Revolt in Banswada

[S. Insaf]

After Udaipur the Rajput Blood Shows colours in Banswada again

Exploitative Amil and Jamat Members Warned and Beaten up by Furious Dawoodi Bohra Women

On 10th Dec. 2007 Suturday, it was a situation like Udaipur in Banswada. The Dawoodi Bohra men, women and youngsters came out in very large number in traditional dresses demonstrating against the atrocities, harassment and loot of Amil, Mansoor Bhabrawala and Jamat members, who are his partners in crime.
The Amil and the Jamat members have made Raza compulsory and have imposed taxes on all the activities of the community members in the name Sayedna's farman. Demonstrating Bohra women said to the newspaper reporters that for long the Amil is blackmailing us in the name of Sayedna Burhanuddin.
The resentment against Amil and his henchmen surfaced with the notice on Jamat Secretary, Shabbir Behrainwala by Municipal Corporation for installing a hand-pump illegally. One Jamat member, Abbas Pattharwala blamed Fakhruddin Gheewala for this notice. Mr. Gheewala is a corporator in the corporation. Soon the Amil's henchmen went and threatened Mr. Gheewala to kill him.
Latter on Amil realised his mistake and phoned Fakhruddin Gheewala requesting him to come to Jamat office for a settlement. He promised him that he would call those who have threatened him and make them apologise. The general Bohras came to know of this and decided that they will not allow Mr. Gheewala to go to Amil alone. He may come under pressure and compromise.
So the Bohras of almost entire town went to Jamat office with Mr. Gheewala. The moment the Amil saw them coming in such a large number he escaped from the back door. This flared up the anger of agitating Bohras especially that of women.
Then the crowd went to Amil's resident near Bohra mosque in the new settlement area. But they found the house locked from outside. This outraged the anger further. They were sure that though the house is locked the Amil is very much inside. They shouted and challenge the Amil come out and face them.
They were furious as Amil used to abuse and curse them time and again saying that your elders are buried wrongly in graveyard and you will all go to hell. You will suffer deadly deases.
They remained there for more than 4 hours till midnight shouting slogan "Amil hai hai" "Amil Murdabad". During this protest the corporator Fakhruddin Gheewala fainted and the police arrived on the scene.
A signature campaign was launched on a statement listing down Amil's and Jamat committee's incidents of harassment and loot.
Then on Wednesday, 12th Dec. 2007 two representatives of Amil of Galiakot came to Banswada for settlement. But the protesting Bohra mob said that one of these two is a bully who had run away after he was thoroughly beaten up at Ratlam.
On oneside the meeting of Banswada Amil, Jamat members and Fakhruddin Gheewala with these representatives was going on in a closed room. On the other side the angry mob was resenting openly outside.
The Bohra women were openly expressing their sufferings telling press reporters letting out their anger. One Bohra woman said that now-a-days we are not allowed to do "Gaud bharai" at home and the Jamat charges Rs. 1000 per Thal. Like this we are looted at the time misaq. For Misaq earlier Amil used to charge Rs. 252. Now that amount has been raised to Rs. 752. For performing nikah the Amil charges Rs. 1452 minimum. We have remained silent till now due to fear of social-boycott and our own safety.
We are paying them by taking money on high interest. On one side our Sayedna Saheb say that interest is prohibited. On the other side his Amil compels us to take money on interest to pay the demanded Zakat and vajebat amount. More than 100 Bohras are caught in interest-bearing transaction and are in trouble.
One Bohra gentleman said with obvious pain in his voice, that this December he is going to loose his house as he had mortgaged the house in order to raise money to pay Jamat's taxes. Many times he went to Amil and Jamat for help from Qarze-Hasnat but each time he was insulted and thrown out.
Bohras complained that all crooks have got together as Jamat's life members and there is no change in their post since last 8 years. Most Bohras complained against the Jamat secretary Shaikh Shabbir Behrainwala.
They complained that even for the mass-marrages in the name of Rasme-Saifee an exorbitant amount of Rs. 30,000 per couple is charged.
they said that the Sayedna Saheb had sent Rs. two crore 15 lakh for the Bohras of Banswada but there is no account of that amount.
Meanwhile Fakhruddin Gheewala once opened the widow of meeting room and said "Please keep passion. the final agreement will be according to the people. If that does not happen you can walk on my dead body."
Soon after the members and Galiakot representatives came out of the closed room and announced that the settlement has been reached as per people's wishes. But the angry mob said in one voice that "You are playing dirty politics with us and we are not going to believe you."
Then suddenly Bohra women jumped on them and beat them up with their footwares. The police had to intervene. But still these women did not stop hitting fatty Jamat members, who were unable to run because of their over-weights. These women were shouting "Haramkhoro! You have become so fatty by enjoying on our money that you ca'nt even run whereas we are compelled to remained hungry."
The crowd was so furious and uncontrollable that the police had closed down the main road.
The representatives who came for settlement from Partappur, Sagwada and Galiakot were shocked as they had never witnessed such resentment of loyal Bohras before. They refused to comment on camera of press. But said we will convey the feelings of the Banswada Bohras to the concerned people in Bombay and it is for them to decide to bring about any change in Amil and Jamat.
(Based on the news in the local Rajasthan newspapers which has given colour photographs showing Bohras protesting in large numbers and Bohra women beating with their chappals. Free translation by me from Hindi.)

