has gone to the kaaba do not think that I have forgotten them. Of course, Ghalib himself was far from religious and never went to the kaaba.


KAIFI AAZMI

basti meN apni hindu musalmaaN jo bas gaye

insaaN ki shakl dekhne ko hum taras gaye

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Sunday, January 19, 2020

Holocaust and Genocides 2020

15th Annual Holocaust and Genocides

PRESS RELEASE

Dr. Mike Ghouse
Center for Pluralism
email: MikeGhouse@gmail.com 
Office: (202) 290-3560
Cell: (214) 325-1916


15th Annual Reflections on the Holocaust and Genocides  

The purpose of this event is education, information, and activism. We hope to learn and acknowledge our failings and make a personal commitment to our share of saying, "Never Again."

15th Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides
5:30 PM - 8:30 PM Sunday, January 26, 2020
Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street
Arlington, VA 22201

Tickets are complimentary, but donations are accepted 




We hope you will walk out of the event with a genuine feeling of being a contributor towards building a cohesive world where no human has to live in apprehension or fear of the other. 

The Jewish community has been commemorating the Holocaust event since 1953, known as Yom HaShoah in Synagogues around the world. The general public learns it by visiting the Holocaust Museums and educational institutions.


At the Center for Pluralism, we are committed to spreading knowledge of the Holocaust and Genocide through interfaith and public events, including the Annual reflections. 



Speakers: 


Robert F. Teitel - Holocaust Story

Dr. Gregory Stanton - Signs of Genocides

Rushan Abbas & Omer Kanat - Uyghur Updates

Dr. Wakar Uddin - Rohingya Update

Muneer Baig - Kashmir Update

Dr. TO Shanavas - India Update

Dr. Rani Khan - Peace Pledge

Dr. Mike Ghouse - Genesis of this event

Rabia Baig - Mistress of Ceremony


Volunteers:


Nausheen Baig

Rabbi Alana Suskin

Jafer Imam

Dr. Zafar Iqbal

Charles Stevenson


Sponsors:


Would you like to be a sponsor?

Our budget is $2000, full or any part 


Co-Chairs:


Dr. Rani Khan

Dr. Mike Ghouse


Organized by:


Center for Pluralism


Our format consists of four parts; Interfaith prayers, Holocaust, Genocides, Massacred and the Pledge of Peace. Silently, we will acknowledge all suffering, but physically we are limited to a few Genocides each year. 


 This year, a Holocaust survivor will share his story, followed by updated Uyghur, Rohingya, and the signs of making of Genocide in India. I urge everyone to watch the Schindler's list and Civil War movies to grasp the signs.


I believe, when we acknowledge each other's grief and participate in each other's commemoration, we connect with the humanness within ourselves and seed the relationship of understanding and caring for each other. 


There is a shameless cruelty in us, either we shy away or refuse to acknowledge the sufferings of others, worrying that it will devalue our own, or amounts to infidelity to our pain, and every community and nation has suffered through this. To all those who have endured the Holocaust, Genocides, Massacres, Ethnic Cleansing, Land Mines, Hunger, Rape, Torture, Occupation, Expulsion, and inhuman brutality, we must say, you are not alone. The least we can do in the process of healing is to acknowledge every one's pain in one voice. 

 

I cannot be safe if the people around me are not, and I will not have peace if people around me don't. It is in my interest to seek a peaceful world for one and all.


This is a Muslim initiative to assure fellow humans who have endured the Holocaust, Genocide, ethnic cleansing, massacres, rapes, injustice and other atrocities that we are all in this together to create a better world. Tikkun Olam is our sacred duty. 

