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Indian Muslims and Elections 2014: Some Issues

THE LOK Sabha elections 2014 are different from all previous elections. This is mainly due to the fact that the BJP, the principal opposition Party in the existing Parliament, has nominated Mr. Narendra Modi as its PM candidate, a person who has the blotch of the 2002 Gujarat riots on him as he was CM then and when over 2000 Muslims were killed.

Whatever the Courts may say on technical, legal grounds, the perception remains among a considerable section of Indians and especially among Muslims, that Mr. Modi not only failed to stop the massacre of Muslims, rather he connived in it. Thus, his nomination as PM candidate filled the Muslim community with fear and apprehension and created a divide not experienced even in the elections after the Babri Masjid demolition. His speeches in the previous Assembly elections in Gujarat and during these elections have only given strength to that perception. Adding fuel to the fire are the statements of his close aides, Mr. Amit Shah, who exhorted voters in Muzaffarnagar, scene of recent communal riots, to cast their votes as ‘revenge’, and Mr. Giriraj Singh, saying that those who don’t vote for Modi will be sent to Pakistan; the statements of his opponents, like Mr. Abu Azmi, saying that Muslims who do not vote for the Samajwadi Party against Modi are not true Muslims and their DNA should be tested, have only complemented the aforementioned statements.

Continue reading “Indian Muslims and Elections 2014: Some Issues”

Alarming Rise of Torture Based on Religion

PEOPLE’S Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), Varanasi and Human Rights Law Network (HRLN), New Delhi, with the support from European Union and Dignity Danish Institute Against Torture organised “Interface meeting with the Parliamentarian, policy makers and political parties, on the issue of Muslim minority in Uttar Pradesh” on December 9, 2013, in Speaker Hall, Constitution Club, New Delhi.

“Attacks on Hindu and Christian communities in Pakistan and Bangladesh and targeting of Muslim and Christian communities in India are being increasingly used as a political weapon by the communal and fascist forces”, said Lenin Raghuvanshi, General Secretary, PVCHR. A documentary, ‘Muslim & Police: A Perspective’, prepared on the basis of interactions for almost three months at the grass root level with the members of Muslim community in various Muslim dominated districts of Uttar Pradesh was screened during the event.

A book “Repression, Despair and Hope: Mapping of Police torture in four districts of Uttar Pradesh and Strengthening Human Rights Institutions” on 1500 cases of human rights violations after comprehensive fact finding exercises in the last 3 years was also launched. These cases relate to police torture and communal violence which have affected the minority Muslim community most in Uttar Pradesh.

The following resolution was made during the event-The role of judiciary in condoning police atrocities and in not allowing the state to withdraw false cases lodged by police against persons declared innocent by a judicial commission (Justice Nimesh Commission).

Ratification of UNCAT and enactment of Prevention of Torture Bill.
Enactment of Communal Violence Bill immediately.
Immediate established of rule of law and appropriate pro-survivors rehabilitation and relief to survivors of survivors pf communal riots in Muzzafarnagar, U.P.

Kashmir: Understanding Article 370

THOSE gripped by religious nationalism are unable to understand the regional-ethnic aspirations of the people. Many an ultra-nationalists of different hues also fall into this trap quite often. With the formation of Indian nation, integration of regions like Himachal Pradesh, North Eastern States and Jammu & Kashmir created some challenging situations. Though in all these cases the challenges were met in different ways and even now continue to pose issues of serious national concerns, but those related to Kashmir require some more pressing attention. Located in a strategic geographic area of great significance, the global powers have also added their own weight behind complicating the matters in Kashmir. It remains one of the most contentious issues between the two neighbors, Pakistan and India. In addition the communal forces in India have been making it a bone of contention all through. Continue reading “Kashmir: Understanding Article 370”

The Iran Genie is Out

THE SEQUENCE is established. You first release the genie, we are reliably informed by Middle East folklore, and then it grants your three wishes.

America has set free a genie called Iran from three decades of isolation within the world’s most congested conflict zone. Over the next six months we shall find out whether Iran will grant America’s three wishes, or actually one wish written in three codes: forget the bomb. The one thing a genie will not do, however, is return to the bottle which was its prison. Whether Iran’s nuclear ambitions get punctured, or deposited into some storehouse of mind and memory for revival at some later date, the Geneva deal between America, five other major powers and Iran has already begun to redraw the strategic map of the region and beyond. Continue reading “The Iran Genie is Out”

Exhibition on calligraphy organised

LUCKNOW. INTACH (Indian National Trust for Arts & Cultural Heritage) Lucknow chapter, in association with Rashtriya Lalit Kala Akademi, Lucknow, is organising an exhibition “Lucknow ki Sarzameen”.

Painting by Azeem Haider — Calligraphy by Azeem Haider

The seven day exhibition on calligraphy is being organised at Rashtriya Lalit Kala Akademi. Calligraphy thrived as an art during the Nawabi period. Today it’s finding difficult to survie and very few are practising the art in the digital age. There is a tremendous need to create awareness and to save this art for future generations.

The exhibition is open to public from the 8th till the 14th of July.

