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This morning broke
with two messages about Muslims in India. The first was Swaminathan S
Anklesaria Aiyar’s article
in the Times of India and the other was a WhatsApp message. Both reveal
an acute concern of non-Muslims about the backwardness of Muslims in India and
the problems engendered by that backwardness.
Aiyar’s
article is an open letter to Asaduddin Owaisi who recently
lamented the pathetic condition of Indian Muslims vis-à-vis education. Aiyar
rightly argues that the Muslims must help themselves in this matter as the
Christians did long ago. “Instead of depending on the state,” Aiyar writes, “Christians
have long created their own educational institutions of excellence.” Even
today, when Ram Raj is enforcing itself on the nation, Christian educational
institutions remain in high demand among non-Christians. “Hindus and Muslims
pull all possible strings to get into them,” says Aiyar.
The
Muslim community in India is capable of running their own educational institutions
like the Christians. There are a few institutions of eminence like the Aligarh
Muslim University, Jamia Milia Islamia, and Osmania. Aiyar also mentions the
good work done by Kerala’s Muslim Educational Society which runs many schools
and colleges efficiently.
Why
can’t the Muslims in India use their abundant wealth lying in the Waqf Boards as
well as the generosity of the country’s affluent Muslims who are generous with
their zakat donations for setting up good modern schools and colleges instead
of primitive madrasas? Why not start with 200 top-class schools right away,
Aiyar asks.
I’m
with Aiyar heart and soul in this. Religions in India spend a lot of money on absurd
things like ostentatious places of worship and propaganda. Why not spend that
money on educating the children of the believers?
The
WhatsApp message that came in a cliquish group to which I happen
to belong raises concerns about the controversial love jihad that is apparently
converting a lot of non-Muslims in Kerala using trickery and fraudulence. The
message has chilling statistics too. I checked the veracity of the message and
found that much of the statistics was exaggerated and was rejected long ago by
the National Investigation Agency. Nevertheless, love jihad is a reality.
Unsuspecting young girls fall prey to the traps laid by certain malevolent
forces with strong religious backing. Many such girls end up in terrorist
groups like the IS.
The
first thing that the Muslims should stop is this fraudulence if they wish to
bring any sort of progress and development to their community. Bring education
instead. Too much religion is of no use to anyone. It has never done any good
at any time to any people. History can show you that without any doubt.
Religion is like any other intoxicant: good within limits and toxic beyond the
limits.
A friend of mine still tells me that jihad simply means the struggle for knowledge, I just don't know why some people give different meanings to it and use them like arrows.
ReplyDeleteJihad has 3 different meanings one of which self-improvement. That's the 1st, in fact. 2nd is community improvement. 3rd is what the terrorists claim to do: improve others.
DeleteSo, in their eyes anyone who aren't interested to come to their side are sinners!!
DeleteIsn't that what most religions do? Hinduism was an exception. Modi has succeeded in degrading that religion too.
DeleteReligion beyond the limits is, to be plain and straight, lethal. I echo your thoughts as I have also maintained the same kind of thoughts for long and discussed with my Muslim friends.
ReplyDeleteI have a lot of Muslim students. I find that the boys are more progressive than girls though the latter score more marks in exams. The girls seem to love the hijab and orher restrictions imposed on them!
Deletei am a muslim i think they should first ban all those hijabs.
DeleteAny reform in religion can only come from within. Good to see you make this suggestion.
Deletethere are a lot of stereotypes, but now they are getting educated
DeleteStereotypes are as ubiquitous as the air we breathe. But I also observe carefully beyond stereotypes. I question stereotypes. I check facts before I raise issues. The plain truth is that Muslims tend to be parochial and ultra-conservative. They don't take as much interest in education as other communities. They tend to turn a blind eye to the progress all around and stick to their ghettos and the ghetto mentality.
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