Indian Muslims View Beg Attention

Indian Muslims View Beg Attention
Syed Ali Mujtaba

Muslim views are seldom highlighted in the mainstream media. There is little attempt to articulate the aspirations and frustrations of the largest minority group in India. As a result their pent up anger continues to grow. Often Indian Muslims are found lamenting that they get bad press. There are some grievances of Muslim community that not only needs consideration but some are in dire need to be addressed immediately. Here  an attempt is made to piece them together so that the pulse of the community could be felt very loud and clear.

 Muslims are being targeted in the name of Terrorism

Its felt that innocent Muslim youth are deliberately being targeted for cracking the cases of terrorism. The modus-oprendi is to first implicate some Muslim youths on fabricated charges and then detain them. Such detainees are then forced to make false confessions through third degree methods. The Nimesh Commission probed into the arrest of Muslim youth in UP has indicted the state government for arresting Muslim youths on concocted charges. This pattern has emerged through out the country in cases of acquittal of several Muslim youth who have spend long years in jails as under trial.  The Muslim community desires the release all such Muslim youth languishing in jails UP jails across the country. The community demands the governments responsible for such false arrest should pay adequate compensation to the acquitted "terror" victims. Their lost years, destroyed careers, and defamation should be taken into account in deciding the compensation.The community feels that the existing laws in the country are enough to deal with the scourge of terrorism and strongly demands the terrorist law POTA should be repealed as under such law innocent Muslim youths are targeted.

Welfare Schemes

The Sachar commission report on Muslim backwardness had prompted the government to announce a slew of schemes to up lift the community. These schemes are meant to be implemented in the so-called Muslim-dominated districts. However, only few schemes are executed so far. Even the educational scholarships scheme is not properly implemented. Last year sixty percent of budget of this scheme was not utilized and had to be returned. The community wants the government should honor its commitment towards minority welfare schemes.

 Reservation Issue

The Muslim community likes to remind the Union government for the implementation of the Mishra Commission report that has recommended reservation for the Muslims. It also wants to know why the government has not yet given its reply to the Supreme Court on including the Muslim and Christian Dalits in the SC / ST reservation list. The Muslim community feels that the exclusion of Muslim and Christian Dalits from the SC / ST quota is against the spirit of the Constitution of India.

Stop Illegal Religious Construction

The Muslim community takes serious note of the dangerous trend of the construction of illegal Hindu religious structure near Muslim shrine, Masjid, Qabristan, or monuments in the country. The modus- oprendi is to place an idol, a picture, or a piece of stone near a Muslim structure. This is followed by Hindu rituals and puja and after that the place is declared as a Hindu place of worship. Such provocation is going on from a long time and the Muslim community appeals to the Union government to wake up to such realities. It is of the view that such development is taking place through out the country and should be handled with the firmness it deserves, else may tar the secular credentials of the country. The Muslim community appeals to the media to report such development in an unbiased manner and the secular NGO's should come forward and file a complaint against such cases for necessary action.

Stop Saffron goons from targeting Muslims

The Muslim community takes note of the growing trend of saffron goons' intimidating certain section of the Muslim community that's traditionally engaged in the meat trade. Opening of new abattoirs and meat shops are resisted, old ones are closed down, and trucks transporting cattle are being hijacked. The Muslim community treats such hurdles an economic assault on a section of the community. It calls upon the state governments to punish the saffron goons, communal elements in the government that includes police found engaged in such activities.

Promulgate Waqf Bill

The Muslim community urges the government to hurry with the Waqf bill through the Parliament. It has to take into account the suggestions made by some Muslim organizations. One of the suggestions was to have the Waqf bill on the lines of Gurdwara Act of 1925. It will lead to the creation of a Waqf Committee that would manage the Waqf properties in the country. The committee can manage various educational institutions, hospitals and charitable organizations from the revenue earned from the Waqf properties. Its no secret that there is huge amount of Waqf properties scattered through out the country and are in utter neglect, encroached upon and illegally being sold. The community feels that many of the Muslim problems in India could be solved if Waqf properties are put into good use for them.

Dispose Babri Masjid Case 

The Muslim community reiterates its full faith in the Supreme Court of the country for the resolution of the Babri Masjid dispute. There are long list of litigation and appeals pending with the Supreme Court in this case. The community eagerly awaits an early disposal of all such cases.

