By Justice Katju
Saeed Naqvi, the renowned Indian journalist, is my dear friend, with whom I talk almost daily on whatsapp.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saeed_Naqvi
We are on the same page on almost all issues, both being secular and modern minded. However, on one issue we had a serious disagreement yesterday.
Saeed bhai ( as I call him, as he is many years elder to me ), praised the Iranians for their bravery, but was critical of religious clerics, like the Ayatollahs, heading the government.
I replied that though usually religion has played a reactionary role in history, in exceptional cases it has played a progressive force, as it is doing presently in Iran. I have explained this in my article below :
So I explained to Saeed bhai that one must have a dialectical understanding of the matter, instead of a dogmatic, metaphysical, or dichotomous one.
The Ayatollahs in Iran are unlike many religious clerics elsewhere. They are highly respected, because they live pious, simple, frugal lives. None of the 4 sons of Ayatollah Khameini, Iran’s Supreme Leader, owned a house, and instead all lived in rented houses
In my opinion, had it not been for Ayatollah Ali Khameini, and after his death, his son Ayatollah Mojtaba Khameini as the Supreme Leader, Iran might not have been able to face the furious treacherous attack of America, which has the most powerful military in the world. These clerics cannot be intimidated by anyone, for they only fear God. They are determined to uphold Iran’s sovereignty, come what may, and like Imam Husain at Karbala in 680 AD they are not willing to bow their head before tyranny, even if their heads are cut off.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Karbala
https://indicanews.com/why-iran-will-win-the-war
Since the Iranian clerics are highly respected because of their unimpeachable integrity, and their willingness to make any sacrifice for their principles, the people of Iran have voluntarily followed them, and are also making great sacrifices.
https://indicanews.com/iran-facing-fearful-odds
Ayatollah Khameini preferred living in an unsafe place ( where he was killed by US-Israeli bombs on 28th February along with many relatives ), because he said he would not shift since ordinary Iranians are also living in unsafe places.
Had it been non clerical people at the head of the Iranian government, it is quite possible, as it happened in Venezuela, that the Iranian government may have capitulated before the US-Israeli onslaught, for such non clerical people do not ordinarily have the gumption, zealotry, fervour and fire which is required to fight such fearful odds, as the clerics have. Ordinary people care for their lives before their principles, whereas the Ayatollahs care for their principles before their lives.
Under their leadership, Iran has fought on undefeated for over 60 days ( when France had capitulated before the Germans in June 1940 in just 43 days ).
And, as pointed out in my articles below, Iran, under the leadership of its clerics, is playing a historical progressive role by showing to all underdeveloped countries the way for their emancipation
https://share.google/AGyEkVcB4HfcQ1XVZ
https://indicanews.com/the-neo-colonial-era-and-the-historical-significance-of-the-u-s-iran-war
https://indicanews.com/the-historical-significance-of-the-u-s-iran-war
So Saeed bhai needs to reconsider his view
