Miscellaneous Facebook posts & comments in Jan. 2020

When author of post or comment is not mentioned, it should be assumed that it is me (Ravi S. Iyer).

To save time, I am usually not providing my FB post links but only contents. I am also not hyperlinking links. So readers will have to copy-paste links from this post onto a browser link box and then browse to that link.
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Good to know that more Indian Muslims are able to perform Hajj pilgrimage.

"On the special request of my government, Saudi Arabia increased Hajj quota unprecedentedly, due to which a record 2 lakh Indian Muslims performed Hajj this time.", https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-first-country-to-digitise-entire-hajj-process-says-president/articleshow/73795761.cms.
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For readers who may not know, "dargah" means Muslim shrine.
In this non-Muslim village, Hindus preserve a 200-year old dargah, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/in-this-non-muslim-village-hindus-preserve-a-200-year-old-dargah/articleshow/73746017.cms
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Note: I don't know about the reference to "Love Christ" below.
Shared video post has this intro: In God's Own Country nothing is impossible.

Christianity was not brought there by the Europeans, but by a direct disciple of Jesus. Islam was not brought through conquest, but by word of mouth by traders during Prophet Muhamnad's time.

Of course now there are reported aberrations and transgressions, like Love Jihad and Love Christ. However the tradition of mutual respect and understanding and appreciation runs deep. An example of this is depicted in the video below.
[Video link: https://www.facebook.com/vv.sarachandran/videos/10156857448648456/?t=0]
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As it is reported by the Times of India (a leading Mumbai based news media organization), which was my regular newspaper while I lived in and around Mumbai. I view it is a credible report (though later developments may show some aspects of the report to be inaccurate). Therefore I am sharing it.

Just incredible that this continues to happen in Pakistan in this day & age. I don't recall hearing or reading of anything like this happening to minorities in India (Muslims, Christians, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis etc.), anywhere in India (a much, much larger land area country than Pakistan), not only now but right from 1980s when I became a young adult and was regularly reading Indian mainstream media.

As an Indian Hindu, I am outraged that Pakistani Hindus are being horribly ill-treated like this, and condemn the perpetrators of this outrage.

[Linked article: Pak Hindu bride abducted, converted to Islam, forcibly married to Muslim, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/pak-hindu-bride-abducted-converted-to-islam-forcibly-married-to-muslim/articleshow/73659948.cms ]
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I don't think I have publicly commented on this and so I felt I should do so now. This horrific murder that happened in 1999 is a matter of great shame for India. May such horrors never happen in India again.

Whether Graham Staines (an Australian) was proselytising Christianity or not in Odisha's tribal areas, is not the issue. Even if he was proselytising, he should have been opposed in legal ways and not in this horrible way. Graham and his two children, aged 10 and 9, were burnt alive in their vehicle!

What was good about what happened later is that justice seems to have been delivered to the perpetrator of the crime - convicted and sentenced to death which was then commuted to life imprisonment.

His wife, Gladys Staines, "continued to stay in Odisha with her daughter Esther. In 2005, she was awarded the Padma Shri by the President of India for her work with people suffering from leprosy."

That his wife and daughter continued to stay on in Odisha shows that despite the great tragedy they suffered, they had faith in the Indians that they were interacting with/ the society they lived in, and so continued to stay on in India.

[Linked article: Remembering Graham Staines, 21 Years After His Murder, https://www.thequint.com/news/india/remembering-graham-staines-17-years-after-his-murder]
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Great to see this coverage of philosophy of and service done by Sathya Sai center of Dallas, Texas, USA, on a local US TV channel.

Shared post intro: DALLAS SAI CENTER IN STUDIO INTERVIEW WITH FOX4NEWS.
[Shared video: https://www.fox4news.com/video/646200 ]
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Lovely holy sand art depicting Shirdi Sai Baba and one of his big messages at Puri beach in Odisha (India): https://twitter.com/sudarsansand/status/1218947315441909761

The text of the tweet by Sudarshan Pattnaik: "#OmSaiRam ..My SandArt of #SaiBaba with message #SabKaMalikEk at Puri beach🙏"

The message of Sabka Maalik Ek in Hindi is the great teaching of Bhagavan Shirdi Sai Baba meaning that the Lord of all (Hindus, Muslims, Christians etc.) is One!
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Decided to put up this post just to share that people are searching for sai baba and advaita vedanta!

I have heard Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba speaking on Advaita Vedanta live in Sai Kulwant Hall on so many occasions. He spoke on the essence of the matter and it is my deep belief that he spoke from direct experience and direct knowledge about Advaita. Swami would refer to Adi Shankara many times.

After Mahasamadhi, somehow the focus is not so much on these teachings and discourses of Bhagavan on Advaita Vedanta.