Check Ecological Catastrophe in J & K 

Muslim community shares the anxieties of the Kashmiri brothers over ecological catastrophe due to the increasing activities and infrastructure development by the Amarnath Trust in Jammu and Kashmir. The activities going on to cater to the ever-growing number of pilgrims to Amarnath, is having disastrous impact on the area's fragile ecology. Muslim community appeals to the government to limit the visitors only to the ecologically permissible limit. It is learn that pilgrims has grown from a few thousand in pre-1990 to around 6.5 lakh in 2012.

The Muslim community's views as expressed here are of 'Muslim Mushawarat Committee,' an umbrella organization of several Muslim groups. Their exclusive narrative vouches an inclusive growth story. It definitely  deserves consideration. There is a silver lining in the litany of their demands, that is the Muslim community's unstinted faith in their motherland.
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Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. He can be contacted at syedalimujtaba@yahoo.com

Muslim Profiling and Vishwaroopam

Muslims Profiling and Vishwaroopam

Syed Ali Mujtaba

The controversy centering on the profiling of the Muslim community in the movie Vishwaroopam has fallen into the quagmire of the hackneyed debate of right of expression vs right to protest.

The liberals are flagging the freedom of expression agenda, while those at the receiving end are vehement about asserting their fundamental right to protest for being profiled as terrorist.  

 The fire power of the media is used by the freedom of expression protagonist to convince their commands are the final words of wisdom on this subject. While those publicly humiliated, are using the democratic armory to score some brownie points. 

Call it vote bank or the seize mentality of the minority community, this time the voices of dissent cannot be trampled, courtesy the government of the day has to take cognizance of the ground reality and is backing those who are crying hoarse of being hurt.  Who is winning and who is losing in this debate is left to the individual judgment as there are other nuggets in this story to be explored. 

   

There is a tug of war between Federal and the state government over this controversy. The central government is asserting its right saying the state cannot over rule the Central Government’s Censor Board that has given approval for the screening of the movie.  

 The state government on the contrary argues that when public peace is in jeopardy and law and order situation is likely to be tampered, the local government is within the constitutional right to maintain peace. Since law and order is a state subject the central government has no over riding powers over this subject. In the case of Vishwaroopam, the state government is convinced that public peace is paramount and banning the movie is for the larger social good.

 The judiciary too seems to be divided on the issue of banning the movie. When the state government banned the movie, a single bench stayed the government’s order and ruled in favour of the release of the movie. The government went for a appeal and a dual bench turned down the single bench ruling and justified the ban.

 The matter may be heard in the Supreme Court and its likely that the Apex court may quash the ban citing precedents. However, the question remains, will the release draw full houses or people may keep away from the theaters fearing untoward incidents.   

A similar situation had emerged with the release of the movie Arakshan and “Jodha Akbar.” Both the movies were banned by the state government first and then the Supreme Court ordered the release of the film.  Even then the damage was done as many movie goers stayed away from the theaters fearful of the shadows of the guns and the prospects of bomb blasts. Ultimately both the movies became victim of their controversies.

Coming back to the profiling of the Muslims, the nineties have been full with movies that depicted Muslims as anti social and terrorists. The Hindi – Hindu – Hindustan paradigm of the majority right wing India society that momentarily triumphed following the destruction of Babari Masjid cast its spell on the Indian film makers.

A glut of films with negative shades of Muslim characters was produced by the Bolloywood. In the topics of patriotism and nationalism Kashmir and Pakistan provided the set piece for villainy. If the plot was terrorism, then Kashmir and Pakistan has to be on the fore. The logical deduction was the characters have to be Muslims.

In this added another big picture, the 9/11, and US quest for infinite justice and enduring freedom. The celluloid industry became busy churning out movies of good guys’ verses bad guys theme. The holier than though image was straight jacketed for the US and the audience were made to forget about the creators of the bad guys.

One can understand the Hollywood perspective on such themes, but Bollwwood and Kollywood falling in line needs to straighten out.. It’s often discussed Indian movies produced these days are more foreign in nature and hardly have any Indian connect. The language, the dress, the location and many other such things are all foreign in nature and meant for the Diasporas or such international audience who generate much higher revenue. So taping international market gets priority and the Indian audiences are plated with some sleek visual delight. This formula seems to be working and every film maker seems to be in this race.

