I am an Indian and I am a Muslim

From being addressed as a traitor, to a Pakistani, and of course the usual ‘terrorist’ tag, thanks to the hatred some of my countrymen have against Muslims; I bear it all each day. Twitter, day in and day out is filled with hate messages from the hardliners who demand a certification of patriotism from me, just because I am a Muslim. Feels sad. But then, that is what it is! Just a mere ‘feeling’. I pull up my socks again and get out there on the virtual battlefield to fight my Indianess. I really do not need to do so but I still choose to do it.

It amuses me that individuals with no claim to fame of contributing anything for India indulge in dirty name callings when I raise my voice against intolerance. The usual is, people like these need to be sent to Pakistan. Hell, no! Why should anyone have the right to decide on my choice of country? Why should anyone have the right to question my belongingness to India? And most importantly, why should anyone have the right to dictate terms to me! Continue reading “I am an Indian and I am a Muslim”

Minority Status for AMU – Why it is necessary?

Victoria Gate, AMU

The recent affidavit filed by the Centre to Supreme Court regarding Minority status to AMU will be quite damaging in the final outcome of the case pertaining to it. Representing Government of India, the Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told a bench of Justices (J S Khehar, M Y Eqbal and C Nagappan), “It is the stand of the Union of India that AMU is not a minority university. As the executive government at the Centre, we can’t be seen as setting up a minority institution in a secular state.”

It’s important first of all to understand the meaning of Minority status. Article 30 of the Indian Constitution states that:

(1) All minorities whether based on religion or language shall have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.

(2)The state shall not, in granting aid to educational institutions, discriminate against any educational institution on the ground that it is under the management of a minority, whether based on religion or language.”  Continue reading “Minority Status for AMU – Why it is necessary?”