Author: Ahmad Ali Siddiqi
Publication: Milligazette
Date:
History is witness to the fact that
Indian Muslims have played a very important role in nurturing and upbringing
this country, its beautification, construction ad development. Muslims
gave this country arts and sciences, culture and civilization and nurtured
it with their blood and toil. They have been equal partners along with
other nations in introducing this country on the world map.
When the imperialists had hold on
this country and had firm grip through cruelty and oppression, Sayed Ahmad
Shaheed and Ismail Shaheed were the persons who first of all ignited the
fire of freedom and who aroused the dormant feelings of nationalism and
liberty among Indian nation against British slavery and ultimately achieved
martyrdom for the sake of the country and nation.
Muslims took active part in India's
regular and systematic struggle for freedom and ultimately the dawn of
freedom appeared for which people had been cherishing the desire for years.
Among those who played vital roles in the war of independence were Mahatma
Gandhi and Pundit Nehru but Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Maulana Hussain
Ahmad Madani and other Ulama were also equal partners. India became free,
people breathed in the air of freedom, Constitution and laws were framed
and rights and duties of the people of India were prescribed.
Before Independence, the British
made Muslims the targets of their cruelty and oppression but after the
independence their compatriots did not allow them to have a sound and peaceful
sleep; specially after partition of the country, Muslims were blamed for
being anti-national and their rights were suppressed.
Problems
Every people and nation of the
world has to pass through trials and tribulations which in fact are the
touchstones of its power of resistance and survival. Nations which do not
ever have to face difficulties and trying times have neither the desire
for improvement and reform nor the virtue of self confidence. They gradually
become easy targets of easy-going life, self-forgetfulness and inertia,
with the result that gradually they lose their identity and existence and
whither away.
Muslims of India too are passing
through hard and trying times these days and are facing many problems and
difficulties in their national life. Some of their difficulties are the
results of their own mistakes and lapses and some are the legacies of the
past. Some of the problems are the products of events and incidents that
took place in India a few years ago. However, there is no doubt that these
problems and difficulties are temporary which will pass off in no time
provided that Muslims behave with patience and restraint and try to solve
these problems with a cool mind. It will become better and all the more
easier if they are led by a thoughtful, realistic, bold and fearless leader
with a balanced mind.
Some special problems of Indian
Muslims
Though communal riots are among
the biggest tragedies of this independent, secular democracy, it is nonetheless
a transitory situation which should be brought under control because of
the sense of responsibility of government authorities, their sincere devotion
to duty and awakening of political sense in the country. Real causes of
worry and concern are those problems which are posing a danger to their
national existence and identity like a slow poison.
The first problem are the difficulties
which are being faced in modern India in the works relating to 'tabligh'
or preaching of religion. Who does not know that Islam is a religion that
gives call for preaching and 'tabligh'. Islam spread in the world through
preaching and 'tabligh' only. Selfless act of 'tabligh' and preaching of
Islam has been instilling new spirit and new enthusiasm in Muslims of India
in all ages. It is only because of 'tabligh' that new members and 'guests'
are being added to the Islamic community who in subsequent years will put
the imprint of their matchless sagacity and capabilities throughout the
world of Islam.
There are many important personalities
among Indian Muslims whose genealogical table originates somewhere, either
in the near or distant past from the Hindu families. Among the names of
personalities worth mentioning in the recent past are those of Maulana
Obaidullah Patialwi, Maulana Obaidullah Sindhi, Dr Sir Muhammad Iqbal,
Maulana Sanaullah Amritsari and Shaikhut Tafseer Maulana Ahmad Ali Lahori.
Among those are some on whom God revealed the reality and truth of Islam
and they embraced Islam of their own.
This chain of 'tabligh' of Islam
continued successfully till the last period of Muslim rule. Every year
non-Muslims in large numbers continued to embrace Islam of their own free
will. But when political fight and rivalry began to germinate between Indian
Muslims and their non-Muslim compatriots it grew to such an extent later
on that the fire of hatred and enmity towards each other got ignited among
the two communities and impregnable walls of suspicion and hatred were
built between them. This political atmosphere created severe distrust and
bitterness between the two communities against each other. Hence this feeling
of hatred and bitterness became the biggest obstacle in the way of Islam's
'tabligh' in India and now the common perception about Islam in India that
it is the official religion of a country has become an enemy. Some times
such news about Pakistan appear in the newspapers which refresh the old
wounds. This is the biggest problems of Muslims in India.
The second important problem is
that of the present system of education which is no less important form
the point of view of their present and future national, communal, cultural,
religious life because this system of education is a permanent source of
danger for their national and social life. This hits their special culture,
civilization, language, faith and way of life.
