[Reader-list] Indian Islam, nationhood etc.

[radhikarajen at vsnl.net]

Asit,

 Laal Salaam,

  Fully agreeable thoughts, but what is the perception and definition of "communal" ?  For me,   dividing the society first as hindus, muslims and on the other faiths is communal. Also then because hindu society is elephantine, lack of good governance has left out many badly affected, so dividing the hindu society on caste basis is communal. Because in this game, the society is divided on castes and communes , communes of vote banks are made, to extend favours to the elite, foisted leaders, rest all become dalits without good governance and a society of unequals is thus created to rule with fear or favour to few castes at the cost of entire society. Would you please respond to this ?  
  Regards.

----- Original Message -----
From: Asit asitreds <asitredsalute at gmail.com>
Date: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 7:05 pm
Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Indian Islam, nationhood etc.
To: chanchal malviya <chanchal_malviya at yahoo.com>
Cc: reader-list at sarai.net

> this pioson we and them is dangorous why cant we behave as indians 
> and focus
> on serious issues like unemloyment poverty etc communalism is a 
> dangourosgameplan to divide poor working indians and deflect 
> srious issue inthe end
> helping the rulers and the exploiters nothing different from british
> colonisers
> asit
> 
> On Jan 20, 2008 6:23 PM, chanchal malviya <chanchal_malviya at yahoo.com>
> wrote:
> 
> > How many bombs you have thrown..
> > Ask this to them... Not us...
> > We are reacting.. They are acting...
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----
> > From: Krishna Chaithanya <tulunadu at hotmail.com>
> > To: reader-list at sarai.net
> > Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2008 6:19:37 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Indian Islam, nationhood etc.
> >
> >
> > Violence can be stopped only with violent means.Then peace will 
> be on the
> > society....!?
> >
> > We bomb them
> > and they bomb us
> > and we bomb them
> > and they bomb us
> > together we bomb us
> > then who is left to bomb...?
> >
> > KC
> >
> > > Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2008 14:33:09 +0500
> > > From: radhikarajen at vsnl.net
> > > To: chanchal_malviya at yahoo.com
> > > CC: reader-list at sarai.net
> > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Indian Islam, nationhood etc.
> > >
> > > Hi, true, it for too long hindus have been tolerent leading to a
> > sarcastic comment that they are cowards, may be Nehru was coward 
> when India
> > was divided for his greed,may be Krishna menon loved chinese 
> vaginas more
> > than indian ones, but now it is time that hindu understood the 
> value of
> > SAMA, Dana, BHEDHA are over, dandam dashagunam bhaveth. Violence 
> can be
> > stopped only with violent means.Then peace will be on the society.
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: chanchal malviya <chanchal_malviya at yahoo.com>
> > > Date: Sunday, January 20, 2008 7:24 am
> > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Indian Islam, nationhood etc.
> > > To: Javed <javedmasoo at gmail.com>, reader-list at sarai.net
> > >
> > > > It is time for Hindus to rise now...
> > > > And no dicussion or virtual communities can stop it...
> > > >
> > > > Swami Vivekanand said - India have enough of religion..
> > > > And it is time now to say this to Christian and Muslims who 
> force> > > conversions the same thing..
> > > > If Sanskrit is the mother of all languages, Hinduism is the 
> mother> > > of all Religions... (But two religions have in 
> particular always
> > > > learnt to abuse their mother(Hinduism) - Islam and 
> Christianity)...> > > It is time now to stop the nation from 
> producing more Kashmirs...
> > > > It is time now to stop the non-Independent Religious India...
> > > >
> > > > So go on my dear friends as much as you like to abuse Hindus..
> > > > It hardly matters now..
> > > >
> > > > Ramayan is proving to be a reality, Mahabharat is a reality..
> > > > History will also change..
> > > > It is Hindus that have taught peace to the world.. but to do 
> that> > > again, the two attackers have to be checked now..
> > > > People are doing that.. And will do that..
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ----- Original Message ----
> > > > From: Javed <javedmasoo at gmail.com>
> > > > To: reader-list at sarai.net
> > > > Sent: Saturday, January 19, 2008 6:00:16 PM
> > > > Subject: [Reader-list] Indian Islam, nationhood etc.
