An important suggestion for Muslim journalists

The leader of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari has advised Muslim journalists to do, on their own, some investigative journalism to dig out facts about terror blasts in the various parts of the country. Addressing Muslims journalists during an Iftar party at JIH headquarters on August 3, he said, “A section of media is looking hell-bent to witch-hunt a particular community within minutes or hours of a terror blast…. Despite the fact that Hindutva extremists have been found involved in various terror blasts across the country including Mecca Masjid, Ajmer Dargah, Malegaon and Samjhauta Express and several Hindutva extremists were killed while making bombs or carrying bombs in the past, yet any blast takes place and police and media rather than probing the incidents professionally and objectively, they start pointing fingers directly or indirectly to Muslims.” (Twocircles.net) – It can be said here that it is not proper to give Muslim or Non-Muslim colour to journalism as a journalist is journalist; his duty is to report events and incidents and analyse them honestly and comment on them in an unbiased manner.

But practically it is not so

It is alright as far as only statement is concerned, but practically it is not so; had it been practically true, the JIH Amir had not to make this suggestion. It remains a fact that the mainstream or national media of this country happens to be characterless and dishonest; it is a product for sale; during delicate situations government agencies run it in accordance with their set lines on the basis of their strong purchasing power; they also do this in the name of “national interest”. The minds of people associated with media are affected; therefore they cannot report events and incidents honestly as they have no interest in bringing the facts to the fore. The most recent example is reporting from Pune. Some minor blasts took place there on August 1; media persons started taking the name of “Indian Mujahideen” without any second thought; then investigating agencies immediately declared that neither Hindutva extremists nor Maoists had any hand in these blasts; and that it was the work of “Indian Mujahideen” and in other words of Muslims. And the entire media exerted all its powers quite brazenly to carry this theory further while the ground realities clearly pointed towards the mischief of anti-Muslim elements.

 Why this work is necessary

This is why Muslim journalists should bring the realities to the world, on their own. But the question is how Muslim journalists can do this work. They have neither necessary wherewithal nor have they access. The Muslim journalists associated with mainstream media are compelled to work in strict conformity with the policies set by their respective channels and papers; even if they prepare some stories (of their liking), their media do not release them. The access of Muslim journalists is not limited. Even if they gather the realities, they can get them published only in Urdu newspapers, which have only Muslim readership. That is, they cannot influence agencies and the government. Undoubtedly, these are the impediments before Muslim journalists. But despite this, Muslim journalists should fulfil their responsibilities, as far as feasible, towards the delicate issues having far-reaching importance. Whether or not there is any major advantage of these stories finding place in Urdu newspapers, one great benefit is that the record of history will be set right and future historians and researchers will feel compelled to write that the Muslims had been countering the allegations levelled against them but the mainstream media had not been publishing those ground realities rather used to suppressed them.

13/ 08/12 khabar-O-Nazar by Parwaaz Rahmani, sehrozaDAWAT, translated by: Abu Yusuf

 

That statement of new minister for home

Those who would have heard, or read, the statement of Shushil Kumar Shinde that he made while expressing happiness at having been appointed Union Minister for Home, must have noted that Shinde takes this decision of the ruling class as pro-Dalit. That is, naming as Home Minister a person from among the Dalit castes that have been treated in society as mean under the caste system and whose work is only to serve the “high” castes, is indeed the large-heartedness and benevolence of the section that has established this system of high and low caste on the basis of birth. Otherwise, under the Varna system the “low castes” have no right to get higher education, eat good food, live in a decent manner, and sit and dine with “high castes”. It is as if Shinde accepts that he is “mean” and is content with this social status. Meira Kumar too had expressed exactly the same pleasure and gratefulness in 2009 when she was appointed speaker of Lok Sabha. Meira Kumar is the daughter of Babu Jagjivan Ram.

 Untouchable, Harijan, Dalit

Varna vayvastha or caste system, as everyone knows, is the social system of Indian majority population, which by its nature is distinguished in human society and is found on this very land. The founders of this system are Aryan Brahmins who have divided human beings in four high and low castes; then there is also an arrangement of castes within castes, numbering in thousands. The fourth caste, the meanest, is called Shudra. Before Independence they were called “untouchables”; later Gandhiji gave them the name of “Harijan” to keep them happy and contented with this status of theirs. After Independence both of these classifying names were prohibited and they were called “Dalits”. The Constitution has called them Scheduled Castes and Tribes. This strategy of Brahmins proved cent per cent successful. With the word “Dalit” all these sections are very happy and contended; and their educated section, which has emerged as a result of post-independence reservation in educational institutions and government jobs, has heartily accepted this status of theirs. Therefore, now there are separate institutions of Dalits under the patronage of “higher castes”; even “Dalit Chamber of Commerce” has been established.

