GK Tuesday Column: Modi, Muslims & Marginalized India would have to evolve into a power sharing mechanism with her minorities MY WORD DR. JAVID IQBAL Smaller Default Larger Indian poll 2014 may concern no subcontinental Muslim entity, save the Indian Muslims. How do other subcontinental Muslim entities—Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Kashmiri Muslims come into the equation? Muslims in India, 67 years after partition stay warned—if you don’t get on Narendra Modi bandwagon, you may migrate to Pakistan. JK Muslims are threatened with abrogating article 370—emptied shell without fire power. Demand for ‘Azadi’ brings in the charge of being Pakistanis; overlooking the fact Pakistan is a party to, ‘K’ dispute, hence in equation. In Bangladesh, four decades after it changed hue from being ‘East Pakistan’ people are still being hanged for being Pakistanis. Pakistan may be in a state of turmoil. Yet, the profile of the country stays deeply embedded in the psyche, across the divide. In the process, no thought is spared that the Pakistani charge on diverse Muslim entities is strengthening the argument of Quaid-e-Azam, Mohammad Ali Jinnah that Hindus and Muslims form separate nations, and should stay as such. Apart from Muslim entities, there are marginalized Indians, in the past socio-religious revisionist—Buddhist mainly, past and present--lower strata of class ridden society Muslims are perceived as foreigners, Sangh Parivar has not only theorized the take, it is putting into practice the campaign that they are treated as such. The charge, rather the tirade stays despite the fact an overwhelming majority of the people of the subcontinent are migrants, hardly a few central Indian and Advasi groups are original Indians. Sangh Parivar take, its vicious propaganda belies historical facts. Yet, in spite of Indian claims of free wheeling democracy—world’s largest, growing emancipation, a vibrant middle class, there is no concrete effort to combat Sangh Parivar juggernaut, and calling its lie a lie. India—the land of migrants had its first lot of settlers, as southern Dravids poured in. Aryans followed them, approximately three millennia and half back. Central Asians originally, they spread eastwards and westwards. Germans are western Aryans. Eastern settlers made Iran their home, some moved ahead and settled in Indo-Gangetic plain, in northwestern India. Allama Iqbal aptly captures the scene: Aye Abrood-E-Ganga, Woh Din Hai Yaad Tujko, Utra Teray Kinaray Jub Kaarvan Hamara O Ganges! remember ye the day, Our caravan landed on your bay Aryan hegemony in course of time evolved into a class based society, as enshrined in the code of Manu, though the initial Aryan discourse was Vedic in essence, marked by purity of thought and ease of practice. Class based society placed Brahmin at the very top, the clergy having a role in the affairs of state. No Raja could wage a war, without consent of the Brahmin; highly placed clergy had to whet major decisions. Class based society faced challenges, before the advent of Islam. Buddhism in its rise saw the glorious reign of Asoka, of Kanishka. Kashmir became a part of discourse as an international Buddhist conclave was held here, during Kanishika’s region—an important milestone in history of Kashmir. Brahmanism however returned with vengeance. Buddhism was exported, say some authors, Allama Iqbal attests: Brahim Sarshar Hay Abb Tak Maye Pandar Mei’n Shama-e-Gautam Jal Rahi Hay Mahfil-e-Agyar Mei’n Drunken remains Brahmin in wine of his thought, Alight remains Guatam’s light that others sought Central Asians provided yet another challenge, as 12th to 16th century Turku-Mongol migrations started, with fair sprinkling of Persians, mostly the mix Turku-Persians. To call it Islamic in essence might be a historical fallacy, as sultanate expansions had territorial intent. Yet, it continues to be weighed in Islamic scale, a take that is not historically substantiated, hence unjust. Just as sections of downtrodden Indians embraced Buddhism, the new religious dispensing provided an attraction. It was a fresh message, with a lot of promise. The migrants with local additions formed the Muslim masses. The masses gained in strength, and remained vibrant to the extent of resisting the very thought of yet another export, a la Buddhism. Instead, the new dispensing stayed, to the chagrin of sections of Indian society, with a narrow, sectarian and parochial approach. The approach resulted in failure to evolve a power sharing mechanism, where all communities could breathe in peace and develop a common stake in Indian state. 1947 partition has been much debated, though it has come to stay. Whether or not it provided a solution may be besides the point in evolving a subcontinental future that minimizes conflict and maximizes resolution. It may be easier said than done, the question however remains—could ever a subcontinental equation materialize without Hindus and Muslims learning to evolve a working relationship, in length and breadth of the subcontinent? India with all its apparent and pronounced might has a geopolitical soft underbelly with persistent resistance coupled with insurgency of varying intensity in northeast and JK. There is Maoist insurgency in central Indian states, a result of lop-sided growth, growing virtually into class warfare with social and economic gradients. There is unfortunately lot of violence in the air. India would have to evolve into a power sharing mechanism with her minorities, Muslims form a significant section of it, and also seek an even economic growth for empowering the dispossessed and deprived masses. ‘K’ issue is related to self determination, as per UN resolutions, which have neither an expiry date, nor a fixed shelf life. Yaar Zinda, Sohbat Baqi [Reunion is subordinate to survival]
Posted on: Tue, 29 Apr 2014 03:18:00 +0000
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