By Kashif-ul-Huda, TwoCircles.net
Contrary to popular belief, Muslim leadership does exist in India. They make their presence known by street protests, writing articles in newspapers and lobbying ministers and government officials for local or national issues concerning the Muslims of India.
Nandigram, where a number of Muslims that were killed raped, and their houses destroyed, has become the latest rallying cry of Muslim leadership of India. Everyone in India, from Mumbai to Jammu to Indian Muslims of the US has shown outrage on how Muslims can be killed with the collusion of party in power and local administration. The most shocking part for a community that has seen all this before was that it happened in a state ruled by secular parties.
The Left Front government of West Bengal is made up of various communist parties. Muslims enjoyed peace in West Bengal since the Left Front government took over in 1977. Communists or secular parties should have been religion blind and should have ensured social and economic development of all citizens. But alas, Muslims have not only not gained, but have slipped further down the steps of the social and economic ladder under the Left Front rule.
Muslims who form 25% of the state population should have protested for the lack of their presence in state jobs, about their low literacy level and a host of other issues. Killing of Muslims in Nandigram made the Muslims angry that the state government cannot ensure the only thing they expected from the government. In fact, it seems that the government and the ruling parties have done their best to inflict maximum damage to Muslims of Nandigram, resulting in the loss of life and property.
Muslim organizations in West Bengal got their act together and formed Milli Ittehad Parishad to pressure the government to take action benefitting Muslims of the state. Their recent demonstrations have been impressive with about sixty thousand to one lakh Muslims coming out in the streets of Kolkata on the15th November to peacefully protest the violence that had taken place in Nandigram.
Five days later, another protest of a few thousand demonstrators held by an unknown group called “All India Minority Forum� turns violent. This is probably the first time that the Army was deployed in a city in a matter of hours. The violence was mainly between the police and the protestors. Later though, police and the Rapid Action Force was unable to contain it and the local administration had to call the Army to control the violence, so we are told.
The All India Minority Forum (AIMF), called their demonstration to protest the Nandigram violence and also to protest Tasleema Nasrin’s stay in India. While the protest over Nandigram and Kolkata being the state capital is justified, it doesn’t seem right to combine the Tasleema visa issue with it. These two issues are completely separate; one is a law and order issue of the state and the second is a policy issue of the central government.
By combining the two separate issues, AIMF have successfully diluted and confused the two. They have sabotaged and robbed other movements of the Nandigram issues and the media will now be fixated on the Kolkata violence rather than Nandigram violence.
This gives an opening to the Left Front which so far was under pressure from all sides by all parties and organizations. Having resorted to violence, now AIMF will be considered as a legitimate voice of the Muslims by the government. Since LF is not in the mood to compromise on Nandigram, they will easily take up the second issue raised by AIMF which is Taslima’s stay in India so as to appear to be listening to Muslims’ demands.
Biman Bose, Chairman of the Left Front has already made a statement that Tasleema Nasrin should leave Kolkata. Thus by moving Taslima out of Kolkata at least temporarily, LF will appear to care about Muslim demands. AIMF can claim victory and yet again the legitimate demands of Muslims will be thrown in the dustbin and a movement of Indian Muslims will be killed before it can demand fair share for the community.
I dont understand why you say that muslims were killed and raped in Nandigram. Nandigram is not about hindu and muslims. The fact that there were muslims who were killed in Nandigram is due to simple fact that there are many muslism in that region. But nobody would have gone to Nandigram and said that lets kill muslims.
On Taslima, why does Muslim community reacts only on such “emotional issues”. He muslims find her views secriligious, they can just ignore her.
Some people have even said that rizwan was killed since he was a muslims. Isn’t that preposterous!
Only burning issue facing Muslims in India is that they need to get in the mainstream, focus on modern education and push religion in background, intsead of wearing it on sleaves. Bit like SRK’s character in Chak De. Where is muslim leadership which stands for it but?
Kashif,
Interesting you said Mumbai to Jammu! I think it should be Mumbai to Kashmir. Hope you agree Kashmir is part of India?
Also Kashif, I don’t think political movement for Muslims is crushed in India. But As you said by combining wrong issues like in the current case Nandigram and Taslima the real issue is always lost. Recently heard Farooq Abdullah talking regarding Taslima Nasreen.
Also hope you agree that if a Muslim political movement should be there or Muslims should vote for Muslim parties you will not object to the Hindu political movement or to Hindus voting for a Hindu party.
Let us not come up with flashy headline Kashif. Saw your articles on your website as well. Hope you understand that India is not only about Muslims and their needs. Also it is not about Hindu and their needs only.
