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Fostering
Inter-Community Linkages The
IOS organized a three-day national seminar on 28-30 March, 2003 at Hamdard
Convention Centre, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi. The seminar discussed various
aspects of the main theme: “Fostering Inter-community Linkages in
India”. This
seminar was organized in view of the situation of discrimination prevalent
in the country, and hence it was felt that there is an urgent need to find
ways of reconciling the legitimate demands of unity in diversity, achieving
political unity without cultural uniformity, to be inclusive without being
assimilationist, cultivating among citizens a common sense of belonging
while respecting their legitimate cultural differences and cherishing plural
cultural identities without weakening the shared citizenship. The
Constitution of India provides ample space to all sections of Indian society
to operate and enjoy autonomy. Indian
state ensures equality, social justice and mutual respect for each other.
Further, though unarticulated, it enjoys the tacit approval of an
overwhelming majority of the Indian population.
It is based on our centuries–old composite traditions and is
enshrined in the country’s Constitution.
The developments in India are particularly disturbing as it is an
established fact that today the process of marginalisation of minorities,
Dalits and other weaker communities is faster than ever.
It is more so in case of minorities as they are facing an acute sense
of insecurity and discrimination. During
the Inaugural Session on March 28, 2003 Dr. M. Manzoor Alam,
Chairman, Institute of Objective Studies, New Delhi, in his Welcome Address
said: “Our Constitution stresses the need for a pluralistic society while
providing equal freedom and opportunities to each community—religious,
linguistic and regional. But it
is painful that the notion of a pluralistic, federal, accommodative and
composite national identity is under assault.
As is obvious, in a pluralistic and multi-cultural society like
India, national identity can’t be based on a homogeneous national
character simply because a homogeneous national character does not exist in
India. To further stress his point he quoted the Member of British
Parliament, Lord Bhiku Parikh who had once observed; ‘political or
national unity did not require cultural homogeneity and was preserved in
climate of flourishing and self-confident cultural diversity.’
According to him, sadly over the last 54 years, a lot has changed.
The trauma of partition inflicted a blow.
Thereafter, the country saw a chain of riots.
The latest was the pogrom in Gujarat. Shri
Chaturanan Mishra, former Union Agriculture Minister, in his inaugural
address, agreed to the opinion expressed by Dr. M. Manzoor Alam in his
welcome address and said that India is a country of 28 states and 7 Union
Territories, 6 major religions, 18 major languages, 1600 minor languages and
dialects, 6 main ethnic groups, 52 major tribes, 6400 castes and sub-castes,
besides 29 major festivals. Besides, there exists the climatic diversity of
a continent and the flora and fauna of two continents, he said.
Therefore, there was always a need to pay a special attention to keep
the social fabric united. And
in this great task only the symposia and seminars would not be enough.
“We will have to come out openly against those forces who are
spreading communal venom and counter them effectively and we have to go to
the masses to awaken them”, he added. Shri
Mishra, who is a prominent leader of Communist Party of India, also said
that what rights have been enshrined in the Constitution of India with
regard to minorities, were comparable to such rights in any country of the
world. They were in accord with
the UN Charter. He also said
that the tragic happenings in Gujarat last year were a blot on the face of
our country. Mr.
Siraj Hussain, Vice-Chancellor, Jamia Hamdard, said that a crucial
discussion on such topics was the need of the hour.
And this could only be done through social and political
mobilization. He also said that highlighting the problem alone would not
work. We also need to focus on how these problems can be solved. Prof.
A. R. Momin Head, Department of Sociology, University of Bombay, in his
Key-note Address, presented that holding a seminar on the Inter-Community
Linkages in India can be cited as the most appropriate response to the
emergent situation in which the country’s divisive forces are out to
disturb the communal harmony, which was once a national heritage of India.
