Now search about Islam and Muslims on IslamicGoogle

Here’s good news for those seeking to search exclusive information about Islam and Muslims on the Internet. A new search engine called ‘IslamicGoogle’ [http://www.islamicgoogle.com/] has been launched. The search engine is powered by Google. According to the available information, the search engine will use “safe search” technology and will produce results with more preference to famous Islamic websites from all over the Internet.

 

“Islamic search engine powered by Google will strive to provide an easy to use resource to anyone wanting to learn more about Islam and provide a good way for Muslims to surf the web safely. IslamicGoogle will use ‘safe search’ technology and will produce results from all over the Internet with more weighting to given famous Islamic websites. It eliminates the vast majority of unsavoury content, such as pornography, and applies strict filtering for both explicit text and explicit images,” the search engine declares.

 

The search engine further informs that IslamicGoogle is however not associated or affiliated with search giant Google. “We work closely with Google to help ensure that the results are not objectionable in nature. However, some of the results and adverts that are displayed may not be in line with Islam and we do not endorse any of the results or adverts displayed on IslamicGoogle,” the search engine says.

 

 

 

 

Fake conversions, sham marriages: Making a mockery of Islam

By Danish Ahmad Khan

The saga of Chander Mohan-Anuradha Bali, now (in)famously known as Chand Mohammad-Fiza love story, has finally ended into a tailspin of sorts. A peeved Fiza, who allegedly attempted suicide by consuming 25 non-fatal sedative alprazolam tablets, narrated her harrowing tale before the mediapersons in Chandigarh after her newly-wed husband suddenly left her house where he has been staying for the last two months. Chand Mohammad, the elder son of former Haryana CM Bhajan Lal, after disappearing from Fiza’s house was reportedly spotted near Raj Ghat in New Delhi in an inebriated condition by police who brought him to the Daryaganj police station. Later, he left the police station saying that he would go back on his own. Chand Mohammad, however, went missing again only to resurface later outside Sector 14 residence of his brother Kuldeep Bishnoi to clarify before TV channels that he was missing his first wife Seema Bishnoi and children and that he could not stay away from them. He also said that he has not deserted Fiza and would like to stay with her as well.

Chander Mohan and Anuradha Bali, now known as Chand Mohammad and Fiza Parveen after conversion to Islam and second marriage

Chander Mohan (43) alias Chand Mohammad and Anuradha Bali (37), now called Fiza Parveen, secretly converted to Islam and their nikaah solemnized by a Maulvi [Muslim priest] in Meerut in November 2008. Chand Mohammad paid Rs. 5 lakh as meher [Bridal price] to Fiza in order to skirt Hindu bigamy laws. They surfaced as husband and wife in December. The duo held a press conference to announce their marriage and revealed their plan to have a honeymoon in Switzerland and residence in Delhi. Professing their undying love for each other, they promised to live together till the last breath. They courted each other for the past five years before entering into wedlock as neo-Muslims.

Kalka MLA Chander Mohan, married to Seema Bishnoi for 13 years, was holding the post of Deputy Chief Minister of Haryana before his conversion to Islam. Anuradha Bali alias Fiza was married to a Mohali businessman but was divorced just after one year of marriage. Anuradha was a former Deputy Advocate General in Punjab, but before her marriage to Chander Mohan was serving as Assistant Advocate General of Haryana. Chander Mohan and Anuradha Bali were both not seen in public nor attending to their professional duties for the past one month giving credence to rumours about their elopement, which ultimately proved to be true after they resurfaced as lovestruck newly-weds.

The news about Chander Mohan’s conversion to Islam and second marriage came as rude shock to the Haryana government as well as his father ex-CM Bhajan Lal. They had to pay dearly for their ‘misdemeanours’ and had to lose their high-profile jobs. ‘Misdemenours’ because they had apparently converted to Islam to solemnize their respective second marriage. Chief Minister of Congress-led Haryana government Bhupinder Singh Hooda sacked Deputy Chief Minister Chander Mohan on November 26 on the plea that he absented from his office for past some time. Anuradha Bali too was sacked on the similar plea. An agitated Chand Mohammad’s father Bhajan Lal sharply reacted announcing that he has now disowned his rebel son Chander Mohan from his property and condemned his second marriage as a “shameless act”.

Fiza is now puzzled about her status. She says, “I don’t know what my status is today. I don’t even know if I am his wife or not. He is not coming out openly to tell. He used to send me messages for the last three years. He used to blackmail me that he will kill himself if I did not marry him. He threatened to shoot himself. I have been betrayed in true love. He has not spoken to me directly. I don’t even know whether he is now Chander Mohan or Chand Mohammed. A very bad game has been played with my life.” Fiza also claims, “He was shown saying that I am a ‘badhiya cheez’ (good object). Am I a vegetable, cold drink or lassi that he said so? I have been used.” Fiza is now thinking in terms of seeking revenge for Chand Mohammad’s betrayal. In a latest development, Fiza, after great of confusion on whether to press rape charges or take some other legal recourse, has lodged a police complaint (FIR) against Chander Mohan on 16 February 2009 foisting rape charges on him.

