NEW DELHI — As the Indian tricolor unfurls on the historic 17th-century Mughal-built Red Fort in New Delhi marking the 60th anniversary of independence, many Muslims believe Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s dream of ending "inequality of opportunity" remains a dream."Nothing has changed in the last 60 years in the sense that in 1947 my grandfather was a powerloom laborer. Sixty years have elapsed we are still the same," Sajid Khan told IslamOnline.net on Thursday, August 15.
At the stroke of midnight on August 14, 1947, Nehru delivered his famous speech Tryst with Destiny. "It is a fateful moment for us in India," he said eloquently, speaking of an "unending quest" and future. "The service of India means the service of the millions who suffer. It means the ending of poverty and ignorance and disease and inequality of opportunity."
While India has since became a heavyweight political, military and economic power, some sections of its society remain lagging behind. "I donÂ’t understand what you are saying," Khan said when asked about IndiaÂ’s nine percent economic growth rate. "I measure growth in terms of equity Where is equity? We are not even paid the minimum wages fixed by the government," he lamented. "Independence means nothing to me."
| If you're that unhappy, the Partition created not one but two Muslim states in which you could live. Just saying ... |
Aftab Ansari, a hawker selling plastic Indian flags in the streets on the eve of Independence Day, is no less disgruntled. "What Freedom and what Independence? I only sell patriotism once a year to my fellow countrymen," the 17-year-old told IOL.
Many Indian Muslims feel insecure in their home country. "Indian Muslims are going through a terrible phase," Javed Anand, the co-editor of Communalism Combat, told IOL. "Fifteen percent of IndiaÂ’s population still feels insecure. The findings of Sachar Committee report have been really shocking."
The Sachar Committee looked into the socio-economic and educational backwardness of Muslims in the country and suggested various remedial measures. The recommendations included setting up educational facilities, modernization of madrasahs, creation of job opportunities and steps to increase the community's representation in public services.
Anand is skeptical the findings would be implemented. "Unfortunately, track record of the ruling government has not been very reassuring," he recalled. "It is behaving like any other previous government. LetÂ’s keep our fingers crossed."
| I'm skeptical Anand would be happy with anything other than a true caliphate. |
| If only the heathen Hindoo hadn't fought back ... |
| In other words, the Muslims in India don't want to be part of India, they want to be something else ... |
He complained that Muslims are not being given their respective rights. "The descendents of the last Mughal King Bahadur Shah Zafar are begging on the streets of Kolkata. The family members of the martyred Tipu Sultan are rickshaw-pullers today.
| Do the descendents of the last Mughal King deserve something the rest of us have to work for? |
Indian Muslims complain of decades of social and economic neglect and oppression. But Anand, the co-editor of Communalism Combat, also reserved harsh words for Muslim politicians. "Muslim legislators are busy wasting their time in raking up fastidious issues which donÂ’t have anything to do with the progress of Indian Muslims," he said. He cited the recent attack on Bengali writer Taslima Nasreen, infamous for her anti-Islam writings, at a press conference last week in Hyderabad. Television footage showed Muslim state lawmakers and activists hitting Nasreen with flowers and threatening to lob chairs. "At a time when institutional bias has crept in our system, Muslim legislators are making a mockery of themselves," said Anand.
Majlis-e-Ittehadul-Muslimeen leader-cum-legislator Akbaruddin Owaisi has been accused of "intimidation" after suggesting Nasreen could be killed if she returned to Hyderabad, a claim which he has denied. "Muslims have become victims of the promises made by professional mullahs acting as agents of political parties," an angry Shamim Tariq, a researcher and columnist, told IOL. "Muslims should be aware of the enemies within. Right-wing Hindu parties and ideologues pale in comparison to the enemies within," he argued.
Tariq spoke of two sects of enemies within. "One is religious and acts as the mediator of political class and other is irreligious lot which takes pride in attacking Islam."
| Enemies everywhere! |
| Become part of society? Knock off the useless sloganneering and get a job? Meet a nice girl, get married, settle down, have kids and learn to barbecue? |
| You could pledge loyalty and join the army. There's a start. |
Hamid warned that young Muslims are being targeted for no fault of their own.
"Whenever some terrorist activity happens in the country, fingers are pointed towards them. There is an atmosphere of fear and mistrust. This is very harmful for any harmonious and pluralistic society."
Ilyas Siddiqui, a historian, believes that self-help is the best help. "Sixty years ago, our own struggle and striving was beneficial for us," he told IOL. "Even today we should follow the path of self-help by way of the concept of civil society. This is the biggest principle. There is no need to be dependent on anybody not even government."
Mufti Ismail has his hopes in secular-minded Hindus. "In India, the worldÂ’s largest democracy, there are a number of secular Hindus who genuinely strive for the welfare of the Muslim community," he told IOL. "They believe that India cannot progress as long as its largest minority is lagging behind. They know that such progress will be a lop-sided progress and not a real progress," added the Muslim politician. We must strengthen their hands."
| No word on whether Ismail thinks secular-minded Muslims should strive for the welfare of the Hindu community. |