Islam’s Thai problem: Patani Muslim Malay sultanate occupied in 1902. The Muslims are primarily concentrated in Thailand’s five southern provinces which border Malaysia: Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Satun, and Songkhla
NEW YORK: June 6th, 2008-Rupee News: Three Thai Muslims killed in football fieldsYALA (Thailand), June 5: Three Muslim men have been killed in separate attacks on football fields in Thailand’s Muslim-majority south, where a separatist insurgency is raging, police said on Thursday.
A 30-year-old man was shot dead in Yala province on Wednesday evening as he played football with a group of friends, police in the region said.
The same evening in neighbouring Narathiwat province, three militants opened fire during half-time at a local game, killing a 40-year-old local government employee who was refereeing the match, and a 30-year-old player.
More than 3,300 people have been killed since separatist unrest broke out in January 2004 in the south, which was an autonomous Malay Muslim sultanate until mainly Buddhist Thailand annexed it in 1902, provoking decades of tension.-AFP
BACKGROUND:
Muslims comprise Thailand’s largest religious minority and are concentrated mainly in the southernmost provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala, and Satun. Islam is said to have been introduced to the Malay Peninsula by Arab traders and adventures during the 13th century. Most Thai Muslims are Malay descent, reflecting the common cultural heritage Thailand’s southernmost provinces share with Malaysia.
Ninety-nine percent Sunni and one percent Shi’ite Thai Muslims enjoy inspirational and finacial support from His Majesty the King, who provided money for translating the Koran into Thai. Each year the King or his representative also presides during celebration commemorating the Prophet Muhammad‘s birthday. Moreover, His Majesty appoints a respected Muslim religious leader as Chularajamontri, or State Counselor for all Islamic affairs. The government also provides funds for building and renovating mosques.
In some southern provinces where the Muslim population is substantial, government-employed Muslims are allowed to leave for important Muslim festivals and allowed to work half-days on Friday, the Muslim holy day. In such provinces family and inheritance cases are judged according to Koranic with a Muslim religious judge, or “kadi”, sitting on the bench. In addition, one four months’ leave with full salary is also granted to allow an employee to make the Haj, the pilgrimage to Mecca.
There are approximately 2,000 mosques in Thailand, about 100 of which are in Bangkok. Some 200 Muslim schools offer secular as well as religious instruction. All in all, Thailand’s Muslims enjoy full state support and are free to teach and practice their religion according to their own tenets.
Patani (Pattani) is known to have been part of the ancient Srivijayan kingdom. It then covered approximately the area of the modern Thai provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and much of the northern part of modern Malaysia. The King of Patani is believed to have been converted to Islam some time during the 11th century.
Like many of the small kingdoms in Southeast Asian history, Pattani broke away from an older ancient state. Most did not have their own written language, enjoyed only short periods of real independence and have long since disappeared.
The Patani United Liberation Organization (also spelled Pattani United Liberation Organisation) or PULO is one of the groups calling for a free and independent Patani. This group, along with others, is currently fighting for the independence of Thailand’s predominantly Malay Muslim south.
The Muslims are primarily concentrated in Thailand’s five southern provinces which border Malaysia: Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Satun, and Songkhla. There has been no significant group migration across the country’s regions since the early 1900s.
The Muslims are a religious minority in a country in which Buddhism, the religion of the majority Thai community, is the official state religion. The social customs of the Muslims differ from those of the Thais and although some Muslims speak Thai, some 80% are Malay-speakers. Group members who reside in the western Satun province speak Thai and they are fairly integrated into Thai society. Those concentrated in Pattani, which was once a semi-autonomous sultanate of Malaya, have maintained the use of the Malay language.
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- Malay Muslim Patani kingdom 14th century occupied by Thailand
Beginning in the 1930s, successive Thai military regimes attempted to instill a common nationalism among the country’s population through measures such as a compulsory education program that utilized the Thai language and the celebration of national holidays. Malaysian independence in 1959 brought the attention of Thai authorities to the southern Muslim regions. This was partly due to Pattani’s former status as a Malayan sultanate which raised concerns about potential links between Malay kin in the two countries. Government programs in the south were implemented by Thais who often did not speak Malay and/or did not understand the population’s Islamic customs and beliefs. Further, the region remained economically underdeveloped in comparison to much of the country.
Muslim resentment against the government’s assimilation policies turned from localized resistance to broad support for the Pattani United Liberation Organization (PULO) by the early 1970s. The PULO rebellion began in the late 1960s with the most intense phase emerging in the early to mid 1970s . The separatist rebels were reported to have been aided by Libya. In the 1980s, the Thai government sought to address some Muslim demands through a combination of programs that promoted their political participation along with policies to further economic development and religious toleration.
Group members face significant demographic stresses. These include declining public health conditions in relation to other groups, high birth rates, environmental decline due to widespread flooding, and migration abroad for economic reasons. The Muslims are substantially underrepresented in the political and economic arenas due to historical neglect or restrictions, but public policies seek to improve the group’s status (POLDIS03 = 1; ECDIS03 = 1). While there were 25 Muslim politicians in the 1996 Parliament (around 600 seats), group members remain underrepresented at the local and provincial levels.
Most Muslims are seeking widespread autonomy for the southern provinces where they primarily reside (SEPX = 3). A small minority favors the creation of an independent state. Other group demands include greater political participation in all levels of decision-making, equal civil rights and status, and better economic opportunities including a larger share of public funds. In addition, the Muslims are concerned about protecting their cultural and religious beliefs.
Group members are primarily represented by militant organizations such as the PULO and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) but also by conventional national political parties that represent broader interests. A minority is reported to support the activities of rebel organizations. While the Muslims are a factionalized group, there were no reported violent intragroup incidents during the years 1998 to 2003 (COHESX9 = 3). Also, there was no violence between the Muslims and other ethnic groups for the same time period.
The neighboring state of Malaysia has politically supported the goals of the Thai Muslims, but Kuala Lumpur does not appear to be actively supporting the separatist campaign. In 1999 and 2000, Malaysia sought to further economic development in the southern Thai regions by promoting education programs.