How is Islam abused, defamed and mocked at?

Bollowood stars Dharmendra and Hema Malini married for second time after secretly converting to Islam but they never really accepted Islam as their faith after marraige

However, this is not for the first time a Hindu couple secretly embraced Islam only to marry for the second time. Chander Mohan is already having his first wife who has not been divorced yet. Anuradha Bali is a divorcee and was looking for another man in her life to end her solitude. After embracing Islam and subsequent marriage, Chander Mohan cleverly escaped anti-bigamy laws under the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955. Besides Chander Mohan and Anuradha Bali, Bollywood stars Dharmendra and Hema Malini had also secretly embraced Islam only to marry for the second time and gave their marriage a legal cover. Now, Dharmendra and Hema Malini remain a happily wed couple but never accepted Islam as their religion though being married only after embracing Islam. It may be recalled that there are several Hindu couples that married for the second time without divorcing their first wife or embracing Islam. Second marriage of Bollywood stars is a case in point. Raj Babbar married Smita Patil despite being already married to Zaheera, daughter of a widely respected Muslim poet-scholar. Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan’s second marriage is also another example. Paswan married for a second time without divorcing his first wife. The first wife is a Dalit, the caste that Paswan belongs to, while his second wife follows the Sikh religion.

”]In yet another instance according to the BBC report of 9th February, 20-year-old Sabra Ahmadzai from Afghanistan left her parents home in November last year and is now in India for the past six weeks to trace her husband Major Chandshekhar Pant. Sabra worked as a Hindi translator in a hospital in Kabul and met Major Pant, a doctor in the Indian Army. Major Pant converted to Islam and married Sabra. After marriage Sabra could only spend fifteen days together with Major Pant when he was transferred back to India. Sitting at the shrine of Hazrat Nizamuddin in New Delhi with her hands clasped in prayers Sabra says, “He promised to return with his parents and left. In six months he only called me three times, and in his last call he told me Sabra you are young and you can marry again – I have two kids and a wife from before.” Sabra recently met Major Pant now on posting in his hilly hometown of Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand. She has registered an anti-bigamy case against Major Pant and has vowed to pursue this case to logical end till justice is done to her. The Army has also so far not taken any action whatsoever against Major Pant to set the record straight.

But the recent marriage of Chander Mohan and Anuradha Bali has again raised a controversy. This also once again brings Dharmendra and Hema Malini’s marriage into the eye of storm. Both marriages those of Chander Mohan-Anuradha Bali and Dharmendra-Hema Malini are similar in nature. The only exception being that Dharmendra-Hema Malini remain happily wed couples while Chander Mohan-Anuradha Bali’s marriage is on the verge of imminent break-up. The saddest part being that Chander Mohan and Anuradha Bali couldn’t even spend their honeymoon in Switzerland, and the news of their break-up and legal battles is constantly doing the rounds.

It is apparent that in both the marriages, the religion of Islam has been abused, defamed and mocked at in the most rude and crass manner. Dharmendra and Hema Malini were never questioned or penalized in a court of law for misusing Islam to achieve their ulterior motives, and that too without remaining Muslims. Ever Major Chandrashekhar Pant, who married Sabra Ahmadzai after converting to Islam, misused Islam only to satiate his sexual desire and leaving Sabra in the lurk and unclear about her current marital status after returning back to India. The most saddest part, however, is that no Muslim organization or clerics worth their salt ever came forward to take action against the Maulvis who allegedly solemnized the ‘nikaah’ of Dharmendra-Hema Malini and Chander Mohan-Anuradha Bali, or cared to ask these couples as to why they misused Islam for their marriage by not adhering to their new faith for their entire lifetime. But Chander Mohan went even a step further in making Islam a football, which could be kicked about whenever need be by all and sundry without being ever objected to by the faithfuls whatsoever. Chander Mohan misused Islam only to satiate his carnal desires. According to his wife Fiza, he was shown as saying that she was a ‘badhiya cheez’ (good object). She later strongly objected to his remarks and asked whether she was a vegetable, cold drink or lassi that he can consume whenever he wants to. Chander Mohan’s remarks about Fiza in itself shows how much he abhors and disrespects womenfolk and that he only wanted to enjoy women and derive sexual pleasure from them. This also shows that he has scant respect for Islam or even his own religion. He did not have any genuine intention to embrace Islam, but only wanted to escape anti-bigamy laws as per Hindu Marriage Act of 1955. Had both Chander Mohan and Anuradha Bali genuinely intended to embrace Islam and lead their married lives as ideal Muslims, they should have done so long before during their five years of courtship itself. But during the five years they only made fun and frolic, and only a month before their marriage they secretly embraced Islam and immediately married.

