BlueBee Posted September 18, 2014 Posted September 18, 2014 CHANDIGARH: Made famous by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, the salutation "Jai Hind" was coined by Major Abid Hasan Zafrani of the Azad Hind Fauj. Two decades after Zafrani's death, a Muslim priest of the Indian Army has approached the President of India, the National Commission of Minorities and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav alleging that his superior officers have censured him for using the slogan because it "sends a message of religious hatred and extremism". Subedar Ishrat Ali alleges his commanding officer has served him a notice warning him to "rise above narrowmindedness", and instead salute by using "Ram, Ram" and "Jai Mata Di" — the official battalion slogans — or face "disciplinary action". Ali told ET from Bikaner that he has protested and written to his superior officers. He has informed them that it is impossible for him to use the said salutes as they are Hindu religious chants and he is an Islamic priest. On his behalf, his wife Shehnaz Bano has written to the President of India and the National Commission for Minorities, Delhi, with a copy to the Uttar Pradesh chief minister complaining of "mental torture and harassment" and demanding justice. Ali's commanding officer Colonel Chitra Sen refused to comment on the issue and said Army HQ had all the relevant information. "Army is absolutely secular. We respect salutation of Jai Hind and all battle cries," said Major General Shokin Chauhan, additional director general, public information, without getting into the details of Subedar Ali's complaints. Leading lawyer Rajeev Anand, who took premature retirement as assistant commandant of Border Security Force, was critical of the notice issued to Ali. "This is totally wrong. Salutations are in the name of the country and not in the name of a religion. They all are soldiers of India. Passing such directives are totally untenable." The notice issued to Ali asks him to change his salutation. "The task of Army's religious teacher is to enthuse the spirit of patriotism, zeal and unity in the jawans, while the slogan of Jai Hind (Long Live India) sends a message of religious hatred and extremism. If you do not rise above narrowmindedness and do not salute by shouting 'Ram Ram' and 'Jai Mata di', as per the rules of the battalion disciplinary action will be taken against you," it says. "You are a religious teacher and your job is to enthuse patriotism, zeal and spirit of unity in the jawans. Your action (the utterance of Jai Hind) does not only send a message of religious hatred and extremism but also reflects upon your lack of knowledge; and that will not be tolerated." In his 22 years of service as a maulvi, Ali claims he was never asked not to use "Jai Hind" until July when he was verbally "warned" to shun the slogan and resort to shouting "Ram Ram and Jai Mata Ki" or else face a court martial. "I have served the Army for 22 years, saluted many chiefs including General VK Singh and others who never objected to it. Jai Hind is a slogan, which marks patriotism. How can I be faulted for being a patriot?" he asks. Ali claims his "harassment" began in May this year after his return from Sudan, after a seven-month special assignment. According to him, he is being targeted for his earlier complaint against a junior maulvi being sent to Sudan. "I had served at Rajputana Rifles centre, Delhi, for 10 years but was transferred to Rajputana Rifles (3 Raj Rif Bikaner) because I had complained against the move to send a junior of mine to Sudan. After my complaint I was sent to Sudan but immediately after my return I was posted to Bikaner, Rajasthan," Ali told ET over the phone from there. Ali added that he petitioned the Delhi high court against the transfer citing the ill health of his wife who is a heart patient and is undergoing treatment. In his petition, Ali had also mentioned that since he is left with two years of service and his two daughters and a son are studying in Delhi, he be allowed to serve in the capital. Although his initial case was rejected on the grounds of delay, his review petition is hanging fire in the Delhi high court. Ali says that on August 17, he refused to sign his annual confidential report (ACR), which according to him was tarnished "deliberately". A second notice was issued to him over this issue. Source
Precambrian Posted September 18, 2014 Posted September 18, 2014 why do we have muslim priests in the army in the first place?
gaurav92 Posted September 18, 2014 Posted September 18, 2014 why do we have muslim priests in the army in the first place? +1
The Outsider Posted September 18, 2014 Posted September 18, 2014 Acche din are well and truly here. Fundoos and loonies are coming out of the wood works from all nooks and corners, even in well respected institutions like the army.
