Author: Kaleem Kawaja
Publication: Communalism Combat
Date: April 2008
URL: http://www.sabrang.com/cc/archive/2008/april08/cover3.html
Whenever I look up news reports on the issues
and problems concerning the Muslim community, I find
that often the Muslim leaders addressing these matters are clerics. The question
arises, why is the politics of the Muslim community in India dominated by
clerics, many of whom are not even Islamic scholars? Why is the proportion
of the community's leaders from the Muslim intelligentsia so small?
Obviously, when the topics are religious issues
concerning the Muslim community, for instance, interpretation of Shariah laws
or Hadith or fatwas or personal laws or matters dealing with madrassas, the
leadership belongs in the hands of clerics and religious organisations. But
when issues are of a non-religious nature, for instance, Muslim educational
institutions, or reservation for Muslims in educational institutions and jobs,
or the need to address the community's socio-economic and educational uplift,
or the political situation of the community, or civil liberties, or the situation
of Muslim women, the primary leadership role belongs to the Muslim intelligentsia
and Muslim political leaders.
Firstly, most clerics' background in subjects
like economics, law, sociology and technology is not up to date for today's
issues. Secondly, because of their background most of the clerics often look
at even non-religious issues from a religious perspective. Thirdly, most of
them are not very proficient in English language usage and oral communications
with modern electronic media journalists. Altogether it reinforces in the
minds of the mainstream media and the nation at large a stereotypical image
of the entire Muslim community and its mindset as overtly religious. Often
the entire politics of the Muslim community is painted as a mirror image of
BJP-style religion oriented politics.
The fact that a majority of non-religious
issues concerning the Muslim community are being addressed by clerics has
skewed the perspective of the community and has created a stereotypical picture
of Muslims in the minds of mainstream Indians, the Indian media and the majority
Hindu community. The mainstream's perception is that the Muslim community
is obsessed with religion and looks at most issues from a religious angle.
Compare that to the Hindu community and you find a stark contrast. The number
of mahants, sadhus and Hindu clerics in the leadership of the Hindu community
is rather small. Hindu clerics come into the picture when issues are related
to Hindu temples, seminaries, places of pilgrimage or religious trusts. Otherwise
most Hindu community leaders are from the intelligentsia and political background.
This is true of even the BJP which is a Hindu fundamentalist party.
In contrast, the Muslim intelligentsia in
the country often remains invisible on the core socio-economic-educational-political
issues concerning the community. With their broader and more pluralistic background,
the intelligentsia has a distinctly different perspective on issues, which
should be the dominant perspective on mainstream issues if the Muslim community
wants to claim its due place in today's resurgent and modernising India. Often
when the media wants an opinion on issues concerning the Muslim community,
it turns to the clerics. The result is frequent not well-informed opinions
communicated in a manner that creates a stereotypical image of the community.
Whereas on the whole, and despite a large number of Muslims being depressed
in education and economic status, the community is reasonably vibrant, has
a broad perspective and is trying to move ahead in the nation's mainstream.
I recall that after the demolition of the
Babri mosque the Muslim intelligentsia held a well-attended conference in
New Delhi in 1993 where they pledged to take a more active role in the political
and socio-economic affairs of the community. But after a few meetings they
stepped back and left a vacuum in the leadership arena at a critical time
for the community. The overall foot-dragging by the Muslim intelligentsia
to get involved with the affairs of the community at the grass roots level
is alienating them from large segments of the Muslim masses.
Most Muslim intelligentsia comprises practising
Muslims who have a healthy respect for Islamic scholars and learned clerics.
Yet there is a communication gap between these two sections of the community
that must be bridged. The need of the hour is not a leadership contest between
the intelligentsia and the clerics but cooperation and utilising the strengths
of both sections. The intelligentsia can guide the clerics on how to present
Islamic elements in more acceptable modern jargon. The clergy can assist the
intelligentsia with their grass roots contacts at the street level.
If we look at the leadership in various Muslim
countries or Muslim communities in western countries we find that most leaders
are from the intelligentsia or political background. Clerics assume a leadership
role only when issues are of a religious nature. So why should the situation
in India be different?
(Kaleem Kawaja, an engineering manager at
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Centre in Washington, DC, led the formation of
the Association of Indian Muslims of America, AIM, an NGO that continues to
be focused on the uplift of India's Muslim community.)
