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AUTHOR AND ACADEMIC URGES COMMUNITY TO WAKE UP TO NEW POLITICAL REALITIES AND ENGAGE BJP
NEW DELHI - 'Narendra Modi's victory is a welcome development. Now, for the first time in independent India, Muslims are able to see the 'stark political realities that otherwise have been hidden by the secular hypocrisy of the Congress', said Prof Rashid Shaz while addressing a group of students on the side-lines of a debate at the Aligarh Muslim University.
Prof Shaz, an internationally acclaimed author known for his reformist writings on Islam and formerly President of the Milli Parliament, is probably the first Muslim heavy-weight who has openly asked the Muslim Indians to welcome and adjust to the new political reality.
Prof Shaz said: "The Nehruvian secularism was a mirage; an unending trail of false hopes and hallow promises. It created a fear psychosis among Muslims. The Congress demonized 'the political other', posing itself as the protector of Muslims - a promise that it never kept. From communal riots to the illegal ban on Muslim organizations and from arbitrary arrest of Muslim youths to the refusal of their demand for a judicial probe of Batla House encounter, the Congress displayed a ruthless insensitivity towards Muslims. Now, that dark era of pseudo-secularism is over.
"The new political reality may look even more depressing to many of us, but at least we are able to see today where we really stand. Those who believe in the protection of the Congress and its ilk should know that they are no more in a position to defend us, but those who believe in Allah Almighty should know that He is all-powerful and hence no need to despair."
He said that one of the most positive aspects of the "new political development is the fall of ungodly Muslim clergy who worked as middle-men between the Muslim masses and the ruling elite. They were the Congress satellites constantly beaming message of fear and false hopes."
"With long flowing beards and empty rhetoric they made us belief as if without the support of their Congressite masters, Islam had no future in India. They are the criminals of Islam, working for their political masters yet posing to be true to their faith. Now in the new situation the Muslims have got an opportunity to build a direct bridge with a party that has no obfuscating mullahs and no middlemen," said the scholar.
"The BJP does not feel shy away from declaring what it stands for. And this is the first pre-requite of a true dialogue. Modi's recent remarks that in his victory he sees the victory of 1.25 billion Indians and that he wants to create a 21st century India, are all indicative of the fact that he is open to a meaningful dialogue with Muslims. He wants to consolidate what he has achieved through hard work and determination. He has been sending feelers for mending, rather improving his relations with India's 250 million strong Muslims. But are Muslim leaders ready for a meaningful dialogue?", he asked.
Prof Shaz claimed that those accustomed to receiving only a pat from the Congress may find it difficult to enter into a bridge-building dialogue on equal footing with the BJP. "But this is the only way to survive and prosper. I believe, it's a God-sent opportunity," said Dr Shaz. "There is no need to be apprehensive. The new rulers too are human. They have a human heart. There is no reason then, that we cannot reach out to them. Today,we Muslim Indians may find ourselves in a crisis, but never mind, a crisis is always full of new opportunities. It is on us how we make use of the new situation."
It is a welcome digression for recently we have been feeling like the Muslims during the Tatar invasion - or prior to that.
With long flowing beards and empty rhetoric they made us belief as if without the support of their Congressite masters, Islam had no future in India.
They are the criminals of Islam, working for their political masters yet posing to be true to their faith. Now in the new situation the Muslims have got an opportunity to build a direct bridge with a party that has no obfuscating mullahs and no middlemen.
Sir please enlighten me (as I know nothing about Indian politics)- who are these "Mullahs"?
On the ground following happened just before the election.
(1) A Barelwi Maulwi appealed for BSP.
(2) Hazrat Madni appealed for SP.
(3) Jama-at-e-Islami appealed for AAP.
(4) Maulana Bukhari appealed for Congress.
You can imagine the result. What would a Muslim voter do?
Indian Muslims are confused due to this "Clergy" and Pakistani Muslims are confused due to "Clergy", South African Muslims are confused due to "Clergy" and everything else. Those who take the vote, get into positions of power and then abuse the large body of Muslims.
