This standard of backwardness

A new-Muslim lady of Tamil Nadu filed a petition in Madras High Court, praying that as she belonged by birth to a backward community in the State, therefore this social status of hers be maintained even after her conversion so that on its basis she might get a better government job. But the court rejected her petition, saying that this social status of hers came to an end with her conversion as there is no caste system in Islam. Pronouncing the judgement, Justice V. Ramasubramanian said, ““No person can acquire backwardness or most backwardness socially, upon conversion from one religion to another. Backwardness is determined by birth and not by conversion.” (The Hindu) The petitioner, S. Yasmine, was born in a Christian Nadar community. The Nadar community is classified as backward class in the Constitution. This lady got converted to Islam and married a Muslim.

The Constitution of India maintains it

The judgement pronounced by the Madras High Court is not new. Judgements of this sort have been pronounced for the last sixty years. Through the medium of these judgements what is in fact told is that quota or reservation in government jobs is only for those castes and communities that have been declared backward by birth in the Hindu dharma viz. the Brahmanic social system. The members of these communities can avail themselves of facilities until they remain within the fold of this system and are called Hindu. These facilities are ceased as soon as they come out of this system (Brahman social order). And the judges do not pronounce these judgements on their own; they pronounce in accordance with the Constitution of India, as the Constitution says exactly this. That is, in this case, the Constitution of the Republic of India is biased. The judges explain the Constitution. In the judgement of Madras High Court, Justice V. Ramasubramanian did explain it, saying that “if a Hindu is converted to Christianity or another religion, which does not recognise caste, the conversion amounts to a loss of the said caste.”

Before the declaration of independence

And this unconstitutional element was included in the Constitution of Independent India quite willingly. To understand this, we will have to recall the incidents that took place before the declaration of Independence in the form of communal award of British government, fast unto death of Gandhiji and Puna Pact. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, who was the leader of Dalits and backward classes, was demanding a social status for them separate from the Hindu society. Communal award was in accordance with that demand. Gandhiji made very serious protest against it. Thereafter an agreement was signed between Gandhiji and Dr. Ambedkar which is known as Puna Pact, under which Communal award was withdrawn. This was a mysterious pact, the details of which even Dalit scholars of today do not know. But it is said reservation for “backward” castes was decided during that discussion. This is why after Independence, Dr. Ambedkar was made chairman of the committee to draft the Constitution and reservation was included therein. And after Independence, when the question of Dr. Ambedkar came before Dr. Ambedkar, he adopted Buddhism. – This is a very interesting discussion; it must be studied.

01/07/2013 khabar-O-Nazar by Parwaaz Rahmani, sehrozaDAWAT, translated by: Abu Yusuf  

These scenes of Uttarakhand

As in the rest of the world, here in India too natural calamities do visit: earthquakes, storms, tempests, hurricanes, cyclones, cracking of clouds, falling of mountain and icy cliffs, etc. Flood, cyclonic tempest and cracking of clouds have become regular annual feature in certain areas. But the scenario seen in mid-June in Uttarakhand, which had once been the mountainous region of the State of Uttar Pradesh, was exceptional. The countrymen will remember this natural calamity for a pretty long time, especially for those terrible experiences of the devotees and pilgrims of the four dhams.
The experiences they have described on TV channels are heart-rending. Properties and provisions were destroyed; lives of dear and near ones were also lost. Many persons saw with their own naked eyes their relations, children and old, being washed away by flood water or breathing their last. They were all worried about their own lives. They spent five days together without anything to eat, under the shadow of death. The cries of children, out of hunger and thirst, pain and worry, were heart-rending. There was danger all the time of rolling flood waters, cracking of clouds or falling down of mountain cliffs.

Those scenes are also coming to mind
Those who are living in safe regions or have never come across such a calamity cannot visualize truly the sufferings of the victims and their mental condition. Yes, those individuals and families who have such experiences, or have come across bus or train accidents, or communal flare-ups or attacks on “backward castes” by so-called forward caste people can feel these sufferings and realize the mental condition of victims to a great extent. Having heard the painful stories of victims and calamity-stricken people right from themselves on TV channels, I was reminded of the scenes of the same category eleven years ago that were related to the oppressed victims of barbarism after the Godhra train incident. The only difference was that the Uttarakhand calamity was natural which was beyond the control of anyone while the Gujarat tragedy was created by brutes in human garb. In a way the Gujarat tragedy was rather more serious for the victims were also subjected to sexual assault, little kids were thrown into the fire and eatables were destroyed.

