By
Abdul Hannan Siwani Nadvi
There is a common notion, escalated across the country, that Indian Muslims always criticise the government and use the ways to pressurise it, instead of concerning on their education and to get the advantages from government's schemes aimed to provide governmental assistance in reducing the poverty and illiteracy in Muslim community.
I think, such kind of notion or thought cannot be seen as part of building of nation, as it is a part of huge conspiracy intent to undermine the voices are being arisen to get the rights given by the constitution to keep Muslims themselves alive with their Islamic identity in a country where the efforts are being made to wipe them out from the country or they have been forced to live there according to those who have tired to see them as Muslims in India.
When we call India a democratic country, then criticising the government or expressing the objection over government's decisions cannot be termed anti-national interest.
Why we forget it that nation's development lies in a special help of government, as it has power, resources, reasons, and wealth. Building of hospitals, establishing of Schools and Universities, maintaining peace, cleaning the streets, providing electricity to every city and villages, making the arrangements to build sewer lines and supervising it to be cleaned time to time and providing a safe and a good atmosphere to every community are the work related to government, whether it is in state or in centre. These projects remain incomplete if government's intention is not to carry out it.
When we visit the areas where Muslims live, or where they are in majority, we find endless problems dominate there. The existence of these problems causes various kinds of disease that are a serious threat to life to everyone who lives in that atmosphere.
What young Muslims do when they find themselves on a crossroad where every way is closed on them? Insecurity, fear to be arrested by police on terror charges, poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and costly education dominate on them.
Muslim’s anger goes on high when government’s move, directly or indirectly hurt their Islamic sentiments or they have been asked to change their Muslim identity instead of concerning onto their real problems.
Their mother tongue Urdu is on a way to be a forgotten language as it is not linked to employment. Urdu teachers and its students find no place of work in government and private offices. Urdu Newspapers, magazines and various monthly magazines are weeping on their fate, as they are not getting much assistance from government as other newspapers in other languages are getting ads and other financial help.
It seems that these Urdu newspapers have been leaved to die for highlighting the problems of Muslims.
Now, news is coming that UGC has removed Urdu language as Urdu medium for NET exams. This decision will affect directly hundreds and thousands of Urdu medium students and will make their future black.
This is an effort to sideline the Urdu language and reduce its students in order to make it a forgotten language a day.
The condition of Muslim areas is very worse than the imagination. Their areas are away from all basic fundamental needs which are very essential for a human being who lives in a human being society. Lack of drinking water, electricity, roads, Hospitals and lack of cleaning or such other needs which are basic part of a society where human being lives, represents the real picture of Muslim areas in all over India, except some areas.
On the other side, there are various localities, colonies and areas where Muslims are not in majority or they not live there, but all facilities are exit there. Only one bird's eye view is enough to understand the difference between two populations
Why these differences? Is Muslims' fall is not the fall of India? If we accept that Indian Muslims represent a largest minority community then is the illiteracy and unemployment of this minority could not be a great loss for a largest democratic country?
If Indian government or other Hindutva organisations think that their march towards development will remain to continue after pushing the largest Muslim minority community into marsh of poverty, illiteracy and unemployment so this kind of idea is based on imaginary thoughts.
The future of this country lies with Muslims. Is it not true that every single vote of Muslims is enough to change the fate of state or central government? If it happens so, then seeing a dream to become a great India is impossible without educational and economical development of Muslims, as well as, Muslim's future lies with Islam as they live in this country with all Islamic identities and Islamic culture.
Are there efforts to shut down these voices too? Muslims are not begging from the government. They are struggling to overcome on their endless problems to which Indian government itself feels helplessness in solving it.
Their condition is very better now. If assistance and chances given to them, the skills, power and ability to face the challenges, whether the atmosphere is supportive or not, would prove their hidden skills.
Muslims are very conscious nation. It will defence of every charge slapped against it with accountability.
It is not from those nations who have been targeted for hundreds and thousands years that made them a forgotten nation.
If the Constitution granted some rights to Muslims, and they hold the government accountable for its implementation, and if the government is hesitating over its implementation, then it is the responsibility of Muslims to use all ways which are allowed in a democratic country to remind it about its accountability toward Muslims.
If someone understands that targeting government or holding it responsible for Muslim's condition is wrong so I think that such kind of organisations and Muslims are the victim of inferiority complex, or if they understand that government will place their rights as it is then this thought is based on misunderstanding too.
If Muslims wish to live in India with their all Islamic identities, then they must aware what is happening around them and try to bust every conspiracy is being played against them, as well as, they have to check what the government to which they make it with their votes, did for their advancement and what not, and for this no need to fear the blame of a critic.
03-01-2011
