This is a piece Shahid Latif, editor of Inquilab, asked me to write for his paper. It was part of a series on what the ‘Indian Muslim Should do now’. It was translated into Urdu — a first for me — by Shahid saab and published in Inquilab on November 2, 2008.
I interviewed the Dalai Lama just after the US began its post-9/11 campaign in Afghanistan. What he told me still rings in my ears. “We often forget we’re all in this together,” he said, referring to our stay here on Earth.
The journey of the Indian Muslim, from Partition, to December 6, 1992, and from then to today has been a ride through a perfect storm. My view is that we sit perched atop the crest of a mammoth wave that will either send us crashing to the bottom of the ocean or one from which we will sail to calm waters.
It will depend on how well we steer our ship.
It is the nature of choice that in being forced to make one, there is discomfort. The Indian Muslim finds himself in exactly in that situation.
The choice is this: Give up hope and rebel. Or effect a positive change.
We live in an age of bomb blasts, a right-wing threat and an increasing gulf between the haves and have-nots. There could not be a more dangerous combination. And the Muslim is at the centre of it. What should he do now?
As a business management student, I got familiar with a technique known as SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) Analysis that is often used by firms to gauge their environment and how well they are doing. It may be useful to apply the technique to the community.
Strengths: At 150 million, Muslims may be a ‘minority’ in India, but in fact outnumber populations of most countries. The numbers cannot be ignored. Muslims form a potent political force. They also consider themselves Indian; they don’t — or at least shouldn’t — feel they are in the wrong place even if it’s the wrong time. India is home. Also, their faith is strong, and among the younger generation at least there is a quest to underpin it with a modern view of the world.
Weaknesses: As a political force, they are splintered. There is no unity of views on the way forward. Quality leadership is conspicuous by its absence.
There is a huge gap in education levels. This is not just a weakness, but a serious threat. If Muslims don’t make an effort to up literacy on a war footing, the battle will be lost before it begins. And I don’t mean just primary education. Higher education — especially for girls — is critical. The community could rapidly find itself underqualified for a fast-changing world, making it turn further inward.
There is another serious weakness: Many tend to see everything through the prism of religion. I will never forget the experience I had while waiting for my wife in a spa lobby. Some staffers were chatting there and one of them mentioned that Shah Rukh Khan reads the newspaper while sitting on the toilet seat. While everybody else burst out into giggles, a Muslim gentleman flew into a rage and said: “If he does that, then Shah Rukh is not a true Muslim. Islam does not permit such things.”
I was appalled.
On the face of it, it was an incident to be laughed at and forgotten. On the other hand, it highlights how seeing life through the prism of faith is taken to extremes. It is this attitude that worries me because the community is then seen to be irrational, which is only one step away from extremist.
Opportunities: There is an opportunity to create educational and commercial institutions like Islamic banks that can make a real difference. There is an entrepreneurial streak in the community that can be used to great advantage. Sometimes, big finance is not the answer. There is an urgent need for a microfinance institution. It may achieve what government sops and reservations have not. Even small sects have grown to be prosperous and powerful. There’s no reason a great faith cannot do the same.
Threats: The community has an image problem. And it’s not doing enough to counter it. I have already mentioned education levels. Parts of the community — and not just the not-so-well-to-do sections — seem to be vulnerable to fundamentalist rhetoric. This is disastrous. Again, education will help. The right-wing baiting of the community is being responded to all too often. This will only escalate the tensions. Concentrate on bettering your lot.
The debate within the community seems to centre around only religion. There are other things to talk about. Open your minds to other issues: inclusive growth, education (here I go again), women’s empowerment, business, health.
This is, of course, no socio-political thesis. It merely skims the surface of what can — and needs to — be done. All life-altering change is difficult, but change we must. Not by weakening our faith or redefining our core, but by thinking differently. It’s an idea whose time has come; in fact, it’s long overdue.
Ashraf Engineer
Bhavjit said,
November 3, 2008 at 10:33 am
Finally a voice of reason. In a day and age when independents and small political parties vie effectively for their voice and populace why not emulate them and use their own strategy. I’d be the first to admit it that we Indians split on religious lines should be more like the Parsis, they’ve done exactly what Shahid pointed out. Educated themselves across the gender lines and in doing so established organizations that would try to lift the whole not just one exclusive section of society. India is a democracy lets use that strength for a change.Are we at the stage where in the future its me against my brother or me with my brother depends on the path we choose now.
Ambika said,
November 4, 2008 at 7:44 am
Well-balanced and thought provoking.
A Heraldian who joined after you guys left
Puja Changoiwala said,
November 12, 2008 at 12:36 pm
The beiginning is splendid. I couldnt move further with the piece, owing to how thought-provoking it is.
When I first read the title, honestly, I thought it would provide all high-profile political solutions to the prevalent problem of the community. But the whole idea of catering to the problems at the grass-root level instead has made the problem look solvable.