It appears that the separatist campaign lost much of its momentum in the 1980s. Although sporadic violent attacks were attributed to PULO and the BRN during the late 1990s, it is not clear if these rebel groups were responsible or whether the attacks were by bandit organizations. Beginning in 2000, violence has increased and become more frequent (REB00-03 = 4). Muslim actions in the form of demonstrations and strikes first began in the post-WWII period, and in recent years these protests have centered on issues such as the development of an oil pipeline project and political inclusion (PROT45X = 2; PROT00-01 = 3, PROT02 = 2, PROT03 = 4). Repression by state authorities eased during the 1998 to 2000 period although attacks were reported against armed rebels along with the use of widespread force against protestors.
References
Daipi, Hawazi, “Thai Muslims: A Community in Transition,” The Straits Times (Singapore), June 24, 1996.Daipi, Hawazi, “Thai Muslims Take Steps to Preserve Malay Identity,” The Straits Times (Singapore), July 1, 1996.
The Europa Yearbook, Far East and Australasia 1993.
Far Eastern Economic Review, 1990-93.
Keesings Record of World Events, 1990-93.
Lexis-Nexis news reports, 1990-2003.
Phase I, Minorities at Risk, overview compiled by Monty G. Marshall, 07/89.
U.S. Dept. of State, Human Rights Report 1993, 1994, 2001-2003.
According to some sources these are the rebel groups fighting for independence in Thailand.
Mujahideen Pattani Movement (BNP)
Pattani United Liberation Organization (PULO)
Pattani Islamic Mujahideen Movement (GMIP)
Mujahideen Islamic Pattani Group
National Revolution Front (BRN)
Pattani Liberation National Front (BNPP)
Jemaah Islamiyah (JI)
Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK)
Abu Sayyaf (alleged support)
Malaysia (possible support)
Related Articles
- Short History of Islam in Indonesia (rupeenews.com)
Thank you for informing people about this problem. I visited Thailand in 1990, but did not know about this problem until now.
Eileen
Dedicated Elementary Teacher Overseas
elementaryteacher.wordpress.com
That is a long history. Can not blame? Should I??
The borders of modern states in south east Asia are formed during colonization by Western countries and past kingdoms are not relevant.If it was then Indonesia would make the first claim as the Majapahit covered all south east Asia.The Southern provinces, are part of Thailand and this is recognized by ASEAN(which includes both Thailand and Malaysia) Thailand is a properous country which relies partly on tourism.Tourist flock to Thailand for its temples,ancient culture,food,and also for clubs,cabaret,massage parlours.The Muslims in south Thailand want to turn the place into another Mecca thus driving away tourist thus depriving the area from tourism revenues.I ve visited Hatyai,a city in the Thai-Malay border close to the Muslim provinces,residents are primarily Buddhist,a properous bustling city teeming with tourist activities,a sharp contrast to the neighbouring Muslim provinces,where forget temples,even the poor Bikshus have been killed in numerous incidents by the barbaric Muslims.Govt of any country do not just come and start building infrastructures in one area for no reason.The area has to have a proper economic activity first.And how to achieve that if instead engaging in tourist activities,the Muslims are engaged in killing and rebellions?The Thai king Bhumipol is a just and well respected in Thailand and the world,who has brought prosperity and made Thailand the most developed nations in Asia.But these ungrateful Muslims are always in opposition against him and government which has brought doom to their place.
Patani was a Muslim state and needs to be given its independence as a Muslim state. The rest is all nonsense.
Rajesh,
Your quite well versed with the massage parlours and seedy clubs of Thailand.
For you that defines culture, prosperity and progression – well coming from the land of Karmasutra and perverse stone carvings one can not expect anything else from you.
The Ungrateful Muslims as you put them build the “Sub Continent” aswell as Asia PAcific – all verified and checked recorded history. We do not live in legends and mythology we were and still are the real deal.
Go sniff some onions Rajesh I say this fondly – stick to things you know best about – the price of sabzi (vegetables) Mr Banya.
“Patani needs to be given independance” so says the “great”Akhbar but unfortunately the world doesnt care.Which nation on Earth support those Patani bandits? Take for example Muslim Aceh,who begged the world to support their independence,but no help came till they finally surrendered to Jakarta. Catholic Timor fought for independance,immediate help came from Philippines and then slowly rest of the world right upto the UN supported them and finally Timor gained independance.Do allow to inform you another “nonsense” Recently a conference was held in Bangkok to discuss the independance of Balochistan,which your Patani friends also attended. To Alansaralhaq:In our part of the world are quite liberal hence we have more entertainment options that you can only imagine.You only have ear deafening bombblast or ear deafening prayer calls(I cant decide which one is worst) as entertainment .Prosperity comes from peace,work,grabbing opportunities which all of Thailand is doing except for the Muslims that made them the loosers in the country and now taken up rebellion. So the Muslims built Asia Pacific? Did you Muslims even explore the Pacific Ocean?Today every nation in South East Asia cherish their Hindu/Buddhist past,even Muslim Indonesia.Temples like Borobudur,Prambanan,Angkor are national icons of Cambodia and Indonesia.Even Singapore is Hindu name.All the Muslims have built are mosques which are now mostly in condition worst than a pig sty.That my friend is the “real deal”.
Rajesh–your delusional self-perception is not accepted by the planet. Patani has remained an issue for hundreds of years, and if not resolved may engulf the entire South East. Your stories about Indonesia are simply not true. Your temple indoctrination doesn’t impress those outside the temple. We all know your entertainment in the temple and on the soft-porn doled out by Bollywood. Ignoring the fact that 40% of Bharat is in the hands of the Naxalites doesn’t hide th reality about the bombs in Central and North East Bharat. When and if the Bang-KOK Thail-land get time from their massages they can come to Balochistan–there will be a lot of Bangkok in the Thailand area.
Editor’s Note; Any more outbursts against religion and you will be banned
@ rajesh gindwani. Your perception of prosperity is based on immorality, perversion and degradation of females.
Muslims will have no part of it. Buddhist and Hindus are welcome to sell their daughters and sisters for $10-20 and any body that make money out of such practice be it a individual or King is known as Bharwa, Dalla or Pimps. At least Buddhist do not kill their female babies before or after birth, in this way they are better than hindus who have killed 1,000,000 female babies every year. Those poor wretched young under age female that survive are sold by their parents for $20/ to any body. Is this the prosperity you are referring to?