Now they should do this also

It means that Dalit scholars, entrepreneurs and politicians have fully compromised with the Brahmin social order; so they should do one more work. They should tell all those groups, institutions and social activists who are working in rural areas to put an end to untouchability and high and low castes, to wind up their activities. The recent information in this regard is that mid-day meal scheme for school children in Rajasthan, Orissa, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh is proving a failure because the children of “high” castes do not like to eat in the company of “low” caste children; and indeed they would have been doing this on the bidding of their elders. The Times of India of August 5 has published a very alarming report with reference to the monitoring committee of Union Ministry of Education. The Ministry is sending its teams to these states to take stock of the situation in detail; but there is no need of such activities because whatever is happening is according to the caste system. Much can be said on this interesting situation but it is clear that this is the internal affair of the “majority community” on which those who fall out of the pale of this system have no right to speak.

10/ 08/12 khabar-O-Nazar by Parwaaz Rahmani, sehrozaDAWAT, translated by: Abu Yusuf

This thinking of Team Anna

Prashant Bhushan is of the view that the government does not want to do anything about Lokpal; now it is the public who has to do all about it. If the public does not do anything at this stage, does not take the issue in its hands, the country will march towards destruction. He has reiterated this view of his while giving an interview to English weekly, Tehelka (August 4). Although he has said this with reference to the public viz. “now the public has started thinking this way” but the fact remains that this is the thinking of entire Team Anna and Prashant is part of the Team. He is a renowned lawyer and legal luminary, has open mind about political issues, and is a sincere person; this is why his opinion has deserved analysis here. Otherwise Team Anna has now reduced itself to good-for-nothing. All sorts of people, with their respective political agenda, have joined it. Others’ mind is working behind whatever Anna Hazare is saying or doing in the name of rooting out corruption. Therefore, his and his friends’ sayings cannot be considered seriously. The objective of this Team is to pave the way for NDA by ousting UPA from the seat of power at the Centre. A commentator, PK Siddhartha has commented on it comprehensively in The Times of India of August 1.

The meaning of this method?

If the opinion of Prashant Bhushan gets agreed, it will mean anarchy, lawlessness, topsy-turvy and the rule of hooligans; for, to mobilise the masses, we have to instigate them, raise sensational slogans, exploit foul means to make them onto the roads. And Prashant knows perfectly well that the biggest political party patronising his Team is well-versed in this work. It (that party) knows very well the art of hiding its real agenda while involving them in non-issues. What was the basis for Ram Mandir Movement in 1990? It was the declaration of implementation of Mandal Commission Report. Hearing the declaration of VP Singh government that according to Mandal Report backward classes will get 27% reservation in government jobs, this party got worried; and to nullify the impact of the declaration it decided to stage a countrywide rath yatra. The strategy got cent per cent success. The sections of masses for whose welfare VP Singh had made the declaration forgot the Mandal Report and followed the rath yatra. Then, what happened? Demonstrating sharp weapons and blood-stained kalash, the masses were instigated. It resulted in riots at various places and there was widespread anarchy.

Who will reap benefits of anarchy

It is not believable that a responsible citizen like Prashant Bhushan has said this after much deliberation. If he really did, it is unfortunate. He knows better than others that the one that will get benefited with it is the BJP, which is hell bent upon giving the Team Anna its own colour by hijacking it right from day one. It can flourish only in an environment of anarchy. So far as rooting out corruption is concerned, neither Congress nor BJP is concerned about it. For the situation is related to the economic policies of the country and the economic policy of these two parties is one and the same; both are obedient to America; they cannot root out corruption even if they want. It is so because the national affairs have slipped out of their hands and landed into the hands of the corporate sector. This is also the meaning of naming Chidambaram as Minister of Finance once again. Therefore, it is better the people like Prashant Bhushan get separated from the hollow slogans of Anna Hazare and ponder over some other way to root out corruption in an effective manner. As an effective way, he can launch a campaign to raise the moral character of all citizens and inculcate in them the fear of their Creator and Master and not only of law, and tell them that the result of every evil including corruption is bad in this life and it will be bad in the life after death as well.

07/ 08/12 khabar-O-Nazar by Parwaaz Rahmani, sehrozaDAWAT, translated by: Abu Yusuf

Vrindavan in the Apex Court

The people of this country are generally aware of the sad stories of the women rendering services as dasis in temples and ashrams as well as of other hapless women. In this sense Vrindavan in Mathura district of U.P. is very famous. Most of the women who live here are those who turn widows in their childhood, teen age, youth, adolescence or old age and also those who are declared ill-omened and dropped there, often much against their will, by their relations (sons, daughters-in-laws, etc.). The efforts to better the condition of these oppressed women always make headlines in newspapers but the result never comes to the fore. – The condition remains the same. The most recent effort is on the basis of which the Supreme Court in May this year discussed the appalling condition of the widows of Vrindavan and formed a 7-member committee of high officials to suggest recommendations. The committee has submitted its report in the Apex Court, and picturising the hapless condition of women, written that “only those who go to such places unannounced and without any official clout can see and realise the pathetic conditions in which the destitute women known as Vrindavan widows live there.” (Newspapers of July 31)

Four causes of the scenario
The Apex Court will issue its directives on this report on August 3 and it is hoped that these directives, if carried on honestly, must help better the condition of these oppressed women. But notwithstanding the type of people implementing court verdicts and that this work would have been done much earlier if the condition had to be improved by court verdicts, let’s see what the causes of the condition are. At a glance there seems to be four causes: (1) the attitude of society towards women in general and towards widows and hapless women in particular; (2) the belief of the people belonging to the “majority” religion that a widow is ill-omened, and she should not live in the society like common women; (3) not treating widows or old parents as part of the family, considering them to be burden on the family, and young couples’ bid to lead a prosperous life, considering only kids their all; and (4) common people’s lack of real sympathy and love for widows that the latter deserve
and need.

