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Asia

Gandhi’s Noakhali Tour

Published by communitypublishingabq@gmail.com on March 4, 2024 Respond 
From The Diary of 1947 by Nirmal Kumar Basu, in Sandip Mukherji's Noakhali 1946, translated by Rinita Mazumdar, PhD. Forthcoming translated book will be available April 2024.

Sri Nagendra Chandra Das

On the day of the Goddess Laxmi festival in the evening,  my 3 uncles (father’s younger brother) and I took the boat and went to hear kirtans[1] . When we were returning home, we saw a boat with about 150 Muslims. They caught up with us and told us to convert or die. We refused and they imprisoned and tortured us. They beat us with sticks, slashed our necks,  and inflicted wounds on our bodies. We appealed to some of the Muslim leaders in the village to help us. Then we had to give these criminals a bribe of Rs. 50 and promised them not to report this to the police and then they let us go. The next evening about 300 Muslims attacked our village and we again appealed to the Muslim leaders of our village for help. They convened a joint meeting of Hindus and Muslims and decided to support each other. However, the next day, they started to threaten us again. They told us, “Either convert, or you will suffer.” They threatened all the other Hindus in the village. Then we all left the village and fled where we would be safe. I left the village with my wife and our two-and-a-half-year-old daughter to go to the Chandpur relief camp. After a little while on our journey,  we saw fire. We heard that several Hindus were converted to Islam and those who refused were confined to their homes. Also, we heard that the daughter of the Chatkhil School Headmaster was married to a Muslim. My maternal grandfather’s house in Nichanpur was set on fire and everyone was confined till they converted to Muslims. I heard all of this while we were coming to Chandpur relief camp. I then tried again to return home,  and in Balakal station I saw about 500 Muslims were standing there and prohibiting the Hindus from returning to their homes. Seeing this kind of hostile atmosphere, I returned to Chandpur relief camp,  and from there with my wife and daughter came to Calcutta.

The amount of loss.
Land 3 pieces.
Tin roofed room 2
Thatched roof room 2
Wooden stuff Rs. 50
Petol[1] , kansha worth Rs 100, rice paddy, just worth Rs. 500.

                                                   Yours Truly,

                                                                                Nagendranath Das,

                                                                              Address: Village, Alipore, District —Tripura

                                                                           Police Station —Hajigung, Post office Kamranga

                                                                  (From The Diary of 1947, Nirmal Kumar Basu).

[1] This is a devotional song sung in groups in the praise of Sri Krishna, the avatar of Vishnu. It is popular in several parts of India, including in Bengal, where there are professional Kirtan singers. In Niachpur my maternal uncle’s home was set on fire and everyone was imprisoned in their homes till they accepted to convert to Islam. I heard all this when I was returning to my home from Chandpur relief camp. When we came to Balakhal Station to return home we saw 500 Muslims gathering and stopping Hindus from going out of the village. Seeing that we did not proceed to our homes but returned to the Chandpur relief camp and came with my family to Calcutta.
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Abduction: Attack in Noakhali

Published by communitypublishingabq@gmail.com on January 22, 2024 Respond

Cultural Hegemony & Untold Genocides by Rinita Mazumdar PhD

From the forthcoming book Noakhali, 1946: By Sandip Mukherjee, Translated and recreated by Rinita Mazumdar PhD. Subscribe below for access to pre-sale discounts and signed copies!

From Bengali Daily, Anandabazar Patrika July 5, 1947:

(This is still the largest circulated daily in Bengali and also supports an independent Television news channel which airs news in 5 Indian languages)

Allahabad (a city in Northern India) July 3, 1947: 
Mr. Amiyo Mukherjee, appealed in the Kotwali police station in Allahabad that one Hindu girl from his family, named Anima Mukherjee, was abducted three months ago during the attack in Noakhali and was brought here under a Muslim name, Zohra. The Mukherjee household was burnt down during the attack on Hindus in Noakhali. The girl herself testified that she was abducted by a Muslim man named Siddiqui and was confined in his home. This girl would be produced in Court to testify. She wrote letters to a relative and appealed to rescue her. After killing her parents, the gang brought her to Howrah Station in West Bengal and then to Marrek Springs; there she was forced to put on a hijab and brought to Allahabad. She further testified that 8 people gang raped her. She was given a Muslim name after the man abducted her. The Magistrate gave further directions to the inquiry.

