Jinnah: Secular India’s best villain

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat

A wind of change is flowing in the Indian subcontinent with growing people to people contact between India and Pakistan. But this bonhomie is shattered when the same old musings of partition, secularism and Jinnah surrounds us. No-doubt, Pakistani elite suffered from a pang of identity. In the popular Indian secular debates, Jinnah became the official villain, a Muslim fundamentalist who needs to be decried while comfortably ignoring the communal mindset of the Congress Party and the upper caste fundamentalist leadership within the Congress.

The peace with Pakistan will remain fragile as long as we are unable to reconcile with the fact of partition. The paradox of the Indian subcontinent is much bigger than the issue of communalization of a leader and certainly a leader of stature of Jinnah cannot be made a scapegoat for those who want to target the politics of the Sangh Parivar or Hindutva in India. When history and historians become embedded to the Gandhian philosophy, such assassination of character is bound to happen, as has been in the case of Jinnah. In fact, Gandhi has become a tool to rubbish others who disagree with certain brand of politics in India be it secular or Hindutva. Otherwise, the fact of the matter is that Gandhians enjoyed Arun Shourie's writing on Ambedkar because the author condemns Ambedkar for his disagreement with Gandhi and for a large number of Ambedkar's statues set up in different parts of the country.

There are many more things before we embark upon the entire historians perspective. Are we ready to admit that there were grave mistakes on the part of Gandhi and the Congress leadership? If yes, then we will have to make a comparative criticism of Gandhi and the entire Indian freedom movement. Are we democratic enough to do so and respect the dissent?

Many contemporaries of Gandhi disagreed with him on various aspects of his political thoughts and religious philosophy. These were people of great integrity and perhaps no less then Gandhi and each one of them have their own vast following. One of them has perhaps more followers then Gandhi. Dr Ambedkar never agreed with Gandhi and termed him as most dangerous for the scheduled castes. Jinnah never really appreciated the Mahatma culture around Gandhi. Periyar exposed Gandhi's caste mind on Vaikume temple entry movement while M.N. Roy out rightly rejected his vision as backward looking fascist philosophy. Gandhi was more worried about culture and Roy mentioned that the fascism in India would be cultural fascism and may not be that violent as happened in Europe during Adolf Hitlers regime. Indeed, if history of India has to be written, one need to take divergent view points of these people who disagreed with Gandhi and his Congress Party.

It is therefore not ironical to say that Gandhi brought religion into politics and supported the Khilafat movement while Jinnah openly opposed it. In today world when we talk of the dangers of political Islam or political Hindutva, Gandhi's effort to promote fundamentalist elements would have drawn huge criticism. Jinnah understood the dangers of religious fundamentalism and never ever tried to follow them. In fact, support to the Khilafat movement created a typical situation where Muslims started thinking in terms of their exclusive international identity, an issue which the many in the country including veteran congress leader like Annie Basant feared would isolate them from other communities. Scholars like Ambedkar were opposed to this kind of internationalism which goes beyond the national interest and felt that between nation and religion the community should first consider nation.

Though, the Indian Muslims have proved the above fear wrong. And such testing time came and they were under the constant pressure of the right wing Hindutva forces to prove their loyalty towards India. Unfortunately, their leadership let them down as their socio economic issues were relegated to backstage while religious agenda dominated their world. As a reaction to this, the upper caste Hindu leadership has also identified Pan Hinduism the best way to unite Hindus and use them as a votebank.

Condemning Jinnah has therefore become a fashion in India. When the Babri Mosque was demolished, a friend wrote an article Advaniwad is equally dangerous as Jinnahwad. When Savarkar's issue came up on the front, the seculars started putting Jinnah and Savarkar together in their common venture of defending secular India. Were we really a secular nation or we simply using pluralism, multiculturalism and secularism interchangeably?

History has unique trends. They only need to be properly played and analyzed without any hidden agenda.. One of the most important facts among them is that in 1935, M.A. Jonah out rightly rejected the suggestion of Choudhury Rahmat Ali, to lead Muslim League, and demand Pakistan, terming that it was impossible and unrealistic to have such a demand as Hindus and Muslims have been living harmoniously for centuries. In fact Jinnah reportedly opposed until the last moment to the introduction of the word Pakistan in the Lahore resolution of the Muslim League. Our political analysts have done irreparable damage to Indian polity by not analyzing reasons of Muslim disenchantment from Congress leadership. Did we ever look at the issue of Congress Party's refusal to share a coalition with the League in the United Provinces elections which they fought jointly, which gave the league the much wanted ammunition to cast suspicion on the motive of Hindu Congress.

The League won only 109 of the 482 seats reserved for Muslims, and Congress appeared to be justified in viewing it as little more than an irritant. This was a mistake, for during the late 1930s Jinnah was able to turn it into a serious political force. He was extremely effective in attracting, recruiting and motivating wealthy, bright, well-educated younger Muslims such as Liaquat Ali Khan from the United Provinces, the Raja of Mahmudabad, whose family were the largest landlords in Lucknow, and Mirza Abul Hassan Ispahani of the financial family of Calcutta. None of these men was a religious communalist, yet all were in favour of using religious nationalism as a means of safeguarding the Muslim position.

Jinnah is not our flavor of tea as he demanded Pakistan and spoiled the great secular party. Yet one cannot deny the fact that Jinnah never considered Hindu and Muslim issue as a religious one. He always opined that it is a political issue. Secondly, much before Jinnah could begin to think about a separate nation Veer Savarkar of the Hindu Mahasabha had certified that Hindus and Muslims are two separate nations. In his book Pakistan or Partition of India, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, extensively quotes Savarkar as supporting this view. Muslims can have separate flag, a personal law exclusively relating to their problems and have every right to preserve their culture, he said thus opposing the demand for partition of the country. They could stay in India as equal partner of this country but not at the cost of division of the country. Dr. Ambedkar rejected Savarkars theory as impractical and doublespeak. All those who consider this country as their fatherland are Bharatvasi. Sanskrit is Dev-Bhasha and Sanskritised Hindi should be the national language of the country opined Savarkar.

The question is who were responsible for creation of Pakistan or Partition of India? Was Jinnah solely responsible for it or Congress wanted it? Noted jurist late H.M.Seervai tried to bring out the fact in his much applauded work Partition of India-Legend and Reality:

In considering whether Jinnah and the League were responsible for the partition of India by raising the cry of Pakistan, it is necessary to ask, and answer, to questions; First, were the fears of the Muslim community that it would be permanently dominated by a `Hindu Raj genuine? If so, was the community entitled to effective and not mere paper safeguards against such permanent domination? That the fears of the Muslim community were genuine is beyond dispute. The Desai-Liaquat Ali Pact, the Sapru Committee Report, Azads letter to Gandhi, as well as his interview with the Cabinet Mission, and the interview of the Nationalist Muslims with members of the Mission, all recognized that those fears were genuine. The Cabinet Mission was also satisfied that those fears were acute and genuine, and underlay the Muslim Leagues demand for Pakistan. But the Sapru Committee, Azad, the Nationalist Muslims and the Cabinet Mission whilst recognizing those fears, nevertheless rejected Pakistan as a solution for removing them. All the witnesses before the Cabinet Mission, except the Muslim League, had supported a Constitution for a United India. Equally, most of them had recognized that the fears of the Muslims of being dominated by a `Hindu Raj required effective safeguards, and `parity, or near `parity, with a minimal federation appeared to furnish effective safeguards. The Cabinet Mission Plan, as intended by the Mission, if worked in the spirit of goodwill, supplied effective safeguards, and Jinnah recognized this when he accepted the Cabinet Mission Plan. However, the Hindu Mahasabha, and eminent Hindu leaders of the Congress, like Gandhi, Nehru and Patel (disregarding the views of Sapru, Azad and the Nationalist Muslims) considered parity as `undemocratic because they took democracy to mean `one man, one vote. They forgot that if, as they firmly held, the unity of India was the paramount object to be achieved in framing a new Constitution, theory would have to yield to the need to provide effective safeguards for a community of 9 crores.

The post Mandal India has learnt to live in the age of federalism though the governors still call shot.. Gone are the days when a central government had brute majority to crush the rising demands of the regional people. Even regional parties are having a strong say in the federal government and getting proportionate representation. Unfortunately, this issue of parity was not recognized when the Congress Party was speaking to Jinnah and Muslim League..

Interestingly, Congresss upper caste brahmanical leadership came under attack from Maulana Azad also who narratively described in his book India wins Freedom,( 1988 edition) how a senior person like Dr Sayed Mahmud, General Secretary of All India Congress Committee, was sidelined.. When the Congress secured an absolute majority, it was taken for granted that Dr. Syed Mahmud would be elected the leader and become the first Chief Minister of Bihar under Provincial Autonomy. Instead, Shri Krishna Sinha and Anugraha Narayan Sinha who were members of the Central Assembly were called back to Bihar and groomed for the Chief Ministership. Before referring to the grim conclusion which Azad draws from the Nariman and the Syed Mahmud episodes, there is one new passage in the 1988 edition which, in my view, gets linked to Azads conclusion. Azad expressed the view that Dr. Rajendra Prasad had no political life before Gandhi appeared on scene, and Dr. Rajendra Prasad was entirely the creation of Gandhiji Azad added: I have heard from a reliable source that Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha arranged a dinner where many of the more prominent Hindus were invited to meet Gandhiji. They told Gandhiji that the Hindus of Bihar would join the Non-cooperation movement provided Gandhiji elected a Hindu as the leader. Gandhiji said that he could not grant leadership to anybody at his own sweet will, but he promised that if a Hindu of caliber and character came forward, he would offer him necessary support. Babu Rajendra Prasads name was then suggested to Gandhiji and in the course of a few years, he became an all India figure with Gandhijis help and support. (H.M.Seervai in his book : Partition of India : Legend and Reality)

The entire Congress leadership had thus become Hinduised where the Muslims were looked down upon and their leadership with in the congress which was pitiably termed as nationalist Muslim turned guilty for inflicting wounds of partition on India. This has been reflected in the debates on reservation in Constituent Assembly. While the Muslim members vehemently protested against granting any reservation to Dalits and Muslims, Sardar Patel, the then Home Minister openly accused them of helping partitioning India. Patel termed reservation for SC/ST as casteist approach harmful for the country.

