MS Karoly
The Muslim educated class is a mostly unnoticed section of the Muslim society. The role of the educated class and intelligentsia in protecting the interests of and providing dynamic guidance for any community cannot be over-estimated. In any meaningful discussion on the progress and revival of the languishing Indian Muslim community, the role to be played by its educated class deserves prime attention.
Even though today the Muslim leadership is invariably associated with the clergy for some reason, the realities – including the account of whatever progress the Muslim community has made in modern times – do not warrant this. It is not hard to see that any headway made so far by the community in the fields of Social, educational and economic fields, and even its religious awakening, owes most to the modern education as well as the movements initiated by the educated class. For example, had it not been for the role played by the Aligarh movement and other similar movements, the profile of the Muslim community in India could not have been worse.
The role of the intellectually empowered section of the community in sustaining a community is so pivotal that it would not be grossly wrong to say that the intelligentsia deserves whatever blame or credit for the state of the community. Unfortunately in the case of Indian Muslims, the intelligentsia is simply not there in the picture even to take some blame. No wonder that the community is in practically leaderless, with no one to take any accountability on its behalf, and the community simply being unable to put to use its vast human and material resources for any collective advantage.
If we look at the Muslim community in India we cannot ignore its stark contrast with the other backward communities. It is the glittering of talent in the maze of utter backwardness and retardation. It is not possible to see another community which is so backward and still has so many individual achievers. That a community which has produced such stalwarts from APJ Abdul Kalam, Azim Premji, Muhammad Azharuddin and Muhammad Rafi to Sania Mirza and Shah Rukh Khan has been relegated to a state comparable to the Dalits is indeed disgraceful. And it certainly does point to one fact – the utter inaction, indifference and unconcern of its intelligentsia.
At the same time, I am not over-looking the significance of the religious leadership, considering their clout with the masses. Nor do I commit the blunder of advocating the damned “separation of religion and the state”. But one is left to wonder if it is the religious leaders who should deal with even affairs over which they have little command or can offer no solution, again aren’t we facing the difficulty associated with the separation of religion and the mundane here?
Moreover there is no point in turning a blind eye to the many inherent drawbacks of the hierarchy assuming the religious leaders as the sole leaders of the community. For example consider the issue of the Muslim unity. Everybody is concerned about the lack of unity in the community and is so vocal about it. No one has any doubt that Muslim unity is a must and that it should be brought about as soon as possible. Still why no one is pointing out the reason why it is so eluding us?
The religious groups surely do a great job of keeping together the community and protecting its identity. They keep alive our tradition and legacy, and sustain the basic institutions like mosques, madrasas and orphanages despite the absence of any central leadership, organized structure or profit motives. However we should not overlook the fact that the interests which sustain each such group– which are essentially faith-based – also prevent any conciliation between them. This is a general social psychology applicable for any community, and not just the Muslim community. In other words, on a functional plane the religious groups do not represent the community, rather the divisions in the community.
However unity would be possible if we can find and energize a section of the community which can act as a common representative platform and can also effectively shoulder its responsibilities. Consider the case of Hindus. No community in the world is so heterogeneous than the Hindu community. Even the so-called high castes have sub-castes which have further sub-castes, even to the exclusion of intermarriages between them. Still Hindus have been able to achieve political unity, thanks to their intelligentsia who fare well to represent and protect their common interests, keeping the seditions under the carpet. There are lessons to learn for Muslim community from this, which is far more homogenous than Hindus but still are unable to find unity within itself.
There is little doubt that no particular religious group in the community can provide this common platform for the reason I mentioned above. Nor can the atheists or communists or any such group who do not conform to the theistic aspirations of the Muslim community. Only the religious-minded educated class can take up this challenge, with their equi-distant approach to all religious groups, and at the same time being never anti-Islamic either. Moreover they can also serve to provide the core intelligentsia to take care of the community affairs.
These are some of the factors I think why should move more towards in this direction:
As already said, only the educated class can bring unity for the community, as they are the only group that has the potential to gain the common acceptance of the entire community. Surprisingly, we can see that even in overtly religious Muslim countries like Pakistan the secular parties are making hay in elections while the religious parties are side-lined.
As it is the educated class who dominate all the practical fields like governance, economy, health care, law and order, technology and so on, they can naturally assume leadership and provide functional support in every field. In any case it is the educated class who handles affairs in all these fields even in Muslim countries.