@Guarav
What you say may be true, but as a Muslim I don’t believe you, because you have no proof that it was not motivated by prejudice, I in my own safety will assume it was, because otherwise I may be blind to a potentially fatal force. For a Muslim to believe what you are saying you have to prove…And by prove I don’t mean tell me, I mean act. Did you write in to your newspaper denouncing the the actions of Modi? Do you tell your fellow Hindus when they say something bigoted towards Muslims, that it is wrong? I seriously doubt it. No, you are here posting on this site trying to mix up the issue… thanks a lot, I really feel proud to be a part of India.
@Mahesh T
I’m glad that you pointed out the Jammu/Kashmir thing, it tells me quite clearly that despite the fact that you say Muslims should have Indian pride, you don’t consider them Indian, you view them with suspicion.
The fact of the matter is, I don’t blame Hindus for the Muslims’ lot in life here, however, from what I’ve seen they aren’t exactly helping. The fault is really with the educated Muslims, they should have, at a much earlier date, tried to become the leaders (both religious and political) of all the Muslims. However, they didn’t and the void was filled by uneducated maulana types. Who, again, are not to blame, because most of them don’t know any better anyway.
The only real problem that I see with Indian Muslims (and I’ve only been in India for two years now) is that they lack power. Both monetary and political. What they need to do is create a voting block that has money and votes, then no political party will dare go against them for the fear of losing.
Moderator’s Comment: Edited some words to comply with the comment policy of not personally attacking the commenters or authors
Ahmed, Regrets if my words felt like that.
I do trust Indian Muslims. I have my own periods of oscillation from my right wing and then to extreme left. I am a kashmiri pandit and just little emotional about the land where I used to live. All said I didnt mean any harm.
Also, the solution given by you is allready in implementation since independance of India. Every party has used Muslims as voting blocks. Rather than development, owing them as Indians parties have used them in issues such as Osama or attacking US.
We need Indians and not Indian Muslims or Indian Hindus. Because when we mingle our identities we also tend to become biased.
I disagree that you should form a block and identify that block as Muslim because more you do that there is a certain section of people who will like to block against them. Ahmed I believe the best thing is not to blame current circumstances or to repent on what has happened but to plan towards better future. I had to leave my homeland in a very short notice and I never saw some of my own again as well from Kashmir but I certainly now feel that whatever happened had to happen.
The biggest issue I see with Indian Muslims is that they mix issues with what is happening around the globe in Indian contexts. What happens in Iraq/Afghanistan or elsewhere gets mixed up in their anger. Rather than focusing on issues of their employment and betterment they tend to vote for parties who enforce their muslim identity. I hope you are getting my point allthough left to you for believeing as I am not a Muslim and you allready said that you might believe in Muslims more.
@Mahesh T
Well I’m sorry about what happened to you and your family in Kashmir. However, taking it out on other Muslims doesn’t make much sense (which I’m not saying you are doing, but just pointing out).
Right, I’m quite ignorant of Indian history, I just moved here after growing up in America, and this is mostly from what I am seeing here, there is probably much more depth to the issues than what I see at this point. When I said make a block and vote, I didn’t not mean it quite that literally. What I meant was that if Muslims started to fund parties (which at this point doesn’t seem very practical, as they tend not be well off) then those parties would be less likely to pull in extremist Hindu votes by speaking/acting against Muslims. Basically I’m proposing a powerful lobby group, such as those present in most western countries to nullify the threat of acts of violence against Muslims and their property. Also what seems necessary is a sensitization program to bring the two sides together. For example, I was talking to a pundit yesterday and he asked me why the Azhan was so loud, that if it was for God then like the bells in Mandirs it should be quieter. Frankly, I was quite amazed that such a simple fact, that the Azhan is a call to Muslims to come and pray and is not intended for God, was not known to someone who has not only lived their whole life among Muslims but that the person is also heavily involved in religion.
I do agree with you that Muslims need to stop segregating and differentiating themselves so much, and learn to mingle and attempt to at least meet the majority more than half way. A lot of the problem seems to be a lack of education and maturity. Probably some of it can also be attributed to the Muslim culture that has been formed over the years (the lack of interest in education and betterment of oneself especially). I am in north India, correct me if I am wrong but my understanding is Muslims in south India have a different culture and there does not exist as much friction between the two groups, so the cultural problem may be only a manifestation in the north.