One Hazrat tells us to vote for one party
Another Hazrat tells us to vote for another party
Another Hazrat tells us voting is Haram
Another Hazrat tells us if we don't vote Islam will be in trouble
Another Hazrat says NOTHING and pretends nothing is happening
In 1947 we had:
Some Hazrats telling us to stay united for India and ditch Pakistan
Some Hazrats telling us to ditch the Hindus and go for Pakistan
Both India and Pakistan have NIL MEANINGFUL representation of any Hazrats in Government both lost!
Muslims (in Afghanistan) had no Hazrats and Russia was defeated.
Taliban (in Afghanistan) have no Hazrats and America is defeated.
Agree or disagree but at least they are not divided and paralysed....
The main issue is Khilafah and lack of leadership others we will have Hazrats on all sides...Khilafah gives you decisiveness.
Not Khilafat (immediately) but at least some sort of Ameer and Shura. In your country you have Ulama from the same Darul-uloom dividing and one going one way and another going the other way. Whats the poor chap in the Streets supposed to do?
Forget Deoandi vs Barelwee vs Ghair-Muqallid I am talking about Ulama from same Maslak, same Tareeqa, same Darul-ulooms taught by the same set of Akabir teachers!
Agree, this is why I think Khilafah is just a dream which can't come true prior to Hazrat Mehndi رضي الله عنه
However, if intentions have purity and sincerity, then, at least 'awareness-campaign' may be started by educated people like you and others. But this fact can't be ignored that until ulama ikram take interest in this issue, laity will not take it seriously.
Intra-schools/sub schools of thought differences isnt a big problem, it'll be settled amicably, hope so but inter-sectarian differences is problematic but that can be neglected. Sects are sect because they leave the path of majority. So let them be as they're.
I think TJ can play a n important role in this regard because it is a peaceful reformation movement which gradually enlarging its scope amongst Ummah but they can't take such decision until they're agreed through normal practice of Mashwra. Will they go for it? It's a big Q?
We must have faith in our ulama ikram. We should not revolt against them even mentally. So when they think that time has come to initiate the movement to establish khilafah, they may convince responsible people of TJ.
If you think that we can take this burden then it's not possible, however, we can make the people aware of this issue.
Several khilafah movements have been started though- I know your aware of them but they're not successful yet even after decades of inception. Reason is that these movements are mainly led by worldly people or the groups which are sponsored and funded by dictators or kings to strengthen their power of throne.
Khilafah isnt a secondry issue rather it's a highly sensitive one which is related to Islam and issues concerning Islam are dealt by ulama ikram- history is the witness.
A few years ago DU invited all the groups of Indian Muslims to discuss the issue of terrorism. All the representatives comprises of ahlehadis, JI, shia and others except barelvis participated in it. I don't think why they'll not consider the issue of khilafah.
Present circumstances arent conducive to ummah as your aware. But what's concealed in the womb of future can't be prognosticated.
Be positive. In shaa Allah, time will change. When? How?......
Time will reveal. Just wait & watch.
Disclaimer: I'm against the killing of innocent people whether perpetrators are Muslims or non Muslims.
An Excellent bayan by Hazrat moulana sajjad D.B on the present situation and what the attitude and mentality of a muslim should be. Worth Hearing & Sharing.
taubah . org --> Khanqah-Bayans
Bayan: 25-May-2014
MULK KE TAZATAREEN HALAAT MEY MILLAT-E ISLAMIA HINDIA
KA TARZ-E FIQER AUR TARZ-E AMAL KYA HONA CHAHIYE
Rejoinder to Rashid Shaz's appeal to Indian Muslims to join the Modi bandwagon
There are three main points in Prof Rashid Shaz's press-release. He commended the RSS-led Modi government, condemned the Congress party and used insulting words for our religious personalities.
By Arshi Khan, The Milli Gazette Online
Published Online: Jun 04, 2014
Below is the full text of the press release, minus typos, we received from Dr Rashid Shaz, who now teaches at the Aligarh Muslim University, on 27 May 2014. It is a long journey indeed for this thinker from agitating for Khilafat to falling in the lap of the Hindutva icon. Equally strange is Dr Shaz's resurrection of "Milli Parliament" which died and lay buried for two decades. Intellectuals are the first to betray said Lenin and here is our super intellectual proving it a century later - Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan, Editor,The Milli Gazette.