> > > >
> > > > India's Islam
> > > > by Arun Nair
> > > >
> > > > Firstly, I must apologise if this article smacks of an impolite
> > > > urgency and prescriptive-ness. I mean not to be arrogant, 
> but as
> > > > someone addressing you on a matter of deep concern to us 
> all, I felt
> > > > that there was little room for ceremonial apologies before every
> > > > sentence. Also, as an Indian middle-class Hindu who grew up 
> in the
> > > > Babri-masjid 90s, it is easy for me to say some of the 
> things I say
> > > > here.
> > > >
> > > > Secondly, I address you, the reader, as an Indian citizen, 
> not as a
> > > > saintly Kabir or Gandhi preaching love for humanity. Our 
> collective> > > interests are being threatened by communal forces 
> from within and
> > > > without. WE MUST ACT. We must not merely lament about our 
> respective> > > versions of helplessnesses and others' faults. We 
> are free today
> > > > because India's greatest generation shook off the ghosts that
> > > > bedevilled them, and took action to protect our interests. I 
> implore> > > you to continue that legacy.
> > > >
> > > > Thirdly, while I will go into what inmy opinion are highly 
> plausible> > > theories of Indian nationhood and nationalism, my 
> primary aim here is
> > > > not to write any treatise on politics or sociology, but to 
> protect our
> > > > rights to belong equally to India – our common ancestral 
> land – as
> > > > Indians, and as free, dignified humans.
> > > >
> > > > Fourthly, my ideas will be presented largely based on first
> > > > principles, also known as common-sense.
> > > >
> > > > My thesis is this: India must boldly assert its claim on Islamic
> > > > civilisation in the subcontinent. That is the key to end our 
> communal> > > woes.
> > > >
> > > > This does not mean that India must become Islamic, or that 
> Indian> > > Muslims must be somehow Hinduised. The idea, instead, 
> is to campaign
> > > > relentlessly for India's Islamic civilisational authenticity.
> > > >
> > > > In the Indian psyche, Pakistan stands for Islam. Sadly for 
> us and
> > > > admittedly in a weaker form, Islam is also synonymous with 
> Pakistan> > > and everything Pakistani. This wouldn't have been so 
> bad if Pakistan
> > > > wasn't, well, un-Indian. We must use every tool at our 
> disposal as a
> > > > people to destroy the entrenched idea of Pakistani ownership of
> > > > subcontinental Islam from within India. More importantly, 
> this idea
> > > > must be attacked from without it, because that is where it 
> originates.> > >
> > > > Our chief weapon to eliminate Islam-Pakistan hyphenation 
> from the
> > > > subcontinent will be an authentic claim: the centre of Islamic
> > > > civilisation in South Asia has always been undivided India, 
> and after
> > > > partition, India is its natural primary heir. The fact that 
> a few
> > > > million Muslims left India during partition to settle in our 
> erstwhile> > > outlying provinces doesn't change this. Neither 
> does the fact that the
> > > > Indian people chose a progressive, secular, democratic 
> polity for
> > > > their republic.
> > > >
> > > > In our minds and in the world's view, subcontinental Islam 
> is under
> > > > Pakistani occupation. The historical Indo-centric nature of
> > > > subcontinental Islam should be used to throw off this 
> psychological> > > yoke. I urge Indians to rally together once 
> again as our greatest
> > > > generation did to protect our collective interests as the 
> people of
> > > > India. I urge friends of India all over the world to join 
> us. Both in
> > > > terms of geography and spirit, Islam in the subcontinent that
> > > > coexisted and flourished alongside Indic cultures, has 
> always been
> > > > more Indian than Pakistani. If any single country represents
> > > > subcontinental Islam as it historically was, it is India. Not
> > > > Pakistan.
> > > >
> > > > India's Mughals. India's Qutub Minar, Gol Gumaz, and Taj Mahal.
> > > > India's Kabir. India's Tipu Sultan, Shah Jahan, Akbar, and, 
> why not,
> > > > Aurangazeb. India's Urdu. India's Ghalib and Khusro. India's 
> Delhi,> > > Lucknow, Mysore, Hyderabad, Malabar, and Agra.
> > > >
> > > > Good history has to be deliberately written
> > > >
> > > > The people of India inherited thousands of years of history and
> > > > associated baggage that we didn't really ask for.