Muslims have always been accused of using Islam as springboard to spread terrorism in the name of jihad, but what should Muslims do when their religion is used by people of other religions only to satiate their sexual needs in an illegal manner, which neither their religion nor Islam ever permits. The shamelessness of Chander Mohan can also be gauged from the fact that reacting to his dismissal from the post of Deputy CM, Chander Mohan said, “Politicians across party lines are guilty of having affairs and if he begins to expose all that he knows, it will not augur well for any party.” Chander Mohan also wants to prove that Islam in fact obligates Muslims to keep number of wives to fulfill their sexual needs in a legal manner. This is, however, nothing but a slur on this great religion and a hard slap on the face of entire Muslim community for taking for granted that Islam is above board and cannot be abused or defamed by anyone.

Besides Chander Mohan, another fraud was committed by his illustrious father ex-CM Bhajan Lal. He not only told lies but also fooled the people and media in his statement about disowning Chander Mohan from family property. Chander Mohan claimed before the media that his father didn’t disown him only after conversion to Islam and subsequent second marriage, but he was ‘disowned’ long before. The wily Bhajan Lal merely made an announcement before the media after such a long time. In fact, Chander Mohan was “disowned” by the family in the sense that under a family settlement his share in the property was transferred in the name of his minor son, Sidharth. According to the legal records, the property was transferred in the name of Sidharth with only Chander Mohan’s consent. The settlement was signed by concerned parties on 20th February 2008. It was not only Bhajan Lal, and Chander Mohan’s mother, Jasma Devi, who transferred his share in their property to their eldest grandson, but it Chander Mohan himself who transferred his property in the name of Sidharth. Chander Mohan signed the settlement just a few days after the death of his son Mohit, with whom he was greatly attached. After nine days of the signing of settlement, Kuldeep Bishnoi (Chander Mohan’s younger brother) and Siddharth filed suits before a Hisar court and requested to issue declarations indicating that they were now the owners of the property acquired through their respective share as per settlement. Within a month the court issued decrees in favour of plaintiffs. After the decree, Sidharth (Chander Mohan’s nominee) became the owner of properties that included a Panchkula house in Sector 8; two plots in Sector 15-A, Hisar; a shop in Nai Mandi, Adampur; one flat on Aurangzeb Road, Delhi; and agricultural land at different places (all earlier owned by Jasma Devi). He also got an industrial plot in Panchkula which was earlier jointly owned by his father Chander Mohan and uncle Kuldeep and a booth in Adampur earlier owned by Chander Mohan. One house in Model Town, Adampur, owned by SRB Investment Pvt Ltd, 135, Golf Links, New Delhi, and a piece of agricultural land owned by Seth Enterprises Pvt Ltd, Golf Links, New Delhi, were also transferred to Sidharth. Chander Mohan’s determination to marry Anuradha Bali was known to the family in 2007 itself. It is apparent therefore that the transfer of Chander Mohan’s property to Sidharth can be construed as a sort of alimony paid by him to his first wife Seema, or this also be considered as a preemptive step against any future claims by anyone against Chander Mohan which would very well have occurred with his marriage to Anuradha Bali. Chander Mohan thus made a clever move by transferring his property to his son to ward off any future claims by Anuradha Bali, and also continue to enjoy her after his so-called marriage.

Polygamy in Islam & Hinduism
Islam permits polygamy and has allowed four wives at a time with the condition that they be treated equally. According to the Holy Qur’an taking more than one wife is only permissible, not ordained. The Holy Qur’an says: “And if you fear that you cannot act equitably towards orphans, then marry such women as seem good to you, two, three and four, but if you fear that you may not do justice to them, then (marry) only one” (4: 3). It may be noted that this verse was revealed after the battle of Uhud. In that battle, many Muslim men died and as such a great social problem for the protection of widows and orphans arose, necessitating an institutionalized polygamy for a convenient solution of the problem.

Even in Hinduism, Manu sanctioned polygamy. There has been a great deal of controversy as to whether the Hindu Law sanctioned polygamy. This, however, becomes clear if the Law of Manu regarding polygamy is reviewed. According to Manu, following is the Law on this subject:

(1.) “For the first marriage of twice-born men (wives) of equal caste are recommended, but for those who through desire proceed (to marry again) the following females, (chosen) according to the (direct) order (of the castes) are most approved.” (Here follows the list of women who may be approved of) (Manu, iii 12).

 

(2.) “It twice-born men wed women of their own and of other (lower castes) the seniority, honor, and habitation of those (wives) must be (settled) according to the order of the castes (Varna).” (Manu, ix 85).

 

(3.) “If, after one damsel has been shown, another be given to the bridegroom, he may marry the both, for the same price that Manu ordained,” (Manu, viii 204).

 

(4.) “Among all (twice-born men) the wife of equal caste alone (not a wife of a different caste by any means), shall personally attend her husband and assist him in his daily sacred rites.” (Manu, ix 86).

 

(5.) “But he who foolishly causes that (duty) to be performed by another while his wife of equal caste is alive, is declared by the ancients (to be) as (despicable) as a Kandala (spring from the) Brahamana caste.” (Manu, ix 87).