No thanks, pimp, you are most welcome to this money making venture, we as Muslim condemn it, and are ordered to liberate such oppressed humanity.
The Thai Muslims seeks Ethics, Morality and Dignity. Thus the freedom struggle from the pimps and genocidal murderers of the world. Muslim and non-Muslim outlook towards life and world are not the same. Muslims believe on afterlife after Day of Judgment. While Hindus and Buddhist do not. This world is their Paradise. To prosper in this world and make money you guys will do any thing, and not limited to selling your own sisters, daughter and mothers for few pennies.
30,000,000 widows in India forced into prostitution. Is this your prosperity? What else you can do to make money?
How about bankrupting small farmers in India? Poor farmers have to mortgage their farms at 20% interest to buy GM seeds and fertilizers. When they can’t make the payment their farms are auctioned. Since 1999 to 2001, Nine Million small farmers have committed suicide. Is this your prosperity? Does prosperity comes with death of farmers and young girls forced into prostitution and die of AIDS? If death is the criteria for prosperity, then why don’t you Hindus all commit suicide? Then India will attain prosperity. Is it not what Mr. Ghandi proposed to world Jewry? Why don’t you Hindus listen to you Bappu and implement it upon yourselves.
The fast dynamic turnabout events are not in your favor. Educate yourself on comparative religion, if you are true Hindu than follow the followers of Kalki Avatar (Muslims) that is fighting Koka and Vikoka (Gog & Magog) and their helpers.
With or without your help, Kalki Avatar will win. Insha-Allah.
Assalamu-Elekum
SINGAPORE,is NOT INDIAN/HINDU WORD.
Mr Gidwani and many others accustomed indo-hindo-centrism refuse to comprehend the liguistics behind SKT/HINDI or other indian languages.Staying with the putative word singa = lion is ausric-munda-malaysian word and Pore/pur/bora had meant hills/mountainn ( Tora bora of afgh)and in ancient persian meant a son eg Shahpur; Pura for place (eg kanpur etc) is a secondary meaning. Now Skt dictionay ( most standard-monier william’s)has several words for lion all borowed from unidentified sources;Keshri,mrigendra,pashuraj,Hari,and SINH.SKT has evolved from Borrowing like all other languages. SAME way a bulk of so called indian/hindu culture is derived from chinses and east asian migrants ,RICE farmers ( ~3000BC) plus its major source MIDEAST/mesopotamia as elaborated in ” urdu/hiondi an artificial divide–african hertage –”So the temple architecture, puja rituals, pundit/priest systems, icons/idols are ” imports” from east and west. They have metamorphosed into a indian entity but has a well research history ( see this book for details).
Very interestingly MR Gidwani appears to defend ” Massage parlor, prostitution, cabaret club,drugs” all evils even in pure hindu religion of my ancesters , as a means of living.
It is very clear that india is “evolving hybrid pot” and in its recent history ” most modern western migrant” have played a major role to reshape it in the past 1000 yrs.;They were practicing a new religion called Islam. Please read Dr Tarachand’s History of India.
Correctly said Dr. Sahib,
In addition to what you are saying, Singaporean nationals of Indian origin are mostly from South and they literally do not liked to be associated by anyway to India. On top of that I have seen the hatred of locals towards Indians, in Chinese and Goras living in Singapore do not go to Little India because this place is (as described by them) “crowded with filthy dark people and extremely unclean”. Even local Chinese will not rent out their apartments to “filthy Indians”. On the other hand “Pakistanis” are always respected by Locals in Singapore.
The reason I can say this is that I am living in Singapore.
to Hijazi of Singapore:so Indians in Singapore are filthy and Pakistanis respected in Singapore?I ll tell you 3 simple steps for you to do:Step 1:go and knock at the door of your nearest neighbor and ask “who s the president of this country?”and they ll inform you that a “filthy Indian”is currently the head of state in Singapore.Step 2:google “Prominent Indians in Singapore”and you ll get names of North and South Indians alike,who made contribuions as presidents,cabinet ministers,junior ministers,ambassadors,oppositions,MPs,doctors,lawyers,military commanders,businessmen,the list goes on.3 of Singapore top 25 richest are Indians,Chanrai,Sudhir Gupta,Thakral who ranks 7th,13th,25th respectively.former Singapore PM said”being a creative &entrepreneural group,Indians are a great asset in our country”as quoted in a report “Indians roar in the Lion City”in LittleIndia.com.The fact that Indians call their place Little India shows their strong connection to India.Every businessman,especially restaurants will put a picture of the owner proudly claiming their Indian orgin.Cultural groups from India are a daily show on the Esplenade and Chinese dressed as Indians and doing Indian dances are common sight during Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations.Many Indian film awards held in Singapore were attended by the President as well as non Indians.Now after the 2 steps we come to the interesting part, step 3 :google”Prominent Pakistanis in Singapore”and the only significant news you ll get is”4 Pakistanis hijack Singapore Airlines”and nothing more than that.I live in Jakarta and visit Singapore every year.Your lies wont work with me:)
Thanks for your views Rajesh, Iam so sorry to break your little heart but unfortunately lying is a habit associated with Chankiya followers, we Pakistani’s are straight forward and to the point people.
Perhaps you should read my comments again, people of Indian origin do not like to be called Indian here they take it as an “offense”. Reason for keeping an Indian rubber stamp president is to show the world that Singapore is not a Pvt. Ltd. country and people of other origin are also part of it (Exactly the same way they do in India). By the way I keenly observe Indians and their behavior pattern on daily basis. No wonder they are disliked so much by these Chinese.
Unfortunately the contribution of Indians has not helped much to change local’s perceptions. A news for you – Singapore is no longer importing cheap labor from India anymore.
Should you leave google and try to mix with people and get the real pulse around here. Media is also under control of Govt. and they will always sugar quote things.
To your interesting part, if Pakistani’s are so so bad they should not be issued a visa to SG !!!! Singapore is really close to Israel and India therefore out there you will clearly see the influence of these gas baggers.
Next time you go to Little India just count how many “local Chinese” you can count there.