> > > >
> > > > Keep in mind though that history is not a dead object - it is
> > > > unfurling even as you read this. We may not be able to 
> change what
> > > > happened in India 200 years ago. But 200 years from now when 
> people> > > look back, they will see the Indian history that our 
> generation wrote.
> > > > It becomes then our duty, both as Indians and as sensible 
> humans, to
> > > > write it well.
> > > >
> > > > It is a great privilege to deliberately be able to write a 
> part of
> > > > something grand like the history of India. The first 
> generation of
> > > > Indians who did a coordinated job of writing our history was 
> the one
> > > > that won us our independence – our "freedom-generation". 
> They could
> > > > have attempted to write their Indian chapter any way they 
> wanted to.
> > > > We could have had a dark, China-style communism, for 
> instance. But,
> > > > given the Indian context, the freedom-generation chose the most
> > > > egalitarian, elegant, and humanist theme they could come up 
> with: a
> > > > secular, liberal, constitutional, democratic republic, that 
> takes its
> > > > strength from its inherent pluralism and its inheritance of 
> one of
> > > > mankind's greatest civilisations.
> > > >
> > > > The freedom-generation's legacy for us is the deliberate and
> > > > intelligent manner in which they forged an Indian national 
> identity.> > > Thanks to their efforts, our nationality is a solid 
> concept. An Indian
> > > > from Karnataka has a robust nationalistic bond with Indians 
> say from
> > > > Punjab, Gujarat, Assam, or Delhi. Regardless of what 
> languages we
> > > > speak, we all recognise Marathi, Tamil, Bengali and Telugu 
> as Indian
> > > > languages – ancestral assets that all Indians collectively own.
> > > >
> > > > It is a mistake, however, to think that the nation-building 
> task they
> > > > began is complete. Indian nationalism is not an idea frozen 
> in time,
> > > > but an evolving one. We, the successors of India's freedom-
> generation,> > > must exercise our prerogative to define its finer 
> contours and bring
> > > > in new ideas to enrich it. Furthermore, we have an 
> obligation to both
> > > > our founding fathers and India's posterity to do this while 
> being true
> > > > to our quintessential Indian-ness, the just, egalitarian 
> nature of our
> > > > country as embodied in our constitution.
> > > >
> > > > Given that India's situation is not as pressing as it once 
> was, new
> > > > nationalist leaders – giants of the stature of Mahatma 
> Gandhi, Khan
> > > > Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Subhash Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh, 
> Jawaharlal> > > Nehru, Abul Kalam Azad or Vallabhai Patel – may be 
> difficult to
> > > > emerge. There is no need to though. We succeeded them, and 
> we must
> > > > take this task upon ourselves. The freedom-generation 
> watches over us
> > > > in the form of our fraternity as Indians which they moulded 
> at a great
> > > > cost, and our constitution.
> > > >
> > > > Indian Nationalism - the idea of Indian brotherhood
> > > >
> > > > Amidst all this noisy consternation of Taslima Nasrin, Babri-
> masjid,> > > BJP-Congress etc., its easy to lose sight of the 
> really big pictures.
> > > > Consider, for instance, this question: what really is the 
> essence of
> > > > Indian nationalism? Why do we all feel so closely tied to India
> > > > and to
> > > > each other?
> > > >
> > > > My answer is that, to put it simply, without the land we 
> call India,
> > > > Indians either have no identity, or very anaemic identities. All
> > > > Indians share this same curious relation to India.
> > > > When we are born to the same human mother, we are brothers. Our
> > > > constitution formed by our freedom-generation explicitly asserts
> > > > fraternity among the Indian people. Fraternity – 
> brotherhood. In what
> > > > sense are we brothers?
> > > >
> > > > Indians are brothers in the sense that the motherland that 
> birthed my
> > > > identity, also birthed yours. India is our ancestral land, 
> and we
> > > > should be proud of everything associated with it. Everything 
> in India,
> > > > its religions, its good and its bad, its languages, its 
> glories and
> > > > struggles, its rivers, its emperors, its heroes and villains,
> > > > everything – is intricately weaved into our consciousnesses 
> of who we
> > > > are, where we come from, what our place in this world is, 
> and how
> > > > other humans see us. Without that identity, we are crippled.
