Side-Issues of the Mufti Nizam Fatwa/Obaidullah Issue

parking the links from other thread for reference (i still haven't heard it)

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link takes to irrelevant post. please just mention post #

 

The following passages also lay bare the true nature of ram-kathas, which sunnistudent described as 'some function' and obaidullah called a 'joint meeting':

The nouveau riche patronize these programs. Collections from the kathas, often running into several lakhs of rupees, are used for charitable activities relief for drought, flood and fire victims, construction of temples, hospitals and schools. One of the leading universities in Gujarat organized his katha to collect funds for the university and the vice-chancellor at the time, an internationally renowned scholar, attended the function as a bhakta (devotee). Such programmes not only legitimize Morari Bapu's teachings but also add to his stature.

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From the book Untouchable, Dalits in Modern India (By S. M. Michael)

From pages 120 and 121:

9. For instance, Morari Bapu is working full-time for the survival of Hindu sanskriti (culture). He has performed Ram katha at several places in adivasi towns such as Shinor, Vyara, Mandvi, Santrampur, and Sisodra. He has also been invited on several occasions to give speeches. The first Ram katha in an adivasi area was organized at Vyara in October 1995. On this occasion, Bajarang Dal organized a 4- kilometer pothi Yatra. Morari Bapu has tried to introduce Ram to the adivasis, and every day more than half-a-lakh of adivasis participated in the katha where meals were also served. Morari Bapu's birthday was celebrated with Ramotsav and distribution of Ganges water. Expenses were covered by a wealthy trader from Surat. On the last day, Bapu performed arti (an act of veneration) and representatives from each adivasi group, Harijans, and Muslims participated in the ceremony, and Babu finally gave to his devotees the mantra Ram hi keval prem pyala (only Ram is full of love; therefore he should be worshipped).

10. Morari Bapu is one of the well-known saints, who recites the Ramayana in most adivasi areas Of Gujarat. He has an influence not only on educated and urban adivasi but also on the illiterate adivasi masses. Nandu Bhagat is an example of a devotee from the village Khroda. He gave up dacoiti and drinking habits after listening to Morari Bapu ten years ago. He began chanting Ram jap (invocation of Ram in prayer) and gradually learned the whole Ramayana by heart. From evening to early morning, he performs the Ramayana karha with a small group of adivasis as part of a campaign. He has also begun to expose tricks employed by Christian missionaries to convert adivasis to Christianity; instead he advises them to embrace the Hindu religion. He has probably organized more than 150 kathas with thousands participants.

 

From http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1716/17160760.htm

Morari Bapu (the well-known religious speaker), in the videotapes of the serial at any rate, saying things like: "Pichhle zamana me, yudh me dharm tha; aur aaj kal, dharm me yudh aa g aya" (In the old era, religion entered war; now war has entered religion). He would repeat this three or four times, without further elaboration. This seemed to resonate with the idea that the Hindu religion was at war with Islam. There were various things in the serial which seemed to reiterate the themes of the VHP's campaigns.

http://thehoot.org/web/Reporting-Ayodhya--I/4873-1-1-22-true.html

Related news began appearing from September 17 onwards, largely on the inside pages initially pertaining to court developments. With Gujarat going to civic polls, barring page one, the initial pages were dominated by local news, with very little of Ayodhya coverage on page 1 except when the judgment was deferred. On September 1, it had an Ahmedabad dateline news on how Naroda Patiya 2002 riot victims had moved, scared of the outcome. And a newsbrief on Morari Bapu – the famous religious leader cum storyteller from Gujarat, welcoming the verdict that paves way for temple construction and calling for peace.

 

From page 311:

The BJP and Sangh Parivar sought the support of sants and swamis of different sects for the brick collection, paduka puja and karseva. One of these, the Swaminarayan sect, has many devotees among OBCs and tribals. These sang and swamis issued an appeal during the 1990 assembly elections and 1991 parliamentary elections to vote for the party that was serious about protecting Hindu interests. They said: 'The present awakening for Hindutva is an inevitable consequence of larger changes.... For rejuvenation Of Hindu culture, the voters should vote for BJP candidates.'

Morari Bapu issued an appeal exhorting people to vote for those supporting the following issues of national importance:
(i) construction of the Ramjanmabhumi temples; (ii) deletion of Article 370 which separates Kashmir from the rest of the country; and (iii) ban on cow-slaughter. 'Vote only for patriots ... Let the martyrdom of those innocent Ram karsevaks not be in vain.'

The communal riots following the demolition of the Babri Masjid aroused communal passions and a militant communal consciousness. The communal hurricane did not spare Dalits, tribals or OBCs, many of whom have become anti-Muslim.

