By TCN Staff Reporter,
Lucknow: Aansu Nikle Toh Khud Ponch Lo, Gar Dusre Ponchenge Toh Sauda Karenge. Through this couplet, noted Film Director, Mahesh Bhatt urged Muslims to become self reliant for their upliftment in the society. Bhatt was speaking as chief guest in a dialogue on ”Dynamics of Equal Opportunity for Minorities in Education, Economic and Social Empowerment” organised by Foundation for Education and Economic Development (FEED) at Jai Shankar Prasad Hall here on Monday.
Bhatt said: “It has become the need of hour for the Muslims in the country to become self dependant instead of asking for everything from the government. Muslims need unity amongst themselves not leadership as there are many leaders.” He added that they can attain their status in the society if they will unite for the purpose or else their condition will remain same as it has been from past 60 years.
He stated that Sachar Committee’s report has revealed the conditions of the Muslims in the country which should be changed as soon as possible. “I never asked for votes for any of the political party in the elections but after seeing the Sachar Committee report, I was compelled for asking for the votes in last Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh.” He added that Muslims can pressurise the government for the facilities as it’s the constitutional right to ask for the facilities.
“Now the time has arrived that we should sit and frame things we need and what we want to do as till now the Muslims are living on helps of leaders and others,” he urged. He added that people should not settle for the crunch of rights and facilities given to them they should come forward and ask for their full rights and facilities as now they don’t need leaders, brokers and mediators.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman of National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI), Justice MSA Siddique said: “We are responsible for our backwardness in the society as we gave all the importance to the religious education and left out the worldly education which is also important in the present time.” He added that for the upliftment of the status in the society, Muslims should come forward and attain the religious as well as worldly education too as both are necessary for survival in this era.
He stated that one of the biggest mistakes that Muslims made was that they deserted English language by discouraging the generation for learning it because of their hatred for the English empire. He added that they should encourage their young generation to learn English as well so that they can make their position all across the world.
Vice Chancellor of Arabi, Urdu & Farsi University, Anees Ansari, Padmashree Dr Mansoor Hasan, Prof. Ramesh Dixit, Parveen Talha were also present on the occasion.