The Muslim League dominated by the Zamindars of United Province had little time to think that there are many disenchanted group especially those of SC/ST and other classes, who ignorantly had Hinduised themselves, were sore up with the Brahmin led upper caste leadership of the Congress Party. Even Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, was one such person requested Jinnah to lead such a front. Unfortunately that did not happen and Jinnah went to Pakistan which he wanted as a secular, progressive nation. Speaking in the constituent Assembly of Pakistan, on August 11th,1947, Jinnah expressed the following:

You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this State of PakistanYou may belong to any religion or caste or creed---that has nothing to do with the business of the StateWe are starting in the days when there is no discrimination between one caste or creed and another. We are starting with this fundamental principle that we are all citizens and equal citizens of one state.

If you change your past and work together in a spirit that every one of you, no matter to what community he belonged, no matter what relations he had with you in the past, no matter what his color, caste, or creed, is first, second, and last a citizen of this state with equal rights, privileges and obligations, there will be no end to the progress you will make....We are starting with this fundamental principle that we are all citizens and equal citizens of one state. Now I think we should keep that in front of us as our ideal and you will find that in course of time Hindus would cease to be Hindus and Muslims would cease to be Muslims, not in the religious sense, because that is the personal faith of each individual, but in the principles of justice and fairplay without any, as is put in the political language, prejudice or ill-will , in other words, partially or favoritism. My guiding principle will be justice and complete impartially, and I am sure that with your support and CO-operation, I can look forward to Pakistan becoming one of the greatest Nations of the World. (Times of India, 12th August 1997)

The leaders of India and Pakistan have not learnt anything from the catastrophe of partition. In democratic India, every institution was kept safe for Brahmins and upper caste Hindus, in the Punjabi dominated Pakistan, people of Bengal were discriminated. The Mohajirs, the migrants from Bihar and UP, are still not treated as Pakistani citizen. In 1971 the issue of Bangla identity and Pride rocked Pakistan forcing its partition. Today, the same Bangladesh is facing a cultural onslaught by those who opposed its freedom. This has interesting co-incidence that in India the votaries of Hindutva become the protector of Indian identity though they never fought for its independence very similar to that what Jamat-E-Islami has been doing in Bangladesh.

The Pakistan of today is not what Jinnah dreamt of and India does not follow to Gandhi for whatever Gandhi claimed in his life, the Gandhian leaders have killed. Every act of vandalism in India has been described as an aberration as if such things did not happen. Actually, we suffer from a myopic vision of our past and make things look very simple. The post independence rigid ideologies have easily divided people into this or that camp without understanding the real meaning of federalism and democracy. It is simple that we have to quote Gandhi and Nehru to prove ourselves secular. Today, it is more in terms of condemning Hindustan. For Muslim, they have to attack Jinnah to prove more secular and nationalist. I think it is the defeat of Gandhi and democracy that we continue to chant. We have still not developed democratic values of pluralism and respecting the dissent. The fifty years of history of both India and Pakistan can prove both demand for partition and against it wrong, hence it is no point of debate. Brothers differ on issues and live separately and yet remain close as ever and some time they live together and yet far away from each other. It is no point playing the blame game that Muslims are better in India. This kind of silly argument will take us no where like those who consider that India could not provide security to Muslim. Bhivandi, Maliayana, Moradbad, Bhagalpur, Kanpur, Malegaon, Mumbai, Ahemedabad, Babri Masjid were not isolated incident. The continuous isolation of Muslims in Indias government and bureaucratic circle is reflection of a greater reality of how secular we are. Similarly, condition of Mohajirs, Ahmedis, women, minorities and division of East Bengal prove amply in which direction Pakistan is going. It is worth understanding that our symbolic secularism and their politics of Islamic identity have not been able to resolve the crisis our nations. Indian secularism could not contain the majoritarian fundamentalist forces and nor could it stop misuse of laws which make minority a suspect while Pakistani Islamic identities could not prove anything to Mohajirs and Bengalis.

We live in different times and perhaps now time has come when we will have to stop make villain of certain people just to target our political opponents. I have on various occasions opined that as democratic and open societies India and Pakistan have to realize that they are two different entities. It is equally important for Pakistanis to understand that Gandhi fasted unto death for the cause of Pakistan. That Pakistan must get its due for which he was killed by a fanatic Hindu. Similarly, Indians must understand that Jinnah was a thorough secular whose was termed as Ambassador of Hindu Muslim unity by none other then Sarojini Naidu. It was Jinnah who tried to get Bhagat Singh lawyers in Lahore when his case was to be heard. It was Jinnah who termed Bhagat Singh as secular nationalist while Gandhi failed to do so.

Our political leaders must have the courage to differ and admit it. All those who differed with Gandhi do not therefore become villain of independent India. Therefore people like Ambedkar, Jinnah, Periyar, M.N.Roy stood taller despite their differences with Gandhi. Just because they differ with Gandhi cannot belittle their contribution to the society and intellect. We must get rid of the kind of jingoism where Gandhi and Jinnah become two symbols of Hindu secularism and Pakistani Islam. It will take us nowhere and it cannot bring peace in the subcontinent.

[Vidya Bhushan Rawat is working as a fulltime human rights defender. He has made several documentaries and also written books on the issues of human rights, Dalits, women and minorities. He can be contacted at vbrawat@gmail.com]

8/21/2009 06:47:00 PM | Filed under , | Read More »

Seeking a fair deal for Muslims

By Amar Singh

The Rajindar Sachar Committee’s report on the social, economic and educational status of the Muslim community in India struck a blow to the Congress’ democratic and secularist assertions made over the decades. It lays out the actual conditions the Muslim minority faces and how it lags behind in terms of human development indicators.

It reports that only a small percentage of them are in government service and involved in areas of socio-political life.

The community has been reduced to a sort of political working capital in the hands of the big political parties. According to the report, Muslims need assistance at all levels. They face deprivation in terms of habitation facilities, access to bank credit and also political decision-making power.

Since Independence, India has seen many commissions and committees constituted to resolve the problems of the minorities, especially Muslims. The Ram Sahay Commission on Muslim weavers, the Srikrishna Commission and the Gopal Singh Commission were formed during Congress governments, but their reports are gathering dust. Such moves constitute nothing but political stunts with empty promises for the vulnerable minority. It is obvious that the Sachar Committee report will meet the same fate.

But this is the first commission to have studied the roots of the problems the Muslim community is facing and what the government has done for it in the last 50 years. Ghettoisation and insecurity have grown among Muslims after the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992. As a result, the percentage of Muslim children attending school and university has significantly gone down.

The follow-up on the report has taken on political hues, with the Congress using it as a tool to woo the minorities and the BJP raising concerns over the figures mentioned in it. But what has the Congress done for the minorities during all these years? It claims to be a champion of secularism but has used the term only as a euphemism to appease Muslims and secure their votes.

The Sachar report should be an eye-opener for big political parties like the Congress and the BJP, which are using the Muslim issue as a device of vote-bank politics.

After Independence and during Congress rule, there was talk of a classified circular which directed that no Muslim be appointed to senior-level positions in the defence forces. The Congress had created such a stir for a long period of time so that Muslims would be forced to leave India. Further, an imprudent game was played by the communal forces during Jawaharlal Nehru’s rule with the clandestine support of the administration and the police. This continued for almost 30 years, creating fear and anxiety among the minorities. The communal clashes that took thousands of human lives and destroyed property worth crores of rupees were the consequences of this game. The Congress appointed commission after commission to investigate the communal riots, but none of the big perpetrators has been convicted.

Instead of punishing the culprits, the police and the administration invariably prosecuted the innocent Muslim victims. The fear and anxiety this caused, and the cavalier approach of the government, resulted in low levels of progress among Muslims in education and commerce. During a span of 50 years, the entire community has been pushed into a vacuum of illiteracy and unemployment.

The fervour of backward class politics of the Congress waned in the wake of the Mandal and Mandir issues. Now it is seeking to widen its base while leading a coalition government. It has moved for other backward classes quota in higher educational institutions and talked of reservation for Muslims.

The Congress’ efforts for the progress of the minorities have been proved hollow, particularly in the Hindi heartland. On the contrary, the smaller parties, including the Samajwadi Party, the Telugu Desam Party and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, and the Left parties, have brought several benefits to Muslims. The SP has time and again asked for affirmative action on the basis of the Sachar Committee report. They should be encouraged to participate in the process of economic growth. The report is a revolutionary step to uplift the minorities in India, and if the Government of India implements its recommendations, that will boost India’s secular democracy.

It is to be seen how sincerely and resolutely the United Progressive Alliance government will pursue the agenda it has laid out. Should the findings be put in deep freeze, leaving the secular and vibrant democratic future of India in a disastrous state? According to the Director of the Centre for Policy Research, Professor Pratap Bhanu Mehta, the report not only reflects the poor human index of Indian Muslims but indicates the vacuum of Indian governance. It points to the poor development of infrastructure facilities such as electricity and telecommunications services in areas of Muslim habitation. Muslims are not represented enough in the civil services, in banks, in other public sector undertakings, in the judiciary and in the agencies involved with national security tasks. The Central government needs to coordinate with State governments to pool resources and formulate such policies as would help translate their developmental regression into progress.

The Sachar Committee has suggested that a commission examine the livelihood problems faced by Muslims. But apart from instituting a committee of experts, the Congress has made no substantive effort in this direction. Proper representation of the minorities, especially Muslims, in the police and defence forces will prove to be a morale-booster for them in terms of their safety and security issues, but this has not been looked into. As per the committee’s recommendation, the Congress government has promised to open schools, training institutes and banks, provide free education up to the age of 14 and create infrastructure in areas populated by Muslims. But that promise now lies in cyberspace.

The report mentions that representation for the Muslim community to the same order as the percentage of Muslims in the population of the country is found only in one place: in jails. The fact that this is true can be seen now in Congress-ruled States such as Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. Many innocent Muslim youth of Mumbai and Hyderabad are in jail only on the basis of suspicion. There is hardly any effort being made by the respective governments to provide them legal aid.

In the context of the report, the Congress is trying to play the role of a messiah for Muslims. These represent nothing but tokenism. The Action Taken Report on the Sachar Committee report is but a post-dated cheque. As ever, the Congress wants to use Muslims as a vote bank. It is not really bothered of their rights or their welfare.

There are many areas where work needs to be done for the growth and development of the Muslim community, such as the provision of basic infrastructure facilities in education, health, road and drinking water, employment generation, safety, promotion of the Urdu language, modernisation of madrassa education and the separation of politics from community development.

In the present situation, the SP strives to continue the efforts it has undertaken to work for the minorities and the downtrodden. The party stands for the empowerment of the poor, the minorities, and the marginalised sections that were the worst victims of exploitation due to the lopsided policies pursued by successive governments at the Centre. Muslims want to live a respectable life without any political prejudice. They know how to carry themselves in the present conditions and how to uplift themselves and grow. The government has to support them in different spheres of activity.

