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Workshop
on Muslim Problems A workshop on
Issues & Problems of Muslims in India and their solutions was held in
the Lecture Room of the IOS, (Kolkata Chapter) at 45, Elliot Road, Kolkata
on Feb 23, 2003. The workshop began at 11:00 a.m. and concluded at
4:00 p.m. It was divided into two sessions 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. In the first
session some of the main issues came under discussion while the second
session was mainly devoted to the presentation of solutions to the
problems. The workshop
tried, in the first place, to identify the problems: Problems
Relating to Internal weakness are as follows: 1.Backwardness
in education. Illiteracy disproportionately high. Great dearth
of secondary educational institutions. Lack of organized effort in
this direction. Need for a thorough analysis and survey as well as
efforts for motivation is not appropriately felt. 2.Poverty,
unemployment and inadequacy of resources. 3.Disease
and ill health. Dearth of adequate facilities and resources for
treatment. 4.Moral
degradation and lack of concern for values. Uneducated and under
educated unemployed youth are sometimes lured into the world of organized
crimes. Sometimes they work as field workers of such organized
criminals in the larger society. 5.A
state of intellectual anarchy. There is lack of unity of thought and
absence of effective Bengali and English media and some other from a
distorted self-image and sometimes from loss of nerve and inferiority
complex.
Problems arising from certain trends in the international field. 1.Much
of hate campaign against Muslims draws nourishment from the developments
in the West, where a powerful section suffers from Islamophobia. 2.Developments
on the global scene are sometimes presented as a conflict between Islam
and the rest. Apprehension of elements in our country joining hands
with those outside forces exists and requires our attention. 1.Remedial
Measures suggested by the workshop are given below: 1.
Attempts should continue to make people conscious of the problems. 2.
Unity of thought and unity of action as well as ways and means are to be
devised without antagonizing others. 3.
Organization of people on the local level and attempt at the linkage of
such local organizations with larger organization without formalizing such
organizations. 4.
Well thought out programme of action in the field of education, health and
moral uplift. Knowledge about existing structured organizations is
necessary. 5.
To solve the problems of education, economy and health we have to turn our
attention to development of our Wakf system. It is estimated that
there are more than 3,00,000 (three lakh) wakf estates in India, of which
there are 8000 registered Wakfs in West Bengal alone. Recovery,
development and utilization of wakf property is a gigantic task and Wakf
Boards can do the work of recovery and development. This is not
happening because of our lack of interest in the matter. It is pitiable
that while vast resources are potentially available the boys and girls of
the community suffer mainly because of their non-utilization in an
appropriate manner. Better
organization of the society and also of ourselves is the need of the hour. 7. Lack of
effective leadership. Muslim members elected to the assembly show
lack of concern for the genuine problems of the community. They are
spokesmen of the party to the community rather than of the community to
the party they belong to. B.
Problems arising from the socio-political environment. 1.
Events like defiling mosques and disrespect to the holy book have been
agitating the minds of the Muslims. The tension-ridden society keeps
Muslims in a state of alarm and uneasiness. 2.
Demonization of Muslims by language media particularly is a major source
of anxiety for more conscious sections of Muslims. 3.
An exaggerated alarm is being raised by certain sections of the media over
large-scale infiltration of Bangladeshis mainly to communalize the
society. It is assuming a major source of worry for the Muslims of
this region. 4.
A trend of turning the heat of conflict between political parties towards
Muslims, who are the main sufferers in terms of life, property and honour,
is becoming more frequent. Such conflicts are stretched to be given
the form of communal conflicts and tensions. In inter-party conflict
Muslims are brought to the fore and made to suffer. 5.
Contact with the secular elements across the community is minimal and a
regular forum for such a contact is absent. No one comes forward to
explain the Muslim position. 6.
Attack on Islam, Quran and Madrasas are becoming more frequent and this
goes largely unanswered. 7.
Hostile elements accuse the government of appeasing Muslims which is
painfully ridiculous. 8.