The movie Vishwaroopam is a classical example of such visual fantasy. The plot develops in the US, travels to Afghanistan and is plated to the Indian audience in Tamil language. Which Indian audience may relate to such a plot? 

Obviously the audience that most likely to connect with the movie will the Muslims. In the construct of villainy, they found their religion being denigrated in this film. If they chose to protest then what’s harm? It seems the freedom of expression protagonist like to cease the right to cry for being hurt. They want such slapped to sanity. Even in ‘demoncracy,’ this is not permissible.  

Vishwaroopam, as the name suggests tries to portray the shape of the world. According to the filmmaker's world view; “all Muslim are not terrorists, but all terrorists are Muslims”.  This is simple message the movie wants to convey.

When the controversy has reached its nadir, the question is being asked, is it the ignorance or the arrogance of the film maker that’s on display padding the anti Islamic visual contents in the movie Vishwaroopam? Belting US agenda, why the film maker did not thought of its viewers sentiments. 

From Iraq to Afghanistan, from Syria to Egypt, the .entire Muslim world is up in flames due to the hegemonic agenda of the US. In this backdrop a Tamil movie tries to blow the trumpet of Stars and Stripes.     

Embarking on such superlative projects with prejudiced world view is bound to ruffle feathers. Can a film maker afford to do this in a market driven industry which judges the success of the movie purely on its cash returns.

 Here a mention can be made about few movies that did the profiling of the Muslims with outmost sobriety. ‘New York’ ‘Kurban,’ ‘My name is Khan’ all tried present the problem of terrorism against the US in a holistic way. The Islamic content in the movie My Name is Khan is beautifully highlighted and this was well appreciated by the Muslims audience as well as others.

 A mention has to be made about a documentary Allah Hu Akbar (Allah is Great). This shows the protagonist Salim taxiwala, a devout Muslim who prays five times a day and firmly believes that Allah’s commandments run supreme on this earth. He carries a white foreigner in his cab to the airport but his follies during the journey make his passenger miss his international flight. Little did this cab driver realize that his carelessness inadvertently saved the life of the passenger whose flight was high-jacked by international terrorists who blew up the plane shouting Allah Hu Akbar. Such plot of good Muslim vs bad Muslim has a straight connect with the Indian audience. 

 ‘Vishwaroopam’ no doubt can be a great feast for the celluloid but its presentation has rough edges that are bound to poke those whom it tries to paint in negative shades. This takes us another area and that is the approval certification for its screening issued by the Censor Board of India. 

 The movie Vishwaroopam has raised eyebrows at the members of the Censor Board who has given it the clearance fit for screening. Their negligence for assessing the repercussions over clearing the anti Islamic content is glaring in this case.  Is the Censor Board a Holy Cow that needs to be worshiped? Can we blindly approve all that it clears for public viewing as an epitome of infallible truth?

  

The free flow of blood and gore, explicit sexual content finds its presence in the large body of the cinematic art that the Censor Board approves fit for entertainment. There is no control on the screen play, dialogue, lyrics that are full with innuendos and filth. Umpteen examples of highly sexual and lewd content can be cited that the Censor Board has cleared as fit form of cinematic expression.

Can we gulp such pulp fiction without making any hue and cry, just because the Censor Board has approved it? The general view is no film these days is worthy to be watched with family and children. Some argue that growing crime in the society is directly proportional to the immoral cinematic content licensed by the censor board. Who will address such concerns? 

In this money spinning industry where astronomical amount is spent on the making of the movie, a trend has developed that the seal can be bought by greasing the palms and the censor board is reduced to selling certificates.

The way out to the ‘Vishwaroopam’ controversy is found through an out of court settlement with the group objecting to its contents. But is this the right way to do so? How long a movie or any piece of art can lean on the crutches of the government or judiciary’s protection for its viewing. This question has to be addressed by those in the field of the creative art even before they start working on their storyboards.

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Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. He can be contacted at syedalimujtaba@yahoo.com - Earlier writeup of the author on the same theme can be checked here 

1- Bollywood and the Indian Muslims

http://www.indianmuslims.info/book/export/html/12167

2- The new Bollywood Muslim

http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/ywfzO7eB5mIxAR1NXXP0bO/The-new-Bollywood-Muslim.html

With You Without You

With You Without You 
Syed Ali Mujtaba

The post ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka has many sordid stories to tell, some about the woes of the war, others of its aftermath. Depicted is one such story in the movie "With You, Without You" (Oba Oba Ekka Nathuwa) that was screened at the 43 rd International Festival at Length Goa, India from November 20-30 2,012th.

