If Indian Muslims are underprivileged — without homes, education, employment — a lot of it had to do with wrong leadership.
What do you think is the future of Muslims in Gujarat, I ask J. V. Momin, an AICC delegate and former general-secretary of the Gujarat Congress.
“What is the future of Muslims in the world, particularly the Western world? If you have a beard, you are considered a jihadi,” is his counter-question.
The same situation prevails in India, especially Gujarat. Asking educated and liberal Indian Muslims to ruminate, he asks: “Don’t Muslims tend to be over-sensitive and over-react to situations? If Indian Muslims are underprivileged, without homes, education, employment, a lot of it had to do with wrong leadership.”
Muslim vote redundant
I am in Ahmedabad to look at election issues as Narendra Modi is headed for yet another term — his third — in Government. Unlike in other States such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, or West Bengal, where an important election issue is which way the Muslim vote is headed, in Gujarat, the Modi magic — or mania, if you please — has made the Muslim vote redundant. The clear feeling you get is that, irrespective of only a small section of Muslims voting for him, and the bulk going the Congress way, the BJP is headed for a convincing victory.
On the plight of Indian Muslims, Momin says that after Independence, the Mullahs and Maulvis took over the leadership of Muslims and did not actively pursue modern education for them. A staunch Shia and a builder by profession, he says his single message to Muslims is that “aap oonche nahi aa saktey kyu ki aapney apney ghar me Husain (Prophet Mohammed’s grandson) aur Yazid (his killer) dono ko saath mei rakha hei. (You can’t progress because both good and evil reside in your homes.).
He agrees with the common Hindu sentiment that being a minority in India, Muslims should learn to “respect and even promote the culture of the majority community”.
Momin says that before Independence and till 1960, the Kutchi Hindus in Mumbai would tell women wearing expensive jewellery to “only sit in the taxi of a bearded man; both you and your jewellery will be safe.” But what’s the situation today? Not only is a bearded man not trusted, people feel uncomfortable if a bearded guy sits next to them on a flight or in a bus. The reality today is that Muslims do not inspire trust.
Modi’s Muslim support
Coming to how the Gujarati Muslims will vote this time, I tell noted social scientist Achyut Yagnik that a couple of Bohra businessmen from Gujarat recently told me they would vote only for Modi “as our lives and businesses are safe when he is in power”.
He says the reason is simple: “It’s because Bohras, Agha Khanis or Khojas and Memons are all mercantile communities and they support him. And the Bohra support is because their spiritual leader Syedna openly supported Modi in Rajkot recently.”
The Anthropological Survey of India says there are 87 Muslim communities in Gujarat, of which only three are business communities. “The remaining Muslims are not well to do and they don’t support Modi. Distribution of coastal land for industrial use has adversely affected a large number of fisherfolk or machiara in the Kutch region, most of them being Muslim.”
Yagnik says that for “so-called industrial development” the Modi Government has given away common property resources (CPR) in both land and water. “Many of these poor communities depend both directly and indirectly on CPR and feel alienated and victimised by Modi. The State might think it is the absolute owner of these resources, but it isn’t; they belong to the community.”
Gujarat’s Muslim population is barely 10 per cent, but in some areas and three Parliamentary constituencies in Kutch, Ahmedabad and Bharuch, it is 16-17 per cent. Thirty of the 87 Muslim communities fall in the socially- and educationally-backward class, but most of them find it extremely difficult to get certification from “the lower bureaucracy, which is mainly Hindu and staunch supporters of Modi,” says Yagnik. So they will not vote for BJP.
Juhapura, another world
After meeting a few farmers in the sprawling bungalow of a successful farmer-cum-industrialist in the upmarket area off S. G. Highway, I drive to Juhapura, barely 6 km away. The smooth wide roads that adjoin shining malls, packed restaurants patronised by the upper middle-class give way to stinking and narrow potholed-streets with open gutters, teeming with flies, and piles and piles of uncleared garbage.
