Muslim Upliftment | Muslims Today

Government Welfare Schemes for whom?

Every government in India has either created new welfare schemes or continued with existing ones. That these schemes have failed to reach the masses can be gauged from the following four stories.

“I’ve only heard of schemes”

Salauddin Qureshi’s family seems to be living a normal life. The truth is otherwise.

Living in the Urdu Bazar area of Darbhanga, Bihar, Qureshi, like many others, sleep every night on hope. His modest one room abode is home to eight members of the family. Salauddin finds it difficult to manage meals but makes sure that his children attend a barely functional government school.

Government schemes have not reached this family and neither is the government listening to Salauddin’s woes. The village head has nothing for him and the society shows no respect. “In such circumstances, I struggle to find a job,” says Salauddin. “If I miss one day of work, my kitchen stops. It’s not easy to earn two meals a day and at the same time send your kids to school!”

“Girls are not a burden but poverty has forced us to think differently! I wish God ends this life and spare us from further misery. I’m not a pessimist but somebody has to come forward and see our plight. So far I’ve only heard of schemes – we’ve never benefited from them. I send my kids to school so that they learn a few wordly tricks and get out of this mess.”

Salauddin’s wife Shajra Khatoon shares her own struggles. “The day seems to last a eternity. Till the time he is not back from work, I keep thinking whether the kids will have anything to eat for the day. As adults we can control our urge but how does one handle hungry little souls in your arms. Sometimes it’s mere request and assurances that the kids have in place of a meal.” Continue reading “Government Welfare Schemes for whom?”

मीम-भीम गठबंधन: भारतीय राजनीति नए तजुर्बे की तैयारी में।

असदउद्दीन ओवैसी की पार्टी AIMIM का उत्तर प्रदेश विधानसभा चुनाव 2017 मायावती की पार्टी बसपा के साथ गठबंधन कर लड़ने के नाम भर से समाजवादी पार्टी के मुस्लिम नेताओं के पसीने छुटने लगे हैं। सपा वरिष्ट नेता आज़म खान साहेब का प्रधानमन्त्री नरेंद्र मोदी पर कल का बयान इसी बौखलाहट का ‘सपा-बीजेपी’ ‘आंतरिक गठबंधन’ का हिस्सा हो सकता है।

भले बिहार में ‘मजलिस’ कुछ खास नहीं कर पायी हो और बिहार चुनाव लड़ने से मुस्लिम बुद्धिजीवी वर्ग का कुछ हिस्सा ‘मजलिस’ पर थोड़ी देर के लिए ‘बीजेपी’ के साथ ‘सांठगाठ’ का आरोप मढें हों पर सचाई ये भी है अगर मजलिस ने 24 सीटों पर लड़ने का एलान नहीं किया होता तो महागठबंधन मुसलमानो को ’33’ सीट किसी हाल में नहीं देती।उदहारण बिहार विधानसभा के तुरंत पहले हुए एमएलसी का चुनाव था जब लालू यादव की पार्टी राजद ने 12 सीटों के अपने हिस्से में से एक सीट भी मुसलमान को नहीं दिया था और 8 सीटें यादवों को दे दीं थीं। जदयू ने भी बड़े भाई के पदचिन्हों पर चलते हुए अपने 12 सीटों में से सिर्फ एक सीटिंग सीट मुस्लिम उम्मीदवार को दिया था।महागठबंधन, सपा, बसपा जैसी पार्टियां ही नहीं बल्कि ‘नौटंकी बादशाह’ अरविन्द केजरीवाल की नयी नवेली पार्टी भी बहुत अच्छी तरह से जानती है की बीजेपी को हराना है तो मुसलमानो को झक मारकर इन तथाकथित ‘धरनिर्पेक्ष’ पार्टियों को वोट देना होगा। Continue reading “मीम-भीम गठबंधन: भारतीय राजनीति नए तजुर्बे की तैयारी में।”

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?”