The educated class can gain more acceptance with the government as well as other communities as they do not project a overly religious or fundamentalist profile, and can help mitigate the negative stereo-typing of Muslims as displaying a too communal character by always being represented by the Mullas (despite the so little gains usually made out of it). Hopefully this will also lead to better understanding between Muslims and other communities, besides imparting the Muslim community a progressive outlook.
Speaking further on the inter-community relations, terrorism is a contentious issue which the Indian Muslims have to deal with. No one can deny the roles of some narrow-minded and short-sighted Mullas and Mulla ideologies in their followers undertaking dangerous or retrogressive stances and acts. The intelligentsia should come forward to give mature guidance to the Muslim youth and utilize their energy creatively for the benefit of the community and the nation.
Next comes the role of the Muslim women. It goes without saying that without the active contribution of this half of the community the progress of the community will remain a distant dream. Certainly women have a lot to contribute, especially in the fields of government representation and education. Only the educated class can provide a viable platform to facilitate the same.
The importance of the political representation of Muslims as the largest minority in the country cannot be emphasized enough (especially looking at the leverage which the Left parties have gained with their few seats in the parliament, for example). If ever there is any chance for the political unity of Muslims, the educated class has to take the lead and representation. Similarly only educated class can protect and put to use effectively the Waqaf properties for the benefit of the community.
It is worthwhile to re-iterate that any such common platform represented by the educated class should be equi-distant (or rather equi-proximal) to all the religious groups within the community in general, and at the same time it is imperative that they be loyal to the Islamic ideology too. Moreover the Muslim intelligentsia should, much like their counterparts in other religions, take the onus of providing the necessary ideological support and defense for the community. Hope that more discussions, guide lines and practical steps to improve the participation and contribution of the educated class and the intelligentsia in the affairs of the community will take place.
Photo: Young Muslim Woman
Karoly
Very well written article and for once I’m happy to see a image of a “Muslim” without the stereotype. But please have a heart. Unlike the US or Europe, we are all of the same race, speak the same language or atleast the source is the same, have more or less the same tastes in food, clothing and a passion for India. If any Indian community is facing difficulties, then its the responsibility of all citizens. We all sink and swim together. An Indian Hindu has as much right to the talents of a SRK. Abdul Kalam as much as an Indian Muslim. These stalwarts are national talent and not of an individual community.
Similarly the poverty and underpriviledged are a national respon/challengesibility. We need solutions that address all the depressed sections and not be parochial in our approach. A person from Kashmir should know that he/she has all the right to any part of India. Then only will the alienation go.
QUOTE: Nor do I commit the blunder of advocating the damned “separation of religion and the state”. UNQUOTE
Funny u say that, coz by that token, Hindus should turn India into a Hindu State and you would be one of the biggest supporters of it.
Good Luck with your double-standards.
Karoly,
When you are having a problem of the cleric being the spokesperson of your community, take the lead and call for them to back down.
As long as moderate muslims dont find a voice and start making public their disaffection for radical ISLAM, it will be tough to control the spread of militants.
Besides, their voice will be heard by other religious communities and will soothe their fear over the intentions of the muslim community. Maybe then other communities will start joining the protests against radical ISLAM.
Only then the problem of terrorism and radical ISLAM will be won over. Only when moderate muslims truly believe in it and are not afraid to dissent against their clerics/community.
Token declarations and fatwas against terrorism just dont cut it.
I am blunt in my comments, but i truly want Indian Muslims to raise and contribute to a strong India. Its a privilege and a right for my muslim brothers and fellow Indians.