The movie depicts the life in a society which still has unhealed wounds of the war, a war that lasted over three decades, killing over tens of thousands of people and rendering many more homeless. The film is set in the months after the Tamil Elam war and explores the emotional fall-out of such trauma on the lives of ordinary people in Sri Lanka

The movie tells the tale of the confrontation between a man from the majority Sinhalese point of view and a woman from the Tamil minority community. Their struggle with their own past is the main theme of the movie a metaphor that is used for the struggle within the tear drop island itself.

Selvi (Anjali Patil) is a beautiful but quiet Tamil refugee girl who catches the eye of a middle-aged Sinhala pawnbroker (Shyam Fernando) when she comes to his shop to cash in her last jewel. The Buddhist pawnbroker captivated by the Tamil beauty follows her to her temporary home. He discovers that his love interest is about to get married to an old man for wants of money.

The pawnbroker throws all caution to the winds and proposes to marry the Tamil girl. Selvi too breaks all barriers that divide the Tamil and Sinhala societies and moves into her savior's house. They slowly but surely fall in love with each other but neither of them ever talks about their past.

All was hunky-dory until an old army friend of the pawnbroker turns up in the house, and a terrible secret emerges, that unstitches the wounds of the war. Selvi, comes to know that the pawnbroker has army connection and the trauma of her past begins to hunt her.

The pawnbroker in order to unburden himself confides to Selvi, that he was in the Army before and was involved in the operation at Killinochi. He further tells her that in the operation the soldiers accompanying him had raped a Tamil girl who died subsequently and he got disgusted with such acts brutality and decided to quit the Army and have taken up the business of running a pawn shop.

The confession of the pawnbroker brings the memories of the ethnic conflict to the fore and Selvi becomes hysterical. The trauma of war over powers her and no amount of cajoling has any sobering effect on the Selvi. The pawnbroker tries to coax to be normal and promises to take her to India for sight seeing tour. He even sells his pawn shop and gets ready with his travel plans but Selvi is totally withdrawn. She has bouts of depression and has little interest in life.

It's a very romantic evening; Selvi watches from the high rise window the dark clouds hovering over the hills, playing hide and seek, signaling the coming of the beautiful bout of rain. The pawnbroker who has gone to the city is returning home riding a motor cycle. He has smiles on his face as he has got the air tickets to India and had purchased goodies for Selvi. He is trying to race with the clouds, avoiding being caught in the rain, the background score hinting for an emotional union, but the climax has a gory side.

Selvi, lost in her seems to be enjoying the spectacle of the nature and appearing to have a better view of the clouds, climbs up to the window and lo and behold, she then jumps out of it to her death. The pawnbroker on return finds that he was late to unite with his lady love, even though was able to beat the rain. This is the most haunting scene of the movie. This has a political message that represents Tamil - Sinhala divide. The lady after weighing her options to choose between love and politics, eventually sacrifice herself rather than giving herself to the protagonist lover, that too a former army man, whom Tamils hated awfully.    

The expression of the woes and miseries of the poor Tamil girl is powerfully portrayed by Indian actor Anjali Patil, who bagged golden peacock for the best actress at the Goa international film fest. The role of the pawnbroker is played by talented theatre actor Shyam Fernando who makes a debut in cinema. Others in the cast include Wasantha Moragoda and Maheshwari Ratnam.

The film is directed by Sri Lankan filmmaker Prasanna Vithanage. Some consider "With You, Without You" Prasanna's seventh directorial venture as his best work so far.

While talking about the creation of his film Prasanna told the media persons at the Goa film fest media conference; "When I was reading Fyodor Dostoyevsky's novel" The Meek One "over and over again, two things stuck into my mind. One was its probe into masculinity and the second was how consumerist values ​​have deprived people of human connection. When adapting this novel to a film, I based it upon the biggest issue facing our country, which is the ethnic conflict, "he said.