Thus, the above quotations amply indicate that polygamy was sanctioned according to the Law of Manu. This has also been settled in the Courts of British India that there is no restriction on a Hindu as to the number of his wives he can keep, or that one may marry again without his wife’s consent. However, according to the current practice Hindus could contract a second marriage only after the death of their first wife or divorce. Not otherwise. And, this surely defies the Law of Manu.

The controversial marriage of Chander Mohan-Anuradha Bali has clearly brought into focus the ambiguity in the law regarding second marriage by Hindus after converting to Islam. The Supreme Court in a celebrated 1995 order held such marriage illegal saying that bigamy could attract a sentence of up to seven years in jail and fine. Tahir Mahmood, a Law Commission member and noted Islamic scholar, says, “If a married Hindu during the subsistence of his first marriage embraces Islam and marries again it is illegal and punishable under the Indian Penal Code even if conversion is absolutely genuine.”

According to Islamic scholar and Law Commission member Tahir Mahmood, “If a married Hindu during the subsistence of his first marriage embraces Islam and marries again it is illegal and punishable under the Indian Penal Code even if conversion is absolutely genuine.” Even in the Sarla Mudgal case of 1995, the Supreme Court of India had ruled that a Hindu husband, married under the Hindu Marriage Act 1955, cannot marry a second time simply by embracing Islam. If he remarries without lawfully dissolving the first marriage, he would be guilty of bigamy. Under Section 494 of the IPC, bigamy invites a punishment of up to seven years in jail and fine. According to Mahmood, “Even born Muslims are not allowed such reckless prodigality by their religion and its law. The idea that Islam gave a license for indulging in bigamy to anyone converting was ‘sheer nonsense’. The traditional Islamic law allowed bigamy in exceptional cases only. And, this is permissible only if the man treats his wives with absolute justice.”

It may be recalled that akin to Chander Mohan-Anuradha Bali’s case, one Jitender Mathur, a Hindu by birth, converted to Islam ten years after his marriage just only to marry Sunita (who also converted to Islam and adopted the Muslim name of Fatima). He was married to his first wife Meena Mathur in 1978, and had three children by her. In 1988 he married Sunita alias Fatima. Later on he reverted to Hinduism leaving behind Fatima in the lurch, who refused to revert to Hinduism any more. Meena Mathur and Fatima both petitioned the Supreme Court that declared that unless an existing marriage was dissolved, remarriage by any spouse was void and punishable under section 494 IPC.

In one of the similar ruling, a Supreme Court judge said, “A person who mockingly adopts another religion where plurality of marriage is permitted to renounce a previous marriage and desert wife cannot be permitted to take advantage of this exploitation as religion is not a commodity to be exploited.”

Who’s responsible for this sorry plight of Islam?
Though in the case of Chander Mohan-Anuradha Bali some Muslim ulemas from Darul-Ifta (the fatwa department of the Islamic seminary Darul-Uloom Deoband) have condemned Chander Mohan for his ‘lowly act’. But this verbal condemnation is surely not enough. What about the clerics who solemnized the ‘nikaah’ of Chander Mohan-Anuradha Bali and Dharmendra-Hema Malini? The clerics have been let off without any rebuke or penal action whatsoever by the reputed Islamic seminary. This brings their true love for Islam into question. Such clerics are bringing disrepute to Islam and constitute the part of the bandwagon of Chander Mohan-Anuradha Bali and Dharmendra-Hema Malini in damaging Islam itself by their lowly acts. Even Muslim organizations such as All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), All India Muslim Majlise Mushawarat (AIMMM), All India Milli Council (AIMC), Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), Jamiatul Ulama-e Hind (JUH) etc. are equally responsible for perpetrating such crimes as they have neither raised their voice or taken any penal action whatsoever against the culprits. This unholy coterie of Muslim clerics and organizations are gravely responsible for the sorry plight of Islam and Muslims in India as such. They are hell-bent, it seems, on strangulating the great religion of Islam just to achieve their selfish goals. Action should have been taken by now against couples like Chander Mohan-Anuradha Bali and Dharmendra-Hema Malini by invoking the provisions of bigamy law under Section 494 of the IPC. But, no Muslim organization has even cared to give a thought about this whatsoever.

Steps need to be taken to tackle such crimes
It is obvious that Hindu couples like Chander Mohan-Anuradha Bali and Dharmendra-Hema Malini have time and again misused and abused Islam to fulfill their carnal desires, and several more would continue to do so in future as well. It is also obvious that such couples would be assisted by so-called Muslim clerics in fulfilling their dirty and lowly desires. The time has come now that such crimes need be stopped forthwith and these couples and Muslim clerics be severely punished through appropriate punitive action taken by respective community leaders as well as the government.

Following steps, in my opinion, would be appropriate enough to tackle such issues:

(1.) Make registration of marriages compulsory as per the directive of the Supreme Court of India. This should be compulsorily binding on people of all religious faiths, including Muslims and Christians, across the country. All India Muslim Personal Law Board in its last meeting had decided that marriage registration be kept a voluntary option since it may further complicate marital discords. The decision of AIMPLB is simply unfortunate and a great disservice to the entire Muslim community. This won’t complicate marital discords but would rather alleviate them if proper regulations were in place.