The SP wants the implementation of the Sachar Committee report in toto. A high-power expert committee representing all political parties should be constituted to look into the implementation of the recommendations.

[Amar Singh is general secretary of the Samajwadi Party. He wrote this article from a hospital in Singapore while undergoing treatment. The article was published in The Hindu dated August 17, 2009]

8/19/2009 04:00:00 PM | Filed under , , | Read More »

For Muslims, graveyards become an election issue

By Danish Ahmad Khan

Come elections – whether parliamentary of assembly – Muslims in India firm up their girdles and become ready to rake up their pet issues such as Babri Masjid, Gujarat riots, status of Urdu etc. This time even graveyards have become election issue, particularly in a Delhi parliamentary constituency, if not elsewhere. Members of Muslim community are up in arms over the issue of graveyard in Northeast Delhi parliamentary constituency from where Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has fielded Haji Dilshad Ali as the party candidate for upcoming general elections. A decrepit Muslim graveyard for the Mustafabad, Kabir Nagar and Babarpur area will be at the top of agenda during electioneering. Locals in the areas complain that there is no boundary wall around the graveyard. Heaps of garbage can be seen strewn and street dogs loitering and sniffing around the graves looking for human remains. Sometimes the problem is such that the dogs in fact succeed in taking out the bones and skulls from the graves and feast on them. The leftovers keep rotting for days thus creating bad odour and polluting the environment. The issue has therefore become quite emotional and sensitive for local Muslims and the BSP candidate is also ready to cash upon this and use it extensively in his campaign. It may be recalled that Haji Dilshad Ali had contested the Delhi assembly elections from Babarpur constituency on BSP ticket last year and succeeded in getting 28,000 votes. During the upcoming parliamentary elections, the BSP has emerged as the only party in Delhi to provide tickets to three Muslim candidates namely Haji Yunus from East Delhi constituency, Haji Dilshad Ali from Northeast Delhi constituency and Mustakeem Ahmed (Billo) from the Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha constituency.

If one goes by what Delhi Wakf Board officials say the scarcity of graveyards is indeed a real problem for the Muslim community in India’s capital. Caretaker of Delhi Wakf Board’s mosques and graveyards Mehfooz Mohammad said, “At least 10 more graveyards are required now all over Delhi. Only a handful of them are operational today. Many of the graveyards have also been illegally occupied and litigation is underway to get the land back.” According to the 1970 gazette notification, 488 Muslim graveyards exist in Delhi. However, as of now there are only 25-30 graveyards that are actually operational. The gravity of the problem which Muslim community is facing insofar as graveyards are concerned can be really assessed by the available data. Another problem of the scarcity of graveyards are some members of the Muslim community themselves. According to the Shariah (Islamic law), Muslims are enjoined to make kuchha (temporary) graves in order to facilitate more burials in a particular grave. However, quite on the contrary, some members of the Muslim community openly defy the Shariah and make permanent concrete graves for their deceased kins. They also even go to the extent of erecting tombstones thus making it difficult to bury in layers. This leads to the space shortage in graveyards hence making the problem more severe.

It is not only India’s capital Delhi which is facing the problem of the scarcity of graveyards. Another metropolis Kolkata, the capital of the state of West Bengal, is also facing the same problem. Here the situation is equally grave. According to a report in Indian Express tension erupted in Paharpur under the Garden Reach police station area on 24 March 2009 after caretaker of a Muslim graveyard was found incinerating decomposed bodies to make room for new bodies. The locals, who arrived for the burial of a body around 3 pm, said that they smelt something burning inside the graveyard. Much to their dismay they found that some bones and skulls were found burning lying in a mound of dry grass and leaves. Later over 2,000 locals gathered at the graveyard and tried to beat the caretaker Sheikh Jumman. One of the residents alleged that the graveyard caretaker Sheikh Jumman and his assistant Sheikh Jiauddin resorted to the practice of setting the bodies on fire only to make room for more bodies so that they could earn more money. The residents complained that the graveyard had a severe shortage of space since the ground had been full for the last one year. However, the police arrived on the scene and succeeded in defusing the tension after taking the two accused into police custody.

Elsewhere in the country, even the indigenous Muslims in the northeastern state of Nagaland are also facing problems related to graveyard. Here, however, the problem is of a different kind. According to the indigenous Muslims of Purana Bazar and Naharbari villages of East Dimapur the oldest graveyard is in a pitiable state. The indigenous Muslims of these two villages had acquired the graveyard at Naharbari village in 1857. This oldest graveyard has however now turned into a garbage dump for the area. The complaint being that waste from households are being continuously dumped here thus creating a highly unhygienic environment, facilitating the breeding of mosquitoes and other insects and spreading pollution. The Muslim Committee of Purana Bazar and Naharbari on their initiative conducted a mass social work to dispose off the waste recently. They also urged the residents of the houses surrounding the graveyard not to throw any garbage there since it would hurt the religious sentiments of the Muslim community. They also explained to the residents that the graveyard is the most holy place for the believers.

4/13/2009 12:49:00 AM | Filed under , , , | Read More »

Urdu becomes poll issue again. But, will it deliver good to Muslims?

By Danish Ahmad Khan
 

With parliamentary elections round the corner, Muslim politicians become active and start raising emotive issues with a vengeance. This time round the language of Urdu is again threatening to become a poll issue at least in a couple of Indian states. Recently, representatives of various Muslim organisations under the banner of Anjuman Taraqqui Urdu (Hindi) staged a demonstration in Kolkata to press for their demand seeking second official language status for Urdu in four subdivisions of Kolkata, Garden Reach, Asansol and Islampur in the state of West Bengal. The four subdivisions where Muslim organisations want Urdu to be declared as an official language have nearly 20 per cent Urdu speaking minority population. Presently, there are about 100 Urdu medium schools in the state. "Once Urdu is declared as an official state language then our children will have the opportunity to pursue their studies from primary to Masters level in one language. The students will be able take any state-level competitive examination in Urdu and this will open a number of employment opportunities for them. We want an Act to be passed in the Assembly declaring Urdu as the official state language. If our demand is not met then its effect will be seen in the elections. There are more than 60 Assembly seats where minorities play significant role during elections," said Mohammad Sulaiman Khurshid, general secretary, Anjuman Taraqqui Urdu (Hindi). Besides declaring Urdu as an official language, Muslim organisations also want question papers of every subject in Madhyamik (matriculation) examinations to be printed in Urdu. Earlier, the state government had promised to recognise Urdu as an official state language in the form of a Chief Secretary Executive order in 1981. However, no initiative has been taken in this regard ever since. The move has come at a time when Left Front government in the state is struggling to keep its minority votes intact. Besides West Bengal, Urdu also remains an emotional issue for Muslims in the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Muslims in these two states rue the step-motherly treatment being meted out to Urdu and have threatened to vent out their anger during ensuing polls.

Urdu – Demography & Scope


As it is now in independent India Urdu is widely perceived to be a language that remains exclusive preserve of the Muslim population. However, defying the popular notion Urdu is only spoken in tiny enclaves across a handful states of India. A report by M.A. Siraj published in Deccan Herald (15 September 2007) cites the latest Language Atlas of India published by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner which undertook a special exercise that cross tabulated the Urdu and Muslim population in the country. The report says: “The significant aspect of the outcome of the exercise is the fact that only a little half of Muslims (i.e. 51.5 percent) residing in Uttar Pradesh have recorded Urdu as their mother tongue. In the case of Bihar, this proportion is about 66.8 percent. In contrast, a vastly preponderant majority of Muslims living in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra have registered Urdu as their mother tongue. Other states where proportion of Urdu speakers among Muslims is significant are Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.” The report further adds: “To sum up the position of Urdu vis-à-vis Muslims, it would be sufficient to point out that while there were 101.5 million Muslims in India (1991 Census which excludes Jammu and Kashmir), 42.72 percent recorded Urdu to be their mother tongue. This is to say that less than half of Indian Muslims speak or use Urdu.”

Providing details about the linguistic composition of Muslims in India, the Language Atlas of India points out that at least is three more states – Kerala, Assam and West Bengal – Muslims make up a good chunk of population. In Kerala there are 23 percent Muslims, Assam 28.43 percent and West Bengal has 23.61 percent. However, in contrast Urdu-speaking Muslims are merely 0.19 percent, 0.06 percent and 9.05 percent respectively in these three states. In states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana the proportion of Urdu-speaking Muslims constitute 27 percent, 37.40 percent and 34 percent respectively.

With the available data at hand at least one thing can be said that Urdu remains greatly confined to the Muslims of north India. In south Indian states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala Muslims are least concerned about Urdu and give more preference to their respective regional languages i.e. Tamil and Malayalam. The scope of the development of Urdu and its speakers therefore also remains quite limited.

Urdu and Muslim identity
 
The association of Urdu with the religious identity of Muslims dates back to the days of struggle for India's independence. With an eye on establishing British rule in India, the East India Company upon setting its foot started exercising executive power on behalf of titular Mughul sovereign and abolished Persian from official use and replaced it with English and native vernaculars through a decree in 1837. Urdu, which already had established its dominating position over local vernaculars, was however accepted and retained as lingua franca in northern India by the East India Company. Urdu was also allowed to remain the language of courts in northern India. The imposition of Urdu was however opposed by the Hindu masses who demanded that the vernacular of northern India Hindi be accorded the official language status. The Muslim elite, to whom Urdu was confined as the lingua franca, vehemently opposed the official status demand for Hindi. This gave birth to Hindi-Urdu controversy which gradually acquired communal overtones over the years.

The two-nation theory propounded by renowned poet Mohammad Iqbal brought Urdu to the centrestage of Muslim politics. The then Muslim League leadership politicized Urdu and exploited it to the hilt. Prominent Muslim League leader and founder of Islamic Republic of Pakistan Mohammad Ali Jinnah, who could not even write his own name in Urdu, included it in his famous fourteen points and cynically used it as a tool to forge a Muslim identity. Jinnah exploited Urdu to widen the gap of cultural divide between Hindus and Muslims though he could not speak a word of Urdu. The Muslim League at the height of its partition demand repudiated the slogan 'Hindi-Hindu-Hindustan' with 'Urdu-Muslim-Pakistan'.

