By Dr. MJ Khan
I was reading an article by the noted journalist, Qamar Waheed Naqvi in the Satya Hindi.com, which is a compilation of a series of his recent tweets. I could not agree more with his views that what was needed to be done is exactly opposite to what we have been doing all these years. Cursing communal politics and parties and yet doing everything possible to unknowingly strengthening them. The lack of long term political plans, absence of competent and committed leadership and dependence on weak, corrupt and casteist leaders in the name of secularism on one side and hypothecating our understanding of religion to semi-literate and narrow vision clergy on the other hand costed us dearly.
Time is fast changing. An impression is being created that Muslims are misfit to live in multicultural societies. And they neither want to live in peace nor let live. We may keep on complaining about what right wing people and others are doing, but there are no takers. The narrow world vision and low on morality and spirituality and high on ritualism has almost blinded a large section of the Muslim community in India. Otherwise how would one justify violence all of a sudden, almost two weeks after the telecast? Its time for the vast majority of moderates to stand up and speak against 5% fringe elements in both communities. We must not go soft on the fundamentals and fanatics, fearing their vituperative and aggressive attacks in social media.
We need strong social leadership which could talk sense and act sensibly. The champions of hysterical speeches, these misguided mullahs can only deliver disaster. Indian Muslims have faced enough under this regressive religious leadership and mushroomed socio-cultural organizations. It’s time to change. Time to call for weeding out radicals among us, whether they defame us on TV screens or create trouble in the society. The world is no longer willing to buy our victimhood theories. What happened in recent days cannot be justified in the name of ‘hurt sentiments’.
We are fast loosing sympathy in the society and will soon be left with no sympathizers. What are these great theological institutions and their proclaimed leaders doing today? Are these leaders only to collect zakat funds in the name of Madrasa? Do they have no responsibility towards poor Muslim, who is paying hefty price to the nonsense of these leaders, who would ignite fire and then go in hibernation? Only to emerge later, when situation cools down, to distributing little ration and issuing press statements or getting photographed for media?
Should we privileged 5% not feel ashamed for the trouble we are creating for 95% helpless poor Muslim on the ground by our misplaced actions and statements? This is critical time and we must read the bold writings on the wall and act sensibly and urgently, before it’s too late.
The writer is the President of Indian Muslims for Progress and Reforms(IMPAR)
First published in www.impar.in / June 14, 2022 / New Delhi
