[Reader-list] "Indian Muslims: Moderation And Extremism" (from INDIAN MUSLIMS.IN)

[Kshmendra Kaul]

Dear Anupam
 
Thanks for sharing this article.
 
I thought that it was extremely unfortunate that Ajmal Kasab's defence lawyer, Abbas Kazmi has been ostracised by those who have done so. Shiv Sena's (and others') attack on the earlier lawyer Anjali Waghmare was reprehensible and so is this different kind of an attack on Abbas Kazmi. 
 
Ironically, some of the most voluble voices who are insistent that Ajmal Kasab should get a proper defence are friends and family of those who lost their lives in the Mumbai Attacks. 
 
Abbas Kazmi is doing his duty as a Lawyer. Every accused has the right to receive a defence no matter how overwhelmingly obvious to the public eye might be evidence testifying guilt.  
 
In such situations it is especially tough on Muslims because a sober evaluation of the actual circumstances gets clouded by "Oh! Suspicious! Suspicious! It is a Muslim!". How sad and unfortunate. How shallow a country we have become.
 
Kshmendra
 

--- On Thu, 5/7/09, anupam chakravartty <c.anupam at gmail.com> wrote:

From: anupam chakravartty <c.anupam at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Reader-list] "Indian Muslims: Moderation And Extremism" (from INDIAN MUSLIMS.IN)
To: "sarai list" <reader-list at sarai.net>
Date: Thursday, May 7, 2009, 7:34 PM

*Hear the new voices*
  Aijaz Ilmi

Thu, May 7 02:51 AM


Instead of convulsing purposelessly, as it has done on numerous occasions in
the past, the Indian Muslim community is slowly but surely undergoing a
subtle transformation. Sensing the mood of the community, even the religious
leaders — the Ulemas — are speaking the language of constitutionalism.

Dar-ul Ifta, the fatwa-giving arm of Deoband's Dar-ul Uloom spoke of the
value of "neutral" voting in the elections. The spokesperson said
that
Indian Muslims must vote not on religious lines but as citizens of a secular
democracy. No directive to influence the voter towards any particular party
could be seen in their statement: "Please vote for an individual or party
that has interests of India and the Muslims too." Indeed, clearly linking
the interest of Indian Muslims with the interests of India as a whole is a
welcome signal, signifying inclusive secular guidance for India's
minorities.

Steeped in a volatile mix of anger and destitution, subject to being
"suspect" for far too long, Indian Muslim communities are finally
showing
signs of fighting back against preconceived prejudices. When respected
Ulemas start to speak out about secular traditions and democratic
structures, a strategic shift based on community feedback is apparent.
Whether this wave of positivity will turn into a tsunami of inter-cultural
bonding is yet to be assessed.

The unceremonious dumping of Ajmal Kasab's lawyer Abbas Kazmi by many
community institutions — such as the Islam Gymkhana in Bombay — is best
be
read as another signal from the community to distance itself from terror.
The earlier statement denouncing him from the local Shi'a council
("Defending a terrorist is also against the essence and teaching of
Islam")
should be seen as a precursor to the avalanche of protest that will continue
to follow Kazmi. Those of liberal views might justifiably baulk: the
Constitution of our country, and its time-tested judicial system, insist on
presenting a fair defence for all accused; but it nevertheless is the case
that the community is making a sincere effort to de-link itself from the
misguided brand of Islam that the Taliban and the Indian Mujahideen
propagate.

These are signals that need to be read, especially by the young, the
liberal, opinion-makers and the educated among Indian Muslims. They must
internalise what these signals mean and assert themselves further in the
country's fight against all forces of terror and deprivation.

Since the shilanyas and Babri Masjid issue culminated in large-scale riots
post-demolition, India's Muslims have languished in a cocoon of insecurity.
Afraid of being targeted repeatedly, of having their patriotism questioned,
they sulked in silence, feeling let down by their own political and
religious leadership. In the last five years, post-NDA, concerns have
shifted; the spotlight now is on their own status, both economic and
educational. Higher school enrolment in the last five years, by almost six
to eight per cent, both at primary and secondary levels, is suggestive. It
means there's a crying need to reach out by establishing a large number of
schools and vocational institutes — and, indeed, the provision of credit
facilities to bring them out of their self-made cocoon.

A young graduate from AMU said recently: "Do not look at the Muslims as a
religious minority but as a component of the deprived majority." After 60
years, the debate is at last changing: security, development and education
is the new mantra. Political rabble-rousers might end up as political rubble
unless they address these basic concerns. The successful Kerala model of
education, which consists of a large number of institutes of higher learning
open to all sections of society, must be replicated in North India. Such
institutions will ensure both greater intermingling and the provision of
quality education to the needier sections of society. In fact, in Kerala,
both the Nair education society and Indian Union Muslim League-supported
minority trusts compete to endow the greater number of schools.

Given that Indian Muslims are employed in disproportionately large numbers
as artisans and in running small establishments, the global recession has
added a greater sense of urgency to their future. The desire to be educated
and be counted should be complemented by the haves in the community. Recent
ads in the media — apparently from the BSP in East Delhi — exhorting
Muslims to vote for "revenge" over the Gujarat riots are seen as
likely to
backfire, and indeed as being in bad taste. A party that swears by the
empowerment of the deprived sections of society would do well to set up
centres of learning rather than promise revenge.

The Muslims of the country are mature enough to understand that it is only
in an inclusive, secular country like India that a Yusuf Khan can succeed as
Dilip Kumar and a Dileep Kumar can succeed as Allah Rakha Rahman.

Are India's political parties listening to the new voices within the
community?

The writer is chairman of the editorial board at the Kanpur-based Urdu
newspaper 'Daily Siyasat Jadid'


On 5/7/09, Kshmendra Kaul <kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Article can be accessed at
>
> http://indianmuslims.in/indian-muslims-moderation-extremism/
>
>
>
>
>
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