Later after partition and India’s independence, the founder of the Aligarh movement Sir Syed Ahmad Khan called for the adoption of Urdu as the language of Indian Muslims. The move also won considerable support from Muslim religious activists of the Deobandi and Wahabbi schools. Organisations like the Urdu Defence Association and Anjuman Taraqqi-i-Urdu were formed to advocate the cause of Urdu. Muslim religious leaders such as Maulana Mohammad Ali, Maulana Shaukat Ali and Maulana Maududi emphasised the knowledge of Urdu as essential for ordinary and religious Muslims. Even Muslim political and social organisations like the All India Muslim League and the Jamaat-e-Islami projected Urdu as essential for the political and cultural survival of Muslim society in India. Shibli Nomani made extensive efforts resulting in the adoption of Urdu as the official language of the Hyderabad State and as the medium of instruction in the Osmania University. Nomani's campaign drew widespread criticism for making the use of Urdu as a political issue that further deepened the divide between Muslims and Hindus. Notwithstanding, Urdu has today become an integral part of political identity and cultural separatism for Muslims in northern and western India.

Role of Urdu

The language of Urdu took birth in India with the advent of Mughal conquerors. Urdu emerged as a synthesis of Khari Boli (Hindi), Braj Bhasha Rajasthani and Punjabi with some Persian and Arabic vocabulary. Being a socio-administrative requirement of Mughal conquerors, the Urdu language became lingua franca in course of time primarily for interaction between the Mughal soldiers and native dwellers. However, the gradual Persianisation and Arabisation of the Urdu language by Mughal conquerors to extend their hegemony over India started playing spoilsport and became the root cause of dividing the Indian society on purely religious lines. Natives viewed the move with suspicion and saw it an attempt to establish the cultural and linguistic hegemony in the region by the Mughal rulers. Native languages had Sanskrit origin and Nagari script, but the imposition of Urdu with Perso-Arabic script was vigorously opposed by the native dwellers. It can be said that the birth of Urdu created the first social division of the Indian society.

From the aspect of language and literature, Urdu is sweet in its essence. It is owing to the Urdu language that a vibrant slogan of 'Inquilab Zindabad' was coined during freedom struggle, and which played a crucial role in freeing India from British rule. However, on the other hand things have been gloomy insofar as social and political role of the Urdu language is concerned. The language of Urdu which was flagrantly used as a political tool by Muslim politicians to create a social and religious divide between Muslims and Hindus and ultimately played a nefarious role in the partition of India, however could not keep Muslims themselves together. After India's partition on two language-two nation theory, the Urdu-speaking Mohajirs in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan have been rendered to live under the subjugation of Punjabi-majority rule as second class citizens forever. Once during a visit to India, prominent Mohajir leader and MQM chief Altaf Hussain had to acknowledge and declare that the partition of India was the greatest blunder in human history. The situation with Urdu-speaking Bihari Muslims in Bangladesh is equally pitiable. Around 2.5 lakh Urdu-speaking Muslims have been suffering a worse fate and forced to live in 160 refugee camps under the supervision of the International Committee of Red Cross for over three decades. Only recently these Bihari Muslims accepted Bangladeshi citizenship and were registered as voters in 2008.

To date, the Urdu-speaking population in these three countries – India, Pakistan and Bangladesh – continues to face a crisis of identity. Urdu-speaking Muslims in northern and western India are still struggling for their identity as a majority of Hindus still refuse to forgive them for demanding the partition of India. In Pakistan, the Urdu-speaking Mohajirs continue to be nostalgic about their land of origin and therefore the local communities in the country are unwilling to forgive them for this. Similarly, for Bihari Muslims the existence is tough as Bangladeshis are not ready to forgive them for having opposed the struggle for liberation from West Pakistan. The language of Urdu also played a divisive role here since Muslims in Bangladesh (erstwhile East Pakistan) refused to accept the hegemony of West Pakistan and therefore the domination of Urdu language. This ultimately resulted in the partition of Pakistan itself on two language-two nation formula and a new nation of Bangladesh took birth.

What have Muslims gained from Urdu?
 
The biggest question one is forced to ask is that has the language of Urdu benefitted Muslims in any way at least in terms of employment opportunities with handsome earnings. For this big question the answer too is simply a big NO. The bitter truth is that privileged Muslims prefer to send their children to study in convents or missionary schools instead of Urdu-medium schools. And, why not? They already know the pitiable conditions that Urdu-medium schools are usually found in. Forget this. Even the champions that advocate the cause of Urdu and are occupying top positions in Urdu in various universities and government offices also prefer to send their children to study in English-medium schools.

Only the wards of Muslims below the poverty line are left with little choice and are forced to go to Urdu-medium schools. Even those Muslims who are slightly better off prefer to send their children to Hindi-medium schools instead of Urdu-medium schools. For them education in Hindi-medium schools mean better employment opportunities. One cannot overlook the fact that the bane of Urdu-medium schools is non-availability of teachers, particularly in Mathematics, English and Science subjects. Besides, Urdu-medium textbooks are not generally available in the market and has been a problem for ages. The problem is such grave that when the English and Hindi books of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) are sent to the market, the translation of Urdu books begins and by the time the translation ends, either the session is over or the text is changed. In comparison to other schools, Urdu-medium schools neither promote nor inculcate extra-curricular activity to motivate students. I have rarely found a Parent-Teacher Association body existing in Urdu schools. As a corollary the rapport between the principals, parents, teachers and students is abysmally low. Also, in most of the Urdu-medium schools the principals and teachers are appointed hailing from an English or Hindi background thus resulting in a lacuna of understanding as also a language bias in day-to-day activities of the schools. A visit to Urdu-medium schools in India is a tell tale in itself. The ghettoized Urdu-medium schools have extremely poor infrastructure and environment – sparsely-lit dilapidated classrooms, poor sanitation facilities, broken and decrepit furniture, unhygienic drinking water or no water. The absence or co-curricular activities, lack of teachers, unconcerned parents and uninterested students are other remarkable features of Urdu-medium schools in India.

In terms of higher education, even if some concerned Muslims want to adopt Urdu medium for their studies one seldom finds Engineering, Medicine and Information Technology books in Urdu. This strictly limits the scope of the language itself and also those of its practitioners. Undoubtedly, the language of Urdu is known for its richness, sweetness and immense literary value. It has been kept alive by Hindi cinema, few Urdu radio and TV channels, the madrassas, the occasional recitation of couplets from Ghalib, Iqbal and Faiz in Parliament, and of course, the routine Mehfil-e-Shayari on the occasions of Independence Day and Republic Day. But it’s saddening that the language of Urdu doesn’t open up many avenues on the professional front.

Saving Urdu from politicians and Muslim radicals

The above facts make it obvious that the language of Urdu continues to be used as a political tool both in the hands of politicians and Muslim radicals. As part of planned conspiracy the Indian National Congress introduced Urdu as a medium of study utilizing Articles 14, 19 (1) (g), 24, 29 (2), 30 (1), 38, 39 (F), 41 and 61 of the Indian Constitution with an eye on Muslim votes. The nefarious move over the years pushed Muslims on the fringes and into the dark ages. Keeping in view the votebank politics, the state governments in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi accorded Urdu the second official language status. The demand for making Urdu the second language status in four subdivisions of West Bengal is part of the gameplan of selfish, narrow-minded Muslim politicians to keep the community backward and always struggling for an honorable existence. Only a handful of Urdu knowing Muslims could succeed in getting low-paid government jobs. The motivation has not been such that even the people in these states have never been able to get emotionally attached to Urdu. The state governments occasionally sanction millions of rupees in the name of Urdu and uplift of minorities to Urdu promotion institutes like the Urdu Academies, Anjuman Taraqqui-e-Urdu, the National Council for Promotion of Urdu and State Minority Commissions. However, the move has proved futile and these institutions remain white elephants and left into the hands of corrupt administrators. The fate of Urdu and the minorities thus remains to be imagined. The Muslim clergy has also done a great disservice to Muslims by linking Urdu with Islam. Time and again the Muslim clergy has sought to equate the alleged declining status of Urdu as threat to the Islamic identity of Indian Muslims thus communalizing the whole issue.

The height of the politicization of Urdu and its linkage with the Muslims is such that the Indian National Congress President Sonia Gandhi wrote a letter in Urdu and sent it to as many as 15,000 Muslims in an attempt to reach out to the Muslim electorate during 2007 assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh making a strong plea to extend support “in her fight against forces of casteism and communalism”. Not only this, even arch enemy of the Muslim world the State of Israel assessing the importance of Indian Muslims launched its official website in Urdu in July 2008. While launching the Urdu website Israel’s Ambassador to India Mark Sofer said, "India is known for its moderate and forward-looking religion of beauty that is Islam. There is no reason why we should not address a large section of a strong community."

The so-called Muslim leadership doesn’t have any pragmatic and serious agenda for the betterment of the community. When elections are due to take place these so-called leaders resurface just like frogs out of the wells during rainy seasons. For these self-serving leaders instead of economic, social and educational uplift of Muslims, the important electoral issues are Urdu, Osama bin Laden and Babri Masjid. I remember during 2005 Bihar assembly polls a Osama bin Laden lookalike Mullah used to do rounds with Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad Yadav during election meetings across the state. Later on, this Osama bin Laden lookalike Mullah switched sides with ease and used to accompany Lok Jan Shakti Party leader Ram Vilas Paswan during election meetings. We can simply assess the state of mind of Muslims and how these leaders and clerics play with their emotions.

The need of the hour is that Muslim masses should be awake from their slumber. The Muslim youth have a special role to play. It is the youth who is made the sacrificial goat – whether it be playing with their careers or turning them into suicide bombs and terrorists. It is the Muslim youth who is left to take the bullets during an encounter with the police, fake or otherwise. The so-called Muslim leaders only play with their emotions and meet their own selfish ends. It will be too late if the innocent Muslim masses continue to remain tools in their hands. The time has also come to take the Muslim clerics head on and put an end to their dangerous and evil designs of dividing the Indian Muslim society.