Let this fact be kept in mind
Gentle persons have sympathy with the victims of both the kinds.  They share their sufferings. They wish that those who have lost their near and dear ones keep patience and never come across such a tragedy again. Likewise, they wish that the victims of Gujarat get justice, their pleas are heard and they never come across such a situation. – It is being said that one of the causes of Uttarakhand tragedy is human intervention in the process of nature. Tall buildings, cutting of trees in large numbers, scientific experiments and efforts to change the environment are responsible for it. They must have been. But the fact that nature is after all nature should be kept in mind. Whatever you may do, it cannot keep from showing its power. Everything is under the perfect control of the Almighty who created this universe, who holds perfect control and command over whatever is on and inside it; He has His own principles and has His own Justice system. Scholars of almost all religions and faith say that the causes of natural calamities also include increase in riots on earth, moral crimes, injustice, obscenity and man’s oppression on man. This aspect of nature should be there while finding out the causes of Uttarakhand tragedy. 
28/06/2013 khabar-O-Nazar by Parwaaz Rahmani, sehrozaDAWAT, translated by: Abu Yusuf  

Punishment in England

A British court awarded up to 19-and-a-half year jail terms to six Muslim youth for their “crime” of planning terrorism. The story of British police and media is that in June last year an anti-Islam group “English Defence League” organised a public meeting in Dewsbury in Yorkshire, where Muslims live in large numbers. It was aimed at provoking the populace against Islam and Muslims. When this news reached Birmingham, six youth from there arrived in Dewsbury with different kinds of weapons. But by the time they entered the city, the meeting was disposed of and the participants had dispersed. When they were on their way back to Birmingham, the police stopped their vehicle and demanded registration papers. When they were unable to present the papers, the police searched the vehicle and discovered guns, swords, knives, pipe bombs, and “jihadi” and “ideological” literature. In the meanwhile, the police could know of their planning as well. Then the police arrested them and filed a case against them and the court pronounced the jail terms on 6 June.

“Jihadi” group and English League

An analyst Farrukh Dhondy has described and also commented on the entire episode in an article. He has mocked at both the “jihadi” group and the English League (The Hindustan Times, 19 June). Farrukh Dhondy lives in London but is associated with Indian media. And he is perhaps a Parsi. He has written that neither English Defence League enjoys public support nor do the British Muslims like “jihadi” groups. However, the way he has mentioned the “jihadis” is the same that the media usually adopts, in which real information is less than the propaganda. It is true that in the recent past anti-Muslim sentiments in Britain have intensified, the cause of which is said to be the attack on Houston marathon allegedly by Muslims and killing of an English policeman; but both of these incidents are worth investigating. Circumstances clearly indicate that the Houston attack was an act of anti-Muslim groups, in the pretext of which the British police detained a Chechen Muslim family, which was their pre-hatched plan.

Let some analysts also do this work

It is said that the extremist Christians in Britain are very much perturbed about the rising penetration of Islam in the British society, and the English Defence League represents them, the purpose of whose activities is to harass Muslims and to make the Britons fearful about Islam. But it is also a fact that the British citizens are coming closer to Islam and many of them are coming to the fold of Islam. According to British agencies themselves, Islam has emerged as the second largest religion in England. No effect of the propaganda unleashed against Islam and the Muslim Ummah by ascribing the acts of terror to Muslims is seen on the Britons embracing Islam. Therefore, analysts like Farrukh Dhondy should analyse the situation in an unbiased manner instead of being part of anti-Islam campaign and see the reality of charges of terrorism against Muslims, who is responsible if some sentimental Muslim youth get provoked and why the educated whites of Britain, especially women, are being drawn towards Islam.

 25/06/2013 khabar-O-Nazar by Parwaaz Rahmani, sehrozaDAWAT, translated by: Abu Yusuf  

Dhaka – the anxiety of an analyst

A famous and farsighted political analyst of the country, Kuldip Nayar is concerned about the situation prevailing in Bangladesh these days and is disappointed with its future. He has expressed it in his fresh commentary “Bangladesh has lost its way” (The Asian Age, 6 June). The inspiration for his commentary is a book by Kamal Hussain, which consists of an analysis of the history of Bangladesh and the present situation over there. Kamal Hussain is one of the close friends of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and had been Minister for External Affairs in his government, which was the first government of the republic. Mr. Nayar has studied that book but perhaps he could not find therein what he wanted to. The book of Kamal Hussain is not at hand. However, with the feelings of Mr. Nayar, it can be imagined that the writer has made a realistic analysis of the situation. The writer has pinpointed the irregularities and excesses of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and now his daughter Hasina, and has also perhaps expressed views on the basic principles of foreign policy and imbalance between secularism and religion. While Mr. Nayar wanted him to talk only on keeping the spirit of freedom live and on curbing the rising religiosity of Bangladeshis.

What does he want?

