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Indian Muslims - “A Story of Betrayal”
Sachar Committee Findings: A Story of Betrayal
by Sadia Dehlvi
The findings of the Sachar committee report on the status of Indian Muslims are being termed  as explosive and shocking. They come as no surprise to me or anyone else who is in touch with Indian realities and  have been troubled about the condition of Indian Muslims. These  facts have been staring at us all these years but the country has chosen to ignore them. However, the committee’s findings has awakened the nation’s conscience to the marginalization and plight of the Muslim community.
A major objective achieved by the report is that  it demolishes the minority appeasement theory forever. Be it the Congress, Left or any other political party, the truth is that their secular rhetoric has not translated into economic realities for the Muslim community. The Muslims have been the victim of vote bank politics and the genuine will to improve their lot has been lacking. The figures in the reports tell a very sad story of victimisation, neglect and discrimination. The story was not the  same  at the time of partition and we must accept that something has drastically gone wrong in free India. It is a betrayal to those Muslims who chose to remain in India and had faith in the secular ideals enshrined in our constitution. Â
We must acknowledge religious discrimination just as we should  acknowledge caste oppression in Modern India for only then can we seek remedial measures. I firmly believe that reservation has the potential to bring about a new face of India .The great Indian dream cannot lie in a handful of IIMs, some glitzy malls and multiplexes but in giving the children of those who toiled to make those structures a chance to change their lives and the lives of those around them. Whatever caste or religion they belong to, the underprivileged  have every right to claim a stake in education, governance and employment.  The nation needs its privileged  citizens to make some sacrifices and  take the higher moral ground. India’s tale of freedom is laden with sacrifice and the youth need to be cautioned against the I, me and myself syndrome which is a morally bankrupt Western doctrine.   Â
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Sadly, battle lines on the basis of caste are already drawn and we can only hope the debate on reservations for Muslims does not turn communal. It is therefore necessary to emphasise  that the Muslims are not asking for reservations on the  basis of religion but to be measured on the same scale as the other backward classes in the country. The demand for reservations is hardly a matter of pride for the Muslim community but a humiliating admission of backwardness stemming from helplessness.
A percentage reserved for Muslims within the OBC quota could vary from region to region according to the percentage of Muslim population and according to the level of their backwardness. We need to broaden the concept of reservation beyond caste and have an economic classification. Some states like Kerala, Karnatka and Tamil Nadu have reserved jobs for Muslims resulting in a qualitative difference between the north Indian and south Indian Muslim. In Kerala the Muslims constitute 22 of the population and there are 12% jobs reserved for them. These jobs are available to families earning less than two and a half lac rupees annually. In Karnataka the Muslims are able to avail of 8% of jobs from three different categories including general, community and profession.
Reservation is just one corrective measure but if the issue is used to play divisive politics, it will result in a communal backlash which will hurt and further alienate an already bruised community.Â
A specific multi layered program upliftment program is what the Muslims need. Primary education must be made available in Muslim ghettos, coaching classes for Muslim graduates to enable them to take part in the competitive exams for government employment is another necessity. A large number of India’s artisans are Muslim and they need help in creating contemporary  designs  with their craft which can cater to the high end market since the low end market has been taken by China rendering thousands jobless. Vocational training workshops will help the uneducated youth to get employment. Muslim entrepreneurs should be able to avail of small loans with ease. Corporate India should be sensitized to the minority’s  problems and could help in the form of scholarships and employment. The private sector could be given some incentives to encourage providing jobs for Muslims not necessarily in managerial positions, but as drivers, guards, peons and at other such positions.
The singular place where Muslims are over represented and constitute nearly 35% of inmates are the jails. It is an indicator of the Muslim reality and is a direct result of poverty, illiteracy and social depravation. The problem is serious and leaves no space for political games. A vision  coupled with the courage and will to act is what is required for damage control. If urgent affirmative action is not taken  the situation can only get worse. Gandhiji held that a nation be judged by the way it treats its minorities. If the Muslims are unable to join hands with their other Indian brethren in Indias glorious march to progress, History will read it as the failure of the Indian secular state.