4/04/2009 12:23:00 PM | Filed under , , , | Read More »

The Problem With Indian Muslims – A Pakistani’s Viewpoint

“Why have Indian Muslims, most whom seem well-educated and demonstrate sound judgment on all other matters under the sun, suddenly lose sight of their bearings (and manners) when it comes to attacking all things Pakistani, be it the country’s politics, culture, food or fashion. Why are they hell-bent on defying common sense when it comes to writing off a whole country as being a terrorist hub?” This statement from a Dubai-based Pakistani writer Rabia Alavi whose half of extended family are Indians, is really shocking indeed. I don’t know how this shameless Pakistani woman gathered the gumption to dub We, Indian Muslims, as nonsensical and the ones who are ‘hell-bent on defying common sense when it comes to writing off a whole country as being a terrorist hub’. I just wonder why doesn’t this Pakistani writer – who is seemingly possessed with a squint and blinkered vision – see to it that it is Pakistan which is in fact proving to be no less than a terrorist hub when it comes to attacking all things Indian. My dear Ms. Rabia Alavi have you forgotten the 26/11 Mumbai attacks which claimed several Indian lives irrespective of the religions these martyrs belonged to. Which country did these ‘Islamic heroes’ nay ruthless inhuman killers belonged to? Can you deny that these ‘Jihadis’ did not belong to Pakistan? Your Pakistani government has itself publicly acknowledged that these goons hailed from Pakistan, whom it firstly tried to portray as non-state actors. Are YOU a MUSLIM or not? Are the rulers of Pakistan MUSLIMS or not? Does Islam ask to settle political scores by slaughtering human beings whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims? Is this what is JIHAD you Pakistanis call or think so? What kind of Islam are you Pakistanis propagating? You Pakistanis first of all need to get lessons regarding the true teachings of Islam. We, Indian Muslims, really don’t need to take lessons from you all. Your kind of Islam has miserably failed you all no ends, and Pakistan, which was formed in the name of Islam, is fast approaching to don the status of a failed state. Just cite me a single reason as to why We, Indian Muslims, shouldn’t acknowledge and proclaim Pakistan as a terrorist hub.


I simply look askance when Rabia Alavi daringly asks: “But why do Indian Muslims trouble themselves with Pakistan’s worries anyway? Don’t they have enough of their own? Need I remind them how uncomfortable their minority status is for them? Are they not second-class citizens in their own country? Are they not troubled by the countless assaults on the country’s minorities, the destruction of Babri Masjid or the slaughter of Muslims in Gujarat? Don’t they worry about the Modis and Sadhvi Pragyas of their country?” This is simply ridiculous. For your kind knowledge Ms. Rabia Alavi, We, Indian Muslims, don’t ever care about Pakistan or its worries. But, isn’t it a fact that Pakistan is constantly after us trying to create troubles whenever it’s possible. And, 26/11 Mumbai attacks is just another add on in its long list of crimes. Rabia would do well to at least acknowledge the fact that We, Indian Muslims, never sought help from Pakistan or any other country for that matter to take care of our problems. We, Indian Muslims, are ourselves strong and capable enough to tackle our own problems whenever need be. I don’t buy your theory that We, Indian Muslims, are second-class citizens in our own country. Let me state that We, Indian Muslims, are thankful to the Almighty Allah and our country’s system of governance that we exercise our democratic rights on our own free will without any sort of coercion or favour whatsoever. Whenever need be We, Indian Muslims, have changed governments at the Centre and in the states that failed to deliver either in terms of development or providing security to lives of people. Yes, I do acknowledge that communal riots did take place. But, these are now becoming things of the past. Rabia, but what about democracy in Pakistan. Just see how the Pakistani Generals trample your democratic rights at their own free will. It is pitiable that even after 60 years of independence you all are struggling to let democracy prevail in Pakistan in true sense of the term. Isn't it a sorry state of affairs for your beleaguered country? Don't you have your own problems? What about Jiye Sindh movement, Mohajirs and NWFP? Aren't these grave problems for Pakistan which it has squarely failed to handle? What about Pakistani Muslims who are being slaughtered daily by Talibani jihadists. Aren’t you seeing this? Don’t you have the courage to take these Talibani jihadis head on. I know you are meek and a coward. You won’t even dare to write or talk about the tribals in North West Frontier Province of your country Pakistan. If you ever dare to do so, well you know your fate? DEATH at the hands of NWFP Talibani jihadis! Ms. Rabia, I'm sorry to state that YOU are not a real Pakistani as you are writing sitting pretty well ensconced in secure confines in Dubai. And, just look at me. I'm writing my comments sitting in my own homeland. Just look how much guts you possess and what I possess. This is enough to prove that I'm not a second-class citizen, while I just feel sorry about your status at this critical juncture which your country is presently in.

Ms. Rabia Alavi, do you know that the foundations of the so-called Islamic Republic of Pakistan was laid by an aristocrat Mohammad Ali Jinnah, who wasn't concerned with Islam at all except being a namesake Muslim. By the way, don’t you know that fact that Your Qaid-e-Azam Jinnah profoundly enjoyed alcohol, never entered a prayer hall or Masjid except for his marriage with Zoroastrian Rutten Bai. Jinnah loved consuming pork flesh and extracted its soup. Don’t you know that consuming pork and alcohol are forbidden in Islam? And, You still revere this Pork eating and wine consuming Mohammad Ali Jinnah – Your GREAT Quaid-e-Azam!! Please don’t take my comments as otherwise. I suppose this is what you really asked for while initiating needless debate regarding actions of Indian Muslims vis-à-vis Pakistani Muslims.

Present below is the Opinion of Dubai-based Pakistani writer Rabia Alavi and my comments above. The writer charges that Indian Muslims are hell-bent on portraying Pakistan as a terrorist hub. However, the entire world is now witness for what really Pakistan stands for. This Opinion was published in the Khaleej Times on 1 March 2009. This Opinion is being published for the benefit of my readers. – Danish Ahmad Khan


The Problem With Indian Muslims
By Rabia Alavi

I try to steer away from the politics of India-Pakistan debates, partly for the reason that even though I am a Pakistani, half of my extended family is Indian, and they were part of the value system that taught me the rights and wrongs of life as I was growing up.

But I also refuse to indulge in these discussions where eventually you find yourself taking sides, because I cannot do away with a country that has much in common with mine – historical roots, cultural similarities and a language that is widely spoken and understood by the people of both countries, to name just a few.

Unfortunately, in the two years that I was watching my son grow out of diapers, a new generation of Indians has emerged — a generation that has forced me to take sides, albeit unwillingly. And while this generation has nothing to do with age, sadly, it does with creed. Yes, I direct my complaint towards Indian Muslims — a part of the Indian society that should be bound to Pakistan by ties of a common religion, to say the least.

Why have Indian Muslims, most whom seem well-educated and demonstrate sound judgment on all other matters under the sun, suddenly lose sight of their bearings (and manners) when it comes to attacking all things Pakistani, be it the country’s politics, culture, food or fashion. Why are they hell-bent on defying common sense when it comes to writing off a whole country as being a terrorist hub?

What used to be friendly bantering during India versus Pakistan cricket matches is not so friendly any more. What were merely funny punches about Lollywood’s efforts to imitate Bollywood are also beginning to hurt. These may be trivial examples, but the bottom line is, there seem to be serious efforts on the part of the Indian Muslims to hurt and incite Pakistanis into making emotional outbursts. They can then go about saying what an intolerant bunch those Pakistanis are.

Indian Muslims may rant and rave about what emotional fools Pakistanis are, or how they lack tolerance for other cultures or religions, while Indian Muslims get by quite amicably as a minority of 13.4 per cent (officially) in a country that is predominantly Hindu.

But let’s not forget that if it were not for Partition, this sweeping judgment would target them too. And while we are on the subject of tolerance, I must add that Indian Muslims can often not even bring themselves to be polite to their Pakistani counterparts. One has to wonder if this is just cold-shouldering of a people they dislike, or outright hatred that makes them not want to even look at their Pakistani counterparts.

Pakistanis might be more emotionally-charged when it comes to attacks on their country’s sovereignty and what not. But given the state of things in their country — a government that cannot prevent foreign attacks on its soil, a society that is practically illiterate and willing to believe just about anything that insurgents, liberals or the government want them to believe, and an economy on the verge of collapse – can you blame them?

Pakistanis don’t have answers to many of the questions that Indians, or anyone else, for that matter, ask of them. But don’t Indians know that already?

Why ask the Pakistanis, if not to hurt, and convince them that they are part of a failed nation. Even those Pakistanis who are resilient enough not to have given up on their country in these worrisome times are faced with constant reminders by their Indian brethren that they lack a future back in their country.

But why do Indian Muslims trouble themselves with Pakistan’s worries anyway? Don’t they have enough of their own? Need I remind them how uncomfortable their minority status is for them? Are they not second-class citizens in their own country? Are they not troubled by the countless assaults on the country’s minorities, the destruction of Babri Masjid or the slaughter of Muslims in Gujarat? Don’t they worry about the Modis and Sadhvi Pragyas of their country?

Understandably, actions committed in the name if all Indians are not actually condoned by any secular Indians, no matter what religion. In fact, they are a shame for those who see India’s secularism as a respect for all religions. But is India really that secular? This might not be the right piece to debate that question. But it certainly seems that the reason why Indian Muslims are on the constant lookout for one mistake that we Pakistanis make so they can pounce on us and cry ‘foul’ is that they are insecure. Not only does that put them on the defensive, to the extent of being paranoid, it also makes them shun a people who they could have been close to, had the circumstances been different.

And this is no thanks to the Indian media, which prides itself for being liberal and open-minded, oh, and supportive of the minorities.

Again, debating whether it is as all-embracing of the actions of minorities as it claims to be might be a question to be answered on another forum. I do wonder though why Indian Muslims have to be an extra bit smarter, a little bit more qualified, and a bit more Indian to ensure that their country is behind them at all times.

Let me not digress from my real concern in my hurry to find plausible explanations for the otherwise (excuse the word) spiteful attitude of many Indian Muslims towards their Pakistani counterparts. And that is a persistent worry that the bad side is winning in this battle of hearts.

And by that I mean those with vested interests, namely the people in power in both India and Pakistan who have always tried to drive a wedge between the people of the two countries.

When people like me, who grew up with such a fine mix of Indians and Pakistanis that I did not know the difference between the two, has to end up throwing her weight to a particular side, we are definitely losing. And it is up to us to decide if we want to give up on friends, family and relationships built over long periods of time only because they belong to the other side of the border.

[Rabia Alavi is a Dubai-based writer. Reach her at rabiaalavi@hotmail.com]

(Courtesy: Khaleej Times)

3/23/2009 01:40:00 PM | Filed under , , , , | Read More »

Terrorism should be subject of study in schools: Kiran Bedi

The scourge of terrorism is here to stay for quite some time and cannot be merely wished away. Most of the countries around the world have become vulnerable and falling prey to terrorism at a menacing pace. The way 26/11 Mumbai attacks and the recent attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Pakistan took place shows how terrorism has spread its vice-like grip on the entire body polity. The attack on Sri Lankan cricketers barely came a day after Lok Sabha (Parliamentary) polls were announced in India. The timing is indeed quite bewildering. Even, Mumbai attacks took place at a time when assembly polls in some states of India were underway. This aspect was also puzzling as is the present one that took place in Pakistan. The motives and politics behind these attacks are difficult to comprehend. Though, one can say that terrorists are definitely out to create mayhem and deepen the global financial crisis further. And, this needs to be stopped in whatever way we can.