Chinese dressed as Indians – you must be joking. You must have seen some Nepalease Gorkhas.
doctor sahib,Singapore IS A SANSKRIT word.Rather than listening to a Pakistani,wouldnt it be better to read what the Singaporeans themselves have to say?In “History and Origin of Singapore”in http://www.newasia.singapore.com it is clearly mentioned that Singapore is a Sanskrit word derived from “Singa”meaning lion and “Pura” meaning city/fortress/place related to the Greek word “polis”.Hindus in Bali also refer to their temples as Pura.Your theory connecting Tora Bora to Pura is very amusing.Do pray and tell me,and this is my second request,where did you get your doctor degree? Another interesting theory that “dr”Jamil has purposely left out is that Singapore was given its name by a Hindu prince from Indonesia,Sang Nila Utama.
POLITICS of language;
Dear Giidwani sahab,
You are right if you belive that all languages are “upbramsha”(degenrations)of SKT or Aryan-skt is from germany via biblical Japhet ( son of noah).This myth had presumed that “aryan hindu india” had cultural extension in east asia.
But both these myths were rooted in either hinduic or biblical creationism, now discredited fully.A new language classification now is based on out of africa, mesopotamia.This is based on evolution and discards ” all racisms”and languictic ethnology.Kindly look at the dictionaries of Skt,Dravidian and austric-munda etc and note the skt had evolved from most ancient arabic( akkadian) as also noted by Dr malati shingde besides my own work ” urdu/hindi an artificial divide–african heritage-british colonialism”.This exposes hundreds of ancient words that were assumed as skt but they were austric family words;Singha,is one of them.see my book for hundreds of other.
Please note that skt or hebrew as world’s oldest has been accepted as mythical fiction.Indo-euro-aryan proponents still defend this thesis as ” christian-fewish church” is fundamentally based on this religious myth/racism.And off course british via this biblical aryan brotherhood theory transfered india’s wealth.
Besides tora bora,you may find much more amusementin hundreds of, other words beyond common knowledge.I thank you for your indulgence.
Rajesh Bravo.You have won over pakistani friends .
Pakistanis grow up grow up . Hating india will not do any thing. Be it dirty, be it poor, be it corrupt. It is there. Indian presence can not be denied.How long will u cry about our farmers, ladies.
In turn do u think all farmers, ladies are safe in you pakistan?
Massage parlor, prostitution, cabaret club are not in Pakistan? drugs( afganistan pakistan opium golden triangle)
Chanakya was a native of pakistan
Selling of sisters/ daughters of 10/20 $ is an invention of hon.Abdallah Jan. He may be practising the same And his advice of suicide for Hindus is also fantastic. Pakistan’s such wills & wishes may get drawned if all we pee from wagah border
Here we have a Hindu (Valmik) justifying another Hindus (Rajesh) frequent visits to massage parlours in the philipines.
almost…almost laughable.
Indians always behave like bunch of bitchy little girls. Who wants everything for themselves, Paksitani’s don’t have time to hate their sorry feeling slaves.
Indians try to compare themselves with Pakistan all the time forgetting that you have the biggest number of Aids patients in the world, you are worst in the world hunger index, your country is about to explode in to several small pieces because the experiment of India has failed.
You drink piss, worship lingum, kill inocents of muslims, christans and dalits and still have the audacity to insult my country and my brother Abdullah Jan.
Remember last 1000 years and be afraid of next 1000 years. We still own you will be back soon to claim what was ours.
@ valmik…..What I wrote was not made up or invention its some news that I got from BBC along other Blogs.
Droughts force Indian farmers to sell wives to pimps
Farmers in India made destitute by “climate change droughts” have been forced to sell their wives to brothels to pay off moneylenders.
Two farmers walking over their dry land: Droughts force Indian farmers to sell wives to pimps
An Indian farmer and his son walking over their parched paddy field Photo: AFP/GETTY
By Dean Nelson in New Delhi 5:00AM BST 15 Sep 2009
A succession of droughts compounded by flash floods in recent years have destroyed crops and ruined the soil, leaving farmers in debt to loan sharks.
The growing number who have committed suicide to escape the shame has attracted concern but less attention has been paid to farmers handing wives and daughters to prostitution. Sangeeta, a farmer’s wife from the Bundelkhand area, which straddles Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh and has been particularly hard hit, told campaigners how her husband had sold her to a pimp for one month to raise 2,500 rupees (£31) to settle a debt.
“We had nothing to eat and my husband had huge debits. It was difficult to survive and I had to sell myself to live,” she said.
The disclosure of a trade in women to settle debts emerged as an Oxfam report detailed how climate change had affected Indian agriculture.
“In India and across the world, Oxfam is seeing poor people going without food, pulling their children out of school and selling off cattle and other assets critical to their livelihoods to pay for the debts caused by continuing crop failure,” said Nisha Agrawal, the chief executive of Oxfam India.
“Without support to help farmers adapt to the changing climate, the effect is a downward spiral into deeper poverty.”
One farmer in Jhansi district said a money lender had taken his wife and three children to settle a loan he had taken out to buy a water pump to irrigate his fields.
Kalicharan, 40, had borrowed 30,000 rupees (£37) from a money lender in a neighbouring village to irrigate his tiny landholding, which was less than one acre, in 2001 when the droughts first started to hit.
After three years of falling yields and other blows to his livelihood, a drought wiped out his crop, leaving him with no money to offer the money lender.
“He came to my house and asked for money,” said Kalicharan.
“I told him to give me some time to arrange money but he forcibly entered my house and took my wife and children.”
His wife never came back and now had a child by the money lender. She said she had no wish to return to her husband because he could not provide for her and their children.
Sleeping with the Goddess
BY SHELLY NGO WITH SANJAY SOJWAL
Each year in India, thousands of girls are dedicated to a temple goddess in a ceremony that begins a lifetime of prostitution.
Through the whitewashed arches of the Uligamma temple, Durgamma proudly marches toward the banks of India’s Thungabadra river. Today is the girl’s wedding day. The eyes of her relatives, friends, and neighbors are fixed on the 12 year-old bride.
Close to an overhead bridge spanning the Thungabadra, a priest accepts the goat brought by Durgamma’s family. With a quick stroke of a blade, he sacrifices the animal to the temple goddess Uligamma. The goat’s blood drips into the river where hundreds of worshippers are bathing.
