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Indian Muslims, comprising so large a segment of the population,
are in a position to tip the political balance of the entire
country.
Yet, paradoxically, it is the Muslim community, more than any
other, which is suffering from political deprivation. Individually
certain Muslims have managed, as a matter of chance, to secure an
insignificant number of political posts, but the Muslim community
as a whole enjoys no political pre-eminence on the national scene.
Nor does it, at the international level, have any share in
establishing political relations with Muslim countries.
Even in relatively so small a country as Sri Lanka, the Muslim
minority has greater political standing than its Indian
counter-part.
It is common for Muslim writers and speakers to lay the blame for
this at the door of the Hindus.
But this view is entirely without foundation.
In this world, by the law laid down by God, gain and loss are not
external but internal in their origins.
Any explanation seeking to hold others responsible for our
deprivation must be rejected, since it does not accord with the law
of nature.
It is the incompetence of Muslim leaders which has given rise to
this unfortunate situation.
And Muslims are being made to pay for the crass ineptitude of
leaders who launched movements based on shallow politics instead to
creating among their religious followers a balance awareness.
Misguided by incompetent leaders, they have come to feel that in
simply empathising with the national election fever, they are
making an adequate contribution to the political scenario.
Muslims may display great zeal sehri (food taken before dawn during
the fasting of Ramadan), and aftar (the breaking of a fast in the
evening after fasting all day during Ramadan), and for sermonising
on loudspeakers during the month, but they cannot be credited with
taqwa (piety), if throughout the year they have not lead pious
lives.
Similarly, the mere display of enthusiasm for elections a few
specified days will not bring them any significant political
position in the country. They must realise that, for this, they
must engage themselves fully in constructive national activity.
>From 1947 till today, I have attended innumerable meetings without
coming across any notable Muslim gathering which had been convened
specifically to discuss the problems of the Indian nation.
National issues simply do not figure on Muslim agendas. At Muslim
meetings, communal issues, or more often, communal grudges are the
favourite subjects of discussion. It would seem that national
issues are of no concern to Muslims.
I have often found, moreover, that Muslim speakers, invited to
Hindu gatherings, give vent to the grudges of the Muslim community
against the Hindus at such platforms.
This makes it obvious that Muslims have not identified themselves
with the mainstream of the nation.
Muslims need to consider the necessity to make their community an
integral factor in the national political and social system.
Their mode of entry could be an indirect one, but they can play an
effective role in trade unions and other such institutions which
have a considerable influence on politics. But Muslims newspapers
are little better than communal complaint bulletins, bearing no
relation to national journalism. So far as trade unionism is
concerned, Muslims are barely aware of it as a concept.
Over the last fifty years, under the guidance of self-styled Muslim
leaders, what Muslims have largely done in the name of political
activity is vote for Congress.
Yet, throughout this period they have never felt the need to become
part of the administrative structure of the Congress.
Now, frustrated with the party, they tread the path of negative
voting.
At present, any party claiming to oppose Congress policies can have
the Muslim vote for the asking.
If Muslims want to have what is their due, they should first
establish their own viability vis-a-vis mainstream activities.
Only then will they be in a position to chalk out any real
political or social programme and secure benefits which at the
moment seem beyond their reach.
For this to become a reality, Muslims as a community must develop a
strong journalistic network which is decidedly national in
character.
This will establish the bonafides of their patriotism and provide
an acceptable base
from which to project a positive Islamic identity with a wholesome
political and social stance.
However, a brand of Muslim journalism which is genuinely national
in character cannot come into existence simply placing it on the
news-stands.
The journalistic opportunities in the existing national press are
not availed of by them because of their own backwardness.
Major national issues may be regularly thrashed out in the national
dailies, but whenever there is a Muslim contribution, it may be
taken for granted that it is about some narrow communal issue and
takes the form of a demand or a protest.
Articles by Muslims are generally communal reactions of the Muslim
community.