 

(2.) Make registration of conversions compulsory. The Law Ministry would do well to bring Law on conversions into place to stop fake conversions taking place. It has often been noticed that in several instances conversions have taken place merely to escape poverty and through inducements. Some conversions have taken place only for the sake of remarriage as has been the present cases with high-profile couples like Chander Mohan-Anuradha Bali and Dharmendra-Hema Malini. However, some conversions have been really genuine and out of ones own free will, which should indeed be respected. But, making registration of conversions compulsory across the country would stop fake conversions from taking place and in fact restore the glory of the respective religious faiths.

 

(3.) Relevant laws, including Muslim law, be amended to practically prohibit misuse of religion just for the sake of enjoying sex through second marriage. In fact, second marriage by a person after converting to Islam should be made a non-bailable offence even though first wife never objected to this obnoxious practice. There are instances of many Hindus adopting Islam symbolically only to enjoy a second marriage legally even though in practical life they continue to have ardent belief in Hinduism and perform all Hindu rituals in day-to-day life. Suitable laws should therefore be enacted to ban post-conversions marriages and severely penalize the persons involved.

 

(4.) The Government should make provisions to make registration of Muslim clerics compulsory. This is essential to bar fake clerics, who generally conduct such sham marriages and bring disrepute to their religion. There is need to bring Muslim clerics within government’s control so that their status of living be also uplifted. Most of the Muslim organizations like All India Muslim Personal Law Board, All India Muslim Majlise Mushawarat, All India Milli Council etc. are unrepresentative and do not represent entire Muslim community in India. The Government should also make registration of Imams of Mosques (Muslim prayer leaders) compulsory across the country since they perform the duties of prayer leaders in mosques as well as solemnise nikaahs whenever need be.

 

Islam now seeks justice. But the million-dollar question is after all from whom? In other words, who are the real culprits? Who are those responsible who couldn’t defend Islam from the onslaught of sham marriages and fake conversions? I consider both the Maulvis and couples like Chandra Mohan-Anuradha Bali and Dharmendra-Hema Malini equally responsible to bring such unpardonable disrespect to Islam. Those Muslim clerics who helped them convert to Islam and solemnized their nikaah, which was obviously for the sake of second marriage and not professing Islam in the true sense, should not be spared at all from penal action and stringent punishment from the Muslim community as such. It is now incumbent on the community leaders of both the religions and the Government to take strictest possible action and put an end to such illegal and defamatory activities.

Need for a political platform for Muslims – Do We really need this anyways?

Muslim leaders with Israeli President Simon Peres

 

 

Victim of Gujarat riots 2002

The debate on the need for a political platform for Muslims in India has always attracted a huge response from the community members. Majority of Muslims in the country still believe that there is a need for a credible and viable political platform for the community as such. But has this been able to take shape even after 60 years of independence? Several Muslims leaders like Shahi Imam of Delhi Jama Masjid Syed Abdullah Bukhari, his son and the present Imam Syed Ahmad Bukhari, Syed Shahabuddin, Maulana Asad Madani, Maulana Mahmood Madani etc. emerged on the scene to guide the community on several occasions. But were they able to or did they ever succeed in doing so? Did the community genuinely accept their leadership after all? What did Indian Muslims gain politically even after supporting these leaders for long?

 

These are the several questions that usually crop up in the minds of common Muslims. For instance, who doesn’t know the political profile of religious prayer leaders Abdullah and Ahmad Bukhari. It is well known that Syed Abdullah Bukhari called the shots in the Congress Party and always gave clarion call to support Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi during elections from the pulpit of Jama Masjid during Friday prayers. Later after getting bored with Indira Gandhi, both father and son supported Kanshi Ram and Mayawati of Bahujan Samaj Party. The present Imam Syed Ahmad Bukhari formed a political platform for Muslims called ‘Adam Sena’. Ahmad Bukhari hobnobbed with the Congress rebel and the then Prime Minister V. P. Singh for quite a while. Later on, Ahmad Bukhari asked Muslims to defeat the Congress Party and support the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) instead in the elections. Maulana Asad Madani, President of Jamiatul Ulama-e Hind always supported the Congress Party and was rewarded with a Rajya Sabha seat. He remained an MP for long. The present Jamiatul Ulama-e Hind leader Maulana Mahmood Madani is currently hobnobbing with the Congress Party and pitching for a seat in Parliament with Congress Party’s support like his deceased father Maulana Asad Madani. Earlier, Maulana Mahmood Madani had joined Samajwadi Party only in the hope that he would become a Rajya Sabha member with party’s support. But, Samajwadi Party never rewarded him with Rajya Sabha seat. Syed Shahabuddin, who resigned from Indian Foreign Service and was brought into politics by the BJP leader and ex-PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, spearheaded the Shah Bano movement and at one time asked Muslims to boycott the national anthem on a Republic Day. He became a Member of Parliament after winning Lok Sabha elections from Kishanganj. Now he is with the Congress Party, but has retired into oblivion as the Congress Party has still not rewarded him with the Rajya Sabha seat nor has he been able to win any Lok Sabha seat.

