Lessons from Bamiyan

22 Mar, 2001    ·   484

Brig. SS Chandel explains the implications of the destruction of Buddha statues in Afghanistan
Brig. SS Chandel
The vandalistic destruction of the massive images of Buddha in Bamiyan in Afghanistan is an expression of implacable hatred that the ruling Taliban has for everything that, has even the remotest connection with ‘Hindu’ India . Part of this visceral hatred spills over across India ’s border into Kashmir and the rest of India . It should be underscored here that this hatred has a history of over a thousand years dating back to Mahmood Ghaznavi and continuing across the last millennium with such men as Qutub uddin Aibak, Iltumish, Alluddin Khalji, Mohammed Tughlak, Feroz Tughlak, Sikandar Lodhi and even the Moghuls barring Akbar. Incidentally all were Afghans. They find it hard to digest that icons connected with ‘Hindu’ India should continue to evoke in their own people a certain degree of awe and respect even if it is their own heritage. It is a memory which they would try their hardest to erase from the collective memory of the public.

 

 

With the changed geographic situation they no longer find it possible to take on India directly across Pakistan like Ghaznavi, Ghauri and others. But they can always choose the second best option namely to recruit highly brainwashed and motivated men to infiltrate into India via the sea, deserts and the mountains in thousands. The men are vicious and motivated in thousand of madrassas. They have a sanctuary in Pakistan , funds from Saudi Arabia , UAF and other oil rich Islamic countries, hosts in India and coordination from the ISI. The modern technological developments in explosives, communications via satellites and the availability of arms, make their task simpler. They believe that ‘Hindu’ India can be seriously subverted if not conquered. The demolition of the Buddha status is an ‘initiation ceremony.’ 

 

 

The country should act both defensively and offensively. Defensive strategy would imply more troops, especially well equipped infantry on the Line of Control. Satellites, helicopters and Air Force for reconnaissance and attack from the air and aggressive naval patrolling on the seas is also essential. Offensively, India should help Ahmad Shah Masood and his Northern coalition to activate that front. Diplomatically we should convince Krighizhistan and Kazakistan that it is more profitable to be with us. We should negotiate with U.S.A. European countries, China and Russia for a joint policy against Afghan terrorism.

 

 

Equally important is the aspect of making the ordinary Afghan citizen see the other side of the coin. India ’s best brains should be tasked to put across to them the deleterious effects of vandalizing their own heritage. A nation without history is a nation without roots. It would go on to make their own society such as it is, more and more nihilistic and isolate their coreligionists increasingly in their respective ambience.

 

 

Internally it is vital to educate our own Muslim population about the dangers emanating from the thought process of the institutions like Deobandi School and if unavoidable, to stop their Saudi Arabian connection. Of course it is just as necessary to offer the Muslims, specially the youth and the girls the opportunities in education and employment by providing subsidies, loans and employment. In this connection, it is of the first importance to rewrite the text books which, so far strive to negate the terrible slaughters and destruction wrecked on India by the fanatic Muslim invaders and rulers for nearly 1000 years. The time is now that the whole civilized world’s opinion is outraged by the Taliban’s vandalism.   

 

 

 

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