By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
The unanimous answer to the question is: Muslims in Bihar are more caste sensitive, an euphemism for them being deeply and fiercely divided on caste lines; and the other sharp divider for them is their extremist attitude towards maslak.
Though these two factors have divided Muslims in UP and other states also but not as deeply as in Bihar. Very recently TwoCircles.net put before some political and social observers in Bihar three questions: Why there is no Muslim political party in Bihar? Why hasn’t ever emerged a consensus Muslim community leadership in the state? What to do for political awareness among Muslims there?
The questions are not less relevant for Bihar than other states as Muslims here constitute, according to Census 2001, 16.53% of the state population. Though it is at No. 6 in the list of top 10 Muslim populated states in the country, it is at No. 3 when it comes to the share of national Muslim population. Bihar has 9.93% (about 15 million) of the national Muslim population, with UP and West Bengal at No. 1 and No. 2 respectively. While UP has 20 districts with more than 20% Muslim population Bihar has 7 such districts which includes Kishanganj (67.58), Katihar (42.53), Araria (41.14) and Purnia (36.76).
Why no Muslim political party in Bihar?
There is no unity among Muslims here as the caste politics is deep rooted, says Advocate Syed Javed Yusuf and blames Lalu Yadav and Nitish Kumar for it.
It is a fact that along with castes in the Hindu community, RJD chief Lalu Yadav has exploited the caste divisions among the Muslims also by creating caste based leaders among them. The divisions paid him dividends for about 20 years in the form of his governments in Patna. And now Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, leader of JD-U, is doing the same trick. This did not give chance to the Muslim community to think on community lines.
Social activist Vilayat Ali agrees. There are no chances for a Muslim political party as the community is not united.
Raihan Ghani, Editor, Urdu daily Pindar, says though some movements like one of Jay Prakash and Urdu started here, but of late it seems Muslims here have got weakened. They are not making any pressure group.
Maulana Abu Nasar Farooqi says Bihar Muslims are not as wise as those in UP or Delhi. They are easily cheated here by politicians and remain at the back foot.
However, Ehtesham Ahmad, ex-executive of NABARD, a government body, does not see any benefit in forming a Muslim political party as the community is divided. He does not think the Muslim political parties formed in UP will serve much.
While Bihar has no Muslim political party contesting elections, its neighbor UP has seen about a dozen political parties emerging in the last few months. Some big Muslim political parties in UP include UP Ulema Council of Maulana Amir Rashadi Madani, United Democratic Front of Maulana Badruddin Ajmal, Peace Party of Dr Ayub, Secular Ekta Party of Haji Shahid Akhlaque and National Lok Tantrik Party of Dr Masood. Some of them are contesting this Lok Sabha election.
Why no consensus Muslim community leadership?
The answer to this question is the same to the above – caste and maslak. Because of caste factors – division of Muslim community in upper castes and backward castes – no consensus community leader emerged. If some came up, rather than talking to the entire community they also talked in caste language, says Ehtesham Ahmad. “Ghulam Sarwar emerged but he talked about the backwards, and now MP Ejaz Ali, his son-in-law, talks the same language,” he says.
Besides castes, differences over maslak have also not let the community get united on a leadership, says Raihan Ghani. These two factors are not letting a consensus Muslim leadership emerge.
Maulana Farooqi says the Millat did not value those who sacrificed for them, and always supported selfish people.
Political awareness among Muslims
Advocate Yusuf says that for Muslims to be politically aware, they need education. They need to be informed about their constitutional rights also.
Vilayat Ali says intellectuals of the community should come together and educate masses about the importance of vote and how to utilize their vote strength. They should keep castes out of talks.
Raihan Ghani says that for unity there is a need to rise above the differences over castes and maslak. Big institutions should sit together and think about today’s situations and form a pressure group. They should set priorities and put demands before the political parties and link their vote to the demands.
Ehtesham Ahmad says the Muslim masses are aware but their leaders particularly maulanas are not. Sometimes they are seen ‘worshipping’ Lalu and sometimes Nitish. Common Muslims are a bit confused.