Despite such stark truths about the Indian Muslim leadership and of the hapless Indian Muslims themselves, some responsible members of the community still feel the need for a political platform for Muslims in the state of Uttar Pradesh [thankfully, not for the entire nation].

Present here is the debate on the need for a political platform for Muslims in UP. The debate was initiated by M.J.Khan, Convenor of National Economic Forum for Muslims. J.S. Bandukwala from Baroda (Gujarat) and Danish Ahmad Khan gave their forthright opinions in their responses.  – Danish Ahmad Khan

 

 

New Political Platform in UP (India)

 

Dear All

 

I am writing this mail to all the members of AMU networks and also the members of various social – political organisations for their information, comments and considered opinions, advice and subsequently a support for what I see a long felt need of a political plate-form for weaker communities, and in particular muslims in Uttar Pradesh. It is possible that this mail reaches to many persons, who may not be belonging to minority or weaker sections or have any concern with Uttar Pradesh.

 

I may therefore like to mention for little more clarity for such people that Uttar Pradesh is the largest of the 29 States in India, with an estimated population of 180 million with share of Muslims at 19% and that of most backward communities (MBCs) 15%. If UP was a country today, it would be 6th largest country in the world, and therefore it holds enormous importance for muslims who are approx. 20% of the State population, but their share in jobs and institutions of higher learnings is less than 3% today. According to recent NSSO figures and Sachchar Committee findings, they have slipped below even schedule castes in education. According to our analysis, if 1,000 educational institutions of 1,000 capacity each are created for Muslims, it will take 32 years for them to catch up the national average.

 

The question of social opportunity and public policy needs to be answered keeping in view the poor economic development of the community. Lack of basic education, social vulnerability and policy discrimination has in totality contributed in keeping the community backward. The political prejudices and the exploitation of the community by various political parties “as the vote bank and nothing more attitude”, particularly by the so-called secular parties, have caused much loss to Muslims. Only by unlocking the gates of access and equity in educational and economic spheres through political empowerment can the dreams of equality and mainstreaming of the community be materialized.

 

Announcements by political parties for Muslims are often made, keeping the coming elections in mind. They are completely forgotten, as soon as elections are over. Any possibility for betterment of Muslims in India in shorter run is possible only by their political empowerment. And for that to happen, they will have to win for themselves and shun the negative voting pattern.

 

Over the last two years, there have been wide scale consultations for creating a political platform in Uttar Pradesh, where many people feel that electorates are left with the choice of lesser evil every time, who have no development agenda. The new political entity shall have a clear agenda of:

 

• Providing an honest and transparent government

 

• A government free from corruption, castiesm and criminal elements

 

• Justice and development with fair share of all communities without any prejudice

 

• Educational, social and economic empowerment of minorities and other weaker sections

 

In the context of UP, while political initiatives in the last two decades brought social and political empowerment for some down-trodden communities, Muslims never benefitted in any form. The two successful experiments in the name of SP and BSP in UP are being widely seen as full of corruption, castiesm and criminal elements. While Muslims voted for them overwhelmingly, but they have been treated only as vote bank and a subject of mere political exploitation by them.

 

Muslims have been riding piggy of one party or the other and to be used and thrown every time. While communal parties have always talked bitter and barked on Muslims, the secular parties while speaking sweet, did the job of actual biting. The worst for Muslims is to continue trusting the vote traders in the name of secular parties, better is to strategically tie up with different political parties, election to election, and the best option is if they can initiate politically for themselves.

 

But starting own political outfit will require hard work, patience, little sacrifice and ‘not for sale’ attitude. Of late I have closely watched quite a few political and some socio-political initiatives by muslims and all of them met the well known fate. They got visibility, got price and got sold out. A sincere effort will now take little more time than what it would otherwise have taken.

 

While Muslims have been pushed to periphery in the vortex of democratic process, reservation system, educational policies and various socio-political dynamics in the last 61 years, the most backward castes (MBCs) among the majority community have also not benefitted. Therefore there is a scope for a broad Muslims led social coalition to be formed with a clear political agenda of fair and just rule and empowerment of minorities and MBCs. On purely political space, a natural alliance of Muslims with Rajputs in UP is immediate possibility. They can provide class and Muslims can bring the mass. The combination can work wonderfully well with Muslims 20%, Rajputs 7% and MBCs 15%.

 

There have been several meetings and consultations with many Rajput and MBC leaders and luminaries in the last six months, and the response is too good. A greater level of enthusiasm among MBC and Rajput leaders is seen for this political coalition than that among Muslims. They have possibly been let down time and again and are well within their logical thinking if they may view one more initiative with some degree of suspicion.

 

But, the need for such initiative is clearly felt and the possibilities of success seem to be strong. And I think, if there is clarity of purpose, consistency of efforts, inclusive approach and a clear “not for sale” tag, then it can succeed. Wide ranging consultations are being held on this matter, both in Delhi and at Lucknow, and movement forward seems a definite possibility. The intellectuals in muslims and other sections of society can make meaningful contribution to this move by their valuable suggestions and support. We shall look forward to your kind comments and cooperation.

