FORMER STUDENT WRITES TO MASSEY UNIVERSITY AGAINST ANTI-HINDU PROPAGANDA

 

FORMER MASSEY UNI STUDENT RAISES VOICE AGAINST  HINDUPHOBIA.

A LETTER TO THE VICE CHANCELLOR OF MASSEY UNIVERSITY

Thakur Ranjit Singh

Dear Vice Chancellor, 

I am writing as an Alumnus of Massey University from School of 1984 and also as a Third Generation Girmitiya (Indentured labourer) descendant, as I am extremely disappointed that name of my former institution has been smeared.

I am deeply hurt that my former institution appears to have degenerated so low as to allow itself to be made into an international Hinduphobia hub by overseas, mostly American, Institutions. I refer to the white paper authored by Prof. Mohan Dutta as part of the CARE White Paper Series published by Massey University and has already been brought to your attention. 

Hindi School Students perform the arts of music and culture they learnt during Waitakere Diwali. How is this Hindu Arts and Culture threat to anybody?

And I also refer to a support letter endorsed by over 100 like-minded academics from around the world, where his role in his involvement with anti-India, anti- Modi, anti-Hindu and Hinduphobia, to any sensible academic, obviously is ultra vires to his responsibilities and role as head of CARE.

Please note this is being written in an individual capacity and represents my personal views only, and not any organisation I am associated with.

I also speak for many descendants of indentured labourers to Fiji here in New Zealand, who comprise almost half the “Indian” population here. We need to appreciate that over 85 percent of Fiji Indians are Hindus, and I join our Hindu brothers to strongly oppose and denounce statements contained in the fallacious, defamatory, and sacrilegious White paper. His biggest crime is that he has also tarnished Fiji -Born Hindus with the same brush, strangely, being ignorant of our history.

Graceful dancers very beautifully express their lessons of dancing culture. This is gift of Hinduism to the world. So how can this be deemed threat to anybody.

When Girmit or indenture to Fiji commenced in 1879 and ended in 1916, we then had a united secular India, so had no separate East or West Pakistan/ Bangladesh. 

Thakur Bansi and Barkat Ali as Girmitiyas (indentured labourers) were all INDIANS,  when they came to Fiji as Jahaji Bhais (travelling companions in one ship). Their shared misery on the Indenture ships bound them into inseparable friendship called “Jahaji Bhai”. 

They celebrated Diwali and Eid together, everybody in the villages were uncle and aunties, with no animosity and radicalisation, which began after partition of India and influence of certain Islamic scholars of questionable ideology from Middle East and other such nations into Fiji, NZ, and other western countries, teaching division between religion. Professor Dutta is doing exactly the same, in garb of an academic.

Since its inception in 2015, Shri Ram Mandir in Henderson, Auckland has been a hub of religious and community centre and activity. It supports religious discourse, Senior Citizens, promotes networking of youths and ladies, involves in fundraising for much needed community support and helps the vulnerable. So, who in their right sense can deem Hinduism as threat to anybody? In fact they have been praised for adding value to NZ.

Therefore, many Fiji Indians in NZ or Fiji  have hardly heard of term Islamophobia until the terrorism at Christchurch Mosque by an Anglo Saxon Australian. And Hinduism and Hindutva for them is peaceful following of the principles of their religion , scriptures, Vedas, to love all in the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which regards the whole world as one family.

Therefore Fiji Indian Hindus, who comprise some half of Hindus here in Aotearoa, are very hurt by Professor Dutta, smearing Fiji Hindus with his divisive views. And in effect he, supposedly being a Hindu, commits sacrilege against his forebears and brethren by referring to us as spreading terror and persecuting fellow Muslims in NZ.

Well-trained young girls performing eye-catching classical dance at Trusts Stadium during Diwali Celebrations. What threat to the society can be seen from promotion of such arts and culture from Hinduism?

The terror attack by a lone wolf terrorist in Christchurch on 25 March 2019 came as a complete surprise in a peaceful Aotearoa. This was not from a Hindu, but a White Supremacist from Australia.