To read Dr Arshi Khan's Rejoinder scroll down or click here
Text of Press-Release from Dr Rashid Shaz, 27 May 2014
For India's 250 million Muslims, Modi's victory is a welcome development, says Prof Rashid Shaz, Leader of the Milli Parliament
Mr Modi's victory is a welcome development. Now, for the first time in independent India, Muslims are able to see the 'stark political realities that otherwise have been hidden by the secular hypocrisy of the Congress', said Prof Rashid Shaz while addressing a group of students on the side-lines of a debate at the Aligarh Muslim University. Prof Shaz, an internationally acclaimed author known for his reform writings on Islam and formerly President of the Milli Parliament, is probably the first Muslim heavy-weight who has openly asked the Muslim Indians to welcome and adjust to the new political reality.
According to Shaz, the Nehruvian secularism was a mirage, an unending trail of false hopes and hallow promises. It created a fear psychosis among Muslims. The Congress demonised 'the political other', posing itself as protector of Muslims - a promise that it never kept.
From communal riots to the illegal ban on Muslim organizations and from arbitrary arrests of Muslim youths to the refusal of their demand for a judicial probe of Batla-House encounter, the Congress displayed a ruthless insensitivity towards Muslims. Now, that dark era of pseudo-secularism is over.
The new political reality may look even more depressing to many of us, but at least we are able to see today where we really stand. Those who believe in the protection of the Congress and its ilk should know that they are no more in a position to defend us, but those who believe in Allah Almighty should know that He is all-powerful and hence no need to despair.
One of the most positive aspects of the new political development is the fall of un-Godly Muslim clergy who worked as middle-men between the Muslim masses and the ruling elite.
They were the Congress satellites constantly beaming message of fear and false hopes. With long flowing beards and empty rhetoric, they made us believe as if without the support of their Congressite masters, Islam had no future in India. They are the criminals of Islam, working for their political masters yet posing to be true to their faith.
Now in the new situation the Muslims have got an opportunity to build a direct bridge with a party that has no obfuscating mullas and no middlemen. The BJP does not feel shy of declaring what it stands for. And this is the first pre-requisite of a true dialogue.
Mr Modi's recent remarks that in his victory he sees the victory of 1.25 billion Indians and that he wants to create a 21st century India, are all indicative of the fact that he is open to a meaningful dialogue with Muslims.
Mr Modi wants to consolidate what he has achieved through hard work and determination. He has been sending feelers for mending, rather improving his relations with India's 250 million-strong Muslims. But are Muslim leaders ready for a meaningful dialogue? Those accustomed to receiving only a patting from the Congress may find it difficult to enter into a bridge-building dialogue on equal footing. But this is the only way to survive and prosper. I believe, it's a God-sent opportunity, said Dr Shaz. There is no need to be apprehensive. The new rulers too are humans. They have a human heart. There is no reason then that we cannot reach out to them. Today, we Muslim Indians may find ourselves in a crisis but, never mind, a crisis is always full of new opportunities. It is for us how we make use of the new situation.
[End of Rashid Shaz's Press statement]
Rejoinder
Contesting Rashid Shaz on Endorsing the Sangh Parivar-led Government
By Dr Arshi Khan
Dr. Rashid Shaz's statement in the Times of India and his unwarranted press release on the present political development has disappointed all of those who endorse the constitutive principles of governance in India.
There are three main points in his press-release. He commended the RSS-led Modi government, condemned the Congress party and used insulting words for our religious personalities.
First, Shaz says,"Mr. Modi's victory is a welcome development. Now, for the first time in independent India, Muslims are able to see the stark political realities that otherwise have been hidden by the secular hypocrisy of the Congress." RSS has formed its government in India which is certainly not a welcome development. Sangh Parivar was thoroughly engaged during the BJP campaign and the ministerial allocation was made after the approval of the RSS. Stark political reality cannot be presumed on the basis of unexpected EVM results in the Hindi belt as voters other than the Caste Hindus are bewildered over the magic of the EVMs. Even if 'polarisation' is the accepted game of politics today in India, it is more manufactured than natural as India cannot be free from its religious and caste prejudices. In fact, Muslim voters have lost doubly this time as they are under-represented due to the absence of the 'proportional representation' system and the magical job accomplished by the EVMs.
