“The status of Indian Muslims are below
the conditions of Scheduled castes and Scheduled Tribes” was the summary
of grave indictment of not only the economic conditions of community
that failed to unite as a formidable political force but also of the
farcical notion of minimal secularism endorsed by majority community
which repeatedly failed to disburse justice, social and economic;
liberty of thought and expression; and freedom of faith and worship to
minority communities.
Sachar Committee report in a stark
revelation pointed out “the overall percentage of Muslims in bureaucracy
in India is just 2.5% while Muslim constitute above 14% of Indian
population”. It is not only disturbing but also unfathomable that the
community, which endowed nation with its first Education minister, lies
at the lowest pedestal of this platform. What went wrong? What was the
glitch?
Political “use” of the community in the
name of Muslim vote has done more harm than good to it. The absence of a
credible leader who can enforce a vision for the development concerns
has squandered the communities’ unity into the cruel playful hands of
proxies who had consistently used the community for their political
aggrandizement and backtracked on the promise while being in power.
The political fragmentation has rendered
muslims powerless in demanding their justifiable rights often enjoyed
by classes that are higher in economic status and consequently not
unworthy of these benefits. It’s high time to put a brave front before
2014 elections, Muslims should start uniting themselves and press for
reservations in jobs, educational institutions etc and demand better
dividends in exchange for their valuable votes.
Communal and majoritarian politics has
imbued a sense of alienation that has further entrenched and ossified
its problems. The Hindutva movement inculcating itself in horrendous
demolition of Babri Masjid and in carnage of Muslims in Gujarat has
pushed the community to ghettos. Instead of fighting for justice the
community segregated itself from mass politics, belittling itself to be a
hapless child, while its protector turned its back onto it. This
segregation has manifested itself in real and perceived discrimination
in jobs education development cultural promotion. This lack of
amalgamation with society has backfired, consequently resulting in
poverty, lack of education, awareness, and problems of mistrust and
misunderstanding with other communities. Its time to learn from past
experiences and thrive to build a solid foundation of amity and peace
with others. It’s time to clear all misjudgments of understandings and
to press harder for justice.
Lack of Muslims at higher designations
in government set up can be stated as one of the reason of its systemic
and systematic neglect and discrimination. Firstly the serious lack of
educational institutions particularly devoted for the welfare of the
community and secondly the alleged proclivity towards religious
education over modern education can be behind these lacunae. Biased or
prejudiced media sections propagate their own agendas that further
vilify the community and had added to its woes.
Young Muslims holds the key for the
desired change of attitude for upliftment from the present conditions,
for betterment and for overall development of community in particular
and nation in general. Young Muslims who are taking part in societal
development aggressively will bring back volley of justice. They are the
ones who will rise above petty considerations and cut the strings of
consistent injustices perpetrated systematically upon the community for
decades. It’s not easy; it will be a huge task, indeed a challenge. If
they fail, it’s not the community only that will fall, but a whole world
will fall. Do you accept the challenge??????
February 29, 2012
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