[Al Zulfiqar]

now let us wait for the predictable response from the likes of shezaadas gulf,(May the size of his gulf increase) frog, piggy etc. that this is all lies and a creation of reformists etc.

or maybe they will remain silent like the cowards they are..

either way they are so predictable, after all they are HMV (his masters voice)!

[abcd]

Dear Insaf,

This is story of every jamat. Now the kotharies will find out the leader of this incident and will try to give him some post so that they will make others silent. then after they will punish the weakest among the demonstrators and will teach a lesson so that no body can venture in future to raise their voice.

The same thing happened in our jamat, over a period of time the Amil has taken written apologies from the most of the mumins as and when they need a raza for their karaj and left the aggressive members untouched. By doing this the have broken the majority.Now at least in near future no body will dare to challenge.

[haseebsiddique]

Brother Insaf,
Hats off to Brothers and Sister of the Bohra Community of Banswada. .....Allah be pleased with the courage shown by them.

[Gulf]

Finally Mr. S. Insaf cameup with big lie and progressive henchman have started jumping about here and there

[africawalla]

If this story is true then surely this sort of activity by Amil should be escalated to the right people, In such a big community we will get some currupt people and are needed to be weeded out but as you say that the fear which has been put into people so they do not speak out does not help.We are peace loving community and we should not resort to violence.An escalation process needs to be put in place if an Amil or the jamaat members are misusing their positions then it needs to be reported to the appropriate people without repercussions.
You guys might think that I am talking about an 'ideal situation ' but I think we need to convince the relevant people, if you don't try you don't know.

[Al Zulfiqar]

Originally posted by Gulf:
Finally Mr. S. Insaf cameup with big lie and progressive henchman have started jumping about here and there

ah ha, so the idiot came up, true to form!!! here is my reply to yr anticipated comment, which i had already posted above in advance:

"now let us wait for the predictable response from the likes of shezaadas gulf,(May the size of his gulf increase) frog, piggy etc. that this is all lies and a creation of reformists etc.

or maybe they will remain silent like the cowards they are..

either way they are so predictable, after all they are HMV (his masters voice)! "

[abcd]

Dear Africawala,

First of all our community is not so big and if you are honest you will see that only corrupt peoples are around amils. Even most of the Amils are corrupt and even reported to the high command no body cares to replace because they believe in khao and khane do.

With this attitude these types frequent revolts are happening in our society. The honest peoples are kept at bay so that the coffers of kothar always remain filled.