The piece is very to-the-point and is reflective of the hope that can save and nurture this community. The hope that is a pre-requisite to save and nurture this ‘community.
Vgossip said,
November 17, 2008 at 10:58 am
In the movies of 40s and 50s, one can see the occasional scenes of a train stopping at a railway station and the vendors screaming, ‘Hindu paani, Muslim paani’, ‘Hindu chaai, Muslim chaai’ (Hindu water, Muslim water). But that was more than 50 years ago when untouchability was widely prevalent and casteism of a much higher degree existed. Naturally the tea and water were sold by Hindus and Muslims separately for their communities. The untouchables could not buy from either of them.
The point is have we come a long way ahead or stepped a long way back ?
Chandan said,
April 22, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Finally, a rational Indian Muslim. There a so few of them around the phrase is almost an oxymoron. May your tribe increase and may you spread some seeds of wisdom amongst fellow Indian Muslims…people like you need to become part of that elusive modern image of a modern Indian Muslim. I have always felt that Indian Muslims need to take control of their destiny and it is the duty of Indian Muslims more than any other to fight the fundamentalists amongst you…only then will Indians of other faiths come to believe that Indian Muslims are indeed sons of India who are willing to stand shoulder to shoulder with their fellow Indians always and especially in times of need.
Ashraf Engineer said,
April 22, 2009 at 4:22 pm
Hi Chandan,
Thanks for your comment. A few points to be raised here:
* There are enough rational Muslims around; maybe you just didn’t look well enough.
* I agree that it is the duty of Muslims to repulse those who spread terror in the name of Islam. However, it is as much the duty of people like you to recognise that all Indian Muslims are not terrorists and they don’t believe in their methods. In fact, an overwhelming majority are aghast at the blood being shed in the name of their faith.
* Indian Muslims don’t need to prove to you — or anybody else — that they are sons of India. This is as much their country as yours. Whether you like it or not.
Regards,
Ashraf
Amrita said,
April 23, 2009 at 9:27 am
Your reply is bang on. It always bothers me, this making a statement about being Indian. How do you describe being Indian. Just by being born into a certain faith makes you one? Why does anyone from any faith have to make an effort to prove his loyalties towards his country, his home. On a day when the President of the country, who incidentally is a woman, is addressing the nation, we have a certain group of men beating up women who are just chilling out with a group of friends.. And this group, I don’t need to remind, claim to be protecting the ethos of the Indian culture? Does that mean being Indian? This is just one of the hundreds of incidents that happen every single day accross the country? How many of us take a step forward to stop all this from happening or at least reduce its regularity? I think,we need to prove that we are human beings with a rational thinking mind first and then talk about proving our nationality.
And just before anyone jumps to conclusions, I must say that I come from a Hindu brahmin family and an extremely conservative one at that.
sgr said,
April 22, 2009 at 6:39 pm
Hi Ashraf,
Just came to this blog from dawn website. Your writings are good;
I guess when situations that demand the country as a whole, people should shed differences due to caste, religion etc., As Mr.Obama says to America – It’s a plural nation; India & America are more or less the same in such sceanarios. (culturally diversified)
India is one of the oldest culturally – diversified country; But generally many Muslims feel more attachment to the religion & inturn to Arab world more than to the country/fellow-indians where they live in; In such cases, it makes people to think lot of negative aspects about radical Indian muslims; This is not very prominent in other minority religions like Christians, Jews, Parsis etc., probably. And to add to that, terrorists in today’s world are using the name of ‘Islam’ and doing lots of worst things globally & this is quite known to anyone. So it leads to several negative opinions about muslims in general.
So what I conclude is: People should shed differences due to religion, caste etc., and work unitedly for a modern India ….free of terror, flourishing economy, learn to appreciate each other’s religions & faith and hence live in harmony under one society/one umbrella…India !!
Mera Bharat Mahan!! Jai Hind!
sanjay said,
April 23, 2009 at 4:08 am
Hi Ashraf,
Nice analysis of SWOT, but could have been improved. Is a Muslim , Muslim first or an Indian/Pakistani. Similarly is a Hindu (whatever is left of then), living in Pakistan, a Pakistani first and then a Hindu. This can be done only through self analysis. Also the so called leaders of Muslim community are mostly religious. Look at the the statement issued by Jama Masjid Maulana, defending the perpetrators of attack on Indian Parliament. Would this have happened in Pakistan if the priest was a Hindu in Pakistan, defending Hindu terrorist in Pakistan. I let you be the judge…. I do not hear any voices from the Muslim community condemnation the Maulana Bukhair for his statement….I also appreciate the Muslim community in Mumbai, by NOT permitting the burial of the terrorist there. So are WE Indians first or Hindu, Muslim, Sikhs or whatever religious affiliations we may have.
Action speaks louder than words…. .
rahconteur said,
May 1, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Very thought provoking and timely. But question is, shouldn’t India have been a country without the need for such an article?