Indian Muslims - An Oppressed Minority
VognoDuut750
By Abdul Haq
India has a unique experience of Muslim minority. A dominant minority in the
medieval period became a dominated minority, all of a sudden with the advent
of British rule in India. This sudden change resulted into complex problems.
Partition of sub-continent in Aug 47 converted the Muslim community of India
into 'Pakistani Muslims' and 'Indian Muslims'. This was a great shock as far
as Indian Muslims are concerned. The rulers of Yesterday, now had to live
under the 'Hindu rule'. Fifty years having passed, the Muslims who opted to
stay in India are still getting a raw deal in every sphere of life. They are
still drowned in the scourge of poverty and backwardness. They continue
fighting the ever-hunting spectra of communal riots and threats to their
religious and cultural identity. The sense of insecurity experienced by the
Indian Muslims in the post partition period has been compounded in recent
years by the state repression and terrorism under the 'draconian', Terrorist
and Disruptive Activities (Prevension) Act (TADA). Under this act 7,9332
people, mostly Muslims were detained and tortured during 1990-95 across the
country. Though the Act has been repealed, yet about 5000 persons, mostly
Muslims, are still in jails.
Hinduism and Islam
Dr Balraj Madhok, former Professor of history at Delhi University while
explaining the term 'Hindu' said, "Everyone living in India is a Hindu.
Hinduism is no religion, it is the name of a civilization (Tahzib), a way of
life." He further said that, "Whereas his (Madhok's) nationality is Hindu,
his (Madhok's) religion is Vedic Dharmi". While giving an interview to 'New
York Times' correspondent at Delhi in 1966, he said, "In this country we
have never insisted on religious confirmity and we are not going to start
now. However, one thing we do insist on, is that Muslims become Indians.
They can worship as they like, but they must adopt this country's customs as
their customs." What all it means for Muslims is that Hinduism is not so
much a religion as it is a way of life. It prescribes not only how a man
must pray, but also how he must eat, dress, converse, work and die. On the
other hand Islam is much more than this. While asking a Muslim to give up
all but his mosque and adopt the Indian way of life, is virtually demanding
that he should give up Islam and become Hindu. Nobody can dispute that the
Muslims have individually and collectively the duty and responsibility to
mould their personal and social lives in accordance with the dictates of
Islam, which is a perfect way of life, better than any religion in the
world.
Birth of Hindu Revivalism
The Hindu reformers of the 19th century were the pioneers of Hindu
renaissance. foremost among them was Raja Rammohan Roy (1772-1833) the
founder of Brahmo Samaj, which represented the first throb of modernism in
Hinduism. A great admirer of Muslim thought, he had been deeply influenced
by his study of Islamic works (including Quran) and by Sufism. Yet at heart
he was a staunch Hindu. His deepest yearnings were to turn the Hindus back
to the Vedas. He was thus one of the founders of modern Hindu nationalism.
The message of Rammohan Roy was carried further by Dayananda-Saraswati, a
Gujrati Brahman (1824-1883), who openly raised the slogan 'India for the
Hindus.' According to him, Hinduism was to be the sole religion of the
sub-continent, and the Hindus its sole masters. The Muslims were foreigners
and must be pushed out. He devised a new weapon to fight the Muslims. It was
the weapon of 'Shuddhi' or individual conversion of Muslims to Hindu faith.
After the partition of India in Aug 47, thousands of Muslims were butchered
cold blooded and forced to leave India. Since then, Hindu militant Bal
Thackeray of Shiv Sena and other militant Hindu organiztions are of the
opinion that Muslims have their own homeland in the shape of Pakistan
(though they do not accept it from their hearts), therefore they have no
right to live in India.