The campaign of Muslims both within and outside the country should be
taken note of both as a challenge and as opportunity and we should reach
out to clear the misunderstandings. Participants were full of praise
for the work of the IOS in this regard and urged the continuation of this
work. IOS
Booklets Released in Kolkata Book Fair The soft misty
evening of 7th February, 2003, with the dazzling light, the open air
‘Montemartre’ at the 28th Book Fair in Kolkata witnessed the grand
releasing ceremony of seven booklets under the promotion of
‘Hindu-Muslim Understanding’ series under the aegis of Institute of
Objective of Objective Studies, Kolkata Chapter. Out of the seven
booklets, five are written by Dr. M.K.A. Siddiqui which are as follows:
‘Racial Affinities of Hindu & Muslim Populations in India’,
‘Western Factor in Hindu & Muslim Relationship’, ‘Incidence of
Polygamy Among Muslims & Growth Rate of their Population’, ‘Status
of Women in Islam & Hindu Participation in Muslim Administration
in Medieval India’ and two are written by scholar and eminent columnist
Sk. Sadar Nayeem namely ‘Islam and Terrorism’ & ‘Some Myths and
Realities about the Indian Muslims’. The booklets were
released by eminent personalities like Justice Shyamal Kumar Sen, ex-chief
justice, Allahabad High Court and former governor of West Bengal and
Hon’ble Justice Mukul Gopal Mukherji, Chairman, West Bengal Human Rights
Commission. The former was chief guest at the function and the later
presided over it. Due to ill health, the guest of honour Mahashewata
Devi, author and novelist of repute, could not attend the programme. Right at 7 in the
evening, the programme started off with the recitation of ‘Sare Jahan se
Achcha Hindustan Hamara’ by four year old Fauzia Afrin. She then
gave flowers to the esteemed guests and welcomed them. Dr. M.K.A.
Siddiqui thereafter set the meeting in motion with his inaugural speech by
introducing the distinguished guests to the audience. Dr. Siddiqui
in his brief speech categorically denounced communalism ‘which was
introduced in our society to serve the colonial and imperial interests’
and which ‘is now serving the political interests of a small segment of
our society, to the detriment of many’. Dr. Siddiqui opined that
lack of proper knowledge about the minority and misconception about them
in the mind of the rest and secular majority of our country are
responsible for the creation of a situation of mistrust among the various
communities, especially, between Hindus and Muslims. To counter
effectively such false notions and misconceptions about the Muslim
community, he outlined the necessity of such booklets on relevant topics
for the target groups and hoped that presentation of fact in right
perspective would clear away the distorted image of Muslims and prove
beneficial in removing the misconceptions. The hon’ble
justice Shyamal Sen in his speech reminded the audience that the real
issue in India should have been the promotion of education and economic
development of the masses. But unfortunately, said Justice Sen,
‘Communalism has occupied the centre stage of Indian politics even after
more than half a century of country’s independence’. Quoting
Swami Vivekananda, Justice Sen concluded ‘All religions are one --- that
is a journey in quest of the Truth, only the ways to reach the Truth are
different’. According to Sen, if we are to progress as a nation,
we have to carry with us all Indians irrespective of caste, creed and
religion. IOS’s present effort was lauded by Justice Sen. Hon’ble Justice
Mukul Gopal Mukherji also, in the beginning of his speech commended
Dr. M.K.A. Siddiqui and author and columnist Sk. Sadar Nayeem and the
IOS’s effort to publish such topical booklets based on facts and
extensive research. Condemning the sectarian politics for few more
votes, Justice Mukherji also drew his inspiration from Swami Vivekananda.
He asked what is religion after all if it is not realization of the
divinity in man? He reminded the audience what Swamiji had said long
before. Justice Mukherji said Vivekananda has asked us for the
pursuit of a dynamic life dedicated to the cult of humanism---Manava
Dharma and doctrine of synthesis ‘samanvayavada’ to build up a base of
national character in Bengal for India and the world. He admitted
that he read the holy Quran several times and found it a true revelation
meant for the emancipation of the entire mankind. He expressed hope
that India has great future only if (quoting Vivekananda again) it
has ‘an Islamic body and a Hindu mind’. At the end of the
well-attended programme, Dr. M.K.A. Siddiqui gave away IOS’s beautiful
memento to the distinguished guests. Mr. Nesar Waris presented the vote of
thanks. Seminar
on Misperceptions… The
Department of Islamic Studies, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi organized a
two-day national seminar on “Misperceptions about Islam and Muslims in
India” at Hamdard Convention Centre on 26-27 March, 2003. The
seminar attracted a good deal of scholars from Delhi, Bombay and Aligarh.