> > > >
> > > > Ours is no ordinary brotherhood. Indian people didn't come 
> into being
> > > > merely a few centuries ago. We are an ancient civilisation, 
> and what
> > > > we have is a civlisational brotherhood – a bond arising from 
> all of
> > > > our belonging to the civilisation that unfolded in the same 
> land,> > > India. That brotherhood was formally declared through 
> the constitution
> > > > in 1949, but it existed much before that. Before our greatest
> > > > generation gave it a concrete wording in the 20th century, 
> it was well
> > > > moulded in the crucible that is our land, in the fire of the 
> previous> > > several dozen, if not more, centuries.
> > > >
> > > > Every country of the world has stories that define their 
> national> > > essences. What is the most essential feature of Indian
> > > > nationalism? It
> > > > is our Indian identity – our being tied to India, and our
> > > > civilisational brotherhood to each other in being bonded so. All
> > > > Indians, regardless of their religion or language, has this 
> bond with
> > > > India and with each other.
> > > > Indians must pause for a while and think why our anthem's 
> going over
> > > > our landmarks is so emotive. Or why Hindu-Muslim-Sikh-Christian
> > > > insignia are powerful. Or why merely thinking of our 
> history, or our
> > > > Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, UP, Punjab and Bengal moves 
> all of us
> > > > equally.
> > > >
> > > > It's because they remind us of our organic ties to India, 
> and the
> > > > brotherhood that we have with each other. This natural bond 
> given to
> > > > us by our glorious and at times bloody history is important. 
> If we
> > > > don't uphold this bond with the ferocity that our greatest 
> generation> > > did, if we don't use it to protect our common 
> interests, our country
> > > > will remain weak.
> > > >
> > > > Our country's nature
> > > >
> > > > What is the nature of our country? What does it mean for 
> something> > > to be Indian?
> > > > For one, if all of us Indians could get together today and 
> declare in
> > > > one voice that India stands for certain values, then that 
> would be an
> > > > authoritative statement. India is what Indians say it is. 
> If, say, the
> > > > people of the then-Indian civilisation – Hindus, Muslims, 
> Christians,> > > Buddhists, Sikhs, and Jains – had made such a 
> statement 400 years ago
> > > > and preserved its spirit through centuries, that would have 
> probably> > > have been one of the greatest Indian texts.
> > > >
> > > > If you will recall, a very similar event actually did happen 
> in 1949,
> > > > when the founding fathers of the Indian republic adopted, 
> enacted, and
> > > > gave to ourselves - the sovereign people of India - our 
> constitution.> > > The preamble reads,
> > > >
> > > > "WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to 
> constitute India
> > > > into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and 
> to secure
> > > > to all its citizens:
> > > > JUSTICE, social, economic and political;
> > > > LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;
> > > > EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among 
> them all
> > > > FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the 
> unity and
> > > > integrity of the Nation.
> > > > IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty-sixth day of 
> November, 1949,
> > > > do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION."
> > > >
> > > > In an absolute sense, the values of justice, liberty, and 
> equality> > > have an intuitive appeal to all humans everywhere. 
> However, the
> > > > formidable authority of our constitution comes from the 
> crushed but
> > > > proud people who paid a very high price for our right to 
> live as
> > > > equals and as dignified humans in India. We must take their 
> word for
> > > > what India is – they must have known and dreamt quite a bit 
> about it.
> > > >
> > > > India's greatest generation definitely realised that divisivism,
> > > > self-doubt, and other demons from our past would haunt the 
> republic> > > they formed. Which is why the constitution is 
> important. It helps us
> > > > protect our country from ourselves.
> > > >
> > > > The Constitution. Indian Nationalism. How we will defend India.
> > > >
> > > > Those who doubt the moral power of our freedom-generation, our
> > > > constitutional ethos, and Indian nationalism need only look at
> > > > Pakistan, which renounced all these in its attempts not to 
> be seen as
> > > > Indian. Pakistan's leaders, in trying to defend their 
> divisve national
> > > > philosophy, forced the most horrible bankruptcy on its people.
> > > >
> > > > Rather than using Indian nationalism and the constitution to 
> tackle> > > our communal issues, I am appalled at the general 
> trend to merely
> > > > lament that India is on its way to being declared an non-
> secular state
> > > > - the hundreds of millions of Indians fully intent on 
> preventing this
> > > > notwithstanding.
