By Dr Kouser Fathima,
During a recent discussion someone wanted to know why the medical / engineering seats allotted to Muslims in minority colleges remain unfulfilled whereas the one’s for Christians gets filled. In spite of all my efforts the answers were not satisfactory and in fact even I myself was not convinced by my answers.
I realised that this a truth we have been trying to run away from? Why are the literacy rate and education standards among Muslims so bad? Sadly, in many districts it has gone below that of SC /ST, otherwise considered the most marginalised section in the country. How and why did Muslims who were once rulers in this country reduced to this state? What are the reasons? Are Muslims themselves to be blamed? Are the critics right in telling that Muslims allowed themselves to be reduced to vote banks?
After the independence, the Muslims who stayed back in India were not sure of what to expect. Mohammad Ali Jinnah who was considered leader of large section of Muslims had created a new nation and migrated. Along with him many educated and successful Muslims also moved to Pakistan in hope of better future. The bloodshed that accompanied the partition put Indian Muslims in a difficult position. The government went an extra mile to reassure the Muslims about their safety and position in the nation. This did not go well with some from the majority leading to consequence as dire as assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. Muslims in India had few leaders who could address their issues and guide them, leaders were not very vocal of their support to the community.
Lack of strong leadership left a great void, which was misused by wily politicians.
The baffled community was given a shoulder to cry and in return had to blindly support these politicians. Using the issues of Muslims the politician climbed the ladder of success; on realising the vulnerability and the value of votes, they reduced them to vote banks, waiting to be milked at the time of elections. The core issues of Muslims were never addressed, especially the education factor was knowingly neglected. After all an uneducated, unquestioning community would always be an asset to the petty interests of the politicians.
Corrupt and power hungry from the community were promoted as leaders , who very soon got in sync with the political system . Hoisting Iftar parties, Haj subsidies and donating for marriages of the poor replaced actual development. Practically little, that too half hearted, efforts were put to encourage education amongst Muslims, lack of proper education led to unemployment and failure to integrate with the mainstream.
The representation of Muslims in public and private sector jobs declined leading to further deterioration of the community. Neither the politicians nor the leaders in the community did anything to help. On the Contrary fear was induced in their minds, ghettos were formed. Number of communal riots across the length and breadth of the country forced the community into shells, as a sense of alienation and insecurity filled them.
With passage of time the political developments like Shah Bano case and Babri masjid further complicated the situation. Shah Bano case sent a message to the majority that the government was bending to the demands of Muslims, giving it special privileges and Babri masjid demolition sent a similar message to the Muslims.
As a result, the Muslim narrative got lost, issues like education and social development took a back seat . As the economic conditions deteriorated, it went into cycle of illiteracy, unemployment and economic backwardness.
Many students especially from the lower economic strata barely managed to pass their high school and few who struggled to pass had no proper guidance for higher education.
The educated Muslim class is also guilty as it did not bother to see the plight of their poor cousins, who were only ‘ghettoised’ further.
They were either indifferent to the condition or their concern was limited to donating to some organisation, which may or may not have been utilised properly . While other communities collectively worked for the development, Muslims were indifferent to each other’s plight. Other minorities set up some of the best educational and healthcare institutions, focused on education and guided their youth to take up career oriented courses while Muslims lagged behind, in almost all walks of life.
The changing political conditions both nationally and internationally has lead to some awakening, though little late. Global exposure has made the educated class of Muslims to realise their duty towards the community and efforts are made finally being to encourage
education.
The condition is pretty bad at the moment, and not just mere lip service but honest efforts are needed. The new social leaders need to work at the grass root levels, engage with the youth. Day to day problems need to be addressed, issues concerning like running of government schools should be tackled. Donations from volunteers should be used for the infrastructure of schools, scholarships for needy students on large scale should be provided.
Awareness camps to guide students in their higher studies and utilise the right to education for the benefit of poor students should be organised. Many policies of government are hardly known to the poor, and hence the grass-root workers need to educate them about it. Groups should be formed locally who monitor and help them. Students who have discontinued studies should be guided to take up vocational courses.
Not that there are no such organisations but still we do need much more. We need social leadership not just political leadership and we need more volunteers ready to work effortlessly with no greed for power. Education is the solution to many of our problems and these needs to be addressed on a war footing.
May be then we wouldn’t have to search answers to difficult questions.
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(Dr Kouser Fathima, is a Bengaluru based dental practitioner and has special interests in issues concerning community and women. She can be reached at [email protected])