Abusaleh Shariff explodes the myth of Muslims doing better under Modi rulePulianthope: Muslim-dominated area in Chennai faces marital insecurity
Submitted by admin3 on 3 April 2010 - 5:54pm
By Shafee Ahmed Ko, TwoCircles.net,
In Chennai, thickly populated Muslim areas such as Pulianthope, Triplicane and Royapettah are considered very important. Pulianthope is an area once thought to be very sensitive for communal disharmony especially during Hindu festivals Vinayaga Chaturthi and the Ganesh Utsavs. Decades ago these were causes for communal flare-up. Nowadays this Muslim dominated area is rampant with broken marriages even when there is improvement in their educational, social and economic condition and there is low graph of crimes.
The majority of the population is Muslims (around 70%) and Hindus (Marwaris and Sikhs) comprise the rest 30%. The area once thought to be the most backward industrially, socially and educationally and in marital security, is keeping pace with the time in improvement on all fronts except marital security. TwoCircles.net had talked to some important personalities in the area on the issues.
Mr. Saravanan, Assistant Commissioner of Police:
I have been Assistant Commissioner of Police here for past nine months and served as Sub-Inspector at adjacent police station of Vyasarpady for four and half years. To my knowledge Muslims and Hindus have no ill-feelings. They live in total harmony. The few cases that come from the majority Muslims are petty cases. I have not come across any grievous criminal cases such as stabbing, rape and communally disturbing one. There is slaughter house here. Majority of Muslims are slaughterers and Hindus are partially engaged. The cow slaughter is prohibited. So far I heard no violation of the prohibitory order. There are no gangsters operating here and no extortions of money here. Pulianthope is very safe place to live.
I am disturbed on one factor among Muslim fraternities. Number of cases we have been receiving here is that of the marriages broken. In my station, we police officials give them best counsel to re-establish their marital relation and most cases stand amicably settled. We prevent them as far as possible to approach family court because they will lose peace of mind.
Mr. Zakir Hussain Sheriff, Co-Correspondent, Princess Matriculation and Higher Secondary School
We are blessed with 2150 students. It’s a great in number. It shows that parents are aware of value of the education. We draw nearly 50% of Muslim children. Parents are able to pay the tuition fees regularly. Muslims are socially aware now. The time has changed in the Muslim society in massive way. Two decades ago I have seen Muslim parents bringing their wards in shabby dresses, those fathers working in slaughter houses or butcher shops did appear in blood stained (due to their profession: butchery) waist loins and shirts. In present scenario, they are decently dressed and use polite language. The major industries are plastic scrapes, waste recycling industries. They have money power now. My second generation students are well placed in IT industries which fast mushrooming around our area.
We are happy (with the school income) by the Grace of Allah and blessing of my mother who started this school. (The school has two modern vast and gigantic buildings and children running here and there with blistering sun-and fish market-like noise)
As far as marital security, we know a little. Every year there is 10% migration of the parents -- 10% goes away from the schools and same number is filled up. However, I presume that 20% of parents may have a broken marital relation. I personally counsel them for compatible life.
Dr. F.A. Azeezur Rahman M.S. (ENT)
I have been practicing here for past 3 decades. In earlier days I was charging Rs.20 as a fee.
Most patients could not able to afford and some would come with coins and few currencies. But the days have changed now. Now I charge Rs.200 and most patients offer Rs.500 single currency and it’s me that I have to count the balance for them. I find a social awareness since boys and girls are educated and well placed. Booming industries like plastic recycling and old used clothes perhaps played for a legendary change. But the infrastructure development work of the Corporation has less impact here. The roads, civic amenities have no appreciable changes.
Abdul Ravoof Sahib, President Masjide Muqaddas Pulianthope
I go back to the olden days where our Muslim men and women were engaged in “Beedi” manufacturing business and they were pent up in their houses. Although they were not educated they had income and the Muslim society was not a laughing stock. Although the Muslim boys and girls are educated now, there is degradation in their morality especially in girls. They have an absolute change to the modern trend of living system.