The writer can be contacted at sadia@vsnl.com
7 Responses to “Indian Muslims - “A Story of Betrayal””
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Indian Muslims - “A Story of Betrayal”
Sachar Committee Findings: A Story of Betrayal
by Sadia Dehlvi
The findings of the Sachar committee report on the status of Indian Muslims are being termed  as explosive and shocking. They come as no surprise to me or anyone else who is in touch with Indian realities and  have been troubled about the condition of Indian Muslims. These  facts have been staring at us all these years but the country has chosen to ignore them. However, the committee’s findings has awakened the nation’s conscience to the marginalization and plight of the Muslim community.
A major objective achieved by the report is that  it demolishes the minority appeasement theory forever. Be it the Congress, Left or any other political party, the truth is that their secular rhetoric has not translated into economic realities for the Muslim community. The Muslims have been the victim of vote bank politics and the genuine will to improve their lot has been lacking. The figures in the reports tell a very sad story of victimisation, neglect and discrimination. The story was not the  same  at the time of partition and we must accept that something has drastically gone wrong in free India. It is a betrayal to those Muslims who chose to remain in India and had faith in the secular ideals enshrined in our constitution. Â
We must acknowledge religious discrimination just as we should  acknowledge caste oppression in Modern India for only then can we seek remedial measures. I firmly believe that reservation has the potential to bring about a new face of India .The great Indian dream cannot lie in a handful of IIMs, some glitzy malls and multiplexes but in giving the children of those who toiled to make those structures a chance to change their lives and the lives of those around them. Whatever caste or religion they belong to, the underprivileged  have every right to claim a stake in education, governance and employment.  The nation needs its privileged  citizens to make some sacrifices and  take the higher moral ground. India’s tale of freedom is laden with sacrifice and the youth need to be cautioned against the I, me and myself syndrome which is a morally bankrupt Western doctrine.   Â
Â
Sadly, battle lines on the basis of caste are already drawn and we can only hope the debate on reservations for Muslims does not turn communal. It is therefore necessary to emphasise  that the Muslims are not asking for reservations on the  basis of religion but to be measured on the same scale as the other backward classes in the country. The demand for reservations is hardly a matter of pride for the Muslim community but a humiliating admission of backwardness stemming from helplessness.
A percentage reserved for Muslims within the OBC quota could vary from region to region according to the percentage of Muslim population and according to the level of their backwardness. We need to broaden the concept of reservation beyond caste and have an economic classification. Some states like Kerala, Karnatka and Tamil Nadu have reserved jobs for Muslims resulting in a qualitative difference between the north Indian and south Indian Muslim. In Kerala the Muslims constitute 22 of the population and there are 12% jobs reserved for them. These jobs are available to families earning less than two and a half lac rupees annually. In Karnataka the Muslims are able to avail of 8% of jobs from three different categories including general, community and profession.
Reservation is just one corrective measure but if the issue is used to play divisive politics, it will result in a communal backlash which will hurt and further alienate an already bruised community.Â
A specific multi layered program upliftment program is what the Muslims need. Primary education must be made available in Muslim ghettos, coaching classes for Muslim graduates to enable them to take part in the competitive exams for government employment is another necessity. A large number of India’s artisans are Muslim and they need help in creating contemporary  designs  with their craft which can cater to the high end market since the low end market has been taken by China rendering thousands jobless. Vocational training workshops will help the uneducated youth to get employment. Muslim entrepreneurs should be able to avail of small loans with ease. Corporate India should be sensitized to the minority’s  problems and could help in the form of scholarships and employment. The private sector could be given some incentives to encourage providing jobs for Muslims not necessarily in managerial positions, but as drivers, guards, peons and at other such positions.