So I was happy to see today that in the past 24 hours somebody/some people landed up on my blog post: Sathya Sai Baba's Advaita Teachings By John Hislop Ph.D. - Edited Transcript of Video, http://ravisiyer.blogspot.com/2013/11/sathya-sai-babas-advaita-teachings-by.html, 13th Nov. 2013. There were 3 visits and all of them were via Bing search engine. See attached cropped screenshots with two of them having a red arrow pointing to relevant info. at bottom of screenshot.

I hope more writers will put up freely accessible blog posts on Sathya Sai Baba's teachings on Advaita Vedanta. That will help to better disseminate these vital teachings of Bhagavan.

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A song about one of the revered and famous Muslim shrines in Mumbai - Haji Ali. I have had the good fortune of visiting it, and seeing it umpteen times as I travelled by bus/taxi on the road next to it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-CAtCDepD8, 5 min. 41 secs.
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Interesting even if some of the captions are inappropriate!

I mean, Islam and Christianity are important religions in India. So how can it be India vs. Christianity & Islam? But I am sharing it as Sadhguru does cover some interesting ground, in a jocular way at times, about Islam, Christianity and Hinduism understanding of God (and heaven).

Around 12 mins.

[FB video: https://www.facebook.com/SadhguruYogi1/videos/797363027380641/?t=0 ]
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Interesting 2017 live orchestra rendition of the famous Shirdi Wale Sai Baba song which is from Amar Akbar Anthony Hindi film of 1977: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e16FmUEIG7o, slightly less than 6 mins.
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Khwaja Garib Nawaz Dargah Video - Virtual Tour of Ajmer Sharif Dargah, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JC7Dr7Ww-M, around 7 mins., published in June 2017.
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https://twitter.com/CSLewisInst/status/1215105508098674688 [C.S. Lewis quote in pic: "Our business is to present that which is timeless (the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow) in the particular language of our own age."]
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"Exodus 14 reveals how God opened the way for the Israelites to cross the Red Sea, finally escaping the Egyptian army. The story of the Exodus played a role in inspiring American antislavery advocate #HarrietTubman. Her efforts helped many US slaves escape bondage.", https://twitter.com/museumofBible/status/1214301122208444417
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Wonderful to see this development (defusing of Nankana Sahib related tension) in Pakistan

Here is Indian cricket star Harbhajan Singh's recent tweet content and the tweet it shares:

"Awal Alaaah noor upaya, kudrat k sab bandhe, Ek Noor te jagg peya upjeya,kon bhalle ko Mandhe..apas mai ladne se koi masla hal nahi hoga..pyar se sarre masle hal hote hai🙏 dhan guru Nanak bhul chuk maff kari.. sab tere bandhe 🙏", https://twitter.com/harbhajan_singh/status/1213510300206387205

[Text content of shared tweet: https://twitter.com/ShahabSpeaks/status/1213460567010267142, which has a video of the person speaking in Urdu/Punjabi: "The person who uttered objectionable words against Sikhs yesterday apologises today for his misconduct.

Says Gurdwara has never and will never be attacked. Muslims and Sikhs live like brothers and will continue doing so."]

I shared the above Harbhajan Singh tweet with following introduction/share text of mine: "Wonderful to see this development of the person who made the atrocious statements against Nankana Sahib and Sikh community there, withdrawing it and seeking forgiveness. May God give him strength and keep him on peaceful Islam path living in peace with Sikh community there.", https://twitter.com/RaviSaiIyer/status/1213699577758404609

Perhaps Pakistan PM, Mr. Imran Khan, and/or his office had noted the tweet of Harbhajan Singh (I am quite sure they have both played in same cricket matches but representing Pakistan and India respectively), and initiated some action resulting in this apology and goodwill to Sikhs statement of the person. If so, Mr. Imran Khan must be thanked and congratulated for this wonderful work of his towards improving inter-religious harmony in Pakistan.
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This is a very clear patriotic statement from noted Indian Muslim leader and Member of (Indian) Parliament, Asaduddin Owaisi representing constituency of Hyderabad, Telangana. Initial part of the video is in Hindi but later he switches to English. 

He says (in English), "Mr. Khan (Pakistan Prime Minister), you worry about your own country. Mr. Khan - we would like to tell you, don't ever remember us. We have rejected the paigam (Hindi/Urdu word for message), the message, the wrong theory of Jinnah. We are proud Indian Muslims and till the day of judgement, Inshallah, we will remain as proud Indian Muslims. No power on earth can take away my Indianness. No power on earth can take away my religious identity. Why? Because the constitution of India guarantees me that."

As a Hindu resident and citizen of India (Indian Hindu), I congratulate Indian Muslim leader and Hon'ble MP Mr. Asaduddin Owaisi, for his words above spoken on stage in a public meeting.

Indian Muslims have contributed in a big and positive way to India and will surely continue to do so in future. I personally have benefited and continue to benefit from friendship and goodwill of many Indian Muslims. I am fully supportive of the right of Indian Muslims to peacefully practise their Islamic faith in India.