Ahmed, Yes at one point I did not like Muslims very much more so because of my experience in Kashmir. Don’t know whether I am still a rightist but definitely tend to look issues with a more centrist angle and surely with my oscillations. Muslims in South barring hyderabad are more educated, more nationalists(My feeling and dont mean North Indian Muslims otherwise) and part of the local cultures in those regions. For e.g a Tamil Muslim might have nothing to do on Urdu or trying to feel anything about Pakistan. Muslims in North particularly were more impacted by partition and then became part of local ghettos in their cities. If you travel 75% of north India you will find Hindus living in one pocket and Muslims in another. Muslims were more impacted by uneducation. Allthough on the poverty don’t agree because both hindus and Muslims are poor. Muslims here tended to have soft corners for Pakistan, were suspicious of educating their children in schools, depended more on Madarsa education. The divide was strange. Because on one hand Muslims tended to have more and more Muslim identity as they were not in touch with Hindus. They started to see their poverty or issues like infrastructure as part of biased society. Strangely Hindus kept their distances but could not understand that their distance is being understood wrong on the other end. Then came 1989 and early 1990′s when Kashmir happened. The wahhabis from saudi started funding muslims worldwide for moving more towards the strict interpretation of sunnah, something far different than the rich sufi culture india enjoyed. The right wing who was sleep also suddenly found issue in India and started seeing Muslims as problems. They unknowing were putting Muslims against the wall and actually Muslims did started developing issues. The babri masjid committe which had following among few Muslim fundamentalist groups, shah bano case, uniform civil code and many others immediately became national issues. 1992 and much later Gujurat happened.
I think at this point some sort of alienation did happen in muslim society. The agenda of both the wahabbis, Pakistanis and hindu right wing was coming true. Its wrong to assume that the divide did not exist but yes it is more visible now. Added to this the irresponsible politicians who have always utilised Muslims for their vote banks.
Funding politicians has always existed in India. Communists were earlier funded by Soviets and later by China. Muslim countries have also funded politicians in many ways to further their agenda. Infact communists have always believed in imposing a chinese dictatorship in India. They have also tried to use Muslims as vote banks by opposing US. However in true nature they have very little good at heart for Muslims. Muslims also have soft corners for saudi arabia. The impact of Arab nationalism is defintely there on Muslims.
This might be my personal view. But defintely I have a feeling that north Indian Muslims do not have a true national approach or their muslim identity has superimposed their Indian identity. They tend to see even small issues as part of victimising them. Some may be true and some completely out of blue. I do believe that a complete mixing of society is essential now. Muslims need to stop waiting for entire world to become Muslim or rather than working on agenda of Maulanas or politicians who are manipulating them should now form a national approach.
“Interesting you said Mumbai to Jammu! I think it should be Mumbai to Kashmir. Hope you agree Kashmir is part of India?”
Yes, I agree that Kashmir is part of India, reason I mentioned Mumbai to Jammu because I came across statements that was issued from Mumbai and another one that was from Jammu University otherwise one is supposed to say Kashmir to Kanyakumari.
I have not read all comments but a question was raised why Indian Muslims need a political party? I am not even arguing for a political party, Muslims need a political movement to educated and empower them on the political process. In any democracy you have to ask for your right and due share it is not handed to a group on a platter.
This definitely does not mean that we are looking for confrontation, we are trying to make Muslim an equal and informed partner in India’s development. India shouldn’t be dragging Muslims along on the path to progress but all communities of India should be marching along side.
Mahesh observation about leaning towards pakistan by a handful of Muslims,living in Pockets,teaching the children in Madarsas is one sided story.This not because of Muslims pro pakistani(? )mind but due to their economic condition.Due you know that the fee structures in Madrasa is very cheap.The madarsas run on alms.The teachers eat there and live there with the students where as in schools the fee is higher, teachers get fat pay, cost of books are too much9in madarsas those are free.If a Muslim is leaning towards pakistan this is due to avenging attitude as he has himself been rejected by the Hindus of his own country.When I was a child in school,the village grocer use to tell me as to when our family was shifting to Pakistan. He used to sing”Hum ko rehna hindustan tum ko jana pakistan”.Why a loyal Muslim should go to Pakistan?he can go to Dubai,UK,US,Australia but not to pakistan. The time is Hindus should come forward and embrace the Muslims.Should give them equal opportunity but it is not possible because majority of the Hindus are themselves in caste ridden society.Theu are theirselves deprived of the opportunities by powerful Hindu opportunists and hence this complete mess.What can be more to prove loyality when the Muslims of India who are living here id not shift to Pakistan during partition because we are born Indians and not refugees from any part of the world shifted to India.