> > > >
> > > > Pakistan-style Islamism, Ummah-isation of Hinduism, 
> alienation of
> > > > Indian Muslims
> > > >
> > > > There are three major trends in India today that are 
> relevant to
> > > > our topic.
> > > >
> > > > Firstly, India has very serious conflicts of interest with 
> Pakistan.> > > We have gone to war with that country several 
> times. Its society has
> > > > issues with radicalisation and a general religious 
> orthodoxy. Its
> > > > regimes have relentlesslyattacked India's internal fault-
> lines over
> > > > the past few decades in the name of Islam. Tens of thousands 
> of Indian
> > > > soldiers have died defending our country against them. It is
> > > > distinctly un-Indian and anti-Indian.
> > > >
> > > > Secondly, Hinduism is, for the lack of a better word, Ummah-
> ising, and
> > > > this at times takes horrifyingly militant forms. I, given my 
> personal> > > biases, am all for Hindu solidarity and abolishing 
> pseudo-secularism.
> > > > However, an argument for Hindu-solidarity should not be 
> allowed to
> > > > take the form of an un-Indian religionalism that goes 
> against the very
> > > > spirit of India.
> > > >
> > > > Thirdly, Indian Muslims feel alienated from their own 
> country. In
> > > > India, Pakistan is synonymous with Islam. Unfortunately, 
> Islam is also
> > > > weakly synonymous with Pakistan. This has significantly 
> undermined> > > Indian Muslims' political standing in India vis-a-
> vis their fellow
> > > > citizens.
> > > >
> > > > The havoc all this has wreaked on our society must not be 
> ignored.> > > India was home to one of humanity's greatest Islamic 
> cultures for well
> > > > over 1000 years. It is not, by any means, a dead part of our
> > > > culture -
> > > > nearly 160 million Indians are Muslims, several national 
> icons are
> > > > Muslims, mosques and Islamic architecture litter the 
> country, and
> > > > Muslim holidays are shared by all. And yet, to a lot of 
> Indians, Islam
> > > > doesn't feel Indian, but Pakistani. Despite their respective 
> religious> > > majorities, it is odd that Buddhism doesn't feel 
> Sri Lankan, or
> > > > Hinduism itself, Nepali.
> > > >
> > > > The partition of India and secular India's deprivation of 
> its Islamic
> > > > authenticity
> > > >
> > > > Has anyone thought what has actually happened here? Why is 
> it that in
> > > > India, an ancient civilisational land which has a unique Islamic
> > > > culture just like Egypt, Iran, and Iraq, Islam is seen as 
> somehow> > > foreign? That is not because of Islam's being 
> inconsistent with India
> > > > – 1000 years and more of history and our combined freedom 
> struggle> > > should have proven this by now.
> > > >
> > > > During partition, founders of Pakistan expropriated the 
> subcontinent's> > > Islamic identity for defining their nation, 
> Pakistan. Pakistan's
> > > > struggle to keep its ideology alive has robbed us of our Islamic
> > > > authenticity. India's secular nature not-withstanding, the 
> ardour with
> > > > which Pakistan argued itsideology and pushed its exclusivist 
> national> > > philosophy within the larger Islamic community 
> ensured that it gained
> > > > some traction in the Indian society. Pakistan's military 
> conflicts> > > with "Hindu" India only amplified this.
> > > >
> > > > It only takes a few of decades of intense activity for a new 
> Zeitgeist> > > to take root in a society. Consider denazification 
> of Germany, China's
> > > > turn into capitalism, and India's own economic 
> liberalisation. 30
> > > > years – that is all it takes for a young generation to grow 
> up shaped
> > > > by a pervasive ideology.
> > > >
> > > > Though quite smaller than India, Pakistan is by no means a tiny
> > > > nation. It is the world's 6th most populous country, one of 
> its major
> > > > economies, and a prominent player during the cold war. One 
> cannot find
> > > > fault with it - Pakistan had to defend its national 
> philosophy. It has
> > > > expended a tremendous amount of national effort over the 
> last 60 years
> > > > in achieving a strong association between subcontinental 
> Islam and
> > > > itself.
> > > >
> > > > They have succeeded splendidly. Islam in the subcontinent 
> today is
> > > > seen as prominently Pakistani and India's secular fabric 
> warped by
> > > > that perception. Pakistan is an Islamic nation - this 
> somehow gives
> > > > them a stronger claim on everything Islamic in the 
> subcontinent. The
> > > > world simply does not recognise India's Islamic 
> authenticity, and
> > > > neither do many Indians within. India continues to be associated
> > > > primarily with Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism, but not Islam.