Alienation of Muslims
In terms of numbers, the Muslims are only next to the Hindus, totalling 95.2
million (1991 census) and constituting about 12 percent of the population,
yet they are considered by the Hindus even less important than the Jains and
Buddhists who are only 0.43 and 0.41 percent of the population respectively
(1991 census). A prominant Hindu writer S. Harrison admits that the dominant
note in the Hindu attitude towards Muslim today is that, "Hindus have a
natural right to rule in modern India as a form of long overdue retribution
for the sins of the Mughal overlords. It is not enough that unified state
with a Hindu majority, clearly dominant over a Muslim minority now reduced
to 12 percent, has been established at long last in the Indian
sub-continent. The fulfilment of Indian nationalism requires an assertion of
Hindu hegemony over the Muslims of the subcontinent in one form or the
other." The cumulative outcome of all this is that according to Jai Prakash
Narayan, "The Muslim population has been so much cowed and demoralized that
they are not acting according to their convictions. They are afraid that if
they expressed their real feelings, their loyalty will be suspected."
Interference in Muslim Religion
Apart from being made to suffer a host of disabilities, political, cultural
and economic; the Indian Muslims have often been subjected to a campaign of
interference with their religion as well. It usually takes the form of
slanderous attacks on Islam made in school text books, or in the press,
desecration of mosques and shrines, or deliberate incitement of feelings of
religious hatered against the Muslims. In most of the Hindu dominated Indian
states, Hindu religious beliefs, philosophy and methodology have been
introduced into the text books in the name of Indian culture. This is to an
extent that a glance through the officially prescribed school text books
leaves an impression that those responsible for them regard India (a multi
religious country) as the home of Brahmans and attach value only to their
deities, temples, religious customs and practices.
Adverse propaganda against Islam
The books dealing with the heritage of India exclusively enumerate Hindu
heritage and gloss over everything Muslim. The Muslim heroes in medieval
Indian history have been treated as 'aliens' and 'strangers', the book
'Hamara Purwaj' prescribed for classes VI, VII and VIII in the state of
Uttar Pradesh is an instance of such unfair treatment. A text book on
history approved by Bihar State Government entitled 'Gayania Uday Basic
Itihas' carries an alleged picture of the Holy Prophet under the caption
'Eishwar Ke Peghamber-Hazrat Mohammad.' The author makes the statement that
the Quran was written by the Prophet himself. It is not only contrary to the
Muslim belief but also an adverse propaganda against Islam. The book also
makes indecent remarks about Hazrat Khadija, one of the Prophet's wives. In
Rajisthan as well, text book prescribed in Schools contain derogatory
references against the Holy Prophet. The Director of education Rajisthan,
issued instructions to authors to see, "That lessons in India and other
subjects deal with the importance of cow at all stages in a suitable
manner." The content of prayers recited in state schools is also very
objectionable, grossly violating the constitutional guarantee of religious
freedom so far as Muslims are concerned.
Desecration of Mosques and Shrines
Countless incidents can be cited of the desecration of mosques by the Hindu
communalists during the last few decades. In 1961, the Indian Rehabilitation
Minister made the claim that all the mosques and graveyards had been
resorted to the Muslims. Refuting this statement, Maulana Hifzur Rahman
produced a long list of mosques and graveyards not restored to the Muslims
but had been auctioned by the Rehabilitation department. Some of the names
of mosques and shrines mentioned in the list are Masjid Qazi Serai (near
Thana Mehrauli), Masjid Begampur Khurd (near Kalu Serai), Masjid Chuna
Mandi, Masjid Mantola Pahrargang (Delhi), Masjid Qabrastan Golebazar, (Thana
Reading road, Delhi), Masjid Thana Civil Lines Delhi.Qabrastan village Ladha
Serai, Mehrauli, Qabrastan near Dargah Hazrat Khwaja Qutbuddin), Qabrastan
behind Thana corporation office, (Mehrauli), Qabrastan East of Eidgah,
(Mehrauli), Qabrastan Gurgaon road, Qabrastan Gole Market, Thana Reading
Road, (Delhi), and Qabrastan Motia Khan, Pahargang (Delhi).
Tragedy of Babri Mosque
The 16th century historic Babri mosque was razed to ground by thousands of
Hindu fanatics in Ayodhya, (UP) on 16th Dec 92. According to Indian media
reports, the Hindu Zealosts and India's one of the largest Hindu
fundamentalist political party BJP are again threatening to build a grand
temple on the rubble of this mosque. Hindu fundamentalists openly announce
that they would, "Purify India of Muslim remnants." It was during 1949 when
Babri Masjid was first raided. A group of vandals entered the mosque and
placed the idol of Ramlallah. The successive Indian governments patronized
the Hindu fundamentalists under different garbs, which ultimately turned
into an uncontrollable demon.