He said “in this unenviable situation, many of us feel disillusioned and
frustrated. Many of us have been overtaken by despair and cynicism. But, for heaven’s sake, let’s pause for a moment and ask
ourselves: is it prudent to throw up our hands in despair and allow the
forces of evil to wreck our society and our civilization? Will
our passivity and silence not embolden those who are busy in
spreading the message of hatred and ill-will? Will it be wise to forget our
cherished ideals, the sacrifices of our forefathers, simply because we feel
powerless? Let us not lose heart. All is not lost, and there is still room
for hope and optimism as crises and challenges are part and parcel of human
existence, of society & history, and that the history of civilizations
bears testimony to this fact. Hence, we should join hands in order to save
our country from fragmentation and anarchy.” He
stated that the fact that India is a multiracial, multi-religious,
multi-lingual and multi-cultural society is too well known to be repeated or
elaborated. What is less known and acknowledged and what needs to be
emphasized in the context of present times, is the existence of wide ranging
diversities in the fold of Hinduism. Since ages, the Hindu tradition and
Hindu society have been pluralistic and differentiated, rather than
monolithic and homogeneous. The
Hinduism represents a pluralistic cultural universe, that it is a
mosaic of distinct ideas, cults, deities and sects. Therefore, those who
speak of one country, one culture and one language are either ignorant of
the history and dynamics of Indian civilization or they are deliberately
distorting it for some ulterior motives. He
further said that Indian Muslims have made highly important and wide-ranging
contribution to the evolution and development of India’s composite
heritage. A highly significant contribution to India’s composite
civilizational heritage was made by the Sufis, who in India, communicated in
the language and dialect of the common people, shared their joys and sorrows
and won their heart with their simplicity, kindness and compassion.
Further, it is important to emphasize that the evolution of India’s
composite heritage did not lead to a collapse or dilution of ethnic
boundaries and religious identities. Hindus, Muslims and other communities
maintained their respective religious and ethnic identities and traditions
and respected the boundaries in which these identities and traditions were
embedded. At the same time, they shared substantial cultural spaces, in
languages & literature, cuisine, music, architecture, arts & crafts,
and regional ethos. Before
concluding his Key- note Address Prof. Momin made a few observations about
India’s national identity, which is now surrounded by a good deal of
confusion and controversy. ‘Firstly,
the assumption that a nation-state must have a homogeneous national culture
is no longer valid; it is passé. Secondly, there is no necessary
correlation between political unity and cultural homogeneity.
Thirdly, like individuals, ethnic groups and cultural communities
have multiple, overlapping identities. A modern nation should allow
sufficient autonomous spaces for the protection and development of these
identities. Finally, India’s national identity needs to be defined
in terms of democratic pluralism rather than majoritarian democracy.
It needs to be defined in the light of our composite civilizational ethos
rather than on the basis of the culture of the dominant population.’ Maulana
Abdullah Mughisi, Secretary General of All India Milli Council, opined that
the entire humanity was in peril due to various internal and external
factors. “Therefore, we the
different communities of India should develop such a mechanism by which the
gap between different communities is not enhanced and a bond of confidence,
trust and mutual cooperation should continue”. “Every
community in India has the right to survive with its separate and
independent identity. The
principle of pluralism calls for identification and preservation of the
values, traditions, and culture of different communities.
There should not be dominance of one community over another.
At the same time minorities’ rights should also not be
suppressed”. Expressing
the above views in his Presidential Address at the Inaugural Session of the
National Seminar (28th March, 2003), the former Chief Justice of
India, Hon’ble Justice Mr. A. M. Ahmadi said that this could be possible
only by social and political mobilization and for this we will have to go to
the masses and get them awakened. The
eminent jurist said it was ironic that unfortunately some people or groups
were of the view that they could achieve their ambitions by the use of
might. According to him, this trend was being seen since early 90s.
He also said that for a cultural development, the economic &
educational development is a pre-requisite. The
first Business Session discussed “India’s Composite Heritage” The
former Member of British House of Lords (UK) and presently the Centennial
Professor at the London School of Economics, Prof. Lord Bhikhu Parekh, said
“if we are really serious, we should try to make the composite heritage
and culture a living reality. For
this, religious leaders of all the communities would have to come closer and
try to raise common platforms and devise common strategies.”
Lord Parekh opined that the above steps would help fostering the
inter-community linkages in India. Prof.
Refaqat Ali Khan, Department of History, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi,
speaking on ‘The Mosaic of Indian Civilisation’ presented a broad and
picturesque view of various ingredients of Indian civilisation. The
noted historian, Prof. Bipan Chandra, Chairperson of the 1st
Business Session, agreed with Lord Parekh and said that there had been a
change with regard to the inter-community linkages in the country after
different religious reform movements started in the 19th century.
According to him, prior to this period, there was an appreciable communal
harmony among different communities. He
recalled that no marriage in a state like Punjab could be solemnized without
the presence of other religious leaders before the 19th century.
There have been both positive and negative impacts upon this society
following the religious reform movements of the 19th century.
The positive impact was that there started a discussion on the evils
of traditions like sati and caste system. Its negative impact was
that some groups began to give a call to go back to the extreme past for the
revival of ancient religious traditions, which resulted in the revivalist
and extremist movements of the modern time.