Durgamma patiently submits. to her women relatives who apply a sandalwood paste to her body and bathe her in the river. After they dress her in a white sari and blouse, she listens to the high caste priest chant and pray in Sanskrit, the ancient language of Hindu scriptures, which none in the crowd understands. As his prayers conclude, the priest sprinkles a yellowish mixture of turmeric paste and water over her head and she feels the refreshingly cool liquid trickle clown her head and back.
Durgamma walks up to the temple where a priest puts a glittering string of red and white beads strung on saffron colored thread around her neck. No groom, however, comes to meet this bride. Instead Durgamma is wed to the temple goddess, and her life will be spent as a devadasi, a temple prostitute. Today, Uligamma’s spirit, the priests teach, has entered Durgamma’s body; for the rest of her life, when priests and other men sleep with her, it is not Durgamma, but the goddess they are sleeping with. It is the goddess’s desires the men must appease.
“This simple word, ‘devadasi’ says Dr. I.S. Gilada, one of India’s most prominent AIDS activists and an honorary secretary of the Indian Health Organization, “is a label which condemns 5,000 to 10,000 girls every year into a life of sexual servitude (concubinage) and subsequently into prostitution.
Despite India’s government law forbidding the practice of temple prostitution, the centuries old religious tradition continues. To understand the mentality that permits this sexual exploitation, one has only to think of those in Western societies who are enthralled with the idea of sleeping with models, sport heroes or other celebrities. Young devadasís are regarded by some as deities, and then discarded when they grow old.
Although devadasis are not prevalent across the country, most men know where to find them. In the south.central state of Karnataka alone, one of six states in India, there are an estimated 100,000 devadasis. A few are paid to stay close to the temple to sleep with priests or other men their parents have struck an agreement with. Some return to their homes to be auctioned off as mistresses for as long as men will have them. Most of them wind up in the brothels of india’s major cities.
World Vision supports the efforts of people such as Dr. Gilada who are working to eliminate the devadasi system in India. For women already dedicated, World Vision has started two programs in the southern city of Bellary to give devadasis a second chance.
A CENTURIES-OLD CYCLE
After the dedication ceremony, Durgamma’s father, Huligappa, instructed the little girl to go to a small room in the temple where a man would be waiting for her.
“When I told him I was very scared, he scolded me and reminded me that this man had given me silver toe rings, a nose ring, bangles, gold earrings, a sari, and a blouse,” Durgamma says. In order to be the first man to sleep with her, the man paid for these gifts, made donations to the temple priests, and paid for the family’s travel by train from Bellary to the temple in Munnirabad, located 200 miles northwest of Bangalore, the state capital of Karnataka.
After that evening, the man lived with Durgamma in her father’s home for two years before packing his clothes one day and leaving without a word to her. Since then, Durgamma’s father has arranged about 20 paramours for her, relationships lasting from a week to two years.
“Whenever I look at married women my age carrying their children, walking by their husband’s side, I think of myself, my life, and my future, and something deep down in me snaps, and I feel like crying,” says Durgamma, who at 25 is considered old for a devadasi.
References to devadasis, which literally means “god’s servants,” are found in Hindu scriptures dating back 4,000 years. Then, devadasis cleaned the temples, kept the temple bells, and performed ritual dances to appease the gods and goddesses. The earliest devadasis were virgins who pledged to remain celibate, but over the years the state began supporting devadasis, and the girls became mistresses to the kings.
With the onslaught of Muslim Moguls from the north, the Hindu empire declined in the 16th century, and the devadasis lost their royal patronage. No longer virgins, devadasis had few marriage prospects, so they turned to prostitution to earn a living.
For now, Durgamma lives in a village on the outskirts of Bellary in a wood and bamboo, clay plastered hut. Bellary, with a population of 200,000, is the hub for Uligamma worshipers and devadasis. Every respectable father in India is expected to marry off his daughter, but in this area, dedicating one’s daughter to the temple is almost as acceptable.
Had she married, Durgamma would look after her in-Iaws according to India’s customs. But by making Durgamma a devadasi, her father, a farm laborer who earns less than 15 rupees a day, does not have to raise the 20,000 ($667) necessary for a dowry and marriage expenses. Also, he does not have a son to support him in his old age, so he will take his pension from the men who sleep with Durgamma.
There are other reasons why, in northern Karnataka alone, an estimated 3,000 devadasi dedications take place each May. Devadasis’ mothers dedicate their daughters to appease the gods, fearful that they will be stricken with diseases or poverty if they don’t. Sometimes pregnant mothers vow to dedicate their first born daughter to a goddess if she will grant the mother a son or even a safe delivery.
PREYING ON THE UNTOUCHABLES
Despite the fact that most devadasi girls are “untouchables,” from the lowest caste in India, the priests do not hesitate to sleep with the young girls – some have not even reached puberty. The priests prey on the poor, telling parents that dedicating their daughters to the temple will help family members be reincarnated as high caste Brahmins in their next life. And they offer family members of devadasis the right to enter sacred temples normally closed off to the lower castes.
Rich landowners also exploit the poor by paying for a girl’s dedication in exchange for the right to spend the first few nights with her. The money often includes large loans to parents as an incentive to dedicate their daughters.
Temple prostitution is a practice enmeshed in religious traditions, but it’s a “spirituality that has no roots in the idea of human beings created in the image of God,” says Sam Kamaleson, a native of India and vice president for World Vision International. “It’s a spirituality where the Holy Spirit, clarifying a person’s identity so that they can be known as a son or daughter of God, is alien.”
India’s government is attempting to end the practice. But its 1982 law, which imposes a five-year prison sentence and a 5,000-rupee fine for parents of relatives who dedicate a girl to a temple, is difficult to enforce. Remote villagers remain ignorant of laws handed down in city centers hundreds of miles away. And in the major cities, some of the very politicians who make the rules keep devadasi mistresses themselves. Many who know of the law stubbornly cling to old superstitions to justify their decisions.
Temple prostitution is perpetuated by poverty as well. Many devadasis have between five and eight children usually by different men. Often the boys leave their mothers as soon as they are grown. A devadasi’s career is over by the time she is 35 and, too old to attract men, she is faced with the option of begging on the streets or dedicating her daughters as a devadasi.
Bebamma was 13 when her mother, Kenchamma, dedicated her three years ago. “It was a mistake, but what could I do,” Kenchamma says. “I had no male child.