AMU Alumni Meet 2015

Its quite difficult to sum up the recently concluded AMU Alumni meet in words. I have never witnessed such enthusiasm, dedication, hard work and professionalism in any meet. More than 600 delegates (AMU Alumni) across the globe gathered to pay tribute to the founder of AMU, the great Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, and also pledged to take his mission forward by investing time, talent and treasure. The three day event started with SS day celebrations on 17th October 2015. The chief guest of the event was PK Abdu Rabb, Minister for Education and Culture, Government of Kerala, who himself is a proud alumnus of AMU. In the evening each and every hall of AMU hosted its annual SS day dinner and eminent alumni of AMU presided those functions as chief guests.

On 18th October 2015 AMU Alumni meet commenced at Kennedy auditorium. The dais was full of eminent alumni consisting of Chief guest Javed Usmani (CIC, UP Govt.), Prof. Habib Zuberi (Professor Emeritus of Economics, University of Michigan, USA), Dr. Ashok Seth (Padam Bhushan, Chairman , Fortis-Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi), Ameer Ahmad (Chairman & Group MD of Manappat Group of companies, Dubai, UAE), Nasiruddin Shah (Padam Bhushan awardee and renowned actor, Mumbai) , Vice Chancellor Lt. General Zamir Uddin Shah, Pro Vice Chancellor Brigadier Ahmad Ali and Dr. Suhail Sabir (Chairman of Alumni Affairs Committee, AMU ). These alumni made not only the alma mater but also the country proud through their work and talent. Continue reading “AMU Alumni Meet 2015”

Indian Muslims’ Growth Rate Drops Sharply

Muslims at Jama Masjid, New Delhi Amidst the usual interest and misrepresentation of facts related to Indian Muslims’ population, the following figures tell a different story altogether.

As per the latest Census of India (2011) the Growth Rate of Indian Muslims have gone down sharply from 29.52% (2001 Census) to 24.60%. The areas with the highest literacy in India are the state Kerala (93.91%) and the Union Territory (UT) Lakshadweep (91.85%). It’s interesting to note that Kerala’s Muslims account for 26.56% of the total population, in Lakshadweep they are in absolute majority at 96.58%. Incidentally Kerala also has the Best Sex Ratio (1084 females per 1000 males). Continue reading “Indian Muslims’ Growth Rate Drops Sharply”

A root problem needs a root answer

Girls outside a school in India Education comes in many forms when experience is your teacher. I recall the day when I was part of a delegation to some muscular regional satrap. There was only one point on our agenda: the extent, quality and depth of education among minorities, with a stress on how to do far more for the Muslim girl child. A worthy cause brought together a worthy lot: an assortment of editors, educationists, NGO heads, marginal do-gooders. We sat in the room adjacent to the satrap’s office with beatific smiles on our faces. After the compulsory wait, we entered his sanctum in a solemn file.
Continue reading “A root problem needs a root answer”

A petty feudal at Jama Masjid

Imam Bukhari

WHEN ignorance marries bluster you get a functioning blunderbuss. Every scattershot gun should come with a safety catch, but human behaviour so often becomes vulnerable to the ego of a weak mind.

Muslims claim, with justified pride, that the age of jahilya, or ignorance, ended when the message of Islam came to the Prophet Muhammad in the desert city of Mecca. Regrettably, jihalat still lingers in parts of the Muslim world. It has found a temporary sanctuary in Delhi’s Jama Masjid, the iconic symbol of Indian Islam.

If the bluster of its Imam, Syed Ahmad Bukhari, were nothing more than self-inflicted wounds, it would not matter so much. But Bukhari gets media space, thanks to his position, and thereby affects the wider perception of Indian Muslims. When he claims that he will not invite India’s Prime Minister to his 19-year-old son Shaban Bukhari’s so-called investiture ceremony, but would like Pakistan’s leader to be present, Ahmad Bukhari is guilty of many varieties of stupidity. Indian Muslims relate to their country’s leaders, not to those of a foreign nation. But this is an appropriate moment to ask another question. Continue reading “A petty feudal at Jama Masjid”

“Sufism is Not an Innovation but a Classical Tradition of Islam”

SADIA DEHLVI is an Indian author and activist. Her most recent book is ‘The Sufi Courtyard: Dargahs of Delhi’. Her first book was ‘Sufism: The Heart of Islam’. In a telephonic interview with Inam Abidi Amrohvi, Muslims Today, Sadia speaks on Sufism, women’s rights and Indian Muslims in general.