He further opined that what is lacking now in the sphere of
inter-community relations, could be traced back to the 19th
century religious reforms and extremist movements. Further, both Lord Bhikhu
Parekh and Prof. Bipan Chandra termed the last year’s Gujarat pogrom as
the most unfortunate incident. They
were of the view that it did occur due to the indifferent attitude of the
state government and administrative bureaucracy.
According to them, if the inter-community linkages had been strong,
the situation there would not have deteriorated to such an extent. In
the second Business Session on “India’s Composite Culture” Dr. K.S.
Singh, former Director General, Anthropological Survey of India, presented a
paper on ‘Inter-Community Linkages in Contemporary Indian Society’. He
said that tolerance, peaceful coexistence and sharing of cultural and
emotional spaces are not things of the past; they are still an important
part of India’s collective life, particularly in the rural areas. He
maintained that in India’s
rural society still various communities and social groups share material
traits, social and cultural spaces, languages and dialects, local customs
& festivals, kinship organisation, regional ethos and identity whereas
it is not so in the urban society. Dr.
Shaukat Ullah Khan of Jamia Millia Islamia, in his speech on ‘India’s
Composite Culture through Monuments’, said that the medieval monuments
provide identity to India, serve as landmarks in different regions and above
all continue to bring the people closer from different parts of India and
the world. They serve as
cultural bridges even today. The
monuments encapsulate aesthetics and religious-secular statements. Every
monument is the result of a collective wisdom, expertise, venture and so on,
and therefore, a social phenomenon and a social document. While
expressing his deep concern for reviving the true spirit of India’s
Composite Culture, the eminent scholar, Mr. Surdarshan Iyengar emphasized
the urgency to restore that culture which is presently losing its vitality
due to the nefarious designs of the vested interests and communal forces of
the society. He maintained that
the country’s composite culture demands that all sections of the society
irrespective of their castes, creeds, languages and religious affiliations
must have equal opportunities to share the bounties which the nature has
provided to this country. It is
the mutual understanding among various communities and not the religious
uniformity, which is essential to achieve this end, he said. Summing
up the discussion Saiyed Hamid, the Chancellor of Jamia Hamdard and
Chairperson of this session, expressed his appreciation of the speakers for
their profound understanding of the meaning of India’s Composite Culture
on which depends the future destiny of the country.
He added further that in a situation deliberately vitiated by the
communal forces through varying means there is an urgent need for
encouraging the inter-community linkages in the society so that the
fallacies of such evil forces and their efforts to create breaches among
various communities could be exposed in an effective manner.
Therefore, holding discussion on such crucial issue, that is
inter-community linkages, is to meet the call of the hour when the
conceptual basis for the communal harmony in the country is being threatened
by the disruptive forces, he said. In
the 3rd Business Session on ‘National Integration in the
Constitutional Framework’ three delegates namely Mr. Bhagwan Das (Sr.Advocate,
Supreme Court of India), Dr. Zafar Saifullah (former Cabinet Secretary) and
Mr. Yusuf H. Muchhala (Sr. Advocate, Bombay High Court) expressed their
views on the subject. Hon’ble
Justice Mr. R.P. Sethi summing up the views of the above three speakers
quoted various Articles of the
Constitution and different decisions of Supreme Court in support of the
national integration. The
4th Business Session discussed the issues relating to
‘India’s National Identity’. It was presided over by the well-known
educationist, Prof. Amrik Singh. Mr.
Salman Haider (former Foreign Secretary), Dr. Khalid Mirza, and Ex-Vice
Chancellor of AMU, Aligarh, Mr. Hamid Ansari expressed their valuable views
on the subject. Prof. Amrik Singh, summing up the session, stressed that the
common values, traditions and cultural diversities need to be stabilized in
order to preserve the national identity of the country.
It is the country’s common heritage, which, if stabilized and
strengthened, will boost its national identity. During
the 5th and the last Business Session, the Role of the State,
Role of Civil Society, and the Role of Media for restoring Inter-Community
Linkages were discussed in three sub-sessions.
These sub-sessions were presided over by Mr. Manzoor Ahmad (former
Vice-Chancellor of Agra University), Prof. Hashim Qureshi
(Jawaharlal Nehru University) and Mr. Digant Oza (an eminent
journalist) respectively. In
the 1st sub-session (Role of the State) Prof. M.G. Gandhi, Dr. K.