The harmonious life is tremendous, of course. But Islamic society is in danger. How I can tell you the wretched situation of Muslims girls here. If I do that, it means, I am spitting on my own face. The youths in Tabligi Jamaat are doing a good job traveling short and long distances but to hope that they do a survey of how many young and tender aged widows and orphaned girls exist in the particular areas they visit and offer themselves to marry these young women will be like living in illusion.
I feel that the marital insecurity among Muslims in Pulianthope is appalling. The modern education especially to the Muslim girls will worsen the marital security.
Conclusion
Although Pulianthope is advancing in economic, social, cultural and educational ambiance, the Muslims, as usual in other places, still remain in ostensible and obdurate and incorrigible burlesque in marriages system with burdening loans and EMIs. The societal system has to be changed and what good are in Islam have to be adopted and followed rather to keep the marriages in fracture.
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Area - Pulianthope
Although Pulianthope is advancing in economic, social, cultural and educational ambiance, the Muslims, as usual in other places, still remain in ostensible and obdurate and incorrigible burlesque in marriages system with burdening loans and EMIs. The societal system has to be changed and what good are in Islam have to be adopted and followed rather to keep the marriages in fracture.
Life is a gift given by ALLAH.
Assalamu Alaikum,well my Name
Assalamu Alaikum,well my Name is Niyamathullah i live in Saudi Arabia and am proud to say am born and brought up in Pulianthope and am glad to read the article about my area and am thankfull to the people involved in giving such articles and taking interest in the development of the area and also considering for muslims welfare. i have gone through the above comments from the respectable and educated personalities of our area like Dr. Rahman sir and others and i do agree with the above status am thankful to them for taking interest and for giving a chance for the people to know about the area and am happy to hear the vast development of the area since in the past ten years and am also thankfull to the great service from our police departments who has drastically brought down the crime level which i have never seen before my heartly thanks to the assistant commisionerof police for keeping the place safe&clean from crimes and providing peacefull enviroment for public but at the same time i do accept the status said in the article aout the insecurity of the marital status among muslims this is really need to think about and to search for the best solution and results for the above critical situation our area is going through may ALLAH protect us and show the right path to our young people of the area who are educated and much talented but i feelss still islamic teachings are lacking in the lifes of our youngsters brothers and sisters steps and am thankfull to the Thablik jamaath members of pulianthope for taking efforts and possible steps to improve islmic life practically among the muslims i have been a member of the same jamaath society before missing my place my people out there i wish may ALLAH gives hidayath to the people of our area to reduce marital insecurities ...
CHILDREN AND THEIR RIGHT TO EDUCATION
A little away from Pulianthope but since Kareem brought up the topic on th Right to Education Bill which was recently tabled.
To every individual in this group we should take a oath first and foremost to stop CHILD DOMESTIC LABOR wherever we see it - whether in our homes, or our neighbours or our relatives and friends - which is the first form of exploitation which a human experiences. Many people approach me, knowing I am in the field of children, to find some child who is in need or want, where the parents are unable to take care..
But it is sad that even if I had to tell them about this being child labor they somehow find a child from another source.. People always feel that they are feeding them, clothing them, giving them a bank balance - what more do they need.
Children are never paid for the same work as adults because they are children and you are actually doing them a favor. And some take pride in having got them married to some fellow whom they thought is best. Then they wash off their hands. Their good deed is done.
They do not realise that the child's basic rights are denied. To grow up with their parents (good or bad they are their closest bond), deny them the love and bonding with their brothers and sisters even in adversity, deny them a childhood while our children play with toys, go to school, are indulged by us, these little ones do their work and not all our children are good to their little counterparts who serve them. And then they, like all children, tend to be attracted to little things just as our children do and we label them theives, illtreat them and claim that they are incorrigible and some go on to violence as we have been seeing in the news also. It happens all the time where children are involved and no one can deny it. Do we realise the confusion they go through - the need for belonging, for owning just like our children which is denied to them..