The current spate of terrorist attacks in the subcontinent also brings into focus a glaring aspect – the way innocent youth, who were in the age group of 18-20, were used in both these attacks. It is not difficult to understand that these vulnerable youth were emotionally blackmailed and completely brainwashed, and then used as sacrificial goats to carry out these dastardly attacks in both the countries. In the given circumstances, there is a paramount need to sensitize, educate and make aware these youth about their creative potential and shun the dastardly elements in the society whoever they are and wherever they are. As such, this becomes the foremost responsibility of the elders of the society to keep a keen watch on their movements, and educate and enlighten them appropriately to fight the menace of terrorism head on. India’s first woman police officer and Magsaysay Award winner Kiran Bedi, in an interview, rightly says: "Terrorism should be introduced in schools as a subject; it is very important that our youth be aware of it. NSS, NCC and Scout & Guide should dedicate special sessions on terrorism awareness."

Present below is an interesting and informative feature written by my colleague at IANS, Nabeel A. Khan. This feature was published on 27 October 2008. I thought it important enough to publish this feature on my Blog for the benefit of readers, particularly at the present juncture when youth are being misguided and misutilized to fulfill the devilish and inhuman desires of the masterminds of terrorism. This feature highlights the views of a cross-section of people, and is sure to make an interesting and enlightening reading. – Danish Ahmad Khan
[Picture: Kiran Bedi - India's first woman police officer & Magsaysay Award winner.]

Terrorism should be subject of study in schools: Kiran Bedi

By Nabeel A. Khan
New Delhi, Oct 27 (IANS) Terrorism should be taught as a subject in schools so that Indian youth become more aware of the scourge, says celebrated former police officer Kiran Bedi.

As the country continues to debate the larger ramifications of terror attacks in many cities, Bedi, the first woman officer in the Indian Police Service and a Magsaysay Award winner for her jail reforms, told IANS in an interview: "Terrorism should be introduced in schools as a subject; it is very important that our youth be aware of it. NSS, NCC and Scout & Guide should dedicate special sessions on terrorism awareness."

NSS is the National Service Scheme and NCC the National Cadet Corps, both co-curricular activities in high schools and colleges around India.

Bedi was worried that people tended to forget about terror attacks soon after they occurred. Apart from introducing the subject in schools, "society should come forward and start participating through team policing", she said. "Only state police, without civilian support, cannot easily stop or prevent acts of terror and for this we need to make our society aware."

In the political spectrum, there is bipartisan support for the idea.

Bharatiya Janata Party spokesman Prakash Javadekar said that primarily it was the duty of police to protect the lives of citizens, but added that public help in combating terrorism was equally necessary.

"The people on street, like small shopowners, vendors and parking attendants should be trained and sensitised against such incidents. Such people can also contribute to providing information to the intelligence," Javadekar told IANS.

His party's youth wing "may start a campaign to spread awareness and alertness among the people through a scientific and logical approach", he added.

Congress party leader Salman Khurshid said fortifying communication between people and agencies was very important.

"Network of information between people and police is very important in combating terrorism and for this we need to remove people's cynicism towards police. Everywhere some people are good and some people are bad; the same goes for police," Khurshid said.

Both the political leaders felt NGOs should come forward and create awareness in different communities about the evils of terrorism.

Academics also favoured the idea of NGOs and social organisations creating awareness and alertness against terrorism.

"People are still not alert against terrorism and for this reason social organisations and NGOs should start massive awareness campaigns," Alok Puranik, writer and lecturer in Delhi University, said.

Social activist Harsh Dobhal said targeting any particular community after a terror attack only makes matters worse. Government agencies should work in an unbiased manner to ensure equality is maintained among the people of all religions, castes and creeds, he added.

"Government agencies should act in a responsible manner. Innocent people or a particular community should not be falsely implicated. The police bring a new mastermind every day (following a terror attack). Their statements are contradictory, which is bound to raise doubts. The police need to build faith in the people's minds."

Shabnam Hashmi, another social activist, wanted the media too to act in a more responsible manner.

"The media is trying to be judgmental, they announce their verdict even before the judiciary does that. More often the media is acting as a mouthpiece of police and polarising the opinion. That is very irresponsible," she said.

While the thinkers debate, terrorism appears to have receded to the back of the mind of the man on the street.

"I don't care about terrorism, I think I am too young to think about it," said 18-year-old student Pallov.

Dietician Vandana Sekhawat said: "I never thought about how I can help in such a tragedy, but the recent events have definitely given me a shock."

"I don't have time to think of such things; I just know that I have not been harmed by it," said Sonu, a garage owner in south Delhi.

(Courtesy: IANS)

3/05/2009 11:08:00 PM | Filed under , , | Read More »

Fake conversions, sham marriages: Making a mockery of Islam



Pictures: (1.) Chander Mohan and Anuradha Bali, now known as Chand Mohammad and Fiza Parveen after conversion to Islam and second marriage; (2.) Bollowood stars Dharmendra and Hema Malini [They married for second time after secretly converting to Islam but they never really accepted Islam as their faith after their marraige]; (3.) Major Chandrashekhar Pant and Sabra Ahmadzai [Major Pant converted to Islam during his posting at a hospital in Afghanistan's capital Kabul and married Sabra Ahmadzai, a Hindi translator at the same hospital. After returning to India, he has abandoned Sabra and asked her to marry someone again as she is young. He can't accept her as his wife since he is already married and is having two children. He is currently posted at a hospital in his hometown of Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand. Sabra is now in India and is fighting an anti-bigamy case against him. The army has still not taken any action against him.]

Fake conversions, sham marriages: Making a mockery of Islam

By Danish Ahmad Khan

The saga of Chander Mohan-Anuradha Bali, now (in)famously known as Chand Mohammad-Fiza love story, has finally ended into a tailspin of sorts. A peeved Fiza, who allegedly attempted suicide by consuming 25 non-fatal sedative alprazolam tablets, narrated her harrowing tale before the mediapersons in Chandigarh after her newly-wed husband suddenly left her house where he has been staying for the last two months. Chand Mohammad, the elder son of former Haryana CM Bhajan Lal, after disappearing from Fiza’s house was reportedly spotted near Raj Ghat in New Delhi in an inebriated condition by police who brought him to the Daryaganj police station. Later, he left the police station saying that he would go back on his own. Chand Mohammad, however, went missing again only to resurface later outside Sector 14 residence of his brother Kuldeep Bishnoi to clarify before TV channels that he was missing his first wife Seema Bishnoi and children and that he could not stay away from them. He also said that he has not deserted Fiza and would like to stay with her as well.

Chander Mohan (43) alias Chand Mohammad and Anuradha Bali (37), now called Fiza Parveen, secretly converted to Islam and their nikaah solemnized by a Maulvi [Muslim priest] in Meerut in November 2008. Chand Mohammad paid Rs. 5 lakh as meher [Bridal price] to Fiza in order to skirt Hindu bigamy laws. They surfaced as husband and wife in December. The duo held a press conference to announce their marriage and revealed their plan to have a honeymoon in Switzerland and residence in Delhi. Professing their undying love for each other, they promised to live together till the last breath. They courted each other for the past five years before entering into wedlock as neo-Muslims.

Kalka MLA Chander Mohan, married to Seema Bishnoi for 13 years, was holding the post of Deputy Chief Minister of Haryana before his conversion to Islam. Anuradha Bali alias Fiza was married to a Mohali businessman but was divorced just after one year of marriage. Anuradha was a former Deputy Advocate General in Punjab, but before her marriage to Chander Mohan was serving as Assistant Advocate General of Haryana. Chander Mohan and Anuradha Bali were both not seen in public nor attending to their professional duties for the past one month giving credence to rumours about their elopement, which ultimately proved to be true after they resurfaced as lovestruck newly-weds.

The news about Chander Mohan’s conversion to Islam and second marriage came as rude shock to the Haryana government as well as his father ex-CM Bhajan Lal. They had to pay dearly for their ‘misdemeanours’ and had to lose their high-profile jobs. ‘Misdemenours’ because they had apparently converted to Islam to solemnize their respective second marriage. Chief Minister of Congress-led Haryana government Bhupinder Singh Hooda sacked Deputy Chief Minister Chander Mohan on November 26 on the plea that he absented from his office for past some time. Anuradha Bali too was sacked on the similar plea. An agitated Chand Mohammad’s father Bhajan Lal sharply reacted announcing that he has now disowned his rebel son Chander Mohan from his property and condemned his second marriage as a “shameless act”.

Fiza is now puzzled about her status. She says, “I don’t know what my status is today. I don’t even know if I am his wife or not. He is not coming out openly to tell. He used to send me messages for the last three years. He used to blackmail me that he will kill himself if I did not marry him. He threatened to shoot himself. I have been betrayed in true love. He has not spoken to me directly. I don't even know whether he is now Chander Mohan or Chand Mohammed. A very bad game has been played with my life.” Fiza also claims, “He was shown saying that I am a ‘badhiya cheez’ (good object). Am I a vegetable, cold drink or lassi that he said so? I have been used.” Fiza is now thinking in terms of seeking revenge for Chand Mohammad’s betrayal. In a latest development, Fiza, after great of confusion on whether to press rape charges or take some other legal recourse, has lodged a police complaint (FIR) against Chander Mohan on 16 February 2009 foisting rape charges on him.

How is Islam abused, defamed and mocked at?
However, this is not for the first time a Hindu couple secretly embraced Islam only to marry for the second time. Chander Mohan is already having his first wife who has not been divorced yet. Anuradha Bali is a divorcee and was looking for another man in her life to end her solitude. After embracing Islam and subsequent marriage, Chander Mohan cleverly escaped anti-bigamy laws under the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955. Besides Chander Mohan and Anuradha Bali, Bollywood stars Dharmendra and Hema Malini had also secretly embraced Islam only to marry for the second time and gave their marriage a legal cover. Now, Dharmendra and Hema Malini remain a happily wed couple but never accepted Islam as their religion though being married only after embracing Islam. It may be recalled that there are several Hindu couples that married for the second time without divorcing their first wife or embracing Islam. Second marriage of Bollywood stars is a case in point. Raj Babbar married Smita Patil despite being already married to Zaheera, daughter of a widely respected Muslim poet-scholar. Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan’s second marriage is also another example. Paswan married for a second time without divorcing his first wife. The first wife is a Dalit, the caste that Paswan belongs to, while his second wife follows the Sikh religion. In yet another instance according to the BBC report of 9th February, 20-year-old Sabra Ahmadzai from Afghanistan left her parents home in November last year and is now in India for the past six weeks to trace her husband Major Chandshekhar Pant. Sabra worked as a Hindi translator in a hospital in Kabul and met Major Pant, a doctor in the Indian Army. Major Pant converted to Islam and married Sabra. After marriage Sabra could only spend fifteen days together with Major Pant when he was transferred back to India. Sitting at the shrine of Hazrat Nizamuddin in New Delhi with her hands clasped in prayers Sabra says, "He promised to return with his parents and left. In six months he only called me three times, and in his last call he told me Sabra you are young and you can marry again - I have two kids and a wife from before." Sabra recently met Major Pant now on posting in his hilly hometown of Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand. She has registered an anti-bigamy case against Major Pant and has vowed to pursue this case to logical end till justice is done to her. The Army has also so far not taken any action whatsoever against Major Pant to set the record straight.