During the trial the girl was residing with a Hindu family under the directions of the Court, and was called by her given name, Anima Mukherjee. The man who abducted her was arrested in Uttar Pradesh (Anandabazar Patrika, July 5, 1947).

Find previous articles of Dr. Mazumdar's series on Global Conflict by clicking here.
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Noakhali 1946 Hindu Genocide

Published by communitypublishingabq@gmail.com on January 12, 2024 Respond

Cultural Hegemony & Untold Genocides by Rinita Mazumdar PhD

Noakhali, Bengal India, now in Bangladesh: 1946:

In 1946, the Muslim majority population of India (specially in the Punjab in North West and Bengal province in the East) demanded a separate state for Muslims. One of their methods to obtain a “Muslim homeland” was genocide of the Hindu population in West Punjab and East Bengal, which both had a Muslim majority and Hindu minority populations. 

From the book, Noakhali 1946 by Sandip Mukherjee, that I translated and created. Noakhali is a province in Bangladesh (present) and was also a province in undivided India (East Bengal). Here there was a massive genocide of Hindus. Some examples are given here from the testimony of  one of Gandhi’s “Peace workers”  or volunteers who went there to bring peace and opened refugee camps for Hindus who were evicted by the Muslims and whose houses were burned down and all their property looted: 

“We were making an inventory of the killed and missing and here we were told that a total of 5 Hindus were killed, and others were missing. We made a note of all of that in our list. The attackers were well organized and their work was divided. Some had the job of setting fire to Hindu homes, some of looting, some of killing and abducting the women. Those who refused to convert were set on fire. In the entire village there was no instance of Hindus killing Muslims. In Dattapara, we heard that Mr. Rajendralala Basu did use his gun and fired some shots from the second floor and killed a couple of the Muslims. In the case of attack on Chittababu’s house one Muslim died of police firing. In Karpara what we witnessed is that they are either fleeing or fled and not attacking the attackers. For they were small compared to the hundred Muslims. There were only 15/20 Hindu households. In some villages no more than three Hindus were left. Not a single wealthy Hindu household was spared. Most of the houses were either completely burned down or partially burned down. Only some very poor huts were spared. All the young and pretty Hindu women were abducted. After this no Hindu returned to their village. After Gandhi came here and there several relief camps were open, they tried to bring the Hindus back, but none returned till this date.

                   A few days before the attack on Hindus, there was a rumor that something like this would happen. The people, however, were not sure. The Hindus thought that if they unify, they will be able to resist even if the attack happened. Actually, in all places they resisted. So, a batch of 500 Muslims seeing all the Hindus united fled. About 46/47 concrete houses were destroyed. In one of the villages called “Mandartalli”, the most palatial house was called “Singha[1] house” or “Lion House”. About 100 people attacked that house. A young man named Nani Singh tried to resist and protect the women of the household. The attackers came into the Courtyard and looked for the women. Nani Singha took a long sword[2] and stood in the doorway and attacked about 5 people who tried to enter. He severed the neck of one Muslim and the others fled. They were not able to take anything. At night with the help of one Muslim gentleman, the family took a boat and fled. The boat reached them to Chandpur and took some of their stuff and the rest was in the house. Next day about 4.5 thousand people came and destroyed the house.”