"With You, Without You," has a striking resemblance to the film "The English Patient," a 1996 romantic drama based on the novel of the same name by Sri Lankan-Canadian writer Michael Ondaatje. This movie is set before and during World War II, and is a story of love, fate, misunderstanding and healing. Directed by Anthony Minghella, this movie won nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

While watching the movie "With You, Without You" I had problem in categorizing this film. The movie is about love, it is related to the post war conflict as well; it is also an exhibition of third world cinema. What could be its proper genre was something that baffled me. Notwithstanding these facts, this co-production by India and Sri Lanka can be described as Sri Lanka 's independent cinema at its best.

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Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. He attended the 43 rd International Length Festival, November 20-30 at the 2,012th from Goa. He can be at Contacted Syedalimujtaba@yahoolcom

Jab Tak Hai Jan – Memoirs of London Rekindled

Jab Tak Hai Jan – Memoirs of London Rekindled
Syed Ali Mujtaba

Last night saw the movie Jab Tak Hai Jan, memories of staying in London lighted up. The snow in London, the rain, the breeze, I saw most of the season while living there. There were many popular spots in film where I had walked as a daily routine.

I really loved ‘Embankment’ my favorite spot, where I use walk looking at Thames right up to Big Ben and Parliament on one side and Backfires Bridge on the other.-The Trafalgar square, where I spotted the lion on which I sat, the art gallery next to it -the London Bridge, the hide park. The Charring Cross tube station where SRK kisses Katrina – Your next station is Piccadilly Circus, the announcement still rings in the ears, traveling on the Victoria line.

I stayed at Collier’s high road next to Sainsbury, super market in south London in a rented room. In weekends I use to take the tube from there and get down at Charring Cross and walked up to Piccadilly Circus, the most happenings place in the city.  I have been to one of the weekend clubs like the one in Ishq Shava song, it’s really the same.

When I was to leave London, I knew the city so well, that I was guiding people to find their way. I also remember how difficult it was for me to negotiate the places when I first landed there. To me Jab Tak Hai Jan – was like a photo album, I was seeing London after 1994.

Here I am trying to pen my thoughts on my visit to England in 1994. That year I was awarded field grant by the School of International Studies, JNU, New Delhi to pursue archival survey of the British sources for my doctoral research on Partition of India. My PhD thesis demanded incorporation of British perspective to the Partition debate particularly with reference to its India policy during the Second World War.

So there you go, I packed my bag at the Brahmputra hostel of JNU and Indira Gandhi international airport in New for six months stay in good old London. The Air India flight that was to come from Mumbai was abnormally delayed due Delhi fog, and it was a harrowing experience in Delhi airport where I was stranded from midnight till noon. It was for the first time I saw the misty morning from glass windows of the Delhi airport. I went hungry all night till the midday, as everything was at international rates and I could not afford to buy. It was almost 2 pm when the Air India leapt into the sky to take me to England. A sumptuous food was served and all the trial and tribulation was unburdened in the deep sleep that followed it. A movie was going on the screen that was inside the aircraft and when I woke up it was the end. There was no seat screen those times in the air India aircraft.

As I hurried my way out of the aircraft at Heathrow airport, my heart pounced what would happen if the folks do not show up at the airport to receive me. As I walked out, I saw a battery driven car, carrying some Sikh passengers to the aircraft with Indian flag flying passing by me and that soothed my nerves. I smiled at them and they waved at me. The officer at the immigration desk asked the purpose of my visit and I told him topic of research. He stamped my passport with a smile and as he raised his head up to return my document he saw the novel Shylock Homes in my front pocket. I could see the blinking of his eyes that was appreciative as he wished me good luck for my stay in England.

I was based in London and lived in a rented room at the 45 Colliers High Road, South London. It was quite close to Sainsbury supermarket where I use to frequent for my groceries.

The building where I lived was owned by a Pakistani of Indian origin. It had some very interesting people living there. There was a Pakistani couple in the ground floor, a group of Korean students in the second floor. There were two Romanians gentlemen and an English couple besides me in this building.

I use to take the southern line tube and go waterloo from where I use to walk to the backfires bridge where the India Office Library was located at that time.

During my stay in London I use to visit the School of Oriental and African Studies library the Record office at the Q’s gardens and the British Museum.

Some time I use to get down at Temple tube station walk to the High Court side either to visit the Indian consulate office or to the LSE, while on some other day I may be walking straight to the Kings College to attend some Talks organized there.

I used to be spent my evenings sometimes at the Piccadilly Circus, the China town, the globe theater and the Charring Cross. Some times I use to walk along the embankment watching the flow the river Thames, go up to the Big Ben and see the time, take a round of 10 Downing Street and walk along the British Parliament.