But the recent marriage of Chander Mohan and Anuradha Bali has again raised a controversy. This also once again brings Dharmendra and Hema Malini’s marriage into the eye of storm. Both marriages those of Chander Mohan-Anuradha Bali and Dharmendra-Hema Malini are similar in nature. The only exception being that Dharmendra-Hema Malini remain happily wed couples while Chander Mohan-Anuradha Bali’s marriage is on the verge of imminent break-up. The saddest part being that Chander Mohan and Anuradha Bali couldn’t even spend their honeymoon in Switzerland, and the news of their break-up and legal battles is constantly doing the rounds.

It is apparent that in both the marriages, the religion of Islam has been abused, defamed and mocked at in the most rude and crass manner. Dharmendra and Hema Malini were never questioned or penalized in a court of law for misusing Islam to achieve their ulterior motives, and that too without remaining Muslims. Ever Major Chandrashekhar Pant, who married Sabra Ahmadzai after converting to Islam, misused Islam only to satiate his sexual desire and leaving Sabra in the lurk and unclear about her current marital status after returning back to India. The most saddest part, however, is that no Muslim organization or clerics worth their salt ever came forward to take action against the Maulvis who allegedly solemnized the ‘nikaah’ of Dharmendra-Hema Malini and Chander Mohan-Anuradha Bali, or cared to ask these couples as to why they misused Islam for their marriage by not adhering to their new faith for their entire lifetime. But Chander Mohan went even a step further in making Islam a football, which could be kicked about whenever need be by all and sundry without being ever objected to by the faithfuls whatsoever. Chander Mohan misused Islam only to satiate his carnal desires. According to his wife Fiza, he was shown as saying that she was a ‘badhiya cheez’ (good object). She later strongly objected to his remarks and asked whether she was a vegetable, cold drink or lassi that he can consume whenever he wants to. Chander Mohan’s remarks about Fiza in itself shows how much he abhors and disrespects womenfolk and that he only wanted to enjoy women and derive sexual pleasure from them. This also shows that he has scant respect for Islam or even his own religion. He did not have any genuine intention to embrace Islam, but only wanted to escape anti-bigamy laws as per Hindu Marriage Act of 1955. Had both Chander Mohan and Anuradha Bali genuinely intended to embrace Islam and lead their married lives as ideal Muslims, they should have done so long before during their five years of courtship itself. But during the five years they only made fun and frolic, and only a month before their marriage they secretly embraced Islam and immediately married.

Muslims have always been accused of using Islam as springboard to spread terrorism in the name of jihad, but what should Muslims do when their religion is used by people of other religions only to satiate their sexual needs in an illegal manner, which neither their religion nor Islam ever permits. The shamelessness of Chander Mohan can also be gauged from the fact that reacting to his dismissal from the post of Deputy CM, Chander Mohan said, “Politicians across party lines are guilty of having affairs and if he begins to expose all that he knows, it will not augur well for any party.” Chander Mohan also wants to prove that Islam in fact obligates Muslims to keep number of wives to fulfill their sexual needs in a legal manner. This is, however, nothing but a slur on this great religion and a hard slap on the face of entire Muslim community for taking for granted that Islam is above board and cannot be abused or defamed by anyone.

Besides Chander Mohan, another fraud was committed by his illustrious father ex-CM Bhajan Lal. He not only told lies but also fooled the people and media in his statement about disowning Chander Mohan from family property. Chander Mohan claimed before the media that his father didn’t disown him only after conversion to Islam and subsequent second marriage, but he was ‘disowned’ long before. The wily Bhajan Lal merely made an announcement before the media after such a long time. In fact, Chander Mohan was “disowned” by the family in the sense that under a family settlement his share in the property was transferred in the name of his minor son, Sidharth. According to the legal records, the property was transferred in the name of Sidharth with only Chander Mohan’s consent. The settlement was signed by concerned parties on 20th February 2008. It was not only Bhajan Lal, and Chander Mohan’s mother, Jasma Devi, who transferred his share in their property to their eldest grandson, but it Chander Mohan himself who transferred his property in the name of Sidharth. Chander Mohan signed the settlement just a few days after the death of his son Mohit, with whom he was greatly attached. After nine days of the signing of settlement, Kuldeep Bishnoi (Chander Mohan’s younger brother) and Siddharth filed suits before a Hisar court and requested to issue declarations indicating that they were now the owners of the property acquired through their respective share as per settlement. Within a month the court issued decrees in favour of plaintiffs. After the decree, Sidharth (Chander Mohan’s nominee) became the owner of properties that included a Panchkula house in Sector 8; two plots in Sector 15-A, Hisar; a shop in Nai Mandi, Adampur; one flat on Aurangzeb Road, Delhi; and agricultural land at different places (all earlier owned by Jasma Devi). He also got an industrial plot in Panchkula which was earlier jointly owned by his father Chander Mohan and uncle Kuldeep and a booth in Adampur earlier owned by Chander Mohan. One house in Model Town, Adampur, owned by SRB Investment Pvt Ltd, 135, Golf Links, New Delhi, and a piece of agricultural land owned by Seth Enterprises Pvt Ltd, Golf Links, New Delhi, were also transferred to Sidharth. Chander Mohan's determination to marry Anuradha Bali was known to the family in 2007 itself. It is apparent therefore that the transfer of Chander Mohan’s property to Sidharth can be construed as a sort of alimony paid by him to his first wife Seema, or this also be considered as a preemptive step against any future claims by anyone against Chander Mohan which would very well have occurred with his marriage to Anuradha Bali. Chander Mohan thus made a clever move by transferring his property to his son to ward off any future claims by Anuradha Bali, and also continue to enjoy her after his so-called marriage.

Polygamy in Islam & Hinduism
Islam permits polygamy and has allowed four wives at a time with the condition that they be treated equally. According to the Holy Qur’an taking more than one wife is only permissible, not ordained. The Holy Qur’an says: "And if you fear that you cannot act equitably towards orphans, then marry such women as seem good to you, two, three and four, but if you fear that you may not do justice to them, then (marry) only one" (4: 3). It may be noted that this verse was revealed after the battle of Uhud. In that battle, many Muslim men died and as such a great social problem for the protection of widows and orphans arose, necessitating an institutionalized polygamy for a convenient solution of the problem.

Even in Hinduism, Manu sanctioned polygamy. There has been a great deal of controversy as to whether the Hindu Law sanctioned polygamy. This, however, becomes clear if the Law of Manu regarding polygamy is reviewed. According to Manu, following is the Law on this subject:
(1.) "For the first marriage of twice-born men (wives) of equal caste are recommended, but for those who through desire proceed (to marry again) the following females, (chosen) according to the (direct) order (of the castes) are most approved." (Here follows the list of women who may be approved of) (Manu, iii 12).

(2.) "It twice-born men wed women of their own and of other (lower castes) the seniority, honor, and habitation of those (wives) must be (settled) according to the order of the castes (Varna)." (Manu, ix 85).

(3.) "If, after one damsel has been shown, another be given to the bridegroom, he may marry the both, for the same price that Manu ordained," (Manu, viii 204).

(4.) "Among all (twice-born men) the wife of equal caste alone (not a wife of a different caste by any means), shall personally attend her husband and assist him in his daily sacred rites." (Manu, ix 86).

(5.) "But he who foolishly causes that (duty) to be performed by another while his wife of equal caste is alive, is declared by the ancients (to be) as (despicable) as a Kandala (spring from the) Brahamana caste." (Manu, ix 87).

Thus, the above quotations amply indicate that polygamy was sanctioned according to the Law of Manu. This has also been settled in the Courts of British India that there is no restriction on a Hindu as to the number of his wives he can keep, or that one may marry again without his wife's consent. However, according to the current practice Hindus could contract a second marriage only after the death of their first wife or divorce. Not otherwise. And, this surely defies the Law of Manu.

The controversial marriage of Chander Mohan-Anuradha Bali has clearly brought into focus the ambiguity in the law regarding second marriage by Hindus after converting to Islam. The Supreme Court in a celebrated 1995 order held such marriage illegal saying that bigamy could attract a sentence of up to seven years in jail and fine. Tahir Mahmood, a Law Commission member and noted Islamic scholar, says, “If a married Hindu during the subsistence of his first marriage embraces Islam and marries again it is illegal and punishable under the Indian Penal Code even if conversion is absolutely genuine.”

According to Islamic scholar and Law Commission member Tahir Mahmood, “If a married Hindu during the subsistence of his first marriage embraces Islam and marries again it is illegal and punishable under the Indian Penal Code even if conversion is absolutely genuine.” Even in the Sarla Mudgal case of 1995, the Supreme Court of India had ruled that a Hindu husband, married under the Hindu Marriage Act 1955, cannot marry a second time simply by embracing Islam. If he remarries without lawfully dissolving the first marriage, he would be guilty of bigamy. Under Section 494 of the IPC, bigamy invites a punishment of up to seven years in jail and fine. According to Mahmood, “Even born Muslims are not allowed such reckless prodigality by their religion and its law. The idea that Islam gave a license for indulging in bigamy to anyone converting was ‘sheer nonsense’. The traditional Islamic law allowed bigamy in exceptional cases only. And, this is permissible only if the man treats his wives with absolute justice.”

It may be recalled that akin to Chander Mohan-Anuradha Bali’s case, one Jitender Mathur, a Hindu by birth, converted to Islam ten years after his marriage just only to marry Sunita (who also converted to Islam and adopted the Muslim name of Fatima). He was married to his first wife Meena Mathur in 1978, and had three children by her. In 1988 he married Sunita alias Fatima. Later on he reverted to Hinduism leaving behind Fatima in the lurch, who refused to revert to Hinduism any more. Meena Mathur and Fatima both petitioned the Supreme Court that declared that unless an existing marriage was dissolved, remarriage by any spouse was void and punishable under section 494 IPC.