The secular Constitution of democratic
India guarantees religious, cultural, linguistic and other freedom and
practices of all communities and sections, and according to which all sections
and communities of the country and people professing different faiths are
equal. However, as regards educational system, the present policy of the
government in this respect has simply become a piece of decoration of the
Constitution. The framers and compilers of the educational syllabi have
prescribed course books in all states, particularly in UP, which are replete
with matters pertaining to the faiths of the majority community, mythological
and other stories of Hindu gods and goddesses against the principles prescribed
in the Constitution. Obviously all these things are negations of Islamic
beliefs and teachings, specially about the unity of God Almighty, His majesty
etc. Also, the attributes, all powerfulness, glory etc of God as described
in the Qur'an and the lofty ideals and beliefs held by Muslims about the
Prophet (SAW) are in collision and contradiction with those described in
these books. Hence there is no doubt that these things are causing great
concern to the Muslims.
Third problem of Muslims of India
is that of the language. Urdu language was born as a result of inter-action
and cohesion of different languages, nations, cultures and civilizations
and is a mixture of some old languages like Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian,
Turkish etc. During the British rule many English words and expressions
also came to be introduced in it. In this way it became a true representative
of Indian languages and nationhood and soon it became common man's language
or lingua franca and thereafter it became the language of journalism and
political activity. It became the most important means of inter relationship
and exchange of ideas and as a result became the most popular language
of the country. It became virtually the mother tongue of the people of
UP, Bihar, Punjab, Hyderabad, Delhi and its suburbs. After some English
newspapers, the maximum number of newspapers published and read are in
this language.
Urdu was the second official language
(after English) of the country and was being used in courts, government
offices and schools. The former governor of UP, Sir Anthony Mc Donald for
the first time declared Hindi as the court language, thereby sowing the
seeds of discord and enmity between the two languages and its speakers,
Hindus and Muslims. Urdu was exiled from different states of India, particularly
UP and Delhi which were centres of Urdu and where its literature evolved
and developed. The existence of Urdu could not be tolerated even in the
primary and secondary stages of education.
Today the population of Muslims
in India is around 15 per cent of its total population which has a special
significance in India's secular democratic system during the past half
a century. This is because the role of this minority community in India's
past and present ups and downs has been very significant and hopefully
will be so in future as well. But the problems of Muslims are increasing
day by day, because during the past few years the state authority is being
wielded by certain political forces whose sphere of influence has increased
because of adoption and propagation of such slogans and ideals under which
the minority sections of this country have been, and are being, made the
biggest target. The future of Muslim professionals and working class, traders
etc has been very greatly affected.
A major portion of Muslim population
is very backward and more than fifty percent of them are leading a life
below poverty line. This is in contrast to Hindu population, thirty five
percent of which are leading a life below poverty line.
In the educational field also Muslims
are very backward whereas the building and development of any community
or nation depends upon its educational status and standard.
The condition of religious madrasas
is also pitiable. After completing their education form these madrasas,
the students do not find themselves fit for any jobs nor are they acceptable
anywhere else because they are not trained for the requirements of modern
times like computers, engineering, medical courses, information technology,
accountancy, shorthand, typing etc. No positive and practical changes are
being introduced in the syllabi of educational institutions functioning
in Deoband and Lucknow and other madrasas as a result of which their products
are found utter misfits elsewhere in this competitive world.
A great problem and handicap for
Muslims is their religious and mutual differences which is eating into
their progress. The truth is that there are great differences among themselves
on the basis their social, economic, educational, cultural, linguistic,
regional, sectarian and other factors. Shia, Sunni, Deobandi, Barelwi etc
are clear examples. These differences are also to a great extent responsible
for their decline and backwardness. Muslims are also devoid of dynamic,
sincere and farsighted political leadership and a community suffering from
above poisonous ailments and lacking in effective leadership will find
it difficult to progress.
Prospects
Muslims have to introspect themselves.
They will have to seriously review and judge the performances of their
educational and other institutions like Waqf Boards and their properties,
social and economic organizations, welfare associations and many others.
They should also judge as to how far their political, religious leaders
and intellectual have solved their problems. They should also seriously
ponder over the question mark put on Muslim leadership for the first time
after demolition of Babri Masjid so that the existence, survival and honour
and progress of Muslims of this country could be ensured.
There is no time and occasion for
Muslims to lead a life of ease and comfort, lethargy and indifference,
seclusion and dependance on others for solving their problems. The whole
nation needs to be roused and strongly shaken from its slumber and lethargy
and mobilized for continuous struggle with unity and determination so that
Muslims could achieve, or even grab, all their legitimate rights and lead
a life of honour and respect, peace and progress in this country and also
contribute their mite for the building and development of this country.
Disappointment and frustration is blasphemy. We have to pursue the path
of progress even under unfavorable and difficult circumstances.
(Translated from Urdu)