Middle-class Hindus call it “Ahmedabad’s Pakistan”, and till two years back, there were no banks here! Haji Chand Bhai is 70 years old and runs a roadside samosa and chicken stall. Business is brisk, daily turnover is around Rs 1,100, and profit Rs 200. Having lived through decades of riots from 1969, he is happy that the worst one in 2002, was the last.
He has no complaints, but Sajid who runs a hole-in-the wall watch repair shop is bitter about Juhapura not getting an iota of Gujarat’s development.
“You can look at the open gutters and accumulated garbage. We can still live with that, but no bank is willing to give us loans. We can open accounts and deposit money, but the moment they see a Juhapura address, no loan is sanctioned.”
With living costs going through the roof, the Rs 3,000 he makes is inadequate for his family of four. “We have to borrow from moneylenders paying 60 per cent interest.” Aslam Mirza, who runs a tea-stall nearby, says with their “limited education and a Juhapura address, Muslim youth cannot get decent jobs. What is the last resort for a hungry and desperate guy? Crime of course.”
Muslims should introspect
But Bakir Ujjaini, a senior advocate in Ahmedabad, believes that Gujarati Muslims need to change. From the language used on the streets he can tell whether the person he accidentally brushed against is a Muslim or a Hindu. “A Hindu will invariably say: ‘Vadil, jara joi ne toh chaalo (Elderly gentleman, watch your step.) But a Muslim will most likely say: ‘Abey, andha hei, dekh nahi sakta? (Are you blind?)’”
Calling for introspection on the part of Muslims, he says they have to reflect on their tendency not to return loans. “Bohra businessmen have bitter experience in dealing with other Muslims who take material on credit and refuse to pay on time or pay at all.”
Momin says that if Indian Muslims don’t learn to show tolerance for other faiths and cultures, India cannot remain a secular country. “Just imagine, Indian Muslims will decide if India remains secular or not.” Of course, it is another thing it’ll be an India with a beautiful face where the eyes are missing,” he adds.
Responses to rasheeda.bhagat@thehindu.co.in and blfeedback@thehindu.co.in
Keywords: Muslims and Narendra Modi and Gujarat
Comments:
dear rasheeda
thanks for writing this unbiased report.the sentiments echoed
here although invariably have Gujarati settings but i can vouch that
the same sentiments would be echoed in other parts of the country. the
Muslim woes are mainly due to their thinking that they donot belong to
this land and take pride in their middle east origin although the fact
is that above 95% muslims have indian rather hindu lineage.they are
bereft of credit facility because of their mindset not to repay their
debt.this is my personal experience. Even muslim businessmen trust
hindus more than their coreligionists.Analysis of the banking NPAs
will easily show that the % of bad loans is higher in muslim dominated
areas where the defaults are spearheaded by muslims but equally
supported by hindus of that area.Upwardly mobile muslims want to live
in predominantly hindu areas. Also their are professions which require
craftsmen skills are are still dominated by muslims.
" After meeting a few farmers in the sprawling bungalow of a successful farmer-cum-industrialist in the upmarket area off S. G. Highway, I drive to Juhapura, barely 6 km away. The smooth wide roads that adjoin shining malls, packed restaurants patronised by the upper middle-class give way to stinking and narrow potholed-streets with open gutters, teeming with flies, and piles and piles of uncleared garbage.
Middle-class Hindus call it “Ahmedabad’s Pakistan”, "
Which Ahmedabad did you visit ?
Having lived in Ahmedabad for 30 years and going to work through Juhapura every day I dont agree with this. Neither I am aware of the name you have given.
If people from particular street wants to keep their area shit, govt cant do anything.
Education of Muslim masses is the most crucial aspect for economic uplift. My query is whether leaders with liberal frame of mind have any place among the majority of Indian Muslims. Would these leaders be able to convince the Muslim masses that there is a clear distinction between Islam as a religion and tenets of Islam as are interpreted by extreme Muslim elements today? We notice that the extremists in Muslim communities all over the world are not ready to accommodate a view that is different from theirs and they (extremists) are often proclaiming that non-Muslims have no right to live in this world. What would be the position of leaders of Muslims in India? Unfortunately, the saner elements in Muslim communities in our country and elsewhere are being weakened day by day, and that is a very worrying sign of difficult days ahead. Can the enlightened Muslim leaders change this scenario and ensure that Muslims with a liberal view become more acceptable in their own community first?