This process of disappointment of Mr. Nayar about Bangladesh started a few days ago when in response to the state protests at Shahbagh large protests by an organization called Hefazat-e-Islam were being staged and despite the full coercion unleashed by the government and its agents could not be stopped. At last, the “democratic” government over there, like the worst despotic government, crushed those protests with full force and banned the pro-Hefazat media. But, as a result of it, public sentiments against the government got strengthened. Mr. Nayar is getting disappointed with all this. He deems this situation as victory of “religious fanaticism” over democracy and spirit of freedom. During this period the book of Kamal Hussain hit the stands; it made him more disappointed. – In fact, Mr. Nayar has earnest love and deep concern for Bangladesh. There has been very great ideological cooperation of his in the efforts to establish this new republic. He wants Bangladesh to stick to its spirit of freedom, viz. Bangla nationalism, regionalism and lingual bias, and not to fall prey to “religious fanaticism”. This is what we gather from his commentaries.

Result of unawareness about Islam

This thinking of Mr. Kuldip Nayar and other analysts like him is in fact the result of their unawareness about the reality of Islam and turning a blind eye to the destructive consequences of nationalism. Islam is the standard-bearer of human equality and unity of human beings. It weaves them in one garland on the basis of the faith of monotheism by accepting all human beings as the children of one father and one mother, after which all considerations of region, native land, race, nationalism and language remain only for identification while nationalism or nation-worship serves as the cause for getting one community fight with other communities, the expression of which can be seen today in the whole world. It would be in the fitness of things if Mr. Kuldip Nayar and his co-thinkers, who are worried about the lovers of Islam getting strengthened over there, effect a change in their thinking and support the establishment of a system on the bases of Islamic principles. If such a change takes place there, they would see Bangladesh getting strong, consolidated and prosperous, and rise of love and brotherhood among the citizens, and at the same time the relations of our country with Bangladesh are getting more pleasant on strong foundations. Let Mr. Nayar see at least one such experiment in his lifetime.

22/06/2013 khabar-O-Nazar by Parwaaz Rahmani, sehrozaDAWAT, translated by: Abu Yusuf  

A discussion of fifty years ago

It was a little more than fifty years ago. The issue of causes and responsibility of partition of India was under discussion during a detailed meeting with Late Dr. Abdul Moghni, a distinguished scholar, litterateur and critic of the country. The context of the discussion was then published book “Partition: Myth or Reality” by H.M. Seervai, a renowned jurist and eye witness of the Partition.  Seervai, with reference to historical documents, wrote therein that the attitude of all great leaders of Indian National Congress including Gandhi, Nehru and Patel and their irresponsible outlook towards Muslims were mainly responsible for the Partition. Maulana Azad and Mohammad Ali Jinnah kept on making efforts on their own till the end that Partition could be evaded. But the Congress leadership had made up their mind about Partition and to throw all such responsibility on Mohammad Ali Jinnah and his Muslim League. Dr. Abdul Moghni was urged that as a political group in the country has been condemning and harassing Muslims regularly after the Independence by declaring only Muslims responsible for Partition, so it is necessary that the realities of Partition of India be brought to the fore. And this work is not so difficult.

Muslim mindset after Independence

This work was not so difficult because its records are preserved in India Office Library of London and inside the country as well. There can be many books too. People like Seervai were also present (at that time). However the late Doctor did not agree to it. He was of the view that there was no use of this work; what happened is gone; now Indian Muslims should concentrate all their attention on the solution to their problems and on education and economy. It should be ensured that we maintain our presence here as a strong religious entity with Islamic identity and honour and dignity. – And this mindset of Late Dr. Abdul Moghni was representative of the collective mindset of Muslim leadership of Independent India. After Independence, Muslim leaders and their organisations decided that Muslims have to live in a pleasant and peaceful environment along with all their fellow citizens without any conflict with any group, forgetting the bitterness of Partition. Therefore, Jamiat-ul-Ulama and other organisations devoted themselves to rehabilitation of victims. All India Muslim League transformed itself into Indian Union Muslim League. Jamaat-e-Islami added ‘Hind’ to its name and declared Indian Union as its area of operation.

66-year history bears witness to it

The 66-year history bears evidence to the fact that Muslims stuck to their decision and practised it. They did not create on their own any conflict with any community or group; however, they stressed protecting their Islamic identity, honour and dignity and Constitutional rights. While on the other hand, the mindset which had paved the way for Partition with their unjust course of action continued to work later as well. It was working at the time when Seervai’s book was published and is at work even today. Therefore, it is necessary to correct the record of history with regard to Partition; otherwise with the passage of time every new generation will go farther and farther from the realities. I was reminded of this discussion with Late Dr. Abdul Moghni after the report published in newspapers of 6 June saying that Central Information Commissioner Satyananda Mishra has impressed upon the Government to make public the two speeches Mohammad Ali Jinnah has made on All India Radio just before the declaration of Independence, and further that all the realities of the Partition of India be brought to the fore. The Commissioner had issued this direction on a petition filed under R.T.I. It is an opportunity if the Muslim leadership realises the need and importance of this work. For this purpose petitions under R.T.I can be filed on one’s own. 

19/06/2013 khabar-O-Nazar by Parwaaz Rahmani, sehrozaDAWAT, translated by: Abu Yusuf