By TCN News
Hyderabad: Muslims in India are badly under represented in different spheres of life. Their exclusion is rather dramatic. However, like other backward communities, Muslim marginalization has its own history. Prominent Social Scientist, Professor Javeed Alam, Chairman, Indian Council of Social Sciences & Research (ICSSR) expressed these views on Friday while delivering a lecture on “Contemporary Muslim Situation in India: Temporal Dimension” at Maulana Azad National Urdu University.
He was delivering a lecture on “Contemporary Muslim Situation in India: Temporal Dimension”, Orgarnized by the Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy (CSSEIP). Prof. Khalid Saeed, Vice-Chancellor presided over the lecture. Tracing the history of Muslim exclusion & backwardness, Prof. Jevaeed Alam asserts it to be the result of colonial era & practices. Commenting on the political status of Muslim in India, he said that Muslim politics has disappeared from India after Independence. It is an era of region specific Muslim politics. Muslims, in religions terms may be called as a single community, but Muslims in India are not a singular community. Region & language are two of their major distinct features.
He focussed on Social Exclusion of Muslims and the present situation of the community in the country. He highlighted the plight of poverty in the country in general and Muslim Community in particular. He pointed out that colonial rule is responsible for the creation of poverty in India in general and Muslims in particular. In this country, disadvantaged sections and women have been preventing in accessing resources especially since the British rule. Pointing out regarding gender issues, he observed that women have no control over their “work”, “time” and “body”. Men would dictate and decide what women should do. He also pointed out that during pre-independent period there were Muslim Politics under the leadership of Mohammad Ali Jinnah but post-independent period witnessed for region specific politics. For example, politics of Muslims in Andhra Pradesh is different from neighbouring states. Similarly, politics in Uttar Pradesh is different from politics of Muslims in West Bengal. There is nothing called all India Muslim Politics at present.
Further, he says that there is no all India Muslim Communalism but there is all India Hindu communalism. Ideology of Hindutva, Sangh Parivar and its organizational set up are promoting this trend. In the wake of Sachchar Committee Report, all these realities came into lime light. He questioned that why Muslims are under-represented in employment and political Institutions. He pointed out in this connection, education and skill development is very low among the Muslims. He also pointed out about absence of infrastructural development (viz. roads, plumbing, roofed house, schools and medical facilities) in Muslim dominated 90 districts lead to further exclusion of the community. It is because of Indian democracy, it is possible to have Sachchar Committee Report whereas in other countries (like Pakistan and China) it would not be possible.
Government of India assigned ICSSR to carry out a study in 90 Muslim population highly concentrated districts all over India to find out the plight of poverty and other problems. He said that ICSSR has carried out it and submitted reports of 90 districts to the government.
It is important to focus on politics of citizenship. Exclusion of Muslims is very dramatic. They are under-represented in every aspect. It is all deliberate one in this country. Muslims are butchered, massacred across several states. Muslim have been marginalized and even made landless in West Bengal. As a Marxist he is also critical of state in this regard. Finally, in order to understand and addressing these pertinent issues centres like CSSEIP should play prominent role to address the issues of exclusion of Muslims and work out modality for their inclusion.