But suppose if you wanted to do good to this same child who was in need, in want, was neglected by the parents - share with them their responsibility to send the child to school, meet the childs needs, help them to adapt thus making parents realise their responsibility as well - ah that would be Zakat to me.. Sponsoring a child. Teach a man to fish...
The government responsibility should be shared by us in different ways as public responsibility - just sending a child to school is not enough. They need to be sustained in their education with nutrition, basic clothing including foot wear - look out of the car when you near a government school and look at the number of children running around without foot wear - the easiest form of infection (let us not think they are immune to it).. And a real extension would be to work with a school in our locality to identify children suffering from learning disorders because of congenital/neonatal/childhood defects, nutritional insufficiency along with abuse sometimes and they get to be the drop outs, the truants, the child in labor and ultimately the misfit in society on whom we have to work upon.
Regards,
Nishath
Philanthropist of Pulianthope,Chennai
Indeed The Indian Welfare and Education Trust (IWET) is doing a great job in the Pulianthope and Dadasha Makan localities. Suhail was being modest in playing down his role and generous including my name in his response. Actually the IWET was Suhail's brainchild with the equal involvment of his wife, and they deserve to be congratulated for their genuine committment to contribute back to the society. I had only accepted Suhail's invitation to be a member of this trust which I still am. The trust has dedicated philanthropists such as Mr. Ameenur Rahman, senior advocate Mr. Habibullah Badsha (Suhail's father), Avais Musvee, Akmal and many others who continue to contribute generously as a result of which IWET has been able to make big difference to the cause of the poor in that locality. Had I known Shafee bhai was doing that story on Pulianthope I would have requested him to cover the IWET also. Maybe he can write about it some other time. Nevertheless, more such initiatives are required for the socio-economic development of our city.
FAIZ
EVEN NOW IT IS NOT TOO LATE
I ENDORSE YOUR PLEA AND REQUEST SHAFEE BHAI TGO LET AND OTHERS KNOW ABOUT THE EXCELLENT WORK THE I.W.E.T. IS DOING.
S.M.PASHA
Appriciated Service
Thank you very much for publishing Tamil Muslim's article. Expecting more Muslim Articles to be published from the State of Tamil Nadu. Once again I'm thanking you.
Shafee Bhai Keep it up
Knowing Pulianthope
Knowing Pulianthope for its violence and as a notorious area for decades, its music to the ears to hear the change in
the outlook of the people and their economic well being. Its a classic example of education and oppurtunities for improvement
similarly if all areas come up with similar opportunities the societal changes in all sections of the community are bound to occur .
However I am not perturbed by the marital problems cropping up which is a good sign of women no more tolerating violence and
injustice meted out to them over the years. As women get liberated and exercise their rights corrections are bound to occur which
is only a temporary phenomenon.What was hitherto unheard of is being heard now, if only a population to divorce ratio is taken only
then gravity will come out.
PULIANTHOPE AND MUSLIMS' INSECURE MARRIAGES
Dear Shafee Bhai,
I am well acquainted with Pulianthope having being one of the persons
responsible for opening a clinic there in 2000 with Faizur Rahman and
others.Though both of us are not actively involved now, the clinic is
still functioning.It is situated in Dashamakan, right opposite the
White Masjid and is run by THE INDIAN WELFARE AND EDUCATIONAL TRUST.It
is open to members of all communities and a very nominal fee is
charged. It functions in the morning and in the evening with a 2 hour
break for lunch. The road is Strahans Road for those of you not
familiar with the area.
Broken marriages.
Talaq (breaking of Nikah) is permissible but very unpkleasent in the eyes of Shriah(islamic laws).The Ulema need to educate the people and give them counselling on this important issue.Social activist can alsoplay role in curbing this unwanted and unwarrented trent.