It was well-received and well-attended. It
was an universal in that it was free from such formalities as inaugural
and valedictory sessions and Keynote address. “The idea is
to be fully focussed”, said Dr. Danish, the convenor, on the theme of
the seminar through specialized and well-researched papers and
lectures”. Throwing
light on the theme of the seminar Dr. Danish said “by highlighting
various aspects of the theme and, if possible, by renewing some prevalent
misunderstandings about Islam and Muslims we hope to facilitate a
meaningful dialogue between two great civilizations, Islam and
Hinduism.” He further said that “the two civilizations have
coexisted in India for over a thousand year. The interaction between
the two, for a greater part, has been harmonious and peaceful. There
have indeed been troubles, moments of tensions, even anarchy but the
overwhelming reality has been one of peaceful coexistence. As a
result there have been developed linkages and networks that bind all
communities together and do not allow occasional tensions to turn
permanent cleavages and irreparable tensions. And yet there also
exists a reality that must be noted with all seriousness. We, the
Hindus and Muslims of this country have lived together for over a
thousand-year…and yet a great majority of us knows little about each
other’s religion, civilization and history. Our mutual ignorance,
a tragic one indeed, has been exploited by some vested interests and
unscrupulous elements to erect walls of division among us. This
seminar, “said Dr. Danish,” has been planned to demolish these
unnatural walls of division.” There
were six business sessions in this two-day national seminar. In the
first session, presided over by Mr. Sayyid Hamid, two papers more read.
Mr. A.G. Noorani presented a paper on “Constitution and the Muslim
Politics”. He bitterly criticized the kind of politics Mr. Jinah
had pursued and said that sadly the same has been trend even after
independence. He remark that Mr. Islamail “tried to poor man’s
Jinah after independence” evoked a sharp’ reaction from Dr. Basir A.
Khan who highlighted the personal merits and the leadership quality of the
Muslim League leader. Prof.
Yaseen Mazhar Siddiqi, Professor of Islamic Studies at Aligarh Muslim
University, presented a paper on “Islam and Minorities: A Historical
Perspective” in which he elaborated how minorities have been treated in
Islamic history. His paper was well-received and discussed. In
the second session three papers were presented. Maulana Jalaluddin
Anser Umri, Vice-president of Jamat-e-Islamic Hind, delivered a lecture on
“the States of Muslim Woman in Islam”. He said that Islam has
accorded a very high status to woman which unfortunately both Muslims and
non-Muslims have not been able to gross properly. As a result there
abound misperceptions about Islamic position on woman. He then
proceeded to demolish these misperceptions one by one but conceded that
practically Muslims have not given some of the right to their women which
Islam has given them. Prof.
Iqbal A. Ansari delivered a lecture on “Muslim woman in India”.
He mainly concentrated on the current position of Muslim woman in India
and said that the general Muslim attitude towards them has left much to be
desired. He also discussed uniform civil code and other related
issues. Prof.
A.R. Momin, a renowned sociologist and Islamic scholar, read out a paper
on “Islam and Pluralism”. In this scholarly presentation Prof.
Momin proved beyond doubt that Islam believes in plural and peaceful
coexistence of religions and religious communities in given space and
time. He quoted verses from the Holy Quran and sayings of the
Prophet to prove his point. In
the sessions that followed many papers on important subjects were
presented. Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan, editor, Milli Gazzette, New
Delhi, presented a paper on “Madrasa: Whether a Seat of Learning or Den
of Terrorism”. Mr. Asghar Ali Engineer delivered a lecture on
“Muslims and Communal Riots” in which he also discussed how to prevent
the recurrence of such untoward incidents. Prof. Akhtar Majeed’s
paper discussed the so called “Myth of Muslim Appeasement whereas Prof.
Faizan Mustafa dealt with “Conversion and Islam in Indian Context”.
Dr. Mirza Asmer Baig presented a paper on “Muslims and the Media”
which was received very well. Prof. Hamid Ansari, former
Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University spoke on “Islam and
Democracy” and Dr. Rizwan Qaisar delivered a lecture on “Partition:
Are Only Muslims Responsible?” Maulana
Wahiduddin Khan delivered a lecture on “Kufr and Kafir”. He said
that ignorant uses of these terms have created many problems and urged
Muslims to practice and preach Islam in a proper way. Dr. Obaidullah
Fahad, Reader in Islamic Studies at Aligarh Muslim University., presented
a well-researched paper on Jihad: the True Meaning”. Dr.
Ishtiyaque Danish, in his paper, dealt with “the so called objectionable
verses” which some extremist organizations have demanded to be deleted
from the Holy Quran. There
was enough time in very session to discuss every paper/presentation
threadbare. The audience comprising both Hindus and Muslims actively
participated in the seminar through insightful comments, questions and
observations. The
seminar passed two resolutions condemning the killings of Pandits in
Kashmir and the US aggression against Iraq. The
Chancellor and Vice-chancellor of Jamia Hamdard, Mr. Sayyid Hamid and Mr.
Siraj Hussain respectively, were kind enough to patronize the seminar.
They both have expressed the department will continue to organize such
seminars in future. |