How satisfied are you with the progress of Indian Muslims during the last 20 years or so?

Well that’s a very tough question because lot has happened during the last two decades, and I think Muslims have progressed a lot.

When I was growing up, I remember, there was hardly a Muslim middle-class. Just after the partition when we had the landed elites and the poor, you never came across Muslims who were doctors, lawyers, engineers, young politicians, etc. I distinctly remember, I had gone to boarding school in Shimla and I was the only Muslim girl there.

When I look now, I see that things have changed a lot for the better. Today, you see a whole new generation of Indian Muslims who are educated and empowered in the true sense. They are engaged in sports, film industry, media, legal, arts and medical profession. So there has been a tremendous growth during the last twenty years, undoubtedly. But, on the other hand it’s not good enough. We should have progressed much further and become a bigger part of India’s growth story. A lot needs to be done at the grassroot level. You know there are many issues at stake. I find that there is a tremendous thirst for knowledge, to work and be financially independent, in the poor people I work with in the Muslim community, especially amongst the women. So there is a tremendous change in their mental attitudes which is a good sign. They want to progress and are looking for opportunities. Unfortunately the opportunities are not enough. Continue reading ““Sufism is Not an Innovation but a Classical Tradition of Islam””

“There’s nothing called a homogeneous Indian Muslim politically”

MJ AKBAR is a prolific Indian author and journalist. His most recent book is ‘Tinderbox: The past and future of Pakistan’. In an exclusive interview with Inam Abidi Amrohvi, Muslims Today, Akbar speaks on issues that plague the Indian Muslims.

Education has been the bane of Indian Muslims. Has the situation improved both in terms of the infrastructure and mindset?

Yes, and I feel education begins with the mindset. I noticed this in the 1990s, after the high tension of the Babri Masjid episode. I think there was a very strong sense, within the Muslim community of India, of having being let down by politicians who created a hype which led to a high spurt of emotionalism. The community in particular felt abandoned mainly after the Congress government promised to protect the mosque and then quietly went to sleep on the day of the demolition.

I feel there come crisis points in the lives of people which wakes them up. There was a crisis point for example, in 1991, when the economy was hit in India. Similarly, the mosque demolition, too, made Indian Muslims realise that the future lay not in the politics of manipulation (what we have seen being done by those who seek Muslim votes) but in the basics, which is education, from education the economic empowerment. Education is the primary means of economic empowerment. The opportunity base in India is huge.

One of the more important things I see in all the investments of the community, is the education of the girl child. We are already seeing the change in rising literacy levels and the economic opportunities created as a consequence of these investments of the last 20 years.

There is a lot of related infrastructure development all over the country. Education is the biggest growth industry in India. Continue reading ““There’s nothing called a homogeneous Indian Muslim politically””

Time to Vote for Good Governance

Politics is a strange world. Sworn enemies suddenly become friends in the name of seat sharing, and those holding membership for years suddenly realise that they have ideological differences with the party.

While in school we read about people like Nehru and Azad. The kind of passion and vision they had for their country. One reason could be their own involvement in the freedom struggle. For them it was country first.

As we close in to celebrate our 67th Independence Day, a lot has changed, including the politics in India. There is more polarisation than ever. The three Cs (Communalism, Castesism & Corruption) have changed the political landscape in India. It’s in this changed atmosphere that Indian Muslims are finding it difficult to raise awareness about genuine issues that affect them. Continue reading “Time to Vote for Good Governance”