At times in the evenings, I use to go to the Indian YMCA, British Museum and Baden Powell Hall for some programmes. King college was another place I use to go for listening to lectures. Some times, I use to get down at temple tube station cross to embankment side and take a long walk to the college. SOAS was another place I used to frequent.

While staying in London, I use to frequent Oxford University for my research. Normally I use to go the St Anthony College to meet some Professors or to sit at Bodleian library at the Oxford University.  I had an opportunity to have a glimpse of Mr. Beans who too was in the campus when I happen to be there.

Similarly, I use to travel to the Cambridge University and even stayed with some friends for few days there. At the Cambridge I had given a talk at the Darwin College, mostly to the Indian students studying there.  

Jab Tak Hai Jan brought to me the fond memoirs of London after many years. Thank you Yashji – may your soul rest in peace.

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Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. He can be contacted at syedalimujtaba@yahoo.com

CMS Bridging the Religious Differences

CMS Bridging the Religious Differences
by   SYED ALI MUJTABA

Lucknow: Interfaith is a subject that has to be taught very young, and doing a yeoman service is the City Montessori School, (CMS), Lucknow. Here a typical day starts with an assembly during which the children first sing and pray one God, irrespective of their religious faith. Extracts of Holy Scriptures from all religions are read and explained during the assembly.

This spiritual time is followed by an interactive discussion between the children and their Principal or teachers about the ‘Virtue of the Month’ and the various ways to implement it on a daily basis.

For each month of the year, one virtue is picked up by a ‘Board of Virtues’. Friendliness, Justice and Truth are some examples.  The ‘Virtue of the Month’ is written on the black board of the classrooms.

‘It is at as early as six or seven a child should be introduced to moral values, virtues, cultural and inter-faith diversity. The children understand many things, but are often prêt to outside influences’, says Archanaa Pande, Principal of the Asharfabad Campus.

In case the family environment cannot give such constructive social education, it is the role of the school to impart some positive influences, she explains.

The day at CMS witnesses a succession of courses with an impressive level of enthusiasm and discipline from the pupils as well as interaction with the teachers.

The school develops team spirit and ability to hold responsibilities by gathering the children in four different Houses - Hope, Love, Peace and Unity, mixing classes and ages. These Houses have tasks to fulfill and targets to match in various fields all the year round.

Similarly, as an introduction of each school happening, an all religion prayer is performed by the children wearing traditional costumes of others' religion to generate awareness, reverence and unity.

Deepa Tiwari, Principal of CMS Rajendra Nagar -I campus, says extracurricular activities encourage the children to be creative and to remain in a constant learning mode. It goes from a Book Fair Exhibition with books written by the children, to cultural dance performances, plays, seminars, competitions, and religious festivals, she says.

CMS also familiarizes the children with Indian and international personalities who contributed to the social growth and progress of the world so that they can become a real source of inspiration.

Each year, CMS organizes a series of activities to celebrate the World Interfaith Harmony Week. Each day comes with an event that encourages not only the pupils but also their parents to share and engage with others. There is a time for shared meals, exchange of cards between the children, singing, dance and quiz competitions involving the parents.

With the same purpose, Dr. Jagdish Gandhi, the founder of CMS has invented a concept of world Parliament for children where they become world leaders and discuss about the issues faced on the international stage. This exercise incites the children to find solutions and take collective action for the welfare of the humanity.

‘CMS does not content itself to provide a high-rate education, it feels entrusted with a much broader responsibility vis-à-vis the children. The school aims at helping the children to become vectors of social change for a better world’, Mr. Gandhi says. ‘CMS teaches why and how to respect others in their differences since ultimately 'God is one, Religion is one, and Mankind is one,' he adds.

'A good teacher is like a candle, it consumes itself to light the way of others'. These were the words written at the gates of the Asharfabad and Rajendra Nagar-I, Campuses of the City Montessori School in Lucknow, says Muriel Potherat, Project Manager of a Delhi-based NGO promoting interfaith harmony and called Faith Matters, who attended an International Conference on Promoting Interfaith Harmony organized by CMS’s Asharfabad Campus in July 2012 and was later there for a three-day training and observation programme.