 


# # #


List of Supporting Organizations (links embedded)

Published at 148 News Outlets
A few are listed below 

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Sunday, May 20, 2018

Urdu wala Chashma by Nupur Sharma



Dear Urdu-Hindi friends of DFW & DMV
Adaab, Salaam, Namaste, Satsriakal, and Jai Jinendra!
I have always appreciated the services of Anita Singhal, Nishi Bhatia and Dr. Amer Suleman in promoting Hindi and Urdu languages respectively.
I am pleased to share the following video clip from Nupur Sharma, enjoy it.
This edition is a treasure and should be a part of history, I like the way Nupur presented six theories and suggested to keep your mind open until a thoos suboot springs up for one or the other. The Multan theory is new to me.
Of course, Gulzaar Saheb is Gulzar of the Urdu poetry, but Atif Tauqeer's nazm was incredible. It resonates with my effort in writing similar poetry. Every sher is amazing - and this one stuck to me.
"Sab ka Gunah ek sahi, sab ka mufad ek hai." I will borrow this for my writings about Pluralism. Essence is same rituals are different.
Nadir Durrani has written similar thoughts.
Enjoy this video by Nupur Sharma - https://www.facebook.com/TheWireUrdu/videos/2008571839396075/

 I am glad she expressed similar thoughts that Urdu and Hindi is the same language in two different scripts. Let both languages grow and reintegrate. Urdu dictionary literally includes most of the Hindi words and vice-versa. One should be proud to know both languages well, and more languages the better.

Thanks
Mike Ghouse
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Friday, August 14, 2015

Rajesh Reddy's shayeri is incredible

This is incredible shayeri and poetry.
Glad to see poets getting away from aaho-fighan

 Here is Rajesh Reddy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx0YiXowWag

 Mike Ghouse
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Saturday, May 30, 2015

Allama Iqbal Honored for his poem


From Chief Minister of Bengal, Mamta Bannerjee's official page

Today we were honoured to confer the prestigious “Tarana-e-Hindi” Award posthumously on Allama Iqbal, the great poet who penned the famous patriotic piece, “Sare Jahan Se Accha Hindustan Hamara…” in a colourful programme at Nazrul Mancha.
The award was received by Prof. Dr. Waleed Iqbal, grandson of Allama Iqbal.
Some pictures of today’s event are uploaded here for all of you.
 


--
Urdu Hindi
​ 
website: www.UrduHindi.net ​ 
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Sunday, May 17, 2015

Enriching Urdu Language; contributions of Allama Iqbal and Hasrat Mohani

Urdu-Hindi, the language of the people | www.UrduHindi.net 

There was a time in India, when English was considered "Angrezon Ki bhasha", but now, that conclusion is withering away. English is indeed a language of the people, for the people by the people to communicate ideas, thoughts and actions. No one owns it and no one can slap its ownership on it, anyone who speaks, writes and reads, he owns it and it is his language.

Indeed, at one time in India, Urdu was the language of the people, for the people by the people. Anyone who spoke wrote or read Urdu, became his or her language.

Since our independence, Urdu got a raw treatment. The right wingers (those who do not think beyond their skulls) forced a religious label on it - that it is the language of Muslims. 

If they think, they will find out that Muslims in Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladeshi, Turkey, Iran, Sudan or Mali..... i.e., 56 out of 57 Muslim majority nations do not speak Urdu. What about India herself? It’s the official language in three states out of 30 States - UP, Delhi and Kashmir. Muslims from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Bengal, Odessa, Maharashtra and other states do not speak Urdu either, those who speak, is on par with what non-Muslims speak.

Urdu will survive despite the prejudices it faces, it is the language of the common people. By the way Urdu-Hindi is one language with three scripts; Devanagari, Persian and Roman English. The language fell into the laps of Muslims and they are carrying it forward and waiting for fellow Indians to call it their language as well.  Millions of songs are written in Urdu that is the common language. Attempts have been made to force Urdu and Hindi as two languages by giving a heavy dose of Sanskrit and Persian.

Now, we have to re-work the language back from the beginning. A language becomes yours if it captures your imagination and expresses your stories, myths, mythologies, romance and caring of fellow beings.

Now that Urdu has accidentally fallen in the lap of Urdu Speaking Muslims, they have a responsibility to remake the language, a language of the people.  We need to write Prose and poetry in a way that everyone feels a part of the language. 