The singular place where Muslims are over represented and constitute nearly 35% of inmates are the jails. It is an indicator of the Muslim reality and is a direct result of poverty, illiteracy and social depravation. The problem is serious and leaves no space for political games. A vision  coupled with the courage and will to act is what is required for damage control. If urgent affirmative action is not taken  the situation can only get worse. Gandhiji held that a nation be judged by the way it treats its minorities. If the Muslims are unable to join hands with their other Indian brethren in Indias glorious march to progress, History will read it as the failure of the Indian secular state.
The writer can be contacted at sadia@vsnl.com
August 30th, 2007 at 10:30 am
September 27th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Sadia ji why will the Congress or Left or any other party do anything for the Muslims? They feed off the misery and ignorance of the population.An economically and educationally strong community will not fall prey to their exploitative politicking and thus why would they want to kll their ‘golden goose’(no pun intended)?
It is up to the leaders of the commuity to stop playing the dirty game of politics with these parties and concentrate on empowering and enabling the commuity. Trust me, no Hindu rejoices in the misery of another community…….we ourselves need delieverance from this pseudo secularism and caste based politics.
September 28th, 2008 at 10:38 am
Vandana is right. Why will any party do anything for Indian Muslims ? Give me a reason. Their appeasement does not go beyond the Iftar Party - Haj Subsidy (maintaining Air India’s monopoly) - skull cap / green saree in Muslim dominated areas - and an occasional “Throw” of a verse in Urdu… A mushaira here and there.. an award.. of Rs. 5 thousand here and there.. Khush Kar Diya.. hee-hee-hee. Some appeasement, eh !
Go to any Muslim-dominated locality (ghetto) and see the real conditions of “appeased” Indian Muslims… how they are eating Halwa and Puri in silver-utensils… (or crystal ware… as silver-ware is prohibited).
Maulana Waheeduddin Khan approached RSS directly., for a honest discussion. RSS is afraid of the tsunami of love. It had built its citadel of “hatred” over the past 80 years… so it gave him a cold shoulder. Narendra Modi and Moditva thrive on hatred for the “other”. If there is not an enemy, create an enemy. Inject fear - divide communities - and reap the dividend (political power). This is the shortest cut to power (a billion dollar business today). Can any decent person win elections in Democratic Decent Secular Cultured Artistic India today ? Can Megha Patkar win an election. Can Arundhati Roy win an election. Can Harsh Mandar win an election. Can Julius Ribeiro win an election. Can Kiran Bedi win an election. Can Lyngdoh win an election… The answer is NO. You need crores to win an election. Democracy has become “big business” in India.
Added to social strife (community hatred / strereotyping / hate speech and racism); is the entry of greed. The eddifice of morality is melting. RSS wants to build the Hindu psyche… inject brutality into it… How to do that ? By encouraging a culture of mob violence. Turning the average Hindu into a goonda., literally.
The Hindu Taliban will not rest until they turn india into a Hindu Afghanistan. Moral Policing.. barbarianism.. brutality… all committed in the darkest shade of safforn.
What can muslims do on their own ? They are a poor community in the main (90%). The 10% who are excluded, uplifted themselves by migrating to the Gulf doing menial jobs (labour / clerks). The highest paid profesional jobs in the gulf are held by Hindus. There is a difference between a Hindu NRI (USA/Gulf) and the Muslim NRI (The labour / clerk). These people uplifted themselves. So the level of stark poverty among muslims is 90%. Hunger in a muslim home pains me.. hunger in a hindu home pains me too.. But there is a difference. The system goes in favour of the Hindu. The system goes against the Muslim.
Go to a Govt. Hospital., and give a Muslim name.., and see how the receptionist treats you. Go searching for a house wearing a skull cap., and see what reaction you get. Apply for a job with a muslim name. Try this “litmus test” … for a first-hand real experience. There is discrimination against muslims. Everyone knows it. Nothing can be done about it.