Of the 23 cabinet ministers who were sworn in, a staggering 17 have their roots in the RSS and its affiliate organisations. The second in command to Modi in the cabinet is Rajnath Singh who will handle the significant home department. Each and every cabinet level leader who has been sworn in was approved by the RSS top brass, including a reminder to Modi that the core issues of Hindutva, for which the cadres worked, would have to be brought to effect.
Mr. Modi's victory has resulted into the following developments.
Sanjeev Baliyan, who is an accused in Muzaffarnagar riots nine months ago, was made minister of state for agriculture and food processing. Balyan was part of a mahapanchayat held last year despite prohibitory orders that inflamed tensions. He was charged by the police with violation of prohibitory orders and promoting enmity between two communities. Swagat Sabhas of close to 50 persons each stood every 2 kms to welcome this MoS -- from Delhi to Muzaffarnagar -- on May 30 to welcome his cavalcade. The announcer at Khatauli raised slogans of "Bharat Mata ki jai, Gau Mata ki jai" to rouse the crowd, while at Mansoorpur, "Har Har Modi, Ghar Ghar Modi" filled the air. After results too, Baliyan had taken out a victory procession in Muzaffarnagar ignoring prohibitory orders.
Dr. Shaz also "asked the Muslim Indians to welcome and adjust to the new political reality." It is really disgusting on his part as the role and rights of the citizens in a democratic country become important when they happen to be a 'minority' under the kind of a government which has the record of hatred, violence and discrimination particularly against the Muslim community in the country with plethora of objectionable statements, instigated riots, humiliations, threats and role in various bomb-blast cases across the country. Even the Hobbesian (Leviathan) State had guaranteed security and dignity of its subjects. Muslims need the fulfillment of their constitutional rights for which the Republic of India was created. Muslims cannot accept a State worse than the colonial masters as they were not so much cruel, dishonest and violent against their subjects. The citizens are not hosts to welcome a government but to watch it and to criticize it if it goes beyond the statutory rim. Muslims cannot object a Hindu brother showing his choice for Ganga but for a Prime Minister such preference is anti-constitutional as the country belongs to all communities and it is not the monopoly of one culture, one language and one group. India is a plural society in which the Sangh Parivar is not 'all' but part of the whole.
We must differentiate between Mahatma Gandhi and Nathuram Godse, between Jawaharlal Nehru and Golwalkar, between Rahul Gandhi and Varun Gandhi. Both are Hindus. One followed Hinduism and the other Hindutva.
To Dr. Shaz, Muslim Indians [should] welcome and adjust to the new political reality.... Look at the new realities here. Every third newly-elected member of Lok Sabha has a criminal background. An analysis of 541 of the 543 winning candidates by the National Election Watch (NEW) and Association for Democratic Reforms shows that 186 or 34% newly elected MPs have in their election affidavits disclosed criminal cases against themselves. Of the 186 new members, 112 (21%) have declared serious criminal cases, including those related to murder, attempt to murder, causing communal disharmony, kidnapping, crimes against women, etc. Partywise, the largest numbers 98 or 35% of the 281 winners from the BJP have in their affidavits declared criminal cases against themselves.
Dr. Shaz says, "Nehruvian secularism was a mirage; an unending trail of false hopes and hallow promises. It created a fear psychosis among Muslims. The Congress demonized 'the political other', posing itself as protector of Muslims - a promise that it never kept." This is not a type of criticism to legitimize Hindutva forces in power. Nehruvian secularism was neither European nor Leninist in nature but a product of the 'social contract' reached among all Indians who wanted to live together after Independence. The relationship between a political party and the Constitution is highly crucial. The Congress can be rightly blamed for its failure particularly in the area of reining in communal forces but the BJP has no 'harmonisation' principles and policies vis-à-vis the Constitution of India. One cannot find anyone in any party other than the BJP who asks voters to shift to Pakistan if not voting for the BJP; and urging people in Uttar Pradesh to vote for BJP to take revenge. This is not the culture of a country run by the present Constitution.
