Comments on: Arun Gandhi: A Saffron Finklestein?

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 04:45:39 +0000

Regarding Jews in India, I would be surprised if there were a particular pattern of oppression akin to what Jews have faced in other places. However, I would also be surprised if they didn't find themselves in the typical position of a minority group whose concerns go unrecognized by an unsympathetic dominant society. So, it's probably too simplistic either way to talk about antisemitism Jews face in India. Moreover, it's rather a non sequitor, as it doesn't address any specific concerns anyone has.

Anyway, Arun Gandhi has made things worse. He's gone on to characterize the concern over his admittedly antisemitic remarks as the work of a powerful and duplicitious Jewish lobby. That's just plain antisemitic. If you know anything about the history of antisemitism, that's exactly what antisemitism looks like.

By: Ruchira

Ruchira — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 22:32:51 +0000

Outside of Calcutta, Bombay, Pune and Kerala, the footprints of Indian Jews is not particularly prominent. I am older than most readers of this site. But growing up in post independence Delhi I had rarely heard of a Jewish presence in India in any conversation or in history books even though some prominent members on the Indian cultural, literary and media scene in those years were Jewish. The Jewish community in India was always small and disparate. The mostly working class Bene Israelis (who learnt of their Jewish roots only in the 1800s when Christian missionaries recognized it) of the Konkani coast had little religious or commercial connection with the more educated and prosperous Jews of Cochin and the Malabar coast. The much later arrivals from the middle east, the Baghdadi Jews (from Iraq, Turkey, Syria and Iran) were loyal to the British and did not assimilate like the earlier communities. After India's independence and the establishment of Israel, most Jewish Indians left for Israel, Europe and the US. The community is now near vanishing although I have heard some anecdotal account of some Israelis of Indian origin returning to their earlier "home land" in the wake of the Indian economic boom.

I wrote a review of Nathan Katz's comprehensive book, "Who Are The Jews of India?" on my blog where I gave a brief account of this obscure and now mostly forgotten bit of Indian history.

By: Arun Gupta

Arun Gupta — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 20:56:20 +0000

Just to point out that “serious intellectuals” in America can accuse the Muslim world of being steeped in a culture of violence, and get away with it. Or they can demonize an entire nation, e.g., Iran. Whatever one may think of Arun Gandhi, the scales are not balanced.

By: Outlook

Outlook — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 20:30:59 +0000

"Gandhi does not specify that he's speaking of a few groups. But to target him rather than engage with him in dialogue is sad and cruel." Angana Chatterji, California Institute of Integral Studies

From: In Exile From Truth

By: Tehelka

Tehelka — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 20:24:38 +0000

Do you think the University of Rochester did not give due credence to your career and lifetime devoted to nonviolence and justice? Was there pressure to step down? I was told that the university was under tremendous pressure. There was a possibility that some funding would be cut off. I thought that the institution is greater than the individual and so I was willing to sacrifice myself so that the university and the institute did not suffer.

From: I Was Willing To Sacrifice Myself

By: Yogi

Yogi — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 23:21:09 +0000

Indian Jewish communities (like the Jewish people of Cochin and Mumbai) are decreasing. Why is that happening?

They are immigrating to Israel. Bombay has been home to the Bene Israel Jews for many years. They are completely assimilated in the local culture, speak Marathi flawlessly, one of my mom's school friends was a Bene Israeli. Most of her siblings left for Israel but she didn't, she was a school teacher and her husband was in the Indian Navy. As far as I know I think she still lives there. The only thing different about her was that she had green eyes and lighter skin.

By: gm

gm — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 01:40:56 +0000

I agree with Auntyji #114.

There seem to be a few (key word here is few) Jewish communities in India. I have not heard of any anti Jewish sentiment directed towards them from the Hindus/majority Indians but I could be wrong. Does anyone here know if those communities experienced prejudice or hate crimes in India? From what I read on wikipedia - which may not be telling the whole story, the Indian Jewish communities (like the Jewish people of Cochin and Mumbai) are decreasing. Why is that happening?

Are there any similar Jewish communities in Pakistan, or Bangladesh? What is life like for a person of the Judaic faith in those countries? Are they allowed to practice religion freely? Just wondering.

By: Jangali Jaanwar

Jangali Jaanwar — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 23:23:42 +0000

Didn’t see Nayagan’s post, ditto what he said.

By: Jangali Jaanwar

Jangali Jaanwar — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 23:20:49 +0000

Could we ask that a private university not present itself as a think-tank on the Israel-Palestine question if its donors are sensitive on that subject?

If that's the University of Rochester's representation, I'd agree with you.

By: Nayagan

Nayagan — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 23:18:54 +0000

111 Â· bess said

blockquote>

Is non-violence really the best solution in all situations/contexts?

Question for a question: have you seen the film The Mission? The story presents this issue. You, the viewer, are left to decide. (It's a fine exercise as the film is stunning and the music sublime.)

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll add it to my netflix queue.

Could we at least ask that a private university be candid whenever it is unable to allow a marketplace of opinion to exist? Could we ask that a private university not present itself as a think-tank on the Israel-Palestine question if its donors are sensitive on that subject?

Although he may have resigned to avoid the shame of being forced out the fact remains that he did leave voluntarily. Also, Rochester is supposedly hosting a panel discussion of the topic at an unspecified date in the future. If they actually go through with it and it doesn't turn out to be a situation where each sentence is tested for compliance with Rochester's 'values,' then I could see them laying claim to having at least an acceptable approximation of a free marketplace of opinion.