For example Rajiv Chakravarti learned Urdu Language and its nuances from a Muslim point of view, several years ago, he recited poetry and used the word "Toor" - it relates with Moses receiving God's words at Mt. Sinai - also known as Koh-e-Toor. Ahmed Rahi referenced Jesus’ call to cast the first stone who has not sinned, the Christians can relate with that very well. In the past several Muslim poets have referenced Hindu culture, mythology and holy texts in their poetry - making Urdu, a language of the people.

Indeed there are endless references by Muslim poets about Hinduism, some of the best devotional songs (Bhajans) are written, sung and composed by Muslims.  Most of them did not look to it as songs of Hindus, but songs to praise the praise worthy. 

Rajiv Chakravarti, an Urdu Scholar in Dallas shared the following links and it was a delight for me to read them all over the long lunch at Al Kabob's on Harry Hines. A world of people came and left, I was enjoying my reading.

This is the reason we have taken the initiative to make an effort to undo the Muslim label from Urdu, which is not just, and restore it back to the language of the people through the initiative of Pluralism Poetry in Urdu-Hindi. Every South Asian ought to feel, it is his or her language - as there will be references about what is dear to him or her. 

This website www.UrduHindi.net is dedicated to promote Urdu-Hindi as one language, others can do the division we will do the cohesion, are you with me?


POETRY

The Maulana Who Loved Krishna
Mohani with Ambedkar

Hasrat Mohani was not just a maverick when it came to publicly championing the radical thinking of Tilak. He also wrote verses expressing deep love for Krishna, and often went to Mathura to celebrate Janmashtami.

CM Naim's write up is worth reading, there is a connection you find with the Maualana.
C.M. NAIM ON HASRAT MOHANI

My heart has fallen in love with Kanhaiya. 
Why would it think of anyone else now?
We looked for him in Gokul and Brindaban, 
Let’s now go to Barsana and see if he’s there.
Hasrat, give up for him all that is yours, 
Then go to Mathura and become a jogi

man to-se prīt lagā’i kanhā’ī 
kahu or kīsurati ab kāhe ko ā’ī
gokula DhūNDh brindaban DhūNDho 
barsāne lag ghūm ke ā’ī
tan man dhan sab wār-ke Hasrat 
mathurā nagar cali dhūnīramā’ī
 




Iqbal on Lord Krishna and Ram
It was Iqbal’s confirmed conviction that Sree Krishna was the one of the messengers of God. He traced the visible miseries of India, to the fact that the messages of Krishna were being totally ignored. His beliefs went further to include even Sree Ram also. He envisioned Sree Ram as the ‘Spiritual Leader of the Indian Peninsula’. In his poem ‘The Call of the Caravan bell’, he wrote of Ram as the ‘Philosopher of the Easterners’.
Iqbal endeavoured ceaselessly to remove the misconceptions the Indians had about religion. Ali Sardar Jafri writes: “According to Iqbal’s beliefs, which has the authority of the Quran to support it, every religion, race and nation has received messengers of God i.e. prophets, in different ages to guide them. Gauthama Budha was one of them. Other contemporaries of Iqbal, like Moulana Hasrath Mohani, shared this belief and paid tribute Krishna as a prophet……… He was convinced that the fall of the Hindus was due to the fact that the teachings of Krishna were forgotten”.
Iqbal himself had great respect for Ram. He describes him as the spiritual leader of India (Imamal Hind). This poem was written after 1908, 

Iqbal on Gautama Buddha

Harmit Singh Shares the poerty of Iqbal on Buddha
Thank you

mike
Mike Ghouse, Speaker
Motivation | Pluralism | Human Rights | Religion.
(214) 325-1916 text/talk
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Mike Ghouse is a public speaker, thinker, writer and a commentator on Pluralism, Islam, India, Israel-Palestine, Politics and other issues of the day. He is a human rights activist, and his book standing up for others will be out soon | He is producing a full feature film " Sacred" to be released on 9/11 and a documentary "Americans together" for a July 4 release.  He is a frequent guest commentator on Fox News and syndicated Talk Radio shows and a writer at major news papers including Dallas Morning News and Huffington Post. All about him is listed in 63 links at www.MikeGhouse.net and his writings are at www.TheGhousediary.com - Mike is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. 
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