Noakhali 1946 by Sandip Mukherjee

Undivided                

Map of Undivided Bengal. In 1947 when India won independence from British rule, two states were born, India (Hindu majority, secular democracy), and Pakistan (Muslim majority, theocratic state). West Bengal became a state in India with Hindu majority and Muslim minority, while East Bengal became East Pakistan, with Muslim majority and Hindu minority. Then in 1971, East Pakistan broke away from West Pakistan (now Pakistan) and became an independent nation, Bangladesh after India and Pakistan went for a 14 day war. 

Map of undivided Bengal in 1947:

Find previous articles of Dr. Mazumdar's series on Global Conflict by clicking here.

Shiva’s Dance in Albuquerque

Rinita Mazumdar, Ph.D. is one of the leading feminist scholars in the Southwest. Originally from India, Dr. Mazumdar earned her Masters from India and Canada in Philosophy and MSc in Psychology from the University of Phoenix. She received her Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Find her poetry collection, “Shiva’s Dance in Albuquerque” by clicking here.

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Goyo on the Go: Laotian Artistic Cuisine

Published by communitypublishingabq@gmail.com on June 30, 2020 Respond

The newcomer awakes to exquisite early morning calls of prayer ring’s  out over the monastery speaker from Buddhist temples almost haunting but very soothing meditative morning chant echoing over and down the world’s twelfth longest Mekong River which is the major trade route that begins from the Tibetan Plateau and runs through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand ,Cambodia and Vietnam local villages. Something to see and experience in the early mornings is Tak Bat an tradition of Lao Buddhist Monks. Dressed in their traditional Saffron-clad robes the Monk’s silently walk down the streets receiving food offerings from the local almsgivers its an serene ritual and tradition in which is done in very silent meditative way between the almsgivers showing respect with offerings in a peaceful way.

Also in the early morning a wonderful and interesting space where you can discover authentic Laotian grown vegetables and ingredients all vibrantly colorful and fresh in abundance from the local mountains where many friendly people from local surrounding villages come to eat and shop all of this contributes to its charm.

There are nearly eighty Buddhist temples and monasteries in and around city of Luang Prabang, Laos, which means “Royal Buddha Image.” At every turn the smell of incense mixed with the fire and smoke burning of the agriculture fields turns back time. A second or so later, the waif of air turns into a sweet, warm, yeasty, inviting smell of Laotian coffee from a French Bakery. Walking down the colonial street, submerged in the jungle tropics, which makes this quite a dichotomy but yet beautiful and completely serene to all the tingling senses.

Morning Snack

I was especially smitten and charmed by my personal favorite morning snack, the hot soup of Khao Piak Sen. It is different than the more famous Vietnamese Khao Soi soup, because the Laotian morning soup uses different bigger noodle and broth and entire chunks of meat. The meat is typically pork and topped with sprinkles of the freshest vegetables you will find throughout South East Asia.

The Art of Cuisine

There is so much great Laotian artistry cuisine to discover for vegetarians as well and all food lovers your gonna be in culinary heaven from street vendors, traditional food fit for a king to various international restaurants serving basic fare however due to different ingredients used in that part of the world typically a basic burger is like cheating yourself.  

Street Cuisine after Dark

The Night Market is something to behold. Just outside of the historical city, there are natural and historic sites within hiking distance where you will find lush green hilltop trail passing a black bear reserve to three tiered water falls cascading down amongst swimmers of Kuangsi Falls or the highly visited Pak Ou Caves where hundreds of miniature Buddhas sculptures remain in many positions including teaching, peace, nirvana through meditation. Perhaps this could be your opportunity to find peace through your pallet!
Find other articles by and more info about Greg Hernandez here.

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Goyo on the Go: Bamboo Bridge

Published by communitypublishingabq@gmail.com on May 12, 2020 Respond

A Collection of Quarantined Thoughts

Coming home off a 3rd voyage from South East Asia this past Jan-Feb of 2020, I was thrown into the grips of quarantine due to COVID 19 outbreak emanating from China. This pause in everyday life, gave me time, as if heralded by the spirits of the Far East, to reflect on the many experiences that I was fortunate to have. Through the photography and video I captured during these recent travels to South East Asian religious centers / temples, agriculture-wildlife parks  and other cultural relic’s, I took the opportunity to collect and catalogue my thoughts.