Manmohan Singh ji placed the Sachar Report in Parliament. It documents truths. Yet nothing could be done on those recommendations. India needs a very strong leader to save the country from the challenge of the Hindu Taliban. Someone who will provide the antidote to the Modi Poison.
Hatred is a destroyer. Be it Taliban in Afghanistan or Hindu Taliban of the RSS.
What can Muslims do in the situation (apart from lamenting) ? Honestly, nothing much. They must take to education very seriously. That will improve the quality. They will still be rich., but intellectual stature will grow. It is not tangible. They wont start living in palaces and drive cars. That will not come immediately… and that should not be the goal too. The word “ILM” (Knowledge / Education ) appears 300 times in the Quran. Muslims must take to education on a war-footing. RSS onslaught and Moditva must be answered with solid education.
Congress / etc. party .. will not do anything for muslims. Muslims should not expect any favours too. Iftar parties must be boycotted. Haj Subsidy must be returned to the Govt. “with thanks”. Intellectual Stature must grow. Muslims must take to English as Language of Education and master Math and Science and learn French and Mandarin. SO what if they are poor… That is not a matter of shame. Economic poverty will go away in time. Education - Education - and Education. that should be the Mantra for Muslims. They will be denied seats in the IITs.. .IIMs.. Medical and Engineering streaks. Fine. Yet they must study. If they want to study and educate themselves, RSS cannot stop that. Instead of buying 1 tola of Gold, if a Muslim buys 10 books instead., RSS cannot do a thing. Mindset must change. After “Faith” (Imaan)., Education should be Item No. 2.
Go for simple marriages.. .but spend on Education.
Jai Hind.
September 28th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Dastagir it is sad to read so much hatred for a community.Muslims the world over lament the fact that the entire Islamic community is being tarred for the actions of a few and yet you thought nothing of tarring my whole community as Hindu Taliban and made wild accusations of their wanting to turn India into a Hindu Aghansitan……if we were that interested in a Modi type of government we would have voted people like him into complete power a long time ago.We didn’t and it is because of us that BJP still finds it hard to come into power on its own strength.
You are right though about education being the only route for any community wanting to uplift itself.
September 28th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
I agree with the miserable plight of Indian Muslims. However, do the Muslims remember how they completely cleared all East and West of all Hindus, and Sikhs in 1947. Still India has over 100 million muslim population. Which is more tolerant country, you tell me? Partition was not a solution; it actually agravated the problem and resulted in enmass killing of Hindus and Sikhs. The best solution was a loose confederation of muslim and Hindu majority autonomous states, United States of India, where centre to have only very limited defined subjects. British proposed it, Congress rejected it, Jinah hardened his stand for Pakistan, though he initially accepted the Cabinet Mission Plan 1946. After congress rejected, he even expanded the plan, and when he didn’t get that, he asked for division, or destruction with direct action supported by the Muslim League. Jinah regreted the creation of Pakistan on his death bed,”Biggest blunder of my life” he said,”I wish I go to Delhi.” All minorities in undivided India in a loose confederation with autonomous regions would have been the best for the Indian Sub-continent now called India, Pakistan and Bangla Desh. May God, Allah, Rabb, waheguru bless us now with some sense of peaceful co-existence without any more suffering.
September 29th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
as a nation we need to get our act together.
September 29th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
oh one more “I am the Victim ” story and a hidden Justification of why I am “bad”.. for how long will they ignore truth .. for how long they will ignore introspection .
They have these ghost every where .. RSS in India , Free Media in Europe, Imaginary Jews in USA ..
As Dastgir said
“Go to a Govt. Hospital., and give a Muslim name.., and see how the receptionist treats you. Go searching for a house wearing a skull cap., and see what reaction you get. Apply for a job with a muslim name. Try this “litmus test” … for a first-hand real experience. There is discrimination against muslims. Everyone knows it. Nothing can be done about it.”
I think this victim mentality has token its toll .. these imaginary ghosts have become real .. and muslims are responsible for this