Sapphire,
I can’t stop that grocer from singing his song but did you only hear his songs in this democratic country. Had Abdul Kalam or Hamid Ansari also heard those then they would never have reached where they are. Hindus wont extend their arms for Muslims but Indians will to fellow Indians. This drama of hindu muslim unity will go on forever but if there is a reality show then its India. Why Madarsa reforms ? Because poor people are not being able to afford schools so why not develop world class Madarsas that can also show the world that Indian Muslims have an out of box approach? Develop solutions for this country and for your community because as you said Hindus have a lot of problems as well. There are equal number of poor there also. When I get out of my house in morning for office and till time i return I give a damn hoot to hindu Muslim or whatever because I am tired seeing messy roads, congestion, pollution. I am in the same hell or heaven as you dear sapphire and it is this hell or heaven I need to change.
Dear Mahesh.
Did not u believe what I said about grocer’s comments? Do Muslims considered as second class citizens of India? Should India be made a religion based country of fanatics by a few people who are mental patients and have religious Zeal? Definitely not?If Muslims pay the taxes to the Government they should get their fair proportion of Government hospitalities too. How can Madrasa flourish without the support from Government?Who will modernise educational syllabus of Madrasa? Mullas and Moulvis?
Mahesh, please think of reality. Big cities are not only India. India is our villages too which have never been developed.No medical facilities,no roads,no electricity,no schools,no sources of earning. paddy fields are producing hunger instead of paddy.All are migrating to cities and no one is coming back again to their villages to enlighten the poor villages.Then where should the Muslims go?
Sapphire I did believe you when you told me about the grocer. People like him who can’t stand for their own people can never stand for anyone. But Probably I failed to explain myself. If a road is broken and you go and ask the goverment you need funds because Muslims need it then people will find a chance to play politics. If you would have gone out as a society then the work would have been done. We are all victims of politics and we have become polarised to the extent that we believe the so called ”Others” are more responsible for our woes and not politcians who are dividing the society.
Wow , poor souls , yes , it is true that most Muslims are poor , but Hindus are also poor ,
but the problem is….
Most poor Hindus are from lower castes and can not be considered as :” Hindus ” in the true sense , can they ?
I like making friends and hence this interaction. The interactions aims at finding out `out of the box` solutions by all concerned. I have not people from other community participating through this box. Why? We do not promote such interactions, can be only reason. Let’s see how we can interact for meaningful results.
It’s totally true from the very day of so-called independence of India ( I am telling you so-called, because India didn’t get freedom from Brithish raj but some vested interest have been given the role of Raj and they are serving the Raj. The same people were against the independence weren’t they?, because they ruled original Indian people from a very long time and then exploited them over the centuries) Muslim got pushed against the wall and still being pushed in the name of terror which are being carried out by whom everybody know them either Muslim or Hindu. This particular bad element of Indian society have fear that they had been making fool the original Indian here through out the centuries and made them sham or curse in the eyes of themselves. When Muslim came into power, they had done justice to them and given them the equal rights to prosper thereby Muslim got a respect in the heart of a the real Indian and bad elements got shrunk into their hole for sometime. That’s why they were opposing independence to India because they were getting fair deal under British Raj and they were afraid of being marginalized once again if the power goes to Muslim hand. And the same factor had pushed them to hatch conspiracy to make environment for creation of Pakistan, then they would have free hand to do what they would like, saying to Muslim you got Pakistan, so there is no right for you here. And that’s why they are having close eyes on Muslim movements and the moment any movement gets formation, they just destroy it by many means including police and politics…
Why SIMI got banned, even though there is not even single allegation has been proved in court and why Bajrang Dal and RSS are getting full freedom while all Indian citizens know these organisation are planing vicious things to damage our beloved country and executing them because they are origanally not Indian but came from out of India..
As for political parties are concerned, both Congress and BJP are the two sides of same coin. BJP had done minore damages in comprision of Congress had done..All the riots against Muslim across India which were carried out by communal police forces were done with the silent approval from this party..Fromt the very independence of India, there was Patel who has done maasacre in Punjab, then many more..This party has pushed Muslim at the bottom of poverty and illetrecy..
And all political parties in one way or other are being run by the same element of the society and they have one common agenda to push Muslim back and don’t let them rise any way..
All the crimes are being done to Muslim are not only political game. We are not in position to term everything political and forget..there are well planned startegy between them to do so..It’s not a vote bank thing only, it’s the mindset of some people who afraid of rising of Muslim unity and political power..
At the last not least, we are confident, Muslim will rise very soon..
Message to the enemy of India in the clothe of its devote citizen: You should think again over what vicious plans you have. they will not only damage only one community but they are damaging factors to the unity of India..If a person traveling on a boat doing hole supposing it will sink one particular person, he is fool…Hereby I appeal to all respected Indians irrespective of community to stand agaist these factors who were against your freedom at that time and still not giving you what you better deserve and have monopoly over the resourses.