How abt making it mandatory to read stories of like of Premji Family, MC Chagla, Justice Hidayatullah?
If u cover stories from other states,u will get worse results than
this... the backwardness among muslims is less becoz of Givt and more
becoz of their own belief.. I know 1 of my muslim friend went for an
interview in an IT company.he is BTech.So,he has a big beard and he
was told that beard are not allowed for Non_sikh employees.He left the
job.
Another case,My known muslim frnds elder brother went for SSB (NDA)
and there before dinner he askd the defence personnels whether the
meat is Halal or Jhatka.He was thrown that very moment.
So,muslims need to get off with their orthodox mentality and should
embrace modern ways..
Also muslims in GUjarat are best as we already know by GOI's Sachar
Committee report.. aslso max numbr of Haj going muslims are from
GUjarat,max donations to mosques comes from GUjarat,max PCA among
muslims is fom GUjarat etc etc..
So,its quiet funny that u r making such a news out of a state where
muslimsare already well-off as compared to other states
Rasheeda,
Have you watched what is happening in Hyderabad? Despite the local municipality being run by MIM corporators dominated, influenced decision making, the Muslim areas remains stinky, dark and abominable! They seem to have been told to rebel and break anything hindu in old Hyd area. How could they ever prosper and grow in life if these "RageBoys" think only how to destroy anything Hindu? There is no need to show any positive energy towards the majority religion?
The other important fact you have not mentioned here is the emphasis the Bohra muslim's on modern education. Their woman are well read, sometimes more than their men. I have known a few Bohra muslims and they share food with us and share thier positive thoughts towards country and how it should prosper. But some other muslim communities don't even have a concept of country beyond their religion. Well, they have remained frogs in their own well and refuse to see the vast outside world.
Also, Rasheeda, look at the predictable trend of these rageboys! Most of Fridays the youth rush out and destroy the properties, burn cars, beat up people! They are just let themselves be a silly tool in the hands of a mischievous Mullah / preacher. Just imagine how effectively this energies could have been channelized to positive effect? like clean up their own backyard, clear the debris and sweep their surroundings and lead by example. No, these rageboys, remain be used as, well rageboys. Angry with everything, with their leaders, with their misfortune, with all religions other than their own, angry with the muslims in Palestine, angry for Rohingya Muslims, but not angry about themseves and hos they can transform their own fate? NO. They want the state to do it for them all the time, as if it their birth right. Unless the muslims change their outlook to life, they will remain silly tools. Regressive.
I read your article in BL today and I must say that you've caught my
thoughts. You've actually hit the Bull's eye about the introspection
part. I've lived in Juhapura for 6 yrs and have seen the slow growth in
business and stagnation in intellectual growth. It's good to see an
experienced writer pondering on such issues.
Regards.
Rasheeda
You are right about the need for modern primary education for these kids; just religious education can not make them good techies, engineers and doctors.
Modern eduction alone could open the mind to accept others (including their religion).
Unfortunately, in many other states the education is getting limited to religion only; the kids are lured by free meals etc, in such schools.
Nice Article, I am well agreed with you that Muslims, I mean Indian Muslims really need great amount of honest introspection. As far as Juhapura, it's the case in Gujarat but there are so many Juhpura's in states like UP, Bihar, WB having condition worse than Juhapura of AHD. I understand their leadership didn't anything for them. Their leaders were / are just show piece of so called secular political parties but what about ground reality. Muslims have been cheated very badly in this country and they are far behind from main stream. I feel sorry but only themselves are culprit. I am sure, their situation will start improving when they start voting on performance basis instead of being a vote bank.
y cant ppl think on the basics everybody is just a human 1st!!!
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