The Chopped Hand And The Abyss In The Heart
YENTHA EDITORIAL
On Jul 05, 2010
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Yesterday's incident of cutting off a teacher's hand in broad daylight has given us some serious hiccups.
Prof. TJ Joseph of Newman College, Thodupuzha, is no angel. He was on the run a few months ago after preparing an inflammatory question paper which had hurt the religious susceptibilities of the Muslims. The professor was arrested and kept in remand before he was released on bail. We need to look at this incident from different angles. First of all, what Prof. TJ Joseph did was wrong. He should not have abused his position as a teacher to insult the feelings of a community. He is free to have his opinion and faith. Our Constitution gives one the right to practise and propagate one's faith. Mr Joseph has all the freedom to propagate his faith. But he has no right to insult or make fun of another faith. I dug up from the Internet the controversial parts of the question paper. If it was what he had included in the question paper, he has to apologise to the entire Kerala public because it shows a contemptuous attitude and approach to other faiths. It doesn't fit into the cultural fabric of a civilized society. No man of maturity--especially one who is a teacher--should allow such remarks in a question paper. The second angle is the retaliation by a group of unknown people. Yesterday we saw the lethal combination of fanaticism and terrorism raising its ugly head. And it is sad, if not tragic, how we respond to situations and people who disagree with us. The way a group of people dragged Mr Joseph out of the car when he, his mother and sister were coming back from church and cut off his hand is brutal and barbaric. It was not the hand of a teacher that was cut, but a chunk of a peace-loving people's heart. Mr Joseph is a teacher, and teachers are people who are to equip and shape our children, the torchbearers of our tomorrow. His chopped-off, lifeless hand symbolises our rotten present and precarious future. Where are we going? What's happening to us? Where is love? Where is tolerance? And, where is our proclaimed unity in diversity? What happened to Mr Joseph is the microcosm of what is spreading across the world--terrorism in the name of religion. Religions are a code of conduct for man's harmonious co-inhabitation. But we see bloodshed and barbarism in the very name of religion. Yesterday we also saw the effigy of the chief minister being burned for the comments he made against the late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. The Congress followers took to the streets seeking an apology from Mr VS Achuthanandan. |
And, we are into the second day of hartal protesting fuel price hikes. We pretty well know that these hartals are not going to bring the prices down. But we will 'freeze India'--that's our political will.
We also saw media reports about the finance minister's failure to level all the potholes on roads across the state. We have counted that over 49,000 holes have been levelled so far, but more are left. And, some media have treated it as a grave slip from the government on a day when there was a stab at our conscience: on a day when a teacher was dragged out of his car and his hand was chopped off in vengeance. But no one had the will or spleen to come out in the open and protest against the vandalism that saw a teacher being butchered in front of his elderly mother and sister, and his child being thrown away like a discarded chocolate wrapper. Where are our political leaders? Where are our religious leaders? Can we stand together to defeat this cancerous growth which is spreading to all organs of our social system? Of course, there have been protesting words from all corners of the society condemning the act. But, aren't those words impotent? Aren't they just wet crackers? Aren't they just obligatory expressions of 'shock and indignation'? We have the political will to howl at an MP who happened to keep his hand on his chest when the National Anthem was being sung. We have the moral high standards to make sure a minister, who was instrumental in fielding a cricket team and allegedly seeking his sweat share, is out of the cabinet. But where are we today when a group of terrorists has plunged a knife deep into the very core of our heart? I don't condone what Mr Joseph has done, but to cut his hand off in the open in front of public shows the lawlessness of our society. We know that in certain Middle Eastern countries, a thief's hand is cut off as punishment. But a thief will always be a thief unless his heart is changed. If he doesn't have hands, he will still steal by other means unless his heart is changed. The organs are just tools of execution; it is the heart that is to be healed. It is a matter of heart--that's where evil is born and bred. That's exactly why we need to have a clean heart, more than anything else. While we clamour about the potholes on our roads, we don't realise that there is an abyss in our heart. Can we do something about it?  Sabin Iqbal
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Comments
hi iqbal.
As a reader of your column, and reading what you have to say so authoritatively, maybe you can inform your readers on what it was that Prof Joesph asked his students, and also how he offended muslim sentiments. It would be helpful for the rest of us who have subversive thoughts but who are also attached (please pardon the pun) to our right palms, and do not like to see it chopped off.
regards, etc.