My own belief is as follows:
Ishwar Maalik! Allah Maalik! Yesu Maalik! Sabka Maalik Ek!
[Ishwar is the Lord! Allah is the Lord! Yesu (Jesus) is the Lord! The Lord of all is one!]

Update: I am not making any comments about CAA and NRC and view of Mr. Owaisi on it. That is not part of the video even if a poster related to opposition to them is shown in the background of the still pic preview of the shared post below.

Further, please note that I have a PUBLICLY POLITICALLY NEUTRAL role in these social media posts that I put up related to Indian political leaders which may include leaders in government currently and those not in government. I am an Indian citizen and resident of India. I do vote in Indian elections but I keep who I vote for as a private matter. I should also say that I am a beneficiary, a lover and an open supporter of democracy in India.

[Shared video: We are proud Indian Muslims and will remain so: Owaisi slams Pak PM, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/news/we-are-proud-indian-muslims-and-will-remain-so-owaisi-slams-pak-pm/videoshow/73104719.cms]


In response to a comment on above FB post, I wrote (slightly edited):  I am not promoting all views of Mr. Owaisi. Given the context in India today where some Indian Muslims feel that they are being targeted by some aggressive persons from the majority Hindu community, I find this statement of Mr. Owaisi to be very good and I support it. I hope such statements by Indian Muslim leaders will give courage to those Indian Muslims who feel they are being victimized.

My request to you --name-snipped-- sir is to please focus only on these words of Mr. Owaisi in any further comments you make on this post. You may not like many other things about Mr. Owaisi and that's Ok with me. But please don't share that on this post.

But if you have any objections to the views expressed by words that I have shared of Mr. Owaisi in this post, I welcome your criticism.

Please note that public leaders, of which surely Mr. Owaisi is one such from India, have stands on various issues. My agreement and support of Mr. Owaisi is limited to this stand of Mr. Owaisi. I don't think I have shared anything else about Mr. Owaisi's views on social media.
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Tweet from Indian cricket star Harbhajan Singh about the Nankana Sahib famous Sikh place of worship in Pakistan: "God is one..let’s not divide it and create hate among each other’s.. let’s be human first and respect each other’s.. Mohammad Hassan openly threatens to destroy Nankana Sahib Gurdwara and build the mosque in that place 
@ImranKhanPTI
 plz do the needful 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏", https://twitter.com/harbhajan_singh/status/1213307400519704576

The tweet has a video clip of a person making the above mentioned threat in Urdu/Punjabi.

I support the above words of Harbhajan Singh. Let's hope and pray that peace and goodwill come to the place and all the communities there.
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Good development update here: https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2714273985455828
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This shows the unfortunate reality of religious discrimination against minorities in Pakistan. In this case it is the Sikhs who are the target of discrimination.

[Good development update here: https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2714273985455828]

Additional background to this matter is that as per this article, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/muslims-mob-attack-gurdwara-nankana-sahib-with-stones/articleshow/73088062.cms, the local Muslims were resentful of local Sikhs (in Pakistan) opposition to alleged forcible conversion of a Sikh girl (daughter of some person associated with one of the Gurudwaras of the area) to Islam and her (forcible) marriage to a Muslim boy.

Since I became an adult (in 1980) and was reading up/aware of such matters as reported in Indian mainstream media, I have never ever heard of any similar case in India of a girl of a minority religion (Muslim or Christian or Sikh or Buddhist or Jain or Zoroastrian/Parsee or Jew) being abducted and converted to the majority religion (Hinduism) and being forced to marry a Hindu.

I find it hard to imagine life as a minority religious community person in  Pakistan. I mean girls being abducted and forced to convert to Islam and marry Muslim boys! That is utterly horrific.

Now this may be happening only in rural areas in Pakistan and not in the major cities. But wherever such things happen, they are utterly horrific.

[Shared video: Watch: Pak man threatens to take over Nankana Sahib, rename it Ghulam Ali Mustafa, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/news/watch-pak-man-threatens-to-take-over-nankana-sahib-rename-it-ghulam-ali-mustafa/videoshow/73087635.cms]
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Good to see Andhra Pradesh CM Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy garu accept blessings of TTD (Tirupati) priests. [FB post: https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2711374485745778 has shared post pics.]
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PM Modi accepting blessings at Siddaganga mutt in Tumkuru, Karnataka. [FB post:  https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2711370749079485 has shared post pics.]
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Sathya Saibaba sings "Chitta Chora & Vahe Guru" Bhajan, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4hQQ4JGWbI, 5 min. 52 secs.
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Waheguru Wahegur Bhai Joginder Singh Ji Riar, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGoiNMKi0-o, 9 min. 39 secs.
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President of India: "Homage to Guru Gobind Singh Ji on his birth anniversary. He devoted his life to serving the people and upholding the values of truth, justice and compassion. The life and teachings of Guru Gobind Singh Ji continue to inspire us.", https://twitter.com/rashtrapatibhvn/status/1212558378964144128
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