All Audio and Video Created by and Property of Greg Hernandez

So through quarantine began a seminal body of work producing an somewhat educational and meditational video of pictures and video captured during my months travel’s this video became “Flattening the Curve” a call of creative duty amongst artist world wide to help lesson the hardships and anxiety of quarantine.

Bamboo for Me and You

The iconic imagery of photos and video used in “Flattening the Curve” captures the very likeness of being on location taking us through the sub-tropic rivers of the Mekong River by crossing a bamboo seasonal bridge from Luang Prabang the second biggest city of Laos.

Through the monsoon rain season about six months of the year the bamboo bridge  is predominant way of crossing from City and is erected and dismantled depending on season but leads to and from the city to neighboring villages where most locals live , work and goto school.

Bridge to Everywhere

The Bamboo bridge symbolizes the ultimate journey of humanity of coming together not necessarily in a globalist  corporate way but however endearment for better compassion for others ,unity through understanding and respect , i know its just anecdotal but then again i am a dreamer are you?
Click to find Greg Hernandez biography and previous articles.

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Goyo On The Go: Intro…Spection

Published by communitypublishingabq@gmail.com on April 17, 2020 Respond

“I remember formally meeting Greg “Goyo” Hernandez for the first time at an incredible street festival in Downtown LA where he was playing with International Recording Artists, Maleko Collective. I had met him casually when he came around Albuquerque with another internationally acclaimed music act, Mezklah, but I never really spent time getting to know him on deeper level. I remember hanging out with my buddy, another awesome musician, Matias Pizarro and going backstage to hang out with the band. There were tons of news media and I was encouraged by Goyo to stick around and I ended up appearing in band photos for the band in LA, national and international media! I also got to meet awesome musician Ibo Rodriguez and fast friendships started!

As time has passed since those crazy LA, live music and booze filled days, I have gotten to know Goyo, not only as a musician who has played at many of my Mariposa Music events with Marujah, Keith Sanchez & the Moon Thieves, Slim Zwerling & the Yums, Casa De Calacas, and great dude but Goyo as a leader – a Philosophical Thought Leader entrenched in the wisdom gained through years in the counter-culture music scene! Goyo has traveled extensively around the world and as a Thought Rebel, Goyo is going to take you on a journey that will satiate your mental, optical, and auditory senses as you experience these destinations through the use of him many talents: music, visual arts, story-telling. You are in for quite the treat!”
Author, Community Organizer Alex Paramo
Click to read Goyo’s Biography

Goyo On The Go Every Friday!

These pictures and video of my recent travels of January and February 2020 were captured in Asia. Specifically, Japan and the South East Asian Kingdom of Thailand, Northern Province Chang Mai. Here you will find a 700 year old Buddhist temple and the ancient tunnels of Wat. Wat, which is the largest religious monument in the world, was once a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu but later transformed into Buddhist temple in the late 12th Century. Among the many beautiful countries in this region is Laos. I also traveled to the Luang Prabang’s Mekong River and Kuangsi Falls. We are also going to take a trip to Cambodia’s ancient city of Angkor.

All Audio and Video Created by and Property of Greg Hernandez

Flattening the Curve

This project – Goyo On The Go – is intended to be a cultural introduction via all original video, audio and photography meant to inspire new travelers of the world to move outside your own reality. I humbly hope you enjoy this respite from the Covid 19 Quarantine while you help Flatten the Curve. I composed this soundtrack in hopes of harnessesing the energy, vibe and flow of my travel experience. Enjoy and see you next Friday! – Goyo
Click to read Goyo’s Biography and Previous Articles

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