Nirvana Demon,
on Jul 05, 2010 12:25:45 PM
Nirvana Demon,
on Jul 05, 2010 12:25:45 PM
where is the law and order ,are the leaders of thodupuzha pro Muslims and tell there people to do what ever they can ,this is not Taliban boss its India mind it. in andhra pradesh making only anti speachs leads to jail then what is kerala govt doing is it sleeping .wake up before its too late
Amarnath,
on Jul 05, 2010 12:35:32 PM
Amarnath,
on Jul 05, 2010 12:35:32 PM
Hai Mr. Sibin Iqbal,
I read your article. It makes a few points. We are a peaceful people in Kerala and we want to live it that way in the days to come also. Be it from any community fanaticism cannot be entertained. Let's hope that the wounds in our collective consciousness on this regard heal quickly.
Thoms C Jacob,
on Jul 05, 2010 12:46:56 PM
Thoms C Jacob,
on Jul 05, 2010 12:46:56 PM
Stupid logic!
Keep you r religion in your pockets! or whichever part hole you prefer! There is a law and there is a recourse by law. Will the guy get back his hand?
Omkar,
on Jul 05, 2010 02:47:01 PM
Omkar,
on Jul 05, 2010 02:47:01 PM
This is what you expect in Muslim majority places who have little tolerance to other religions..its just that we ignore this little fact. India might soon be one...!
Whatever,
on Jul 05, 2010 02:58:54 PM
Whatever,
on Jul 05, 2010 02:58:54 PM
The ditorial comment by Sabin Iqbal is thought provoking. But I only wnt to say that now Sabin may have to guard his hands now as the '....beings' who cut off the professor's hands are still roaming around in the 'civilized society' of God's own country. I live not in Kerala, but used to be proud of Kerala as a Keralite. But yesterday when I heard the news of 'hand-chopping' came in TV I felt ashamed of being a Keralite. I used to think that Kerala was a state which could be a model for other Indian states for religious harmony. We need to hang our leaders whether religious or political, for not adequately responding against this incident and get the '...beings' who did this punished.
Fr.regi, Cmf,
on Jul 05, 2010 03:09:30 PM
Fr.regi, Cmf,
on Jul 05, 2010 03:09:30 PM
Yes.. let the Keralites know how this teacher offended a few so as to have his hands chopped off... think the media has behaved very badly from the start of the controversy.. it is only when one searches high and low, one get at least a glimpse of what really happened.. if what I gathered is right, then the person who wrote the initial play is a Muslim and except for the names nothing was changed from the original.. and yes.. this teacher was silly to have included it in a question paper.. but does one maime every silly person in this world? if so, let me tell you that we have even more sillier ones in our political parties, among the media etc.. and does only religion matter? dont we read much more worse acts by the humans here in Kerala itself?
When did we become so obsessed with our religion?
Happy Kitten,
on Jul 05, 2010 03:32:23 PM
Happy Kitten,
on Jul 05, 2010 03:32:23 PM
If Joseph used "Raman & Lakshmana" instead of what he used in his question paper, he may loss his life, his wife , daughter & sister may get raped. Am I right Mr. Omkar?
S.K.Paul,
on Jul 05, 2010 03:37:08 PM
S.K.Paul,
on Jul 05, 2010 03:37:08 PM
Pro.Joseph shouldn't have done that but very importantly he appologised for his deeds.
Mohan,
on Jul 05, 2010 04:55:37 PM
Mohan,
on Jul 05, 2010 04:55:37 PM
i agree with u. But let me say, if the whole issue starting from the qtn paper happened outside kerala, that place would have been burning then & in the national news for so long. Let the law take its own course and punish the culprits, whether its the professor or terrorists! Lets live in religious harmony.
Laj,
on Jul 05, 2010 06:21:47 PM
Laj,
on Jul 05, 2010 06:21:47 PM
The indicted questionnaire however did not include anything that could be construed as against the Muslim religion. The authorities of Newman College, told AsiaNews that in the test, Prof. Joseph tells the story of a fishmonger who, despite hard work, becomes increasingly poor. The monger’s name is Mohammad In his desperation, he spoke to God and also asked his brother why his fortunes were dwindling. His brother told Mohammed:"Why are you calling God, God, God...." Students were asked to specify the punctuation of the narrative. If just the name is Given Mohammed how do you consider he is Pro;mohmmed? There are so many muslims with the name of Mohammed and many of them liers, cheeters, robers then why dont you cut of their hands? Are they not the disgrace to Islam by taking the name Mohanned?
