By Kashif-ul-Huda, TwoCircles.net,
Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh: “What Aligarh thinks today, Indian Muslims think tomorrow,” so goes the saying. Consider the fact that Aligarh that has been associated with Muslims aspirations in modern India has never elected a Muslim Member of Parliament. This year could have been an exception, says Haji Javed Akhtar, if Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had given ticket to him.
I saw a poster with a young looking Haji sahib’s headshot wearing AAP topi on a street leading towards Aligarh Muslim University. I promptly call him but he didn’t pick up the phone. A text message informing him that I am a journalist and interested in interviewing him did the trick. He called back and promised to meet at 10:30am as he was out of town. He asked me to meet him at the canteen of the University.
After several phone calls he finally arrived at the University Canteen after 1pm. He drives us to the Department of West Asian Studies where we occupy a classroom to interview him. It seems everyone in the department knows him well and soon enough we are served with cold water and hot tea courtesy the department.
Haji Javed Akhtar was one of the aspirants for Aam Aadmi Party ticket for Aligarh. He is clearly disappointed that he didn’t get the ticket. He tells me that had he been the AAP candidate he could have won the seat easily. AAP has given ticket to Sabir Rahi, a civil engineer and builder. “AAP will lose Aligarh because candidate is weak,” declares Haji sahib but quickly adds that he will continue to campaign because Rahi is party’s candidate.
Javed Akhtar is a businessman with his hands in many pots. He became a Haji and a politician at the same time. He tells me that last year he went for Hajj and was appalled to find out that his hard-earned Indian Rupees were exchanged for a only a handful of Saudi Riyals. This, he said prompted him to pray for the ability to do something for India and he decided to enter politics and join Aam Aadmi Party.
Javed Akhar is also actively associated with Tablighi Jamaat, this makes him a well-known figure in villages around Aligarh as he has visited them many times as part of the jamaat. He believes it is a destiny for him; everything in his life was lead up to this point but for the ticket. He is disappointed, even angry, but quick to say that he is hopeful.
“This Lok Sabha will not last full-term and once AAP loses Aligarh who else are they going to give ticket but me,” says Akhtar over lunch. He insists on paying for the lunch and then shakes hands with people. “Everyone knows me here,” he flashes a smile. Haji sahib is not a candidate in this election but that has not stopped him for campaigning for himself.