This eye-catching quote is one among many others promoting a spiritual education, human virtues as well as oneness of God and mankind. It is even more mesmerizing to realize that these words do not only hang beautifully on the walls of CMS, they are mirrored in the daily schedule of the children, says Muriel, who works with students at enhancing interaction and respect between faith communities.

When I saw many performances of the children showcasing an inspiring model of interfaith harmony, I realized that as a child I never had such an experience during my school days, the social worker, who hails from France, said.

A child is both a hope and a promise for mankind and I can affirm with much admiration that CMS gives more than full justice to these words. I could figure out how much level of expertise CMS has developed in this field as it equips the children with the required means to overcome the continuous challenges of life and make a difference in the world. It’s not mere education, rather a way of life. And each one at CMS believes in it with humility and conviction, concluded Muriel.

As Indians if we like to pursue the philosophy of unity in diversity and relish the idea that our country never faces the scourge of communal riots, then City Montessori School, Lucknow is a role model for such nation building. It would be a beautiful dream to see each school of the country trying the CMS model of interfaith harmony and prepare the tiny tots how to live in peace and harmony.

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Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. He can be contacted at syedalimujtaba@yahoo.com

Stop the Madness of Hatred

Stop the Madness of Hatred
Syed Ali Mujtaba

The chilling pictures that shows the persecution of Buddhist minority in Bangladesh is shocking. I guess this has come in reaction to the Buddhists violence against Rohinga Muslims in Myanmar .

The Myanmar government doesn't deny its involvement in the slaughter of Rohingya Muslims, so it is accepting responsibility and cocking a snoot at Muslims. But why Bangladesh government should act like Myanmar .

As an Islamic country, the Bangladeshi government must bring to book the criminals behind such outrageous act. It’s high time they should refrain from blaming this atrocity on 'international conspiracy. Instead of being seen in contempt and complicity Bangladesh government should track down the scoundrels behind the attack and set an example of living in peaceful co existence.

How long such action and reaction of minority persecution will go on in South Asia ? Each of us in fact is a minority in one sense or other, if we just try scratching our identities.

The best example to site could be that of Babu Bajragi, the man who orchestrated the orgy of communal violence against Muslims in Ahmedabad. He is found to be complaining that while serving life imprisonment in jail, he finds himself as a minority surrounded by the Muslims inmates as a majority.

In fact if reports are to be believed on one occasion Bajragi was even thrashed inside the prison. What more ironical story could be better than this, when we compare the demon of a person letting loose the trail of blood and mayhem against the minority Muslim during the post Godhra riots. At that time he always thought he belongs to majority community and can get away doing whatever crime against the minority.

Anyway coming back to the point, such senseless act of persecuting the minorities is going on for long in South Asia . There seem to be no remedy in sight, no one knows, when such mindless retributions is going to stop and each group would live in peace and harmony.  

It is high time some concrete plan of action has to be made to address this issue. I have always been arguing that the religious, the ethnic, the linguistic minorities in south Asia can only be safe, under the umbrella of South Asian Federation.

If there are any takers of this idea let us take it forward and make South Asia a better place to live.

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Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. He can be contacted at syedalimujtaba@yahoo.com

Unbelievable -Well this happens in India!

Unbelievable -Well this happens in India!
SYED ALI MUJTABA

India is a queer land where many unbelievable developments happen every moment. Some of them are chronicled, others go unreported. Here an attempt is being made to portray the shocking side of India. If you have any problem in believing them, suffice would be to say; well this happens in India.

Have you heard about the traditional practice of senicide (killing of the elderly, whose illness gets prolonged and who refuses to die) by their own family members? Known as Thalaikoothal, its practiced in some parts of Tamil Nadu where the elderly person is given an extensive oil-bath early in the morning and subsequently made to drink glasses of coconut water that  results in renal failure, high fever, fits, and ultimately to the death.  Thalaikoothal has covert social acceptance and in some cases even the relatives called for the ceremony when it’s performed.  These days lethal injection is given to perform Thalaikoothal, to make the death less painful and prolonged. This barbaric practice continues to thrive as people seldom complain to the police. Do you have a problem believing this? Well this happens in India!

The two holy cities of India; Mathura and Vrindavan houses more than 5000 widows who are living in pathetic conditions in the ashrams meant for them. These widows move to these holy cities in their twilight years as they believe to wash away their sins and attain Nirvana if they die in these holy places. However, after their death here they are denied basic human dignity. Their bodies are disposed off chopping into pieces and packing in gunny bags and being thrown on the river banks. Do you have a problem believing this? Well this happens in India!