“I feel sorry for my daughter and wonder what her future will be, but I had no money to get her married. Anyway, who would have married a devadasi’s daughter?”
On the night of her dedication and for the following three nights, Bebamma slept with a 40 year-old temple priest “I was scared,” she says, “but they gave me toddy (palm liquor) and I was not aware of what was happening. I didn’t feel anything.”
Bebamma, now 16, wears red bangles and an old, faded gray-colored sari, most likely her only one. Her pierced ears remain bare – the earrings were probably sold to meet some expense. She lives in a thatched roofed hut in Bapuji Nagar, 40 miles from the Uligamma temple. It is said that devadasis have lived in this area for centuries.
One-room stone houses line the dirt road, and open sewage gutters run along each side. An unusually high number of children for such a small area play outside in garbage-littered streets.
Bebamma’s men have come and gone in the past three years, offering only sporadic and inadequate support. To make ends meet she has tried to earn money weaving cotton and carrying cotton bales. A cotton shortage, however ended that source of income. Then she began begging for food to feed herself, her mother, and her 3-year-old daughter, Gangamma, who is malnourished.
Like most devadasi children, Gangamma was delivered at home by a midwife. Despite the high rate of sexually transmitted diseases among these women, few go for any medical treatment Government hospitals are supposed to provide free care, but doctors will often postpone treatment until they receive money. Another reason women hesitate to go to a hospital is that they feel awkward discussing their problems with mostly male doctors, or they simply don’t understand that delaying a hospital visit can result in death.
I being Muslims reject your million upon million of creepy gods or animal gods and absolutely reject your filthy culture and abuse of child females. It is absolutely forbidden in Islam and therefore have raised my daughter pure practicing Muslim, her knowledge of Islam exceeds mine plus she is just finished her masters in elementary education. Got her married to a Muslim Doctor that specializes in back bone. He was # 2 in all USA, and done 2 presentation to Bush Junior via closed circuit TV on the ailment of returning Iraqi Veterans.
My son just got graduated in Civil Engineering, got him married to Practicing Muslim Egyptian beauty who also has MD and will specialize in OBG.
My 2nd son intends to specialize in Physical therapy (Insha-ALLAH).
Your Bappu Ghandi is on record telling Jews to commit mass suicide on behalf of his friend Hitler. Why not U also follow his advise?
Have a nice Rat and Monkey worshiping, or would U rather worship Elephant or a Cow or a Snake or Stone Phallus?
WHO was CHANAKYA? A fiction?
Dear Valmiki while you and others square off/pie across the borders,you seem to ignore India’s history defecit.Chanakya, is a fiction and his contemporary writings/record does not exist.Any written work in india, inclusive of his Arthshastra,does not go before ~700AD.It is alleged that greek’s political ideas were appropriated and sold as from Chanakya.
look at ” prithvi raj rasu”, written in 17th cent’s language and claimed as of 12th cent.This becomes very transparent for every indian book including Sacred vedas.There is need to get oriented to real world and real history out from Nationalistic myhtical history that includes Chanakya.
to Abdallah,Navees,Alan:The pubs,cabarets,massage parlours in Thailand provides good clean fun and is visited by families.I have visited them but with my wife and family and friends.There is no prostitution,or any degradation of women is involved here.But I understand it may seem over the hill for ultraconservationist like you all.But then who shares your views nowadays?Today even Muslim countries make concessions on their Islamic principles.Is Malaysia not a muslim state?But the region s biggest casino is their country fetching excellent revenues and now opened up a branch in Singapore.Even though Malaysians say they ban local Muslims from entering but thats just for lip service.And Muslims from other countries are also free to enter.Jakarta s govt decided to ban clubs from operating during Ramzan,but they backed down when faced with angry five star hotel owners,saying such a law caused discomfort to the guests.Today Ramzan or no Ramzan the party goes on in Jakarta.The Indonesian govt tried to impose the anti pornography law that will ban dances,shows,clubs which may suggest pornography in the country.But the proposed law was soon shelved when faced with intense opposition from non Muslims who were later joined by moderate Muslims. These are facts I observed as I am born and live in Indonesia.Your statement to me saying ” your information on Indonesia is simply not true”will not change the facts that the world s most populous Muslim country is not a Muslim state,but a six religion state(Islam,Hindu,Buddhist,Catholic,Protestant,Confucianism) where majority of people are moderate Muslims that do not share such extreme views. Isnt belly dancing a popular tourist destination in Egypt and Turkey? You are very quick to blame India but no society in India supports selling of babies or girls.If its done its done in secret and punishable by law.But look at Pakistan.The society supports like family members or even the panchayat or even a parliament member and even the state support such horrible killings knows as “honour killings”. Foxnews reports Saira Nusrat Bibi tried to have her marriage annulled.She was married at 9 to a 45 yr man.She was shot to death in front of police by a group sent by her own parents.5 women were reported buried alive in Balochistan for wanting to marry men of their choice.Senator Israr Ullah Zahir says”these honour killings are centuries old tradition and I shall continue to defend them.”Gurdian reports that Asia Bibi,a Christian,has been denied presidential pardon,sentenced to death for blasphemy.The world is horrified at this as the state of Pakistan did not consider the fact that she is a mother of 4.Her husband says “How will I explain this to the children? “. Alan,Navees,Abdallah,dr Jamil,Hijazi tell me what words will you use to explain Asia s four children when they begin to ask for their mother? The list goes on and with each incident,the “creativity in killing”also increases.Gulfnews reports a village Panchayat had a 22 yr old girl electrocuted in Bawalpur while Tribune reports Father in law ties daughter in law to a tree and sets dogs on her.All the above media mentione are American,British,Arabian and Pakistani all mention the same thing,hundreds of women are killed every year in Pakistan in the name of “honour”. All these happenings and you still can point finger at India?
>>massage parlours in Thailand provides good clean fun
You are a sick man
Rajesh,
Not only that this self proclaimed modernist liberal takes his wife along.. & Kids.
I rather be an ultra conservative than someone so liberal like you taking your wife to Philipino seedy massage parlour.
Just do not get so desperate and end up doing what those Indian farmers did.
GREAT expose by dear Abdullah jan.
I am really surprised by something meaningfull and with less emotional overload.Yes India still live in medievial ages while the uppercast elite likes of Valmike/gidwani ignore the the plight of some 90% disfranchised/poor and try to match up with the western democracy.
