To 23 January 2007

The Editor,

Real Politik,

New Delhi.

Dear Sir,

I am not surprised by Mr. Arif Mohammed Khan’s belaboured anxiety to prove himself worthy of his being a prominent member of the BJP.

The Muslim Indians do not form a nation in the political sense of the term but they do form a distinct social group, a religious community with a common interest to protect themselves against violence, discrimination & political, economic and social injustice & deprivation, which are contrary to the Constitution. I wonder whether Mr. Khan denies them the status of being a religious community and whether he denies them any remedy because of historical reasons or ideological pressures. They suffer many handicaps. The great contribution that Sachar Committee has made, is to lay bare the depth of backwardness to which they have sunk, whatever be the reasons in relation to the rest of the countrymen. Mr. Khan is wrong if he thinks that a consensus on fact of backwardness and an aspiration with suitable support from the rest of the nation, to fill the yawning gap, amounts to communalism.

The question is not what is provided in the Indian Constitution, but whether in fact every social group based on religion, caste or race gets its due share of the fruits of development.

He is wrong to think that the constituent unit of the Indian state is the invidivual citizen; the constituents in a plural society are also social groups which include religious communities. If some social groups have not progressed as much as to touch even the national average, it is an obligation of the Indian state to direct its policies and to devise programmes to ensure that those who have fallen behind make up the gap. Indeed, our nation state can ignore such persistent gaps at its peril.

Whether the Government has the intention or the will to implement the recommendations of the Sachar Committee, inadequate as they are, will depend very much upon the political stand of the communal forces in the country which ignore the very fact of deprivation of the Muslim community, the state of siege in which it lives, and the hurdles and obstacles that it faces at every turn. These communal forces including the party to which Mr. Khan belongs, have reduced the national politics to a zero-sum game, which entails that nothing should be done for the Muslims because it will cut into what the Hindus are getting! This is a false conclusion but unfortunately they desire to keep hatred and bias alive against the Muslims by recalling pre-Partition politics and the supposed Muslim responsibility for Pakistan, not to speak of the misinterpretation of historical facts since the advent of Islam in the sub-continent. That is the only way the communal forces know for consolidating Hindu votes and coming to power. In this nefarious game unfortunately some persons with Muslim names also join. Had Mr. Khan only looked at the data assembled by the Sachar Committee, he would have come to the same conclusion that the Committee has that the level of the Muslim community is more or less that of the SC and ST and as a patriot, he would have also agreed that something needs to be done for them, so that they not only share the fruits but also participate in the development process.

As for orthodoxy, there are variations among all religious communities & we have to live with it. But, orthodoxy is not communalism. Nor is Muslim orthodoxy pitted against education or progress.

Yours faithfully,

(Syed Shahabuddin)

23 January 2007

To The Editor,

The Milli Gazette,

New Delhi.

(For favour of publication)

Sir,

Mr. Mirza Yawar Baig’s article in your issue of January 1-15, 2007 under the title, "Strategies for empowerment" shows an unfortunate disconnect with political and social realities and a lack of basic information. However, it is true that the Muslim elite have never shown much interest in the affairs of the community so as to devote time, energy and resources to establish a competitive service network. Even the simple idea of publicizing educational or job opportunities or availability of scholarships through establishing small information centres in Muslim localities has not received the support it deserves.

Coming to the action strategies, Mr. Baig does not seem to be aware that Muslims enjoy no reservation except some sub-communities, which have been included in the OBC List. I wonder how he found the Armed Forces, the Police, the Railways, Public sector undertakings and others floating ‘quotas’ for Muslims and getting no replies. Practically, the doors of the Armed Forces and even the Central para-military forces, the State Armed Constabularies and the State Police are closed to Muslims.

There is also no possibility of appointment even as Madrasa teachers as relatively few Muslim graduates get admitted to B.Ed or M. Ed. or even CT courses. I however agree that the Muslim educationists and educational entrepreneurs should invest in teacher training colleges because trained teachers are in increasing demand and the nation faces a shortage of supply while embarking on the monumental project of universalisation of school education. But, the suggestion may work in the long run but not in the short term.

What is needed is organized political pressure to translate the fact of backwardness into the concession of reservation. The Centre has by and large ignored political empowerment because it will demand reform in the electoral system to ensure due representation to the minorities. At present, the Muslims are also handicapped by their own infighting in constituencies in which they have a high concentration by social division along the lines of baradris and sects and political affiliation.

It seems to me that Mr. Baig is not familiar with the Indian scene. He is well intentioned but I am afraid his suggestions fly in the face of facts or are simply impracticable.

Yours faithfully,

(Syed Shahabuddin)