 

From the book Caste and Democratic Politics in India (edited by Ghanshyam Shah)

pages 303 and 304:

Morari Bapu, another religious figure, is one Of the most popular kathakars (religious story-tellers) Of the Ramayana. He began public narration Of Ram Katha in 1966 and had till 1998 presented more than 400 katha sessions, each Of eight and sometimes even ten days. Morari Bapu declares that the Ramayana was not meant for this or that varna; it was meant for manav (human beings), for all, irrespective of sect or religion. It is a matter of faith for the devotees to listen to the Ramayana with devotion and follow its teachings. Morari Bapu says that the story of the Ramayana is well known; however, its relevance to modern life needs elucidation. Without posing as a social reformer, he asserts that Ram Rajya can only be established when the Dalits get equal status with others. Like Athavale, he strongly condemns sectarian attitudes among Hindus. Instead of constructing many temples, there should be a few large temples where people could get to-gether. Like Sachchidanand and Athavale, Morari Bapu insists that Indian culture is Hindu culture that has a glorious past going back to Vedic times, whereafter, kaliyugset in. Muslim rule, according to him, is responsible for the destruction of Hindu, that is, Indian tradition.

The nouveau riche patronize these programs. Collections from the kathas, often running into several lakhs of rupees, are used for charitable activities relief for drought, flood and fire victims, construction of temples, hospitals and schools. One of the leading universities in Gujarat organized his katha to collect funds for the university and the vice-chancellor at the time, an internationally renowned scholar, attended the function as a bhakta (devotee). Such programmes not only legitimize Morari Bapu's teachings but also add to his stature.

Sachchidanand and Athavale have not supported the Sangh Parivar campaign for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. But they have not opposed it either. Morari Bapu, on the other hand, openly supported the campaign and participated in the functions by the BJP and Sangh Parivar. On the occasion of paduka pujan, that is, worship of Ram's slippers, in 1992, Morari Bapu said:

We [he includes himself] organised Sri Ram rath (led by Advani), did shihnyas (Sri Ram temple foundation stone ceremony) and worshipped Ram paduka-—three satyas (truths) have been completed. But the government has not responded to this positively. This is a cruel joke upon the satyas. And when truth has been made a mockery of, it is necessary to use the fourth satya—shakti (power)... It is now time for the youth of this country to do kesaria, i.e., accept martyrdom, by fighting till the last for the construction of the Shri Ram mandtr... Time demands that Hindus get united.​

 

http://communalism.blogspot.in/2008/12/modi-and-morari-bapu-in-communal.html

AFTER spewing venom on Christians at the infamous Shabri Kumbh at the Dangs and actively campaigning for Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, religious leader Morari Bapu is now set to assume a secular hue.

Bapu was visibly uncomfortable when confronted with questions on the Shabri Kumbh and its alleged connection with terror. “ Terrorism is terrorism,” he said, adding that much hype is being created around the saffron terror phenomena.

“ The matter is being investigated.

If there is something, it will come out,” he said. He, however, admitted there may have been some “ problems” at the Shabri Kumbh . Analysts believe this may be Morari Bapu’s attempt to assume a more secular image, particularly after a controversy regarding the involvement of VHP- affiliated sadhus — who had organised the Shabri Kumbh in 2006 — in the Malegaon blasts. The controversy has already damaged the BJP’s nationalist image, pushing it on the backfoot on its poll plank of terror.

http://www.sabrang.com/gujarat/23oct02.htm

On October 22, 2002, a Ram Katha by Morari Bapu began outside the Jesuit Centre of Subhir in the Dangs. This Katha was inaugurated by Narendra Modi.

http://www.nchro.org/index.php?opti...istian-missionaries&catid=7:fascism&Itemid=16

Morari Bapu, a popular spiritual leader, also lashed out at conversion activities of Christian missionaries, quoting the Bible to make the point and calling them hypocrite.

"Conversion is nothing but an act of hypocrisy and sin when the Bible itself advises against it. Do you think Jesus Christ will be happy if they take undue advantage of poverty in converting them (tribals)?" Morari Bapu told the gathering.

"If the missionaries really wish to only serve the people, how come they are worried because of this Kumbh?

"There is no need for the Vatican to worry because we will not resort to the practice of conversion," he said.

Morari Bapu also invited the district's tribals converted to the Christianity to rejoin Hinduism.

"Anybody can make a comeback to his home. Just have a dip in the holy Pampa Sarovar and worship Shabari Mata, you will be back home," he said.

 

This thread takes off from here. I have started this thread to shed some light on the allegedly 'rawaNdaar' hindu proselytizer whom obaidullah azmi was dying to meet since the 1990s.

Obaidullah praised this fellow in the urs-hafidh-e-millat speech in these words:

"Kuchh saadhu is mulk me rawaNdaari ke eitibar se - Hindu-Muslim SADBHAVNA ke eitibar se achchhe hote hai. Unhi Achche logon me ek naam hai Murari Bapu.

Agar aese log mulk me maujood ho aur unke saath hindu-muslim rawaNdari ko Qaaim karne ke liye koi JOINT MEETING ki jaae - to ye musalmano ke Haq me hai ke nahi?

Morari bapu RAM-KATHA kar rahe haiN aur UNHO NE har mazhab ke logon ko bulaya hai."

See the complete transcription of his speech here.

Also see obaid's boot-licking transcribed by sidi aH here.