As rightly said ” temple prostitution” does exist and so does the “Maternal uncle-niece marriage’–a clear incest.But these two items too are imports from Babylon some 5000 years ago.As i have written elsewhere, Indian culture is import from east and west asia.Thus all the ancient ideas, goddess worship,incest, temple priest system,animal worships,ethnic slavery,ideas of rebirth etc did come from west asia and found a permanent home in india, while disappearing from Mother babylon itself.
It is however very hard for hindus to discard their ” mythical history” and accept the modern cocept of evolution out of africa/Babylon. Most hindus will therefore will never accept rational arguments based on science and archealogy.It is also true for most faithfull Jews as well as their world view is ” judeo-centric” instead of indo-centric. Both systems are out of date but not out of luck.But sooner or later wisdom will prevail as God is mercifull to all men.I thank Mr Jan for informative discourse.
Dr abdul jamil khan, its an honor, a compliment coming from you, when you are much more learned than I.
rajesh gindwani…..“honor killings” is absolutely forbidden in Islam. No one person can take a life of another. These are foreign practice which would be wiped out from Paksitan within 2 years Insha-ALLAH. Those who have done it is liable to be charged as Murderers.
“Foxnews reports Saira Nusrat Bibi tried to have her marriage annulled.She was married at 9 to a 45 yr man.She was shot to death in front of police by a group sent by her own parents”.
The 9 year old that may be older when she filed divorce and not annulment, and its the court to provide her divorce as one can not keep a women against her will. If the Parents have done such a thing, then they and the agents committing such act are guilty of murder, and the police as collaborators. Once Sharia is implemented ( Insha-ALLAH ) These Munafiqeens and Murtadeen would be wiped out. If you have been following my comments I have been encouraging Pakistanis to Implement Abu-Bakr Option followed by Omar Option.
Fox News is owned by Murdoc a Australian and Israeli citizen along with a Saudi Prince who’s forefathers were Hebrews just like your Brahmans. The agenda of these people is to demonize Islam and stop implementing Sharia Law in Muslim Countries. As Sharia Law does not favor any class system and is absolutely blind as far as race, color, ethnicity or Religion is concerned.
” 5 women were reported buried alive in Baluchistan for wanting to marry men of their choice.Senator Israr Ullah Zahir says”these honor killings are centuries old tradition and I shall continue to defend them”.
Like I wrote earlier this a foreign practice, as the article say “centuries old tradition” as during the days of pre-Islamic Era where the innocent baby girls were buried alive, which is still practiced in India, 1 Million baby girls murdered at or before birth each year, will be wiped out in 2 years and the perpetrators hanged, regardless of their political or financial strength.
Since Israr Ullah Zahir has given this statement as evidence in public and endorsement of such practice, U watch and so shall I, he is a dead man, as soon Sharia is Implemented ( Insha-ALLAH ).
All the minority are protected in Islamic state so far they pay their taxes. You may notice that Muslims may criticize certain practice, but will never in their right mind offend or criticize any of the known or unknown 24,000 Prophets, including Buddha or Krishna or others. Muhammad (PBUH) is the most beloved Prophets among them, though we do not distinguish one from another.
“The stone which the builders rejected Is become the head of the corner”. Psalm 118:22
“the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes”. Psalm 118:23
“Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.” Luke 20:18
“I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee, and IN THEE shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed”. Genesis 12:31….So the next statement,
“Gurdian reports that Asia Bibi,a Christian,has been denied presidential pardon,sentenced to death for blasphemy.The world is horrified at this as the state of Pakistan did not consider the fact that she is a mother of 4.Her husband says “How will I explain this to the children? “.
Asia Bibi is cursed as U read the above verses of their own Bible.
Did Guardian report in Muslim’s favor about Mass Genocide committed in Iraq on False concocted charges.
Did Guardian Condemn Gen Collin Powell when he LIED in U N O and whole world as a witness stating that Saddam has W M D?
Did Guardian condemn Toni Blair LIES when he said Saddam can assemble a Nuk in 45 minutes?
Did Guardian condemn the concocted charges on U B L as planner of 9/11, when 1400 Engineers, Architects and long list of other personalities do not believe in official version of 9/11 and wants to have a new independent investigation as to real perpetrators?
Did you or your news paper or Guardian condemn Mass murders in Afghanistan, blowing away mud villages, blowing away funeral procession, blowing away wedding celebration. Kicking doors at night and massacring entire people including pregnant women and slicing their tummies to kill the unborn babies. Did Guardian condemn N A T O killing of nine boys who were picking up fire wood and got shot from Helicopter? Did Guardian Condemn Israel for Mass murders in Palestine? or Lebanon, or Indian Mass Murders of Muslim Kashmiris?
What crimes Muslims has committed to face such an annihilation?
We Muslims do not have the right to practice our Religion Islam that was practiced by all the Prophets?
Who has given U the right to Curse Our Holy Messenger (PBUH) when your own books Purana and Veda affirm and Validate Him as Kalki Avatar and by Name.
So a Pakistani no matter who, that curses Him, ALLAH curses him back and thus the matter in Court for Asia Bibi.
U talk about her 4 Children, what about Millions of children made orphans by you and those who you submit to?
What about children of Dr. A. Siddique.
What about Miss Rachel Corrie?
Have U not seen Palestinian Children, or
The Iraqi, or Afghani children born deformed due to your so called civilized Countries using depleted uranium? R U happy with it because they are Muslims?
Have a heart we all are children of Adam and Eve.
Assalamu-Elekum
Abdallah jaan,
Nicely put bravo.
Religions and Personal crimes.
Mr Gidwani,what you enumerated are lists of crimins against humans;unfortunaely it is prevalent among all in south asia.Even incest ( father-daughter),is reported among muslims–this my first hand info.What appears to be under deabate is my religion is better than mine.It is an enormous topic not possible to cover here.BUT mr Gidwani,You seem to defending “prostitution” as legitimate way of earning.Many muslims indulge and even pimp on it ( see umrao jan)that does not emblemish islam according to which it is a sin and crime..Same is true what Mr Gaddafi is doing.So politics of crime corruption has an upperhand and has thwarted the true islam of Prophet.Compared to prophet’s islam, there is not a single example in any religion/region.Thus in India ” cleansing” has never occurred.Thus all ideas, incest ( mama-niece),temple girls,drugs ( bhang)dice/gambling,raps of lower cast women,Sati ( burning of widow),untouchability,etc still are part of ” religious ethics” to be fillowed or not-remains a chice.Even modern democracy has failed to clean.Great Rishis,Ram mohan roy,Vivekahanand,Dayannand,Gandhi have been failed by Hinduism. Look at Manu’s Smriti,you can still read that Except Brahmin no one can read SKT Veda, although not in practice but remains there.