> > > >
> > > > Does religious brotherhood entirely negate the organic bonds 
> a human
> > > > has to his ancestral land and its history, and to his fellow 
> humans> > > who share the same bonds as him? I don't really know. 
> What I do know
> > > > is that this is not the principle on which the Indian 
> republic was
> > > > founded, and its definitely not an Indian value. Religious 
> supremacism> > > and breaking up of Indian people are un-Indian 
> philosophies. It goes
> > > > against the very spirit of our freedom struggle, 
> nationalism, and our
> > > > constitution.
> > > >
> > > > Indians must remember that new Pakistani generations do not 
> even have
> > > > the same right to speak for India's Muslims that their earlier
> > > > generations might have had. Indian democracy has proven this
> > > > unnecessary anyway.
> > > >
> > > > Indo-Pak culture-drift and attempts at an unnatural bonhomie
> > > >
> > > > There is a delusion among the political class and Indian 
> people that
> > > > our shared past can be used to achieve friendly relations 
> between> > > India and Pakistan. My view is that in doing so, we 
> are only
> > > > reinforcing the internal Islam-Pakistan hyphenation.
> > > >
> > > > When historical developments asunder a people, over a period 
> of time
> > > > the newly formed groups drift increasingly farther from one 
> another.> > > Once upon time, Myanmar and Sri Lanka were part of 
> India, just like
> > > > Pakistan and Bangladesh. Afghanistan was part of several Indian
> > > > empires. Today, though at a national level we have very cordial
> > > > relations, they are distinctly unfamiliar to us.
> > > >
> > > > Such a natural drift has definitely taken place between 
> India and
> > > > Pakistan. The strongest bond between us that keeps us in 
> each others'
> > > > national memories is not anything positive that we share, 
> but the
> > > > acrid legacy of partition. It's hard for me as an Indian, for
> > > > instance, to imagine such an Islamism taking hold of 
> Pakistan if it
> > > > were under Akbar's rule. That is, if it were under genuinely
> > > > Indian-style Islamic rule.
> > > >
> > > > I am not suggesting we should actively pursue enmity with 
> Pakistan or
> > > > vilify it. However, its being clumped together with Indian 
> Muslims is
> > > > simply not healthy for India. What has Pakistan's 
> 'leadership' of
> > > > subcontinental Muslims, its advocacy of religious 
=3E supremacism within,
> > > > and its enmity with India effectively accomplished? It has 
> robbed> > > India of its genuine Islamic authenticity in the 
> world's eyes, and
> > > > caused non-Muslim Indians to reject the culture of an un-
> Indian enemy.
> > > > Pakistan has highlighted Indian Muslims' being Islamic and
> > > =3E consistently de-emphasized their being Indian.
> > > >
> > > > Pursuing an unnatural bonhomie with Pakistan and stressing our
> > > > similarities with them will only weaken our case for our 
> differences,> > > which are very real. To uphold our national 
> interest, we must assert
> > > > and amplify these differences.
> > > >
> > > > Replace Islam-Pakistan hyphenation with Islam-India 
> hyphenation in the
> > > > subcontinent
> > > >
> > > > I urge Indians to spearhead a change of perception of Islam 
> in the
> > > > subcontinent. Anything that prevents Indian Muslims' fully 
> asserting> > > their claim on India as Indian citizens is against 
> the national
> > > > interest. The strong association in India between 
> subcontinental Islam
> > > > and the present day un-Indian Pakistan must go.
> > > >
> > > > It is tempting to claim that all South Asian countries share 
> Islamic> > > civilization equally. It may be polite and civil to 
> do so, and it may
> > > > even have some historical merit, but it's a weak claim for our
> > > > purposes. It doesn't have the necessary boldness and self-
> conviction> > > to be effective. It also doesn't forcefully argue 
> for India's Islamic
> > > > authenticity. Our aim is to end Islam-Pakistan hyphenation 
> for the
> > > > welfare of a billion humans, not to be fair observers of 
> history. We
> > > > must hence push the strongest nationalistic claim possible: 
> Islam in
> > > > the subcontinent is Indian, and it always has been.