Thank You
Definite sign of advancement of Muslims,women in particular
It was great work by Shafi for which he should be commended and encouraged to do such rich intellectual studies of minorities to locate the real problem areas.Only then many specific problems and bottlenecks can be identified taken up with the authorities and the same addressed in a scientific manner.Otherwise some vested interests in the community claiming to represent Muslim interest would rake up issues to create divisiveness and enrich themselves and their families rather than the community at large.
As far as the issue of the reported rise of the disharmony in marriages is concerned,it is a sign of the growing empowerment of the
Muslim women of the area.The medieval mindset of male chauvinism among the males who are accustomed to keeping women perpetually bereft of modern education and ignorant of their rights will take time to adjust to the evolving realities of women attaining education and capabilities to share bread winning capacities with their husbands.As a spin off, naturally there would always be problems of men mentally adjusting with the responsibilities of the household chores with their better halves.Overall it is a positive sign ,and if at all, the Mullahs of the localities need education on these aspects, so that they are prodded in imparting proper counselling to the families regarding the pragmatic realities, rather than ignorantly trying to use their medieval Talibanist understanding to decry modernity.
Kasim
Great Work
Assalamualaikum Shafee Sahib, great article on Chennai's Muslim society. It's very disheartening to know the disastrous broken marriages scenario, it will really not do well in future for the community. Actions have to be taken in gross root level.
We may look forward many more writings on Muslims situation of our region. JazakumullahKhairan
Dr.F.A.Azeezur Rahman MS
The photograph that appears as Zakir Hussain Sahrief is of Dr.F.A.Azeerur Rahman MS. This mistake and inconvenience cuased are regretted.
Shafee Ahmed Ko
THERE ARE MANY ,MORE PULIANTHOPES IN CHENNAI
AT THE OUTSET MY HEARTY CONGRATS TO (1) SHAFEEE BHAI FOR HIS FACTUAL WRITE-UP AND SECONDLY TO THE TCN MANAGEMENT FOR GIVING THE GREEN SIGNAL FOR ITS PUBLICATION. I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN THE OLD MADRAS AND THE NEW CHENNAI SINCE 1940 AND SO WITH LEGITIMATE AND PARDONABLE PRIDE CAN SAY THAT WHAT HAS BEEN SAID BY THE PROMINENT RESIDENTS OF THE LOCALITY IS CORRECT. PAST IS BEYOND RECALL. PULIANTHOPEES MUST NOW SERIOUSLY PLAN TO BETTER THE FUTURE. " TIE YOUR CAMEL FIRST AND THEN LEAVE THINGS TO ALLAH" THE HOLY PROPHET (s.a.w.s) IS REPORTED TO HAVE ADVISED MUSLIMS. I APPEAL TO MY PULIANTHOPEE FRIENDS TO UNITEDLY STRIVE TO MAKE TODAY'S PUILIANTHOPE A " SINGARA PULIANTHOPE." FOR THIS THE CO-OPERATION AND ASSISTANCE MUST SURELY BE SOUGHT FROM THE CITY CORPOTATION AND THE GOVERNMENT. IT IS HOPED THAT THE WRITE-UP WILL SERVE AS AN EYE OPENER TO THE AUTHORITIES CONCERNED.
GO AHEAD SHAFEE BHAI AND WRITE ABOUT OTHER MUSLIM DOMINATED ( AND CONSEQUENTLY MUCH NEGLECTED, I DON'T MIND ADDING - LOCALITIES IN CHENNAI, LIKE DADASHAHMAKAN, DHOABIPET, NEELEM BASHA DARGAH, KHATHBADA, SUPARI GUNTA, HATHI GUNTA etc.,
S.M.PASHA
A HUMBLE SOCIAL ACTIVIST
Shafee Saar, Good article on
Shafee Saar, Good article on Tamizh Muslims. Looking forward to more such news items on Muslims in Tamil Nadu.
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