K. Panda and Prof. Z. M. Khan expressed their views.
In the 2nd sub-session on Role of Civil Society Mr. K.
K.Vakaria, Dr. Haseena Hashia, Dr. Muniza R. Khan, Ms Saiyeda Saiyedain, Mr.
Sanjay Rai and Dr. S.Q.R. Ilays outlined their ideas while in the 3rd
sub-session on Role of Media Dr. Sushma Gandhi, Mr. R.R. Jha, Ms Madhu
Kiswar, Mr. A.U. Asif and Mr. Santosh Bharti expressed their views. Shri
I. K. Gujral, former Prime Minister, in his Valedictory Address, called for
a war between obscurantism and modernism.
Without naming any group or referring to any incident, he said that
opposing obscurantism did not mean support to the West.
However, his assertion led to a lively debate when IOS Chairman, Dr.
M. Manzoor Alam said that there should be balance while linking and
delinking the present and the past, otherwise, it might create a lot of
problem, particularly in the present context.
Then Shri Gujral replied that he had become a perfectionist while
expressing his views in the valedictory session and he had nothing in mind
with regard to the present situation. The
Institute of Objective Studies made certain recommendations and adopted a
7-point resolution in the presence of Mr. I. K. Gujral and about 300 other
participants from different parts of the country: The
recommendations are as follows: a)
Recognizing and reaffirming
that since ages Indian civilization has been characterized by extensive and
wide ranging racial, ethnic, social and cultural diversities; b)
Reaffirming that there has
been a long drawn-out process of cultural interaction and exchange among the
various religious communities and ethnic groups, which has provided the
edifice of India’s composite civilizational heritage; c)
Reiterating our commitment
to the fundamental values that have shaped and inspired Indian civilization,
namely, pluralism and multiculturalism, peaceful co-existence in a humane
and democratic framework, and respect for human rights, including community
rights and minority rights; d)
Acknowledging and
appreciating that the Constitution of India takes due cognizance of the
country’s diversity and provides sufficient autonomous spaces to different
groups and cultural communities constituting Indian society, and promotes
and fosters linkages and bonds among all people living in India; e)
Emphasizing that cultural
homogeneity is not a pre-condition
or pre-requisite for national
unity, and that any attempt, explicit or veiled, at bringing about cultural
homogeneity through coercion is
repugnant to the ethos of Indian civilization and the spirit of the
Constitution of India; and f)
Emphasizing that India’s
national identity should be defined in terms of democratic pluralism
rather than majoritarian hegemony,
this seminar adopts the following resolutions: 1.
The US-led invasion of Iraq, which blatantly disregards the UN
sanction and violates all canons of international law, deserves to be
condemned in the strongest of terms. The
invasion must immediately stop and the UN must be allowed to play its
legitimate role in the resolution of the crisis. 2.
The recurrent spate of violence and terrorism in the state of J&K
needs to be strongly condemned. This
seminar strongly and unequivocally condemns the brutal killing of 24
Kashmiri Pandits at Nandimarg in Kashmir on March 24. 3.
There is an urgent need to have a statutory anti-discrimination
commission, with special provisions and powers for the redressal of the
grievances felt and experienced by the minorities. 4.
The seminar places on record the laudable services rendered by the
judiciary, especially in the context of judicial activism.
The participants at the seminar strongly feel that judicial activism
should be broadened to encompass the protection of minority rights.
5.
It should be made mandatory on state governments to take appropriate
action on the findings and recommendations of judicial commissions and
commissions of inquiry, particularly in respect of the violation of the
rights of minorities, tribal communities and Dalits. 6.
The institutions of civil society must be strengthened.
The non-governmental organisations which are working to foster
communal harmony and inter-community linkages must co-ordinate their
activities and efforts so as to make this role and functioning more
effective. 7.