> > > >
> > > > Indian Islam never 'went' anywhere – it is alive and well 
> amidst us.
> > > > Our nationalism and constitution are guarantees that it will
> > > > thrive if
> > > > Pakistan would let go of it. When the world thinks of 
> Hinduism in
> > > > South Asia, it thinks of India. Sikhism, it thinks of India. 
> Buddhism,> > > India. When it thinks of Islam in South Asia, it 
> must think of India.
> > > > Everyone in the subcontinent will be better off. Everyone.
> > > >
> > > > The idea that Islam in the subcontinent is primarily Indian 
> can gain
> > > > currency only through a concerted nationalist campaign. No 
> apologies> > > should be made for such a movement. No one need be 
> convinced of its
> > > > proponents' "patriotism". The obvious worthiness of the 
> cause, its
> > > > truth, and its urgency are justifications enough.
> > > >
> > > > What ideas might such a campaign seek to make current?
> > > >
> > > > The countries in our region share an intertwined, messy 
> history. We
> > > > have a lot in common - languages, religions, culture, quirks 
> - all
> > > > part of our common and colourful heritage.
> > > >
> > > > However, if our historical and religious assets must be divided
> > > > amongst us, then the worthiest inheritor of Islamic heritage 
> in the
> > > > subcontinent can only be India. Not Pakistan, not 
> Bangladesh, not Sri
> > > > Lanka, not Myanmar, not Nepal. India is the only nation that 
> has been
> > > > true to the historical spirit of Indian Islam – that of 
> flourishing> > > alongside other Indic faiths in India.
> > > >
> > > > Slay our demons ourselves
> > > >
> > > > Has it ever struck you that in our country, we have a vicious
> > > > circularity of the following sort: we feel dismayed that the
> > > > country/political class/leadership has done nothing for us; 
> a form of
> > > > apathy and resignation sets in; the country/political 
> class/leadership> > > continues to do nothing; we feel 
> increasingly more dismayed.
> > > >
> > > > We are a democracy. We individually must act. Things won't 
> happen> > > if we don't.
> > > > I urge Indians to assert India's secularism and nationalism 
> to fight
> > > > alienation of the Muslim community from Indian mainstream. 
> This battle
> > > > is the easier one to win – there are hundreds of millions of
> > > > reasonable Indians, the Indian constitution, the liberal 
> press, the
> > > > legacy of our freedom-generation, and truth and justice on 
> our side.
> > > >
> > > > I also urge Indians to fight Pakistani supremacy of 
> subcontinental> > > Islam from the outside. That is the root of 
> all our problems. That is
> > > > the key battle in India's war against communalism. We must 
> learn to
> > > > say, "Thanks, but no thanks. I understand what you mean, but 
> this is
> > > > not really true" to anyone who stresses commonalities of any 
> sort in
> > > > the subcontinent.
> > > >
> > > > Who will go first?
> > > >
> > > > Based on the concept of ownership of our destiny, what are 
> the answers
> > > > to these questions:
> > > >
> > > > "But how can non-Muslims claim that Islam in the 
> subcontinent is
> > > > Indian when it is represented by Pakistan and Indian Muslims
> > > > themselves imply so?"
> > > >
> > > > "How can Indian Muslims make the Indo-centric claim when 
> there is a
> > > > genuine sense of their alienation in India and rest of 
> Indian society
> > > > accuses them of siding with Pakistan. We cannot move against 
> Pakstani> > > Muslims. There is a lot in common between us."
> > > >
> > > > I don't know! I am definitely going, in my own way. That I 
> know. I
> > > > will not ever treat any Indian by as automatically allied 
> with a
> > > > foreign, inimical power. I will continue making people aware 
> of the
> > > > need to end the subcontinental Islam-Pakistan association 
> and replace
> > > > it with Islam-India.
> > > >
> > > > We shall NOT vilify. We shall have faith.
> > > >
> > > > Indians should stop vilifying each other. Not because it 
> would be
> > > > saintly to do so, but because it only weakens our unity.
> > > >
> > > > Our nationalism and our constitution are solid stuff. Our 
> greatest> > > generation did their job well. If we must challenge 
> our fellow
> > > > Indians, invoke these instruments. Face with stead-fast 
> stoicism any
> > > > slurs, any accusations of you being an anti-Indian Muslim or a
> > > > communal Hindutvawadi. Let the diatribe die down. Repeat your
> > > > arguments invoking our nationalism, constitution, and your 
> reasoning> > > again. Do not ask anyone to 'prove' his or her 
> patriotism. It's
> > > > demeaning to do so.