When Chidambran and Shinde earlier spoke of 'Bhagva atankwad' only the BJP opposed it alongwith the Anti-Corruption movement started by Ramdev in December 2010 which diverted the issue of inquiry against Pragya, Purohit and Indresh Kumar. Now their records would soon be tampered with to erase charges of terrorism against them like many files on the demolition of the Babri Mosque disappeared during the previous NDA rule. Moreover, those who killed hundreds of Muslims, raped their women and looted and burnt their properties, in addition to bomb blasts in different parts of the country, would simply be free from the Rule of Law.
Dr. Shaz needs to be reminded that on this June 1, senior Gujarat Police officer G L Singhal, 48, who was suspended after his arrest in February 2013 for his role in the killing of Ishrat Jahan, was reinstated by the state government. June 15 will mark 10 years since 19-year-old Khalsa college girl Ishrat Jahan, her associate Pranesh Pillai alias Javed Shaikh, and Pakistani nationals Jishan Johar and Amjad Ali Akbar Ali Rana, were killed in a fake police encounter on Ahmedabad's outskirts. The four were branded Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) fidayeen assigned to kill the then chief minister. As per the charge-sheet filed on 3 July, 2013, and court records accessed by The Indian Express, a close scrutiny of the CBI's charges against him shows that Singhal is accused of being complicit at every stage of the alleged plot to kill them -- right from the abduction of the victims, their confinement, planning the murder, execution and planting of weapons on the victims' bodies.
Before his arrest in Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case, Singhal was a star anti-terror cop in Gujarat. Singhal claimed to have cracked the Akshardham temple attack case a day after it was transferred to him in August 2003. (Two fidayeen had killed more than 30 people on Sept 24, 2002). Last month, the Supreme Court acquitted all the six arrested and said the "police caught innocent people and got imposed the grievous charges against them which resulted in their conviction and subsequent sentencing". Singhal was the investigating officer in the 2002 communal riots revenge case in which there was a trial against 44 accused and in January 2010, the Special Court (POTA) acquitted 22 of them. The other 22 were subsequently released by the High Court (The Indian Express, 2 June 2014, p.4)
Look at the mind and the language of Shaz in his words: "One of the most positive aspects of the new political development is the fall of un-Godly Muslim clergy who worked as middlemen between the Muslim masses and the ruling elite. They were the Congress satellites constantly beaming message of fear and false hopes. With long flowing beards and empty rhetoric they made us believe as if without the support of their Congressite masters, Islam had no future in India. They are the criminals of Islam, working for their political masters yet posing to be true to their faith. Now in the new situation the Muslims have got an opportunity to build a direct bridge with a party that has no obfuscating mullas and no middlemen."
He is contemptuous of Muslim ulama directly and he seems to have no concern for the community. Muslims as members of a religious community cannot be isolated from their ulama who were the first to contribute heavily to the freedom struggle against the colonisers in 1857 and accepted India as their homeland after partition in 1947. These ulama regularly condemned acts of terrorism in the country besides providing knowledge on religion, reading, writing and simple manners of living to most of the children for whom the bureaucracy hardly cared. What was wrong with the ulama in saying to use their votes against divisive forces? Should they have given the call to give support to the BJP? Should they become the satellites of the BJP? We should not forget the difference between Gandhi and Godse. Ulama's role is highly commendable in spreading the message of peace, harmony and tolerance and the Muslim community has emerged as peaceful members of the political community in the country as a result of their efforts. Shaz has no authority and morality to disgrace ulama as 'beardy', 'un-Godly Muslim clergy', 'criminals of Islam', 'obfuscating mullas and middlemen'. Such words from his mind and hand clearly show the make-up he wears.
Let us look at Shaz's recommendation in his words: "He (Modi) is open to a meaningful dialogue with Muslims. Mr Modi wants to consolidate what he has achieved through hard work and determination. He has been sending feelers for mending, rather improving his relations with India's 250 million strong Muslims. But are Muslim leaders ready for a meaningful dialogue. Those accustomed to receiving only a patting from the Congress may find it difficult to enter into a bridge-building dialogue on equal footing. But this is the only way to survive and prosper. I believe, it's a God-sent opportunity. There is no need to be apprehensive. The new rulers too are humans. They have a human heart."
