I am replying late but I think this topic needs to be clarified a bit.
As an agnostic/liberal/leftist/secular Indian (call me whatever you want, my most preferred term for myself is 21st century Nehruvian), I am on the side of the Indian Muslims. I don't think I have to prove it to anyone here, or even in the real world. My actions speak louder than my words.
I am also not anti-Pakistani for the simple reason that Jawaharlal Nehru was not anti-Pakistani. Yes, he had his serious differences with Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Both were very ambitious people who cared about their respective countrymen. But, he never hated the country. During his lifetime, except for the 1948 Kashmir skirmish, there weren't any tensions with Pakistan. People were able to freely travel between the two countries etc.
I also don't believe any Indian Muslims should be considered any less patriotic for supporting Pakistan in peaceful times, much less for a stupid game like cricket. The fact that they are judged harshly in today's India is because we live in a different atmosphere which is the complete opposite of the founding values of India. It's a Nazi ideology (Hindutvad/RSS) we fought tooth and nail against in 1947, and will continue to fight them now.
I must agree here. I think I was a bit offended by Afrazul Mandal's posts the other day. He should know when to shut up. While as a non-practicing Hindu, I am allowed to mock my own religion, it's not nice for you to go overboard and do exactly the same. It's fine if you rate my tongue in cheek Hinduphobic posts or react with a smiley or something, but some of your comments were really offensive.
While I am on the side of Indian Muslims, I will not tolerate disrespect coming from them, or anyone else. You even went to the extent of calling me a "troll". I hope you learn from your mistakes, improve your behavior and posts in the future. I always oppose any kind of racial discrimination, Islamophobia etc. Henceforth, I will definitely be watching your replies to my comments. If you can't reply properly, better not do it. Focus on other people's posts.
I reply to everyone's threads here, wherever possible. Even when they disagree with me. As long as they're not name-calling and keeping it polite. That being said, I am not perfect. I got into a few slanging matches here and have cussed on occasions. But at least I know where to stop. The same I expect of all other posters.
This comment was entirely directed at the Indian posters here. I am not ***-kissing these Pakistanis here, but let me tell you, every single one of them has been overwhelmingly polite to me. I genuinely like the way they replied to my comments. I wish the Indian posters could learn something from them.
If this was directed at me - it is ambiguous, and starts by naming someone else - it is entirely for me to decide whether or not to trust anybody purporting to be Indian and criticising India. As you said, as a non-practising Hindu, I allow myself to criticise (not mock) my own religion, but it is not nice for someone else - you, in this instance - to go overboard and do the same or worse. My specific reference is to the several very low comments made about women in several posts. It was that which tipped my early enthusiasm into scepticism and then outright denial, and it is still not something that can be airily dismissed.
Your slanging matches about which you know where to stop might seem from another's point of view to have gone on too far. Not everyone will insert himself in between to point this out to you as you hurl your comments at others, but opinions are formed, and, in the absence of subsequent contrary evidence, these remain. These are mere opinions, and have no meaning to you except that it builds another layer of disbelief over what already exists.
As for how the Pakistani posters react to you, I have had similar experiences; for what it's worth, these reactions are not all uniform, some being genuine, and some opportunistic ploys to gain confidence and reliance on their goodwill. It is not for me to instruct you, but it is something that has happened before. Some of those who are using your example as weapons in a battle of their own choosing are literally using you and your posts as ammunition. Not your fault, but that is what it is.
One major point - my identity has been built up over some period of time. Those who date back to older times know my ethnic identity, my antecedents, down to my (original) religious affiliation and the originating districts of preceding generations of my family. There is nothing shadowy or nebulous about these, even down to my recent history and present whereabouts. I put it to all reading this that this is a material difference and not one to be discounted.
Finally, I am totally supportive of Muslim Indians - you will never, ever find me referring to them as Indian Muslims - but it seems that Afrazul Mandal is suspicious of me, and has gone to the lengths of considering me, in the teeth of the evidence, an RSS stooge. That must be the joke of the century. It seems to have affected xeuss as well, and for that reason, from that post onwards, I have not stepped forward to support them. My strong position regarding them has not changed one little bit.
PS: I promised to be constructive in every post. For whatever you write in future, my response shall be on merit. It may or may not display itself as a written response, but your word shall speak you. As I hope mine shall me.
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