 

With regards,

MJ Khan

Director & CEO, Concept Agrotech Consultants Limited

Convenor, National Economic Forum for Muslims

New Delhi – 110001

[Sent by NEFM nefm06@gmail.com]

 

 

[Response by J.S.Bandukwala]

Dear Khan Sahab,

 

I read through your piece carefully. I share your deep concern for the plight of our miserable community. In the context of UP, one is tempted to follow the path taken by the Yadavs and by the Dalits.

 

As I am from Gujarat and have been among the victims of 2002, my reading is different. Political process in India is substantially corrupt. Muslims who succeed are either corrupt or our totally alienated from the community, as they play an ‘ Uncle Tom ‘ role.

 

In the aftermath of Babri, a number of Muslim intellectuals came out to challenge the existing order in Muslim society. Sorrowfully, they withdrew as fast as they entered. Today the possibility of a Kanshi Ram emerging among Muslims is remote. But fortunately there is a distinct shift towards quality education and business. We must see that each and every Muslim boy and girl reaches graduation stage, and preferably in subjects like medicine, engineering, management, etc. We must see our women are granted the rights so enshrined in the Holy Koran. We must turn towards business and industry in a big way.I am convinced we Muslims must just stay away from politics, except that we must vote most religiously. Our effort must be on a total socio economic transformation of our community, within the parameters of Islam. Fortunately the democratic set up in India, allows us enough elbowroom to do the same. This is not possible in Pakistan or most Muslim countries. I will welcome your response.

 

Regards,

J.S. Bandukwala

Baroda,

Gujarat

[Sent by drbandukwala@yahoo.co.in]

 

 

[Reply by M. J. Khan]

Dear Dr. Bandukwala

 

The nation is going fast towards privatisation, and hence the importance of quality education. No reservation system in jobs or more representation in politics will help community. What you said is absolutely required. Empowerment through education holds key in the emerging socio-economic order. If they are well educated, they will carve their place in the society, whether job or own work.

 

But, private education is a costly education and given the economic status of most Muslims, affording the quality private education will get out of reach. My fear is that Muslims will get further marginalized in the emerging socio-economic order due to privatisation and the prevailing reservation system. Again, Muslims traditionally worked in semi-skilled jobs, but with the changes in technologies, they will ahve no choice, but to go for skills training and certification, and without which they will again get pushed to periphery.

 

The fact that this community is so backward, educationally and economically, there is every justification for some instrument of support, in terms of reservation in education, or through a substantial economic package to be given to them to help them bring at par with the rest of the nation, so that they could also play equally vibrant roles in the society.

 

But, in democracy logics do not help. What helps is political voice and holding hostage. Gujjars deserve ST quota, no one will agree. Jats and Yadavs in backward reservation, no one can agree. But, they had political voice and got, what they did not even deserved. And muslims, as a most backward social block in Indian society, have repeatedly been denied any support. Not only this, there is also a communal quota in SC/ST reservation introduced under Article 341 (2), imposed by the infamous Presidential Order 1950 by secular Nehru, where every religion, except Muslims and Christens get reservation.

 

I believe, we will have to have our say in political affairs of the country. There are Muslim leaders in different parties, but there is no leadership with us. These leaders have no say, even if they feel for the community, cannot do anything. And we have no say in decision making of the country. Today, in a cabinet of 44 (33 cabinet and 11 MOS – IC) there are only 2 Muslim Ministers and that too with poorest possible portfolios. In my meetings with Sonia Gandhi, I have been pointing out how Muslims are being sidelined in every sphere, including even political. Out of 10 President Quota seats in Rajya Sabha, not a single Muslim nominated?

 

We go on and the agonies are countless. In democracy, without political power, no voice is heard. In Indian states, where Muslims are 20% plus, there is no reason why they should not take other equally suffering MBCs and move politically. This is difficult route, but, if community has to be empowered in shorter run, then there is no choice. Riding piggy of different secular parties from time to time has yielded no results. In fact I have known most of them, little too closely. For them, we are only the vote bank.

 

The poor and pathetic situation of Muslims that I see around and the NSSO and Sacchar Committee findings authenticate, need exceptional steps for any significant change. I have made many presentations and held discussions at Planning Commission and at PMO, but in democracy only pressure, lobbying and political weight matters, not logics and rationality.

 

I am marking this copy to other friends, who have send responses. I am thankful for your kind response.