Dear liar Gulf,

Have you kept any moral to come to this board, first reply why you have cheated gullible?
Just to collect money and jewellery you have spread wrong news of Jari by SMS and net.

[accountability]

Insaf bhai, if you could only scan the photo and newspaper with the story please.

Morever, for all those supporters of present administration, may tell us the connection between money and religion. why on every occassion of religious importance, money is demanded. why this year wazarte saifee came up with instruction, that non payment of wajebet can cause non issucance of safai chitti. Please explain, what are wajebaat. From which religious book or sermon, non payment will render you non mumin.

Last year a large transaction of land occurred in bombay to the tune of almost a billion ruppees. who and how was it paid, and who is the beneficiary of that land transaction.

[S. Insaf]

Here's a link to a newspaper cutting on the Banswada incident: Emotional blackmail in the name Sayedna

<small>[ December 18, 2007, 03:10 PM: Message edited by: Admin ]</small>

[tahir]

Originally posted by africawalla:
In such a big community we will get some currupt people and are needed to be weeded out

The problem here is that the community and kothar are two seperate watertight entities. The kothar is miniscular but with sweeping powers. It is difficult to find good people in them. Infact honest and good people are a misfit in kothar machinary and are weeded out as soon as they try to speak.

An escalation process needs to be put in place if an Amil or the jamaat members are misusing their positions then it needs to be reported to the appropriate people without repercussions.

Such a process is possible only in a democracy. If the entire administration and Aamils are elected by popular vote, a proper grievance redressal system will automatically fall in place. Till then the bohras will have to use the 'veil' since the administration is handpicked from the corrupt himself.

[abcd]

Gulf says,
“Finally Mr. S. Insaf cameup with big lie and progressive henchman have started jumping about here and there”
Now since the paper clip is published by Insaf, will you except that the real liar is you?

Please clarify why you want to extract money in the name of ma Fatema.

[accountability]

Insaf bhai eid mubarak

today, on eid some of my friends came to see me, when I described to them, the events in banswada, they were skeptical, but when I showed them the newspaper, as i could not read hindi, but they could, they were very surprised. and thence on, i can not tell you, each had their or someone's story to tell.

[S. Insaf]

Friends,
There is a sad news. The precursor of agitation in Banswada, Mr. Fakhruddin Gheewala is no more. He died of heart attack on 18th of Dec. and buried on 19th Dec. 2007. He had promised to his people during the settlement with Sayedna’s representatives that if the settlement is done against people’s wishes then it will be done on his dead body.
Our rotten religious establishment has killed one more well-wisher of our community. Entire Banswada is in a great state of shock.

[Al Zulfiqar]

very sad news indeed..

would'nt it be appropriate to refer to him as shaheed fakruddinbhai gheewala?

the kothar is like a huge, powerful machine which crushes any dissent like a huge crusher .. that is the terror tactic they use and then crow about it from the rooftops, "see, the majority are with us!"

a few goondas holding the whole community hostage at knife point. the root cause is the rotten family lording over us like moayiwah and his descendants. isnt it high time this entire family was eliminated, as if with insectides?

[accountability]

inna lillahe wa inna alihai rajaun.

I am just speechless. The problem with our community is, resentness without leader. It is right when some one tries to give a voice to restless masses, it is curbed and suppressed. I hope his family finds some consolence.

[Hozefa]

fakhruddin gheewala death caused by food poisoning after having meal in Galyakot.. is it correct.. any update? if you guys have.

[S. Insaf]

Mr. Gheewala died in Banswada and his medical report (a copy of which is me) clearly states "Heart attack" as cause of death. Remember he had first mild heart attack when the crowd had gathered in front of the Amil Bhabrawala's resident.
Food poisioning seems to be shameless Kothar's story to cover their crime.

[mbohra]

To-day's Mumbai/Bombay Samachar:

http://bombaysamachar.com/new/details.a ... #headlines