The reality of Muslim society
Here is no occasion of comparing a Muslim society with a Non-Muslim one, nor of saying that those who talk of the “appalling condition” of Muslim women need to look at their vicinity; nor is there any need to assert that in India there is no ‘vrindavan’ of Muslim women or ‘ashram’ of (Muslim) widows. – However, keeping in view the four causes, the reality of Muslim society can be mentioned: (1) The feeling of sympathy and respect for widows and helpless women is present in the Muslim society; (2) widows are not considered ill-omened in the Muslim society; they participate in every work, and in certain circumstances they take the lead to run the family; (3) widows and old parents are considered part of the family; due services are rendered to them save and except the condition in which the unfortunate son is quite aloof from the Islamic life and is influenced by the other society; (4) real sympathy and love is found, in accordance with the Commandments of Allah and the teachings of His Messenger (pbuh), and in most cases their remarriage is arranged. Efforts to reform the society are continuously made. It would be better if some Muslim group convey these realities to those who want to better the condition prevailing in Vrindavan, and also tell them where the rot lies.

04/ 08/12 khabar-O-Nazar by Parwaaz Rahmani, sehrozaDAWAT, translated by: Abu Yusuf

Akbarabadi Mosque of Delhi

The news released by the media, especially the Urdu media, that there is a dispute on the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Akbarabadi Mosque situated in the eastern foot of Delhi’s Jama Masjid, has spread all over the country and abroad as well. This mosque was built by the wife of Emperor Shahjahan, Aizazunnisa, who was known as Akbarabadi Begum, about four centuries ago. This historical mosque also had been the centre of the Martyrs’ Movement (tahreek-e-shaheedain).  Hadhrat Shah Abdul Qadir stayed here for years together and it was here that he wrote his Tafseer Mauzhul Qur’ān. During the 1857 Revolt also, this mosque served as the centre of the fighters seeking independence from the British imperialism. At last, for this very “crime”, the British government, having got this mosque demolished, raised a park there after the name of some British official. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, in his book Aasarus Sanadeed, has mentioned this mosque in great detail. The mosque was demolished but the Muslims of Delhi had been reposing it in their hearts for a century and a half. The efforts to rehabilitate it were made in the past also but in the last few years these efforts were given a practical shape. After contacts with authorities, the efforts to get it excavated succeeded. Its remains were discovered. Reconstruction was also started.

This zeal and enthusiasm of Muslims

But, as it happens on such occasions, some mischief-mongers come to the fore, administration and police also adopt double-dealing, and the case is referred to courts. This happened here too. The case of Akbarabadi Mosque was referred to the court. – But here the talk on the mosque dispute is not the objective; what is to be analysed here is the zeal and enthusiasm, religious fervor and community concern which the concerned Muslims of Delhi did exhibit on this occasion. The news of discovery of the relics of Akbarabadi Mosque and its reconstruction caused great commotion among the Muslims. They started reaching in throngs Edward Park to have a glimpse of the site of Akbarabadi Mosque. Friday Prayers were offered there for the first time on July 13 in which thousands of people participated. But the Friday congregation of July 20 was historic and the people’s bubbling emotions were worth seeing. The eyes of media did record this scene. Most of the people had reached there leaving aside their daily chores. It was a clear message that even at this worst time this Millat is alive, conscious, active and has the basic qualities of facing the issues.

 But it would have been better if…

But it would have been better it this zeal and enthusiasm, religious fervor and community concern had been displayed in the issues of fundamental value – the issues with which the entire Muslim community stands affected today. The biggest issue is that of unprecedented arresting of Muslim youth, leveling baseless charges of terrorism, extremism and spying against them. People do protest such arrests, stage protests in New Delhi but neither the number of people nor the zeal and enthusiasm is seen there as it was seen in the case of Akbarabadi Mosque. The only reason is that Muslims do understand very easily the issues of rehabilitation of mosques and protection of the sanctity of the Qur’ān and Prophethood; this is very good and necessary as well. But they fail to comprehend the anti-Islam conspiracies behind the allegations of terrorism, riots, arrests, and baseless propaganda against Islam though Muslim organisations as well as certain political parties and human rights groups do draw the attention of people towards the serious acts of arresting Muslim youth and the objectives lurking behind it. The enthusiasm of the community for rehabilitation of a mosque, old or new, is indeed worth praising and pleasant. But even if half of this zeal and enthusiasm is pressed into service against these arrests, it can yield the desirable results.

01/ 08/12 khabar-O-Nazar by Parwaaz Rahmani, sehrozaDAWAT, translated by: Abu Yusuf