Agnel,
on Jul 05, 2010 06:33:19 PM
Agnel,
on Jul 05, 2010 06:33:19 PM
Sir, towards the close of your editorial you simply knocked me off my wits. What began as harmless moralising suddenly and without warning transmogrified into something deadly. You seemed to clearly suggest that you, unlike the criminals who chopped off the teacher's hands, would have gone straight for his heart. You might argue that you have been misunderstood, that you had noble intentions. But, editor sir, you know certain things just don't change. You just have to do away with it. But to be fair to you, it is hard to feel sympathy for this victim. This could sound perverse. Even for me it feels strange. Yet, it has to be said, the questions this teacher framed for an internal question paper reflected the contempt with which a community views the other. That absolute contempt, I think, should shock us more than the violent hacking.
Subin Mehta,
on Jul 05, 2010 10:28:04 PM
Subin Mehta,
on Jul 05, 2010 10:28:04 PM
Ha ha ha...Sabin, look at the way readers have taken you for a ride! Subin please read the editorial(last part) many times before you comment. Don't put your venom into the editor's mouth. Powerful stuff, editor.
English Teacher,
on Jul 05, 2010 10:47:31 PM
English Teacher,
on Jul 05, 2010 10:47:31 PM
After reading the comments, I think most people have misunderstood the Editor ... I think the society sees red when we discuss issues like these. Logic just goes out. Sad to see these comments ...
Kevin Varghese ,
on Jul 05, 2010 11:10:51 PM
Kevin Varghese ,
on Jul 05, 2010 11:10:51 PM
TO QUOTE SUBIN:
You seemed to clearly suggest that you, unlike the criminals who chopped off the teacher's hands, would have gone straight for his heart.
Sir, you seem to have misunderstood the editor. That is not what he said. Please try reading again?
@Editor
very powerful stuff indeed
Beethoven,
on Jul 06, 2010 12:39:40 AM
Beethoven,
on Jul 06, 2010 12:39:40 AM
Great editorial sab!
And as for him going for the heart, I definitely don't think he meant going for it with a knife. Love, compassion, tolerance... I think that's what he had in mind.. Good job yentha! It's stuff like this that will set u above the rest.
'
Remi,
on Jul 06, 2010 06:21:53 AM
Remi,
on Jul 06, 2010 06:21:53 AM
Time for Kerala to wake up. Unite against Talibanisation.
Prasanth,
on Jul 06, 2010 08:20:41 AM
Prasanth,
on Jul 06, 2010 08:20:41 AM
A 'Mohammed' somewhere in the question and people suddenly have zero-tolerance.What is happening?I totally agree with @Agnel. A question is a question. How much can one 'defame' a religion in a question. Hundereds of 'Mohammeds' all over the world. The good guys, and the others the liars and the cheaters. Off with their hands too?
Scorpion Girl,
on Jul 06, 2010 08:53:50 AM
Scorpion Girl,
on Jul 06, 2010 08:53:50 AM
If I spit on you and you slap me, which of us has committed a greater crime? It is sad that we are now debating levels of insensitivity.
Perumalythoma,
on Jul 06, 2010 11:53:47 AM
Perumalythoma,
on Jul 06, 2010 11:53:47 AM
A direful incident indeed, has a real apocalyptic note to our cultural and communal context. Still have a strange feeling whether truth is obfuscated. Let us now pray for the health of Joseph Sir and his family to get the courage to keep going, violence must not prevail any more it does not belong to Kerala culture or its high time one should turn to oneself and eradicate the same, taking law in hand for such vulnerable acts cannot be comprised, so my plea to the authorities is to make their way to find out true culprits/miscreants hiding out there.
Jose Davis,
on Jul 06, 2010 12:14:23 PM
Jose Davis,
on Jul 06, 2010 12:14:23 PM
Agnel is 100% right. There are millions of Mohammed name carriers in the world. Muslims distinguishing the Prophet Mohammed along with sallalahu alaihi wasaalam (S.A.W). If S.A.W is not there , it is not prophet mohammed (S.A.W). Even if Mr.Joseph showed a little bit foolishness, Muslim must tolerate this, Because Islam is a religion of Tolerance. People without tolerance are not true Muslims. Also I would like to add -Neither the God Nor Prophet Mohammed doesn't need anybodys help. God is great, he is the only authority to give punishments. Silly human beings are not authorised to perform punishments.