In the coastal Tamil Nadu at Koodankulam, a valiant and peaceful protest by thousands of local people living in the vicinity of the under construction nuclear plant was met with brutal police repression. Tamil Nadu police has filed more than 55,000 FIRs against local villagers; among them some 6800 are charged with ‘sedition’ and ‘waging war’ against the nation. Do you have a problem believing this? Well this happens in India!

Odisha dateline 2006, when 14 Adivasis, were gunned down by the Police at Kalinga Nagar for protesting against accusation of their land by the Tata Steel Company. The National Human Rights Commission had discovered that Adivasis were forced to give it up their land were without adequate compensation with police intimidating and filing false cases against them. Such treatment of Adivasis is not unusual in India; thousands of them are languishing in jails often without a charge-sheet filed against them. The general opinion that is built about Adivasi is they are a Moaist. Do you have a problem believing this? Well this happens in India!

If Adivasis are Moaist, Muslims are criminals. There are 102,652 Muslims languishing in Indian jails. The number of Muslims in jails is highly disproportional to their population. The estimated proportion for the Muslim community stood at an approximate 12 per cent in the country, whereas the number of Muslims in jails stood a ratio of 22 per cent.  According to the recent National Crime Records (till December 2010), West Bengal has the most number of Muslim prisoners with 47 per cent, Maharashtra Muslims account for 10.6% of the population, they comprise 36% of the prison population. In Gujarat, where Muslims account for 9.06%, they are 25% of prison inmates. Karnataka’s Muslim population is 12.23%, its jails have 17.5% Muslim. In Uttar Pradesh Muslim prison population is 26 per cent and in Bihar its 23 per cent. Most Muslim prison population is those of under trial than the number of convicts. Do you have a problem believing this? Well this happens in India!

In India you can also find armed extremists and criminals living comfortably in designated camps in the Northeast. They live under well-defined `ceasefire’ agreement with the Indian State. However in spite of restrictions on their movements, these militants cross the line of control at ease. Its common knowledge that they reign in night while the Indian state rules during the day. Do you have a problem believing this? Well this happens in India!

Contrary to northeast, it’s the Indian Army that holds sway in the Kashmir valley.  The life, liberty and honor of the common Kashmiri people are at the mercy of these men in uniform. They live in an open prison under the watch of the barrel of the gun oozing out of the Army bunkers. Like it or not, the paradise on earth is reduced to a garrison state. Do you have a problem in believing this? Well this happens in India!

The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, is blamed for the insurgency in the northeast. The iron lady of Manipur, Irom Sharmila Chanu is demanding its repelling and is on hunger strike since November 2000. Her protest has now become the world's longest hunger striker entering more than 700 weeks. This kind of Gandhian protest once had shaken the might of the British Empire, but the Indian state seems undaunted even 12 years of such protest. Do you have a problem in believing this? Well this happens in India!

While Anna Hazre and Baba Ramdev’s fast hogged media limelight, the fast of Swami Nigamanand went unsung. The Swami, who went on fast to “Save River Ganga” was allowed to die during his protest. The Swami demanded ban on mining to save Ganga and when his fast entered the 68th day (last 40 days in coma), was admitted to Haridwar district hospital, where sheer medical negligence resulted in his death. Earlier, he was successful in closing all the stone crushers in the ecologically sensitive areas around the Ganges banks. This time he was protesting against the Himalayan Crusher Company that was continuing its operation. At that time the entire country was busy watching the high drama of fast being played in New Delhi, its total neglect of the media that took the toll of a real crusaders life. Do you have a problem in believing this? Well this happens in India!

This discussion may not be complete without the mention of the notorious mafia dons who live like kings in the prisons of UP and Bihar. They are served with the best of food and alcohol inside the prison cell. They settle property disputes; dictate transfers/promotions/appointments of government officials; they make phone calls to politicians and business leaders dictating them their demands. Do you have a problem in believing this? Well this happens in India!

One can go on enumerating such inchoate images of India, but each of them can be contoured providing the brimming side of the country. It’s often said what true about India the opposite of it is also true. Well that’s the beauty of this country. Do you have a problem in believing this? Well this happens in India!

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Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. He can be contacted at syedalimujtaba@yahoo.com