The national media has played a positive and constructive
role, specially in recent years. The participants in the seminar feel that
the national media should make efforts to project and highlight the
contributions made by the Muslim community as well as the positive and
healthy developments in the community in respect of education and
development. Seminar
on American Attack on Iraq The Institute of Objective Studies organized a day-long national seminar on ‘American Attack on Iraq’ in collaboration with the Association of Indian Africanist on 21st March 2003, at India International Centre, New Delhi. The need for the seminar was felt because of the brutal US invasion of Iraq, in blatant defiance of world public opinion as well as the UN Security Council. This act of unprovoked aggression is aimed at subduing with overwhelming military force a country and its brave people who stand in the way of its naked imperialist designs. It is also aimed at striking terror in the hearts of world’s people as a whole, by demonstrating the awesome fire power and arrogant might of the U.S.The invasion of Iraq is symptomatic of the new world order that the U.S. imperialists are trying to impose in which the fundamental tenets of International Law and Justice including the equality of all nations and of the sovereignty of countries can be violated by the powerful with impunity. In this situation there is an urgent need for people to come together to unequivocally condemn the U.S. invasion and aggression against Iraq. In this seminar leaders from various political parties, MPs, academicians, journalists and the people from all sections of society participated. Some prominent speakers were--Shri Chaturanan Mishra, former Union Minister and senior CPI leader, Shri Romesh Bhandari, former Foreign Secretary, Lt. Governor of Delhi and Governor of U.P, Shri Nilotpal Basu, M.P. & CPM leader, Dr. A.K. Pasa, Director, Gulf Studies, JNU ; Dr. K. K. Panda, former Registrar, Delhi University and Dr. Arshi Khan of Jamia Hamdard. The Chief Guest in the seminar was Shri Eduardo Faleiro, MP. and former Minister of State for External Affairs. The participants at this seminar, recognizing the significance of peaceful co-existence, non-interference, mutual respect, sanctity of human lives, and establishment of a just world order among the comity of nations as the foremost, paramount and inviolable principles of human civilisation, considered the ongoing attack on Iraq by the U.S.A. and its allies a totally unjustifiable violation of international law aimed at the establishment of a neo-colonialist world order. All the participants of this seminar: 1.
congratulated the people of Iraq
and extended their support and co-operation to them. 2.
urged the members of the country’s Parliament to strongly condemn
America for its aggression against Iraq; 3.
decided to create a People Council of India for mobilizing all
sections of the society against this aggression; 4.
called upon the United States and its allies to stop attack on Iraq
immediately; 5.
appealed to the Secretary General of the United Nations to
immediately convene an extraordinary session of the General Assembly to
discuss the present aggression; 6.
demanded the Government of India to take initiative, through
International Groupings like Non-Aligned Movement, Group 77, or through any
other means, to end the hostilities against Iraq; and 7. congratulated the people world over who have stood up against the war mongering of the United States, and for peace and justice world wide. Shah
Waliullah Award Announced A
meeting of the Board administering the Shah Waliullah Award was held on
4.4.2003 in Delhi to take the final decision. The following were present: 1.
Dr. M. Manzoor Alam 2.
Jb. Ml. Sayed Rabey-al-Hasni Nadvi 3.
Mr. Justice A.M. Ahmadi 4.
Prof. A.R. Momin 5.
Mr. Mahmood Ali 6.
Prof. Z.M. Khan 7.
Prof. Z.A. Nizami 8.
Mr. Aqeel Ahmad The
Chairman welcomed all those present, particularly Janab Maulana Sayed
Rabey-al-Hasni Nadvi Sahib, who very kindly agreed to be a member of the
Board in place of late Qazi Mujahidul Islam Qasmi. Maulana Sayed
Rabey-al-Hasni Nadvi thanked for his nomination on the Board and assured to
extend his full cooperation to the IOS, which, he felt, was rendering very
useful service not only to the community but to the humanity as a whole.
Thereafter the board decided to confer the award on Prof. M. Nijatullah
Siddiqui. The
Board also decided that the Award Giving Function will be held on Monday,
the 19th May 2003 at 7.30 p.m. at Hamdard Convention Centre,
Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi. They further decided that while Prof. Z.A. Nizami,
Director (Academic), IOS may prepare the Citation, all other formalities
necessary for holding the function may be completed by the IOS Secretariat
well before the scheduled time. The
Board also considered the opinions of experts about the articles received
for Essay Competition and after detailed discussion decided that none of the
articles was worthy for the award and that as such no award need be given
for this Competition this year. The
Board decided that the topic for the next Award be “Quranic Disciplines
and the Contemporary Context” and that Prof. A.R. Momin may be requested
to prepare a synopsis on the subject, which may form part of the circular
inviting sponsorships for the award. The
Board further decided that the topic for the next Essay Competition should
be “Shah Waliullah’s Approach to the Quran”. It also formed the
following panel of judges for assessing the Essays that may be received for
the Competition:- 1.
Prof. Yasin Mazhar Siddiqi 2.
Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani Saheb 3.
Maulana Atiq Ahmad Bastavi Saheb The meeting ended with Dua by Maulana Sayed Rabey-al-Hasani Nadvi Saheb and a vote of thanks to the Chair. |