In one of the similar ruling, a Supreme Court judge said, “A person who mockingly adopts another religion where plurality of marriage is permitted to renounce a previous marriage and desert wife cannot be permitted to take advantage of this exploitation as religion is not a commodity to be exploited.”

Who’s responsible for this sorry plight of Islam?
Though in the case of Chander Mohan-Anuradha Bali some Muslim ulemas from Darul-Ifta (the fatwa department of the Islamic seminary Darul-Uloom Deoband) have condemned Chander Mohan for his ‘lowly act’. But this verbal condemnation is surely not enough. What about the clerics who solemnized the ‘nikaah’ of Chander Mohan-Anuradha Bali and Dharmendra-Hema Malini? The clerics have been let off without any rebuke or penal action whatsoever by the reputed Islamic seminary. This brings their true love for Islam into question. Such clerics are bringing disrepute to Islam and constitute the part of the bandwagon of Chander Mohan-Anuradha Bali and Dharmendra-Hema Malini in damaging Islam itself by their lowly acts. Even Muslim organizations such as All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), All India Muslim Majlise Mushawarat (AIMMM), All India Milli Council (AIMC), Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), Jamiatul Ulama-e Hind (JUH) etc. are equally responsible for perpetrating such crimes as they have neither raised their voice or taken any penal action whatsoever against the culprits. This unholy coterie of Muslim clerics and organizations are gravely responsible for the sorry plight of Islam and Muslims in India as such. They are hell-bent, it seems, on strangulating the great religion of Islam just to achieve their selfish goals. Action should have been taken by now against couples like Chander Mohan-Anuradha Bali and Dharmendra-Hema Malini by invoking the provisions of bigamy law under Section 494 of the IPC. But, no Muslim organization has even cared to give a thought about this whatsoever.

Steps need to be taken to tackle such crimes
It is obvious that Hindu couples like Chander Mohan-Anuradha Bali and Dharmendra-Hema Malini have time and again misused and abused Islam to fulfill their carnal desires, and several more would continue to do so in future as well. It is also obvious that such couples would be assisted by so-called Muslim clerics in fulfilling their dirty and lowly desires. The time has come now that such crimes need be stopped forthwith and these couples and Muslim clerics be severely punished through appropriate punitive action taken by respective community leaders as well as the government.

Following steps, in my opinion, would be appropriate enough to tackle such issues:
(1.) Make registration of marriages compulsory as per the directive of the Supreme Court of India. This should be compulsorily binding on people of all religious faiths, including Muslims and Christians, across the country. All India Muslim Personal Law Board in its last meeting had decided that marriage registration be kept a voluntary option since it may further complicate marital discords. The decision of AIMPLB is simply unfortunate and a great disservice to the entire Muslim community. This won’t complicate marital discords but would rather alleviate them if proper regulations were in place.

(2.) Make registration of conversions compulsory. The Law Ministry would do well to bring Law on conversions into place to stop fake conversions taking place. It has often been noticed that in several instances conversions have taken place merely to escape poverty and through inducements. Some conversions have taken place only for the sake of remarriage as has been the present cases with high-profile couples like Chander Mohan-Anuradha Bali and Dharmendra-Hema Malini. However, some conversions have been really genuine and out of ones own free will, which should indeed be respected. But, making registration of conversions compulsory across the country would stop fake conversions from taking place and in fact restore the glory of the respective religious faiths.

(3.) Relevant laws, including Muslim law, be amended to practically prohibit misuse of religion just for the sake of enjoying sex through second marriage. In fact, second marriage by a person after converting to Islam should be made a non-bailable offence even though first wife never objected to this obnoxious practice. There are instances of many Hindus adopting Islam symbolically only to enjoy a second marriage legally even though in practical life they continue to have ardent belief in Hinduism and perform all Hindu rituals in day-to-day life. Suitable laws should therefore be enacted to ban post-conversions marriages and severely penalize the persons involved.

(4.) The Government should make provisions to make registration of Muslim clerics compulsory. This is essential to bar fake clerics, who generally conduct such sham marriages and bring disrepute to their religion. There is need to bring Muslim clerics within government’s control so that their status of living be also uplifted. Most of the Muslim organizations like All India Muslim Personal Law Board, All India Muslim Majlise Mushawarat, All India Milli Council etc. are unrepresentative and do not represent entire Muslim community in India. The Government should also make registration of Imams of Mosques (Muslim prayer leaders) compulsory across the country since they perform the duties of prayer leaders in mosques as well as solemnise nikaahs whenever need be.

Islam now seeks justice. But the million-dollar question is after all from whom? In other words, who are the real culprits? Who are those responsible who couldn’t defend Islam from the onslaught of sham marriages and fake conversions? I consider both the Maulvis and couples like Chandra Mohan-Anuradha Bali and Dharmendra-Hema Malini equally responsible to bring such unpardonable disrespect to Islam. Those Muslim clerics who helped them convert to Islam and solemnized their nikaah, which was obviously for the sake of second marriage and not professing Islam in the true sense, should not be spared at all from penal action and stringent punishment from the Muslim community as such. It is now incumbent on the community leaders of both the religions and the Government to take strictest possible action and put an end to such illegal and defamatory activities.
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[Please find a related story published by IANS (www.ians.in) on 19 February 2009.]

Religious conversion for second marriage un-Islamic: Muslim clerics
By Khalid Akhter

New Delhi, Feb 19 (IANS) Muslim clerics have termed as "un-Islamic" and "unacceptable" conversion to Islam to escape legal complications of a second marriage, citing the example of Chander Mohan alias Chand Mohammed and Anuradha Bali alias Fiza whose apparent wedding of convenience is now showing signs of strain.

"Adopting Islam with an intention for second marriage is not only un-Islamic but against reason as well," renowned Muslim scholar Maulana Wahiduddin Khan told IANS.

The debate about religious conversion was triggered after then Haryana deputy chief minister Chander Mohan announced his second marriage to former law officer Anuradha Bali and their conversion to Islam Dec 17 last year. Chander Mohan is the father of three teenagers from his first marriage.

The much-hyped love affair soured sooner than expected after the rechristened couple of Chand Mohammad and Fiza fell apart. Chand suddenly left Fiza's home in Punjab's Mohali town Jan 28 and has been elusive since then.

Quoting from a hadith, Prophet Mohammed's saying, Khan said such conversion is "unacceptable" and "childish".

The author of around 200 books and a known authority on interpretation of the holy Quran said that embracing Islam "in its true spirit should be for the sake of truth".

"Conversion should not be for the sake of marriage or any personal motive. The motive of conversion should be truth... The realisation of the truth in a religion can be achieved only after in-depth study and discussions about the religion," Khan said.

To prevent such conversions, Khan laid emphasis on educating people about the sanctity of the institution of marriage and "not to take it as fun".

"It is not possible to check such conversions. We are living in a society which provides freedom on such aspects to every one. The only thing we can do is to educate people about the seriousness and sanctity of marriage. Marriage is not a fun thing and we need to make people understand this," Khan said.

A senior cleric of Darul Uloom, a highly revered seminary in Deoband town of Uttar Pradesh, also denounced the conversions with the objective of marrying again.

"Adopting Islam with the intention to have a second wife is un-Islamic, incorrect and not justifiable," said Qari Usman, an expert on hadith.

About the Chand-Fiza marriage and conversion, Usman said: "Although he (Chand) became a Muslim, the whole chain of events has come out in a way that has sent a wrong message about the religion in society. People should not use religion for such motives."
Usman has also been pro-vice chancellor of the seminary that attracts thousands of students from India and other countries.

Darul Ifta, the fatwa department of the Darul Uloom, has also slammed Chander Mohan, saying his conversion was a "lowly act".

Mufti Muqarram Ahmad, a leading cleric in Delhi, says accepting Islam should be in consonance with belief in the tenets of Islam and "not for using it for personal hidden motives".

"One cannot know the real intention of a person but using Islam for purposes like to have a second wife is not in the spirit of Islam," Ahmad said.

(Khalid Akhter can be contacted at khalid.a@ians.in)

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Chand-Fiza talaq: Ulema now talk of screening

15 Mar 2009, 0237 hrs IST
Manjari Mishra, TNN

LUCKNOW: The Haryanvi love story gone sour has left maulanas fuming, though for different reasons. While ultra conservatives lobby is incensed at the audacity of the former deputy chief minister Chandra Mohan for bending shariat to sneak in bigamy, radicals have raised a banner of revolt against "the error of judgment made by ulema in dubious cases". Their latest demand is to make a pre-marriage screening before a ulema reads out the nikah in a conversion cases.

Talking to TOI, Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangimahali said that the issue will be raised in the next meeting of the executive council of the Islamic Centre of India. "In Chand-Fiza drama, the officiating maulvi should have been more cautious. The much hyped nikah had all ingredients of a phoney plot. The man was already married and a father of two, neither his family memebrs nor hers were present at the time of nikah. So it was not difficult to put two and two together under the circumstances. Had the ulema been a little more guarded or selective all this embarrassment could have been averted, Maulana Rasheed said.

Shaista Ambar, president of All India Muslim Women Personal Law Board (AIMWPLB) dittoed the view. It must be made incumbent upon the ulema-e-deen to do a thorough screening of couples in such controversial cases. The maulvi in this particular instance should have insisted upon finding out the motive for the conversion of the high profile couple. Whether they were converting to Islam because of their faith in its tenets or just to serve their ulterior purpose, she said.

Interestingly, while young hawks were vociferous in their demand for guidelines in conversion cases the orthodox lobby was more restrained. Shahar Qazi, Lucknow, Mufti Abul Irfan slammed Chandra Mohan for the lowly act. "Yeh nikah ya talaq nahin makkari hai," said the septuagenarian cleric. Culprits like the Haryana politician need to be ostracised and shunned by the public, he added. However, muftis have little or no role to play in such matters he claimed.

Meanwhile Darul-uloom Deoband distanced itself totally from the sordid saga. Mufti Habiburehman the spokesperson of darul qaza declined to make any "verbal comment". The seminary had on December 10 last year given its approval to the nikah. The two member panel had even said that "there was enough evidence to suggest that Chand Miyan did not resort to conversion for perpetrating a fraud."

The matter will certainly not end here, said Maulana Khalid. The convent educated maulana claimed that he would personally lead an awareness campaign among the religious heads who need to be extremely careful in cases like this which are potent enough to vitiate communal harmony.

2/11/2009 09:44:00 PM | Filed under , , | Read More »