MS Karoly,
Thanks for taking pain to pen such a ‘simple’ analysis of so complex a situation. There are few things to carry forward and some to be clarified. Stop the blame game of terrorism and Mullas, as it gives credence to the criminals in India that the Mulla is really involved in the acts of terrorism, which has been proved wrong, n number of times.The exclusion of intelligentsia is as contentious as the term itself. To the father of my brother’s friend, he is the intelligentsia, as being a ‘Jageerdar’ as well as a ‘Sayyad’, whatever these terms mean. Now, it is only religious dispensations, and that too the ‘Tableegi’ or ‘Deobandi’ types, that point to these facts that these very Jageerdars and Sayyads have appropriated the property and respect bestowed upon them by the Muslim emperors. The intelligentsia is also mostly pointed out to be ‘non practicing’ muslims and if you name even a Javed Akhtar, if he demands fair deal, is communalized. Now, he is not seen sitting with ‘secular’ people as he has been labeled communal or even a fundamentalist! Here we are, the ‘struggle committee’ has been asked to send representatives to talk to the government of Kashmir whereas there is none as far as the ethnic Kashmiri dispensations are concerned. This very committee first refused to talk and now you find that they are being called to talk to the government which is the creator of the problem. We send out Security Advisor to the state because we treat it as a foreign or occupied territory. The ‘struggle committee’ is being labeled as peace loving and is being shown so on the media, official or otherwise, no hard liner, no soft liners. Come the case of the other party, you will have with all the adjectives, terrorists, fundamentalists, hardliners and softliners. Here in India, we need to tell, the so called intelligentsia need to tell that this labeling need to be stopped and then only a workable relationship can be chalked out. It is analogous to the times of freedom struggle, where all but congressmen were the party to talk to the British, the outcome, others went their own way, creating South Asia out of a country.
The comment on terrorism and Mulla (thanks for using the proper word) is unwarranted. Where, the accused are sentenced through the media at the first instance of a camera click, their fate is not bothered by even the community. 15 youth from Karnataka were nabbed by the police involving the police of the state of Gujrat, Maharashtra, AP and UP. The boys were in prime of making a career in medicine and engineering, were not allowed to be represented by lawyers and the one who came to help was intimidated with bomb blasts and ransacking of office. Is this the very country where the sex scandal in Srinagar and the resultant boycott had a harsh ruling the apex court and the case was shifted to Chandigarh. In these boys case, the Supreme Court is non-existing. I come from a Muslim majority town of more than 1 lakh population. I know, how the town has been treated all the way since the british have left. It is another Malegaon with government apathy towards all the facilities which accrue to a particular size of population. Do we need to demand the very basic and need a leader, that too intelligentsia type? My town has lot of SIM (olden days SIMI) people but they joined SIO when the parting of ways was there. I have read the wall writings of the SIM then and found nothing objectionable like ‘make marriage so easy that rape becomes difficult act’. Our own media uses cruder tactics to promote use of condom, even if we assume that this past SIM rhetoric was crude.
It is the application of the system and law, which decides who are you. If you are a ‘baba’ you are revered and are given state funeral (it comes that cheap) and if you happened to have a beard, wear a kurta-pajama and a skull cap, you are a Mulla (you may be a Ph D or D Lit) and are out of the ‘intelligentsia’.
We need to purge this tendency of separating the religious and non-religious atleast in Muslim community. As pointed out earlier, Muslim has nothing to lose so they cling to the religion and like to live within the means which are legal by Islam. A big Muslim population of India is a boon as the religio-socio-economic model is feasible. Even of the intelligentsia tries to get a helper from the government in the form of loan etc it comes with two types of strings attached. Firstly, it will have the nitty gritty of modern banking which means the interest and collateral, which none of us want to have. Secondly, it comes with a politics, which drags the plan to its ultimate failure. We have damning examples in numerous commissions and reports like the Sachar report.
The need of the hour is to go the the grassroot with the religious people in tow, so that the plans are implemented. You wont get a positive press even if you do not carry the Mulla. A Mulla is part of the intelligentsia because the intellectuals neve demanded but talked about the ills only, without offering a solution.
Well I see little hope for your community which is a sad fact for all Indians. The biggest blame for this has to be taken by the educated muslim community themselves. They still maintain double standards…they are quick to point out towards any alleged discrimination but dont have the will to stand up and denounce clerics who have been able to breed communalism and hate ..unless you change your cave mentality and hate culture you will be what you are….There is not even one single leader in the muslim political community who has the potential to bring about any transformation….I hope for the best but fear the worst..
Sania Mirza, SRK etc are not achievers because they are Muslims. They are achievers inspite of being Muslims.
Yes, that sounds harsh, but it is a reality. Even today, many Muslims live in anger, in isolation, distancing themselves from others. This is a far cry from the lofty ideals set by the Holy Prophet (SAWA). Islam came to dispel jahiliyyah, but regretfully, Muslims are regressing into it.
If Muslims truly lived as Muslims, half their problems would be over.