Where is the need for dialogue for Muslims in India? Are we in conflict with our Hindu equals. Not at all. This is what is called Ganga-Jamni tahzeeb. All of us belong to Adam (peace be upon him). On the contrary, some of them categorise us as Malechh and place us outside the 'putra bhumi and punya bhumi' line of control. They also categorise large numbers of people outside the Varna system with purity and impurity differentiation. Mahatma Gandhi had asked the RSS long ago to open its membership to Muslims but failed to persuade. Dialogue without tolerance is talk-show on the screen without substance. RSS does not want dialogue with Muslims but dominance on its preset terms. Muslims in India are a big-sized minority surpassing the size of Caste Hindus. The tragedy is that one of the two numerical equals has acquired powers at all levels while the other equal is excluded and marginalised. Dialogue can be the remedy for this if it happens within the Sangh Parivar and BJP to endorse the Constitution and the Rule of Law and treat all Indians as equals.
The national government led by any political party must follow the Constitution and must not use Establishment agencies in the interest of a party or a community.
Dr. Shaz says that "Mr Modi wants to consolidate what he has achieved through hard work and determination." Everybody knows the record of the Gujarat government in the last thirteen years vis-à-vis Muslims. Where is the hard-work and achievement in the case of even those Muslims who were murdered and humiliated in 2002 and after. Shaz says that"this is the only way to survive and prosper. I believe, it's a God-sent opportunity." Prosperity is not based on survival but a dignified life and the constitutionality of the State system in which Muslims are full and equal members of the political community. The magical EVM result itself is a God-sent opportunity for the BJP to make a shift from Hegdewar-Golwalkar to Gandhi-Nehru tradition. It is not a God-sent opportunity but a challenge to the constitutional State and the Indian Republic based on the social contract concluded in the Constituent Assembly of India and the process of federal nation-building resting upon our willingness for power-sharing and adequate representation to minorities in the country.
Political analysis without understanding the purpose of the "State," "Politics" and the factor of "legitimacy" of the national Government in the eyes of the largest Muslim minority community in a multicultural setting is adulation with ignorance. Politics is neither inter-faith dialogue (as part of the US public diplomacy in collaboration with Saudi Intelligence) nor translating the wrong as the right nor seeking power by all means but to seek legitimacy on the basis of the citizens' approval. Politically, India is a Constitutional State as a Federal Nation which requires different communities to be civic and democratic in substance for the purpose of nation-building. One nation, one culture and one language idiom is not compatible with the constitutional values against which the BJP has struggled all its political history. Those who have built their political careers on hatred and violence against Muslims, mosques and madarsas, denying rights and justice to thousands of victims mainly women and children, have loyalty to a particular ideology rather than endorsing the Rule of Law as the rule of governance.
Muslims in India basically need to be full and equal members of the political community for which they always tried to seek their constitutional rights. But the Sangh Parivar and the BJP have historically and ideologically been opposed to it. Constitutional values certify the group rights of the minorities under Article 30 and dignified life under Parts III and IV of the Constitution along with affirmative action policies under Articles 15 (4), 16 (4), 46, 340, etc in addition to the federal autonomy for J&K and North-Eastern states.
India has certainly entered into a turbulent phase of its constitutional existence which will not last long.
Dr Arshi Khan is associate professor in the department of political science, AMU
All praise is due to our Lord Most High.
May His Peace and Blessings be upon our leader, benefactor and beloved Prophet Muhammed.
Verily no one can lead him astray whom Allah (SWT) guides and no one can guide whom Allah (SWT) leads astray.
As the saying goes within in hundred years of passing away of beloved Prophet (PBUH) Muslims knocked at the doors of India. And thus began a rule of about a millennium. Most of the Muslims rulers of India were not of Indian origin. These were Pathans, Syeds, Slaves, Mongols (Mughals). Many people from their tribes also settled in India. Many indigenous people also converted to Islam.
In 1757 the Nawab of Bengal (supported by the French) was defeated by the British East India Company in a battle at a place called Plassey. This was the beginning of down fall of Muslim rule in India. Final push, or the curtains down, came in 1857 when the last Mughal was banished to Rangoon from Delhi and British Rule was firmly established in India.
In the meanwhile a renaissance in Hindu society of Bengal, that lies in eastern part of India, had already taken firm roots. It revolutionized the social, cultural and economic life there and a scientific revolution too was underway.