Sahnis Aslam,
on Jul 06, 2010 02:19:49 PM
Sahnis Aslam,
on Jul 06, 2010 02:19:49 PM
First of all, I'd like to congratulate Sabin on the work he has done here. The work is great, considering how it has tried to look into both sides of the matter. This is one issue that had me rattled to the core. It makes you think as to what is happening to kerala that is supposed to be a model of communal harmony. But once you have access to the question paper and the source of the question, which I have been lucky enough to have, you cannot help but think that the teacher did intend the mischief he brought about in his paper. If not, he ought to be a downright dumb person, pardon the usage, because it is hard to imagine that anyone could be so lame. I, for one, do not approve of the teachers mischief with the question. I also strongly disapprove of the way in which he was attacked, even after disciplinary action was taken against him and his apology for his antics. We live in a civilized society and this definitely not the way one works. If we start chopping off parts for crimes then what better are we than any medieval tribe.
The last part of the article was very good indeed, a thought provoking piece.
@Subin - Please do go through the content of an article clearly and understand it before commenting on it. I believe that you have terribly misunderstood the author here. What he intended to convey was that depriving a culprit of his tools doesn't stop him from being one, rather, changing his thought process could surely make him mend his ways.
Arun Murali Manush,
on Jul 06, 2010 03:05:21 PM
Arun Murali Manush,
on Jul 06, 2010 03:05:21 PM
The alleged question is about a passage for punctuations. It is an imaginary conversation with god and a disciple. That passage is not the creation of Prof. T J Joseph. The excerpts in the question paper was taken from Page number -58 of the book Thirakathayude Neethesastram ( Screen Play Book) by PT Kunju Muhammad. ( a Muslim writer- who is an Ex MLA - member of the Communist Party of India- Marxist). The text book is an approved text by the Mahatma Gandhi University.
Thomas,
on Jul 06, 2010 08:46:01 PM
Thomas,
on Jul 06, 2010 08:46:01 PM
Well said Mr. Editor. You have made the right rhetoric at the right time. We are a group of hypocrites who will readily scorn at things and make moral judgments and keep quite when we shouldn't be. All this makes me wonder whether the millions who follow religion, let it be any religion, understand the true essence and meaning of it? I'd say, those who understand god need no religion; those who understand religion need no fanaticism!
Ekanthapadhikan,
on Jul 06, 2010 10:13:38 PM
Ekanthapadhikan,
on Jul 06, 2010 10:13:38 PM
A very powerful editorial..Of late Kerala is witnessing an unprecedented cultural and moral deterioration. It is not yet time for Kerala to forget the gruesome murder of a teacher in front his young, innocent students. A fatal combination of politics and religion is taking roots in our soil which is completely devoid of any ethical or moral values.There seems to have emerged a blood thirsty generation whose mind is conditioned for extreme form of violence
Anjana,
on Jul 06, 2010 10:52:49 PM
Anjana,
on Jul 06, 2010 10:52:49 PM
Kerala has become a breeding ground for Talibanist thoughts. At least that is what this incident shows. There is no doubt that Mr Joseph had committed a mistake and should be punished for that as per the laws of the land. But that is the job of the judiciary. Any individuals or groups trying to deal out barbaric justice on the ground that someone had offended their religion is not acceptable in a democratic, secular society. Religion should not act as a fountainhead of hatread and revenge, instead should propagate love and tolerance. This savage act has gashed the secular heart of Kerala.
Thunder,
on Jul 07, 2010 09:31:04 AM
Thunder,
on Jul 07, 2010 09:31:04 AM
Hi Sabin,I appreciate for sharing your views, however when you say with authority that you dug up the alleged question paper from Inetrnet and you feel that Mr.Joseph should apologize to the entire Kerala public, I am afraid your research is not complete. Because,I received a mail which shows the original chapter from which the controversial excerpt was taken.And after comparing it, no one would feel that its a breach of respect towards other religions. Let's not jump to conclusions before unearthing the matter fully out. I fully support Agnel's view.
Prathibha S Mathews,
on Jul 07, 2010 02:08:51 PM
Prathibha S Mathews,
on Jul 07, 2010 02:08:51 PM
@ omkar
U R right ..he wont be getting his hand back ..but he had got no right to hurt anybody's religious sentiment ...he got what he deserved ...
Gouri Lekshmi,
on Jul 14, 2010 10:34:25 PM
Gouri Lekshmi,
on Jul 14, 2010 10:34:25 PM
Can you share the controversial question privately; English translation? If not all a reader has to go by your word.
Rohit Dhankar,
on Sep 06, 2010 07:22:18 PM
Rohit Dhankar,
on Sep 06, 2010 07:22:18 PM
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