Muslims can be instrumental in establishing good relations between
India and West Asian Muslim countries, and they can play a useful
role in securing different kinds of contributions from Muslim
countries to the India.
It is regrettable that the present circumstances and current
attitudes rule out hopes of any such activity.
For instance, whenever our Muslim leaders, both religious as well
as secular, visit Muslim or Arab countries, they present negative
picture of India, projecting it as an anti-Muslim country.
Due to this unwise approach, it is not possible to secure the kind
of contribution from Muslim countries which would significantly
enhance the status of Indian Muslims.
If Muslims, on the other hand, were to play a positive
international role - which is certainly possible - they would see a
sudden and radical improvement in their image throughout the
country.
No longer would they be regarded as liabilities, but as national
assets.
The day this happens, it will mark the beginning of a brighter
future for the Muslim community all over India.
The secret of securing such a future lies not in the ability to
make or break political parties at election time, but in the reform
of the community at the political level and in an increased
Political awareness.
The secret, in fact, is not external to the Muslims but within
them.
At present, everywhere among the educated classes of Muslims, a
national Muslim agenda is debated.
Meetings are being held. There is a spate of articles in the Hindi
and English press. Books on the subject are being published.
But nowhere do Muslims figure in the constructive activities.
They are almost entirely isolated from the whole issue.
The Muslim role in politics is the subject of much oratory and
features regularly in the press.
But the founding of a political party on the basis of a single
community is more likely than not to exacerbate Muslim problems.
The need of the hour is for Muslims to join national activities and
national political parties - not communal parties and, by becoming
part of their organisational structure, make themselves effective
at the stage where political decisions are taken.
The best way for Muslims to resolve this identity crises would be
to throw themselves wholeheartedly into the mainstream activities
of the country. In filling this great vacuum, they would become an
asset to the nation.
_______________________________________________________________
Response:
From:
Ashok V Chowgule
Kanchanjunga
72, Dr G Deshmukh Marg,
Mumbai 400026.
March 15, 1997.
Sir,
This has reference to "An Identity Crisis?" (March 15) by Maulana
Wahiduddin Khan. He has rightly pointed out how the various
self-styled Muslim leaders (both religious and secular) have used
the ordinary Muslim for their own purpose. The agenda of these
leaders did not have the benefit of the Muslims, in whose name they
made their career, in mind. As the Maulana has rightly pointed
out, "At Muslim meetings, communal issues, or more often, communal
grudges are the favourite subjects. It would seem that national
issues are of no concern to Muslims."
However, the Maulana, in identifying the issues of concern for the
Muslims, must also analyse whether they are secular issues or
communal ones. The issues that the Maulana talks about are those
in the secular arena, and are of concern to all. It can be said
that, as a group, these issues are of greater concern for Muslims
than for Hindus. But, the reason for this is that as a group,
Muslims are economically worse off than Hindus. And, as the
Maulana has rightly pointed out, the fault lies with the
self-styled Muslim leaders and not with the Hindus.
However, if one were to take the Hindus who are just as equally
poor as the Muslims, one will find that the concerns are the same.
Thus, if the problem of education of the poor Muslims has to be
addressed, one will automatically address the problem of education
of the poor Hindus, and vice-versa. Similarly, the advice of the
Maulana that the Muslims should join national political parties and
become a part of their organisational structure is also a secular
issue, and that they should do this not because they are Muslims
but because they are a citizen of a secular nation. Because, if
they do it as Muslims, they will then create a Muslim lobby in the
political party, and will discuss Muslim issues. And the present
problem (viz. "At Muslim meetings, communal issues, or more often,
communal grudges are the favourite subjects. It would seem that
national issues are of no concern to Muslims.") will continue, and
the seed of separation will keep on sprouting.
Yours sincerely,
(Ashok Chowgule)
To:
The Editor,
The Observer,
Court Chambers, Fourth Floor,
Lokmanya Tilak Marg,
Mumbai 400 002.
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