 

With regards,

MJ Khan

[Sent by NEFM nefm06@gmail.com]

 

 

[Response by Danish Ahmad Khan]

Dear Mr. M.J. Khan,

 

I read with deep interest and share your concerns regarding the need of a political platform for Muslims of Uttar Pradesh. But, Sir, do only UP Muslims deserve this. What about your underprivileged, downtrodden brethren in rest of India? I’m from Gaya (Bihar), where Muslims too are struggling for an honorable existence.  However, let me tell you we, Bihari Muslims, never felt the need for a political platform of our own. This is because everybody knows the fate of so-called Muslim leadership, which becomes saleable and ultimately loses its voice in the end. With such a leadership at the helm the community is naturally left to fend for itself and rue its own fate. Sir, I can give you several examples from my state itself where a handful of Muslims took the lead in forming a political entity of their own, but the dream fortunately ended in the already-expected whimper.  I refer to your quote: “On purely political space, a natural alliance of Muslims with Rajputs in UP is immediate possibility.” Truly, this idea may sound music to your ears given the bitter experiences that UP Muslims had from two significant political parties – Samajwadi Party & Bahujan Samaj Party. However, let me cite an example how Muslims in my district Gaya were ditched by Rajputs [whom you are referring to as a natural choice for proposed alliance]. You might be aware that Naxalites are ruling the roost in Gaya and other districts of Bihar. To fight the Naxals, Muslims of Imamganj & Dumaria [Blocks in Gaya] joined hands with Rajputs and formed ‘Sunlight Sena’. Rajputs led the Sena with Muslims being a major support base. But when it came to take the Naxals head on, Muslims were pushed at the forefront and Rajputs were nowhere on the scene. The result was that several Muslims were killed and are still being killed, and they had to flee to the district headquarters and elsewhere. This is what happened because of the natural alliance in my place. I’m therefore simply at a loss as to how much UP Muslims are going to be benefitted if such a natural alliance ever comes into place.

 

In my considered opinion at present Indian Muslims neither require reservations nor a political party of their own. Everybody knows the fate of Syed Shahabuddin [of Babri Masjid fame] and his ‘Insaf Party’. Today, Muslims are in urgent need of quality education – both on the technical and professional front. I completely agree with what Dr. J.S.Bandukwala says. Historically, Muslims have had their say during Mughal era. They lost to the Britishers because of their leaders’ follies. Again, after fighting for India’s independence Muslims were relegated behind because of their leader M.A. Jinnah and Muslim League’s follies. This was naturally not because of Rajputs or other castes, but solely by Muslims themselves. Still after 60 years of independence, Muslims have still not learnt to co-exist. It is about time that Muslims need to change their mindset and act holistically. It becomes the duty of intellectuals and social engineers to chalk out plans on how to empower the community in a way that they themselves become a force to reckon with on the political front under the guidance of you all.

 

The community must take lessons from Grameen Bank founder Mohammed Yunus, who brought about a radical change in impoverished Bangladesh. It is only now that Mohammed Yunus has decided to take a plunge into politics to bring about further change through political means. We, Indian Muslims, are sadly lacking stalwarts a la Mohammed Yunus.

 

Isn’t it true that we, Indian Muslims, hold immense power that political changes are brought about on the national and state level whenever need be? In Bihar, we Muslims did this by throwing out Lalu Prasad Yadav. The current leadership in the state under the stewardship of CM Nitish Kumar is doing an excellent job and keeping everybody happy with its performance. I think it would indeed be a great service from you all if the community is left to decide for themselves whom to elect or not as per their needs and at their own level.

 

I’ve an agenda that would not only empower but also radically transform Muslims for India’s well being.

 

• Muslims need to come out of the ‘Madarsah’ mindset. Are we ready to control proliferation of ‘Madrasahs’ ourselves? Are we ready to make ‘Madrasahs’ into meaningful schools that would provide quality education along with Deeni Taleem to the rich and poor alike? I personally know how these ‘Madrasahs’ function and what radical changes are required to better the lot of those gaining education here.

 

• Are we ready to centralize ‘Fitra’ and ‘Zakat’ collections during Ramadhan at Mohalla & village levels? The present system of collection is completely disorganized and gives immense scope for corruption. Only seldom in the community know where these donations are being given and who are being benefitted. Rest of the collections is going down the drain. With a centralized collection, the community is going to be immensely benefitted. Small-scale industries might be established in every village with centralized collections.

 

• In my opinion Darul Qazas/Darul Iftas/Imarat-e-Shariah are useless and should be done away with. Their opinion to the community from time-to-time has only bred confusion amongst the Muslim masses. Sometimes their opinions have also become laughing stock in the national media. Those giving ‘Fatwas’ more often are not able to defend themselves. Their actions are only dividing the community.

 

These are some of the important things I’ve raised, which needs immediate proactive action from the community. I’m myself proactive and working to better the lot of the community in my own way [Please seethe following links:  http://www.islamicvoice.com/february.2004/initiative.htm (This is about the institution founded by my grandfather and my association with it); http://www.hinduonnet.com/2003/08/10/stories/2003081000211500.htm (This is regarding my Interview given to ‘The Hindu’ while I was working with a community journal.)]

 

I warmly welcome your responses.

 

Danish Ahmad Khan

Sr. Content Writer-cum-Head – Content2Mobile operations

IANS [Indo-Asian News Service (Formerly India Abroad News Service) – http://www.ians.in]

New Delhi – 110022

Mobile: +91 – 9990179721/9868005605 

[Sent by danish_a_khan@rediffmail.com]