There have been many subsequent anti-Islamic and Islamophobic statements and actions. They were not from Hindus but White Supremacists. This can be verified from FIANZ (Federation of Islamic Associations of NZ) , and Islamic women’s association in NZ. (Anjum Rahman of the women's wing in Waikato, apparently and ironically appears to support Massey University, Mohan Dutta and hence their anti-Hindu sentiments in NZ.)

Hinduism is the second largest religion in New Zealand with over 200,000 followers, after Christianity. In some 100 years since they have been here, Hindus have never ever been mentioned in any activity of terror or hurt to others that would bring shame to the religion. In effect they have always been praised for helping NZ and adding colour and diversity to the cultural landscape and economy of New Zealand. A recent study shows Indians add some $10 b to NZ’s economy, and the sizable portion of that is by Hindus.

Therefore it came as surprise when, Professor Dutta, tasked to look after a school of health well-being of people, indulges in Hinduphobia - spreading hate in Aotearoa under cover of Academic Freedom.

A thrilling Waitakere Holi at Trusts Stadium in Henderson where some 40 per cent of those participating are Anglo-Saxons and non-Hindus, enjoying the all-encompassing Hindu festival of colours. Now, where does any Professor see that as a threat to anybody? Can anybody smell any hate of anybody from any of these Hindu activities in NZ?

In the aftermath of as ISIS terror attack by an Islamic terrorist in Auckland on 4 September 2021, it was revealed that such a person should have been deported but was allowed to stay in NZ because of NZ laws being very timid and soft of such criminal elements.

This also appears to be the case with laws on Academic Freedom and hate speech, where Massey University appears to be used by some anti-India and anti-Modi sentiments as a hub to spread hate, anti-Hindu, and anti-Modi statements , sheltering under cloak of academic freedom. As stated above, a letter has come to attention, supported by over 100 USA and overseas, mostly Indian academics, lending support to spread of hate and misinformation by Dutta in a picturesque Palmerston North.  (Anjum Rahman, a founding member of the New Zealand Islamic Women's Council, is also a sanatory to that letter).

Dutta mischievously and maliciously misrepresents Hindu community of Aotearoa by hinting that we are trained to commit violence against other religions and are brainwashed to become Hindu supremacist. His assertion that Hindu art and cultural elements promote Islamophobia is laughable if it was not that nonsensical and ill-informed coming from a person who is supposed to be a Professor.

When has celebration of enlightening Diwali festival of lights, chanting of Gayatri Mantra, celebrating colourful Holi, participating in Yoga, singing ..eeshwar Allah tero naam…, teaching dance, music, arts, and language ever killed, hurt, or persecuted anybody at all, least of all Muslims, who also participate happily in our colourful all-inclusive festivals and events?

I am perturbed  as to why Professor Dutta took a political belief  practised by the ruling party in India and set it against some three percent population of Hindu population here who call Aotearoa home. 

The teachings of arts, language, music and culture from Waitakere Hindi School culminates in these colourful students going on stage to display their proud and generous learnings throbbing from Hinduism. Is that seen as a danger or threat to anybody? If anything, it beautifies cultural landscape of Aotearoa. 

Hindus in NZ also come from the Indian subcontinent, Fiji, Nepal, Singapore, South Africa, the Caribbean and other nations. Many of them are second and third generation Kiwi Hindus. I am surprised why Massey University allows them to be involved in such a political philosophy as in India. This really bring into question the reputation and credibility of Massey University where I was almost four decades ago.

I therefore request Massey University to look at performance, agitation and actions of Professor Dutta which are obviously ultra vires to his academic role as head of CARE of Massey University.

Awaiting for your effective action.

 

 

Your Faithfully,

 

Thakur Ranjit Singh

 

Blogger-FIJI PUNDIT

Massey Alumni (1984)

Kiwi Fiji Indian Hindu

+6421 235 4559

 

[About the Author: Thakur Ranjit is a Third Generation Fiji Indian Hindu, now settled in NZ. He is an Alumni of Massey University from Class of 1984, a journalist, a media commentator, and runs his blog FIJI PUNDIT. Email: thakurjifj@gmail.com]