Artists whose is being displayed at the exhibition include Pankaj Gupta, Syed Azeem Haider Jafri, and Vishnu Narain Agrwal.

A pioneering educational initiative for the Muslim minority

GUWAHATI. The American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin (AFMI) will hold its 22nd International Convention on Education and Gala Award Program on Dec 28-29, 2013 in Guwahati in association with Markazul Ma’arif (a voluntary social-welfare NGO) and Ajmal Foundation.

Muslim toppers from each state will be honored at the convention.

In addition, the convention will also feature sessions on various aspects of education and these will be addressed by experts in the field. A special session will be dedicated on the challenges and prospects facing Muslim education in the North East. Another session will focus on educating the girl child.

AFMI is a philanthropic, service based and issue-orientated organisation formed by Muslim Americans of Indian origin in 1989. It strives to work towards the educational and economic upliftment of Indian Muslims by seeking cooperation among American and Indian relief and educational organisations.

The organisation which strives to achieve 100 per cent literacy among Indian Muslims has already built and adopted schools in many villages, and also provides prizes and scholarship to needy and deserving students.

Other than education AFMI has also built hospitals, conducted medical camps, provided relief and rehabilitation during epidemics and calamities.

A new book explores Lucknow

NEW DELHI. The Vice President of India Hamid Ansari recently released a book entitled “Fida-e-Lucknow – Tales of the city and its people” authored by Parveen Talha, former Member UPSC. Addressing on the occasion, he also said that many renowned authors and poets have written about Lucknow and its culture earlier. There is something special in the roots of Lucknow that a cultural civilization grew there.

The book, a collection of 22 short stories, is peeped in the flavours and textures of life in Lucknow. Woven through these stories is the history of its Ganga-Jamuni culture and the changes which came over the city and its people in the post-Independence period. It is also the story of Lucknow’s women.

Life of a Painter

[youtube=http://youtu.be/S1CTUDpC-s8]DOCUMENTARY ‘Road Map of Yasin‘, produced by Aseem Asha Foundation, is based on 85 years old veteran artist Mohammed Yasin.

Yasin’s most important contribution goes to the art of calligraphy. He chose to work in an abstract symbolic manner. Geometrical elements – the circle within the square, concentric circles, comprise the basic structure emphasising a symmetrical arrangement and abstract formal values, calm and quiet they are nevertheless active fields. They seem to be deeply influenced by Buddhist art. They generate impulses of colour and focus attention on the images- the symbolic images- they contain.

His early works have explored all available mediums from lithography, etching, aquatint, engraving, dry point, serigraphy, mezzotint water colors, oils, gouache and egg tempora. His works are very poetic and also dramatic.

Tantric symbolism, Sufi mysticism, echoes of the miniature schools, shades of thankas and pictorialised Arabic calligraphy – all these inspirations could be identified in Yasin’s work.

Books on Sir Syed released

ALIGARH. Two books, “Afkar-i-Sir Syed Ki Asri Maanwiyat” and “Ihya-e-Islam Ki Aalami Jidd-o-Jehd Aur Maujooda Challenges”, authored by Dr. Tauqueer Alam Falahi of Department of Theology were released by the Vice Chancellor, Aligarh Muslim University, Lt. General (Retd.) Zameer Uddin Shah and former Pro-Chancellor, Nawab Ibne Saeed Khan of Chhatari earlier this month.

Appreciating the work of Dr. Falahi, the VC said that his books have covered a large spectrum of issues and challenges faced by the Muslim community in the world. He said that the biggest problems before the community are lack of proper education and ignorance of women to their rights. He said that Dr. Falahi has categorically analysed these issues and provided solutions in the light of historical and cultural development of the community. Continue reading “Books on Sir Syed released”

Dr. S. Y. Quraishi appointed Honorary Chair of Sightsavers

MUMBAI. Dr S. Y. Quraishi, former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India, has been appointed as the Honorary Chair of the Board of Trustees for Sightsavers (India).

Picture Dr S Y Quraishi — Dr S. Y. Quraishi

Sightsavers is an international development organization based out of U.K with presence in more than 30 countries and works to eliminate avoidable blindness and for providing equal opportunity to persons with visual impairments.

Expressing delight at the new honour, Dr. Quraishi said, “I feel deeply honoured on being appointed the Chair of Sightsavers in India. It also bestows immense responsibilities on me by way of the commitment to the cause of eye healthcare and mitigation of visual impairment. I do look forward to working with the members of the Board and its team in India.”

Dr. Quraishi is known for his special contributions in social sector including health, education, population, drug abuse, and civil society action. He is also credited for his stellar work in the field of gender, women & child development, HIV/AIDS, youth and adolescent issues.

Commenting on Dr. Quraishi associating with Sightsavers, Mr. RN Mohanty, CEO of Sightsavers (India), said, “It is a great privilege for us to have Dr. Quraishi as our Chair. I am sure, his expertise and experience will immensely help Sightsavers in progressing towards the goal of eliminating avoidable blindness and providing equal opportunities for people with disabilities, across India.”