QUOTE “If Muslims truly lived as Muslims, half their problems would be over UNQUOTE
Dear Mr. Kher,
You are treading on a very dangerous realm – of linking religion with socio-economic problems.
If you want to understand the problems contending a common musalman, you must delink the two. I don’t think any muslim in India complains that he is not allowed to follow his faith. The complain mostly is about poverty, lack of job opportunities, education etc..etc..
If you followed the articles in this webforum, you will notice that the general refrain amongst the educated muslims is – we have enough mosques..now give us some schools, we don’t want Haj subsidies….we want funds for schools and hospitals.
Best regards
In Islam, there is nothing that is outside the purview of religion. The quran, ahadith and religious rulings cover every aspect of life.
I am not saying that in India, a Muslim is not allowed to follow his faith. Hoewever, the Muslims themselves are not living up to the ideals provided by the Holy Prophet (SAWA).
As far as educated Muslims are concerned, they are far too effete to have any influence within the Ummah.
RSS / VHP / Bajrang Dal / Durga Vahini – the hydra headed monster- the world’s largest terrorist organisation must be banned. That is the first requisite to harmony in India. How can there be communal harmony when Praveen Togadia & Singhal & Thackerey & Modi and Singhals (with Police Protection) criss cross the country indulging in hate speech ! I cant fathom it.
It has come down to this. The State (by implication, Hindu) has a right to kill, rape, maim, burn Muslims ! When they protest against this State Terrorism, their protest is called “Terrorism”, and they are eliminated in fake encounters.
State Terrorism is the mother of Terrorism. In other words., donot even protest.. just see the injustice (Zulm)., and go in silent mode ! That is the message RSS is instilling. That will not work. It will lead to catastrophe. RSS will destroy India and Hinduism… just like their Taliban cousins did in Afghanistan. India has been built with lots of efforts ! RSS (Hindu Taliban) would turn it all into a rubble.
we are happy to see ur detailed situation prevailing among muslims.Infact if we have to overcome the situation,proper EDUCATION SHOULD BE GIVEN.Unless we give education it is not possible.Plainly speaking there are not enough educational institution run by the muslims.Due to non employment and poverty muslims are not studying.Hence we have to concentrate to start educational institutions as many as possible in the country.Likewise we are backward in HEALTH also.There are no enough muslim Doctors.ECONIMICALLY also poor.NOT ENOUGH POLITICIANS to help to overcome the situation.Eventhough the GOVT.,is providing all facilities our muslims are not utilising.
There are enough funds and resources within the Ummah – if only Muslims focused sufficiently and worked with determination and courage.
There are plently of Muslim politicians, but they primarily exist for their own welfare, and do little for the Ummah. If the Muslim Ummah follows the principle of EACH ONE TEACH ONE, a lot can be achieved
Sad but true..Most people,including myself are flooded with secular thoughts,but hardly come out of the shell and act something..Personally,I think it is mainly bcoz of protest from within the communtiy..I don;t think many people around me would like it is I speak aloud what I want to..I am sure many people in own community will brand me non-muslim or undercover muslim when I point out faults in the current system..So obviously,i am afraid of being stereotyped and hence i choose not to do what i wanted..This chain goes on and finally everybody ends up ‘talking’ instead of ‘preaching’..
How true..I don’t think people will bother to roam around blasting bombs if they have food to eat,job to work and like..Instead of spending billions of counter terrorism,can somebody please to use that money to uplift people as to make them above poverty level..do it for people of own’s community atleast..
Again a blunt truth..I don’t see any so called community leaders working for the community.Most of them are busy filling their own pockets..I wish I could smack them down..Atleast i wish they don’t act hypocritical..
Hi all,
First of all the so called “muslim intelligentsia” cant help in muslim community,coz the community doesnt give any credit to such so called “muslim intelligentsia” and so their voice will rather go unheard and will not carry any weight in muslim community.
Muslims gives importance to their religion and their holy book, so anyone who will address them relevant to their holy book and religion, they will be responded. Muslim community will not look up for some one who are just materialistic achievers in the society, and all the SRKs, Akhtars, Azmis, Khans etc. doesnt enjoy any special respect or priviledge in the community unless they speak something relevant to religion and spirituality.
I think today if there is anyone who is respected widely in muslim community and who is present in mainstream media too, it is Dr. Zakir Naik, but certainly not the mirzas or srks or akhtars or whatever.