Thus if one reads evolution of Human religious ideas out of africa and Babylon ( ~4000BC),those practices Drugs, alcohol,sex,incest,priestcraft,poly andry ( draupadi-5 husbands),temple prostitution,Yoga,tantric sex,transmigration of soul etc were in practice and recorded contemporary;These were brought to india and have remained inpractice.A cleansing of a type of Islam has never ocurredin india.Many hindus tend to ignore this import from mideast to defend indo-centric creationism–or hindu nationalism.This is fine as faith but this does not make history.Please see Stephanie Dalley of oxford and Thomas Mcvelly and wendy Doniger etc or even my work from language perspective.
Sorry for a long answer but to defend prostituition is not justified and it is denigation of modern human values.You must see Umrao jaan to see the pains of Girl’s abduction and sex bussiness.And this remains a crime/sin in Islamic law but not in the laws of hinduism, for good/bad.
I believe if the discourse on this site be focussed on learning and education, it will improve its value;Name calling/bashings does not help anyone.
Thanks Dear Abdallah jan sahab; i am learing from your post quite a bit.Keep it up.You do have good questions and great infos.
Devdasi system from ancient iraQ/Babylon;
Abdullah Jan has really presented a verbattem, as was the practice in ancent Iraq.George Roux,describes( ancient Iraq) those,steps,sheeps sacrifice,blood,driping in river,and the girl’s ultimate dedication to a life in temple.Sad and unfortunate.Shocked to see a replica still persistent in “democractic india” to the tune of 100,000 girls.
Any thing which exposes indian cultural negatives are usally replied by discovering ” crimes” assingned as part of islam.This does not advances the true agenda of discourse–education.
To make mr Gidvani very very happy, i will tell abt a practice among his ” muslim sindi brothers”–ex hindus that he can cite as islamic in his wisdom. Many girls are married to Qoran and they live off with his parents–never married off.This saves the land holding to her brothers.When these Sindis were hindus, girl was married off and brother got all and land was not divided–a practice still in hindu land ownerships law.
Mr Gidwani is free to use this a head lines ” Islam permits marriage with QORAN, at any hindu nationalist site;will be a great news.
Mr Gidwani never followed up on Skt’s history abt Singa pur etc.If not mine please read Dr S K chatter ji’s linguistic histories.
dr Khan,I am slow to response due to my 10hr job and also I am wary of the fact that some of my comments are deleted.The reason I never followed up on Singapore its because the discussions were on two different topics.You have incorrectly informed that Singapore is not a Sanskrit name,which forced to me to question your credentials.In my reply I have quoted a Singaporean website which states it is a Sanskrit name.Your response was a theory that Sanskrit is not the first language,an entirely different topic.There are theories that state that Sanskrit may not be the first language,but it has not been proven.You have asked me to look into your work which I tried by google and found two persons with your name,one an 80yr old politician of [Editor's Note: Deleted with warning--next time we will not edit, simply delete he post],and the other the author of book called “Hindi Urdu an artificial divide”.Are these two the same person?I have an open mind and will be glad to read your book if its available on line,although I certainly will not agree with your conclusion.
Reason being as I believe a good researcher should always be neutral,will always consider all facts, present facts openly and not hide them and then come to a conclusion.Here I can very well see in many of your postings that have already come to a conclusion before the research is over and make attempts to hide facts favourable to Hinduism or India. Take the Singapore name case for instance.In your long reply,you have left out one important fact that the name is given by a Hindu/Buddhist prince,forcing your readers to think that Indian and Hindu/Buddhist culture has no profound influence on the island.Sanskrit not being a first language is a hot inconclusive debatable issue,and I can understand that many authors including yourself would want to make a living by writing and selling books on such topics.As a comparison,UFO books,and Da Vinci code are books that deal with such debatable issues,are popular and have made good earnings for the authors.But for the time being I ll stick to the facts that I ve been taught while in school,and do remember,its a school not located in India, but in the largest Muslim country with books printed in and by Indonesians,that recognizes Sanskrit as the first language and the profound influence it had on Indonesian language and culture.Do forgive me for being critical,its only because I do actually read carefully your postings.Thank you for your reference re other authors. I
shall return you the favour by citing websites that state Sanskrit as a first language but to be neutral I shall refer non Indian authors,1 stephen-knapp.com “Vedic culture parent of humanity.In Bible,Genesis 11:1 states during pre-Christian times,the whole world was of one speech and language.Stephen Knapp believes that language is Sanskrit.2.Prof Dean Brown states Sanskrit as mother of all European languages.There is a recorded interview in his website3.In the book “World Vedic Heritage”by PN Oak challenges the theory that language is a natural process of mankind and that many languages are created at the same all over the world when mankind learned to speak from animal voices.The book states a heartless experiment by emperor Akhbar who ordered few babies taken away from their homes locked up in a house devoid of all forms of human speech.Even while feeding or clothing the nurses are not allowed to speak to them.As a result the children grew without any speech skills,even among themselves.This experiment proves that language is not developed but taught and there has to be a common language linking all languages and that link is Sanskrit.
Dr. Khan. Forgive him. His knowledge cannot go beyond “Singapore web site”, Wiki–and the old tripe which has been discredited.
Your time may be better spent in brining up cool facts.
Dear Mr Gidwani,
If you have some science backgroud you may benefit from my book.Yes you can go on line to get it.There is a tremendous defecit in our educational system as it promotes religious and or regional nationalisms which is against ” shared evolution” of man and his system.
Plrease do read the book which is an attempt to expose that poiltics which pits man against man, using all those nationalisms.
But certain people do have blind faith too;That is fine too.
Dr. Jee,
Rajesh comprehends little beyond wikipedia but knows the price of onions very well.