G_B_ Posted September 18, 2014 Posted September 18, 2014 why do we have muslim priests in the army in the first place? +2
Malcolm Merlyn Posted September 18, 2014 Posted September 18, 2014 why do we have muslim priests in the army in the first place? There are hindu priests as well.They are involved during oath taking etc etc.
Raghav_12 Posted September 18, 2014 Posted September 18, 2014 why do we have muslim priests in the army in the first place? so should we have only hindu priests in army? is that what you are suggesting?
Raghav_12 Posted September 18, 2014 Posted September 18, 2014 There are hindu priests as well.They are involved during oath taking etc etc. his concern is with Muslim Priests only. That's what he is questioning.
hhunaeh Posted September 18, 2014 Posted September 18, 2014 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_chaplain A military chaplain ministers to military personnel and, in most cases, their families and civilians working for the military. In some cases they will also work with local civilians within a military area of operations. Although the term chaplain originally had Christian roots,[1] it is generally used today in military organizations to describe all professionals specially trained to serve any spiritual need, regardless of religious affiliation. In addition to offering pastoral care to individuals, and supporting their religious rights and needs, military chaplains may also advise the executive on issues of religion, and ethics, morale and morals as affected by religion. They may also liaise with local religious leaders in an effort to understand the role of religion as both a factor in hostility and war and as a force for reconciliation and peace.[2] Military chaplains normally represent a religion or faith group but work with military personnel of all faiths and none. Some countries, like the Netherlands and Belgium,[3] also employ humanist chaplains who offer a non-religious approach to chaplain support.
hhunaeh Posted September 18, 2014 Posted September 18, 2014 I hope the questions asked here are about why we have priests in the army like i thought they were, and not about why there are "muslim" priests.
Precambrian Posted September 18, 2014 Posted September 18, 2014 so should we have only hindu priests in army? is that what you are suggesting? Did I say that? Why do we have any kind of priests in the first place?
Precambrian Posted September 18, 2014 Posted September 18, 2014 Acche din are well and truly here. Fundoos and loonies are coming out of the wood works from all nooks and corners' date=' even in well respected institutions like the army.[/quote'] Don't you ever get bored/tired with yourself?
Precambrian Posted September 18, 2014 Posted September 18, 2014 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_chaplain What the army needs are good psychologists and educated people who know how to keep them motivated, and not priests.
hhunaeh Posted September 18, 2014 Posted September 18, 2014 What the army needs are good psychologists and educated people who know how to keep them motivated' date=' and not priests.[/quote'] better leave that for the armies of the world to decide.
Raghav_12 Posted September 18, 2014 Posted September 18, 2014 What the army needs are good psychologists and educated people who know how to keep them motivated' date=' and not priests.[/quote'] Psycologists and educated people don't perform funerals.
Raghav_12 Posted September 18, 2014 Posted September 18, 2014 Did I say that? Why do we have any kind of priests in the first place? If you wanted no priests to be there, you would have said, "why do we have priests in army"? But you said "why do we have muslim priests in army"?
Precambrian Posted September 18, 2014 Posted September 18, 2014 Psycologists and educated people don't perform funerals. :facepalm: :facepalm: Never knew it was the army that performed burials/cremations of soldiers and not the dearest and nearests of the dead person.
Precambrian Posted September 18, 2014 Posted September 18, 2014 If you wanted no priests to be there' date=' you would have said, "why do we have priests in army"? But you said "why do we have muslim priests in army"?[/quote'] Because that's what the article states, it doesn't talk about hindu priests or sikh priests in that does it? Don't expect everyone to follow ur "secular" theory of all encompassing bullshit.
hhunaeh Posted September 18, 2014 Posted September 18, 2014 :facepalm: :facepalm: Never knew it was the army that performed burials/cremations of soldiers and not the dearest and nearests of the dead person. What if someone is about to die in a field hospital and wants a religious authority to talk to in their final moments?
hhunaeh Posted September 18, 2014 Posted September 18, 2014 And are people expected to stop being religious once they are deputed to say the border?
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