Responsibility of the tragedy
It is an established fact that the government of India did not take any
action to disperse the mob despite the fact that it was aware of the heinous
designs of the unholy gathering. Instead of saving the mosque from
destruction a number of government officials were reported to have watched
the scene gleefully, inciting the mob to deliver a final blow to bring down
the structure. The reluctance of government to either call in the army or
Central Reserve Police to protect the mosque, spoke of understanding between
Shiv Sena and the Union government of the Congress. Reports indicated that
the assault on the mosque was effectively abetted by the guards. An Indian
journalist Yuvraj Mohite, while recording his statement in the court of
Mumbai said, "Bal Thackeray, founder of Shiva Sena ordered the massacre in
Dec 1992 after the demolition of Babri Mosque. The double-dealing Congress
Ministry of the then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao at the centre did almost
nothing to Prevent the distruction of 450 years old Babri Mosque by the
BJP-VHP and other anti Muslim elements". 'The Statesman' of new Delhi (2 Dec
92) reported, "The VHP and Bajrang dal cadres were taught demolition methods
by a retired Brig of the Indian Army in a month long training camp in a
Hindu village in Gujrat State and that the State government had full
Knowledge of it". Some Indian Newspapers reported that India's intelligence
agencies had informed Narasimha Rao government's Home Ministry about the
specially trained squads raised by the BJP and VHP cohorts to destroy the
mosque but the then Home Minister, Chavan, showed utter indifference and
hypocracy.
BJP vs Indian Muslims
The Upsurge of Hindu fundamentalism in the states under the BJP's rule,
Rajisthan, Haryana, East Punjab and Delhi has been a source of serious
concern to the Muslim minority there. But the resurrection of the BJP's rule
over Utter Pradesh, India's most populous state with a sizable Muslim
community, since late Sep this year has sent a shiver of apprehensions among
the Muslim minority. As the top ranking BJP leader and the man behind the
tragedy of Babri Mosque, Kalyan Singh is now again in power in this state.
The hard line Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Manohar Joshi, a member of the
BJP's ruling echelon, punished the state government secretary for cultural
affairs, Govind Swaroop, a broadminded civil servant, for including Mr.
Jinnah (Quaid-e-Azam) in a list of India's freedom fighters for a TV
documentary film and for ranking him with Mr.Gandhi and Nehru in the fight
against the British. Shiv Sena, is a Nazi style communal outfit so intense
in its hatred towards Muslims that its fascist guru, Bal Thackeray, forbade
the Pakistani cricket team from playing in its power base city of Mumbai a
few years ago. In order to promote the Hindutva brand of militant Hindu
fundamentalism, the BJP led state government of Rajisthan organized a
massive celebration on 18 Jun 97 of the 421st anniversary of the 'Battle of
Haldighat' to honour Maharana pratab as a Hindu hero for his war against
Akbar, the Mughal emperor. An Indian Hindu journalist, C.P Bhambhri, in New
Delhi's 'Hindustan Times' of 31 Jul 97 comments, "The BJP, RSS, VHP and
other allied organisations, without any shadow of doubts are using the
culture and history of India to Promote the concept of a Hindu nation which
was a victim of Muslim rulers and their purpose is to consolidate Hinduism
around a specific religious ethos selectively chosen by political leaders"
.He further writes that "The BJP hate list of Muslims continues to unify the
Hindus against their religious enemy as revealed by Indian history, the BJP
will like to re-write the constitution for establishing a strong Hindu
state".
Replacement of Muslim names by Hindus'
The Maharashtra government's hostility to Muslims under the BJP- Shiv Sena
ministry has been so blatant in recent years that the old towns bearing
Muslim names are being systematically given Hindu colour. The historic city
of Aurangabad, once ruled by Muslims has been named as 'Sambhajinagar' to
honour the family of the anti Mughal Shivaji. Similarly a very old city of
Osmanabad is being given a Hindu name. Eliminating the Muslim names of many
other towns is on the Shiv Sena's agenda.