> > > >
> > > > Satyameva Jayate – truth alone triumphs. If you are right, 
> you will
> > > > win. Have faith in our country and in every Indians' 
> goodness and
> > > > genuine attachment to their land.
> > > >
> > > > Augmenting India's ideological basis
> > > >
> > > > Earlier I mentioned that our work on Indian nationhood is 
> not a frozen
> > > > process, but a continuing one. We can and must correct any 
> earlier> > > mistakes that continue to torment India's communal 
> harmony.> > >
> > > > If the greatest challenge the freedom-generation faced was 
> ending the
> > > > British rule and forming a stable republic, the greatest 
> challenge> > > before us is to take back leadership of 
> subcontinental Islam from
> > > > Pakistan. Our challenge is to do this without sacrificing 
> India's> > > secular nature.
> > > >
> > > > To tackle our new communal challenges in the 21st century, I 
> propose> > > the following:
> > > > 1. Secularism will continue to remain the Indian union's lynch
> > > > pin. It
> > > > should not, however, require any particular religious 
> group's giving
> > > > up their right to assert religious solidarity. We should 
> genuinely> > > address any concerns about hypocrisy in the name of 
> secularism.> > >
> > > > 2. India is a mature concept, and we should actively use it 
> to tackle
> > > > the challenges before us. Secularism is an integral part of our
> > > > nationhood and a historically irreversible development. It 
> follows> > > that religionalism – wherever it is practised – is 
> distinctly> > > un-Indian. Within India, it is also anti-Indian in 
> the sense that they
> > > > weaken India and goes against its spirit.
> > > >
> > > > 3. The natural heir to Islamic civilisation in the 
> subcontinent is
> > > > India. Subcontinental Islam has always been an Indian 
> phenomenon.> > > Pakistan's oft-reinforced association with Indian 
> Muslims must be
> > > > destroyed.
> > > >
> > > > 4. India's brotherhood with its neighbours is dying. Soon 
> there will
> > > > be an Indian generation which doesn't have a single Indian 
> born before
> > > > partition. Every single human in the subcontinent would have 
> been born
> > > > in the countries as they existed after partition. The continuing
> > > > attempts to maintain an unnatural bonhomie with India's hostile
> > > > neighbours is not a tenable project - Pakistan has moved too 
> far away
> > > > from what was once India.
> > > >
> > > > Indian Muslims. India's Islam.
> > > >
> > > > A shockingly large amount of our national energy is wasted in
> > > > countering the effects of Islam-Pakistan hyphenation in the
> > > > subcontinent.
> > > >
> > > > The solution is simple. Reclaim the part of Indian identity 
> that was
> > > > robbed of us some 60 years back. If India is Hindu, then for 
> similar> > > reasons, it is also Buddhist, Sikh, Christian - and 
> Islamic. Purported
> > > > authority over sub-continental Islam by other entities in the
> > > > subcontinent is an outrageous farce that must be ended right 
> away.> > >
> > > > There is no obligation to do this meekly. India doesn't have
> > > > merely a
> > > > substantial claim or merely an equal claim. It simply has 
> more right
> > > > to subcontinental Islamic heritage than anyone else by an
> > > > overwhelmingly large margin, period. We must use it for our 
> national> > > well-being.
> > > >
> > > > Who can assert subcontinental Islam's Indian nature boldly, 
> loudly,> > > without an iota of self-doubt or hesitation? Who 
> needs this to be done
> > > > most urgently? Who suffers from a deprivation of their right 
> to belong
> > > > to India the most? The Hindus? Sikhs? Buddhists? Christians? 
> Jains?> > > Clearly not. Who else?
> > > >
> > > > The Indian Muslims. The others are left distinctly poorer 
> and their
> > > > country's communal harmony stressed, but their Indian 
> genuineness is
> > > > unquestioned within India and the world over. There is not going
> > > > to be
> > > > an un-Indian leader-nation for India's Sikhs, Hindus, Jains, 
> Buddhists> > > and Christians in our neighbourhood any time soon.
> > > >
> > > > http://indianmuslims.in/indias-islam/
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