In 1868 ( all dates are from passe memory so caution advised) a meeting was held in Varanasi (Kashi, Benaras) was held as Nagari Pracharini Sabha, Kashi was establish. Apparent purpose was to promote Hindi.
One participant was Munshi Nawal Kishore of Lucknow.
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was puzzled. Munshi Ji was the person in whose press nearly all of Muslim religious literature was published. The Nagari Sabha can be credited with the achievement that Urdu is decimated in India to a near complete extant.
Mirza Ghalib was returning from Calcutta, now Kolkata, after pleading for his scholarship from the British high officials there and stayed with Sir Syed - I thing it was in Meerut. Sir Syed showed him his latest book's MS. The book was called Aasaar-us-Sanadeed. It was about old buildings, the heritage, of Delhi. Mirza Ghalib said, "Son something has happened in the world - pay attention to that." "The British has run vehicles on a metal track called the rails."
And thus Sir Syed, after pondering over the matters, came to the conclusion that modern education is the cause of British ascent. And that it should be repeated for Muslims. He started Madarsatul Uloom in Aligarh that soon became Aligarh College or MAO College.
Meanwhile Bankim Chandra Chaterjee in Bengal wrote Anand Math that contains the poem Vande Mataram in it. Originally the target was the British but fearing them the author, a Judge in British service, turned the ire against Muslims.
In spite of ruthless suppression of 1857 revolt British were still piqued at Muslims and soon their civil servants were mobilized to create a political organization called Indian National Congress. Sir Syed was again puzzled. The talk of a democracy, British like, in India was indeed puzzling. In UK where everyone is white you can think of political decisions by voting but how can you do the same in India where Muslims were outnumbered by Hindus. The majoritarian seeds of Indian democracy were not hidden from, at least him.
He advised Muslims against joining the Congress. He also tried to create a Muslim political organization but what could a single individual do in so many fields - education, science research, engineering, social reform,
politics, ...?
In 1906 Muslim League was established and the issue at hand was to ensure that Muslims are not politically marginalized in India for they were in minority. In democracy 51 people can neutralize 49 people. The last viceroy of India was biased against the minority and was pro-majority. As a consequence or otherwise the Congress rejected the formula of Muslim empowerment in independent India and Muhammed Ali Jinnah ultimately has to accept a small country, divided into two pathetic parts. Pathetic because giant India was in between.
And there remained a sizable Muslim minority in India. It faced the same problem as Sir Syed was facing more than half a century ago - Muslim minority in a democratic country.
But the majority has not been sleeping in the meanwhile. In spite of a wonderful freedom movement there were many people working diligently on alternative things. In 1925 was created RSS (Rashtriya Swayam Sewak Sangh, National Volunteers Organization) by Dr K.B. Hadgewar. Till now it was a semi-secretive organization. Purportedly cultural but in reality anti-Muslim and Islam with very clear fascist agenda. In addition there the Hindu Mahasabha. After independence RSS gave birth to a plethora of political, cultural and social organizations all working to further its agenda.
These organizations managed to destroy the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992. The civil institutions on India can do nothing in this matter - overt or unstated sentiments of the majority community are with them.
Finally last moth a senior worker of RSS has been elected prime minister of India but the election was astounding in the sense that all opposition to him was completely wiped out and he has near total control over the power. So much so that two days ago he told the secretaries of government departments to report directly to him - even ministers under him have been openly shut from the power loop by him.
Earlier in 2002 he had taught a severe lesson to Muslims and had remained unrepentant about it ever. There is near complete silence in India about the shape of things to come. same is true about the rest of the world.
Professor Rashid Shaz is, to the best of my knowledge, Jama-at-e-Islami type and he has been writing books of the international intellectual genre type. We do not have many Muslims in that field in spite of considerable intellectual mass all over the world.
Dr Arshi Khan is another enthusiastic intellectual who is un-awed by the leftist intelligentsia. In above rejoinder he is disagreeing with Dr Shaz's thesis and he cites many ground facts to support his theses. (EVM stands for electronic voting machines and many people suspect a foul play in them but we should understand that after 89 years of RSS the communal polarization of majority community in India is at its peak.)
This cannot be undone and I am sure it will be greatly appreciated.
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