Anti-Muslim roits.
Anti-Muslim roits are a common feature in India. Some of the recent ones are
as follows:-
In the state of Gjurat, which the BJP ruled till Sep 96, the Muslim minority
has been incessantly terrorized and victimized. Mumbai's 'Economic and
political weekly' of 26 Jul 97, published horrifying accounts of the murder
of many Muslims in the village of Kukas in Mahesana district last June. On
29 Jun, truckloads of armed Hindu 'chaudharies' attacked the Muslims in
kukas, hurling filthy abuses on them, burnt their houses and hacked to death
with knives many of them.
In many districts of Gujrat, there are pockets of 25 to 30 Muslim families
who are subjected to periodic terrorization and arson. Teenage Muslim girls
from poverty-stricken peasant families are either forcibly bought or
kidnapped for prostitution in Bombay or Smuggled to oil rich gulf states for
slavery.
Deploring the plight of Muslims in Gujrat, an Indian journalist Satyakam
Joshi, wrote in Mumbai's 'Economic and political weekly' (26 Jul 97), "The
rise of the BJP and its front organizations in Gujrat after 1980 has come as
a blow to Muslims who are being reduced relentlessly to a second class
citizenship. Their legitimate demands are not on the state agenda. Their
harassment by the Hindu fundamentalist forces, remains unmitigated. To
considerable extent, the fundamentalist forces have been able to channelise
the middle class Hindu psyche against them".
In the anti-Muslim riots in Maharashtra, specially Mumbai, armed marauders
of the 'Army of Shiva' had inflicted death and destruction on terror striken
Muslims while the police was looking on indifferently or even conniving with
the Hindu extremists in killing Muslims of Mumbai.
Discrimination against Muslim community in services: According to 1991
nationwide census., Muslims constitute 12.60 percent of the total Indian
population. However, the representation of Muslims in the parliament, state
legislatures, administrative services, armed forces, police and para
military forces, educational institutions and the private and public sectors
is far below their proportion. The percentage of the Muslims in the civil
and foreign services is less than a quarter of their population. According
to a white paper, prepared by All India Milli council (AIMC) and presented
to Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral, on the performance of Indian Union
during last 50 years, there were only 116 Muslims out of a total of 3883
administrative officers (2.98%), 45 out of 1433 police service officers
(3.14%) and 57 out of 2159 foreign service officers (2.64%). In central
government, Muslims constitute 1.6% of all class I officers, 3.9% of all
class II officers and 4.4% of the technical supervisory staff. According to
an official report prepared by Dr. Gopal Singh Committee, there is a marked
disparity between Hindus and Muslims in economic, social and educational
field. The committee's report based on a sample survey of 80 districts
across the country, found that there were only 92 Muslims out of 2698
students in Engineering colleges. The number of Muslim students in the MBBS
course in 8 universities of eight states was only 98 out of 2895.
Conclusion
The Muslims of India are in a state of dilemma, whether to accept humality
in the form of Indian nationalism (based on secular ideas) or to preserve
their Muslim identity. They have to rationalise whether by accepting the
secular nationalism they will be given equal status like Hindus or will they
remain aliens as they are. The Hindu desire to absorb the Muslims into
Hinduism through Indian nationalism still persists. They have already done
this with Jainism and Budhism and they are working on other communities
living in India as well.
[taken from http://www.ummah.net/kris/imuslims
Torpedo
"VognoDuut750" <VognoD...@zilmore.com> wrote in message
news:U_adnZkAW7SEF4vZ...@comcast.com...
Tomahawk
Muslim oppression) that they have not yet kicked them out of the
country. They are aliens with external loyalities. Did nt' u see how
they clamour for Iran in the nuclear issue.
You are getting much much more than you are entitled to .
Raskolnikov
You filthy beggars are all lucky that more Indians don't have the guts
to deal with muslims the way the Gujaratis did.
The fact that muslims are even allowed to stay in India should bring
these animals some sense of gratitude. Just hope your muslim brothers
from elsewhere don't piss Hindus off again, otherwise muslims will
become an endangered species in India (one can only wish this species
was extinct all over the world!)