Muslims and India

Introduction

Indian Muslims – Myth and Reality

Indian Muslims have been at the centre of controversy ever since the beginning of the British rule either because of their own behaviour or because of the policy of divide and rule pursued by the British or because of communal forces in both the communities. Even long after partition and independence of India the controversies do not die down; they are being intensified in the present situation.

Whenever I have the occasion to speak on Indian Muslims or communalism or secularism I am asked certain questions invariably, whatever the nature of gathering, i.e., of intellectuals, of social activists or teachers or police officers. Certain myths about Indian Muslims are being propagated today especially by communal forces. It is, therefore, necessary to discuss some of on reality. Those who spread these controversies and throw light such myths are serious obstacles to the process of nation building and are bent upon destroying not only secular character of this country but also peace and harmony. However, this article is not addressed to these forces as they do so not out of lack of information but out of their own political agenda. This essay is addressed to those who become victims of this propaganda.

Before we throw light on these controversies it is necessary to throw some light on the concept of majority and minority. Some people keep on arguing that one should do away with this concept as all citizens have equal rights in Indian Constitution irrespective of religion, caste and creed. There is no place for the concept of ‘religious minority’ and ‘religious majority’ in Indian democracy. All citizens of India have right to profess, practice their own religion and also propagate it. Even otherwise many well-meaning people also argue on these lines.

Well this is highly desirable in an ideal democracy where there is absolutely no discrimination on the basis of religion or caste and people of all religions enjoy their constitutional rights without letup or hindrance. In such a society there will be complete absence of communalism in open or subtle forms, much less repeated outbursts of communal violence.

There are not only strong prejudices against minorities- whatever the reasons-but these prejudices are getting stronger and stronger day by day thanks to intense propaganda by communal forces. Moreover, in no democracy in the world be it democracy in western countries, they have been able to do away with this category of racial or religious minority and majority. These categories exist in all western democracies too. In our case it is also our historical legacy further strengthened by partition of our country. Partition still rankles in our minds.

The framers of our Constitution were also quite aware of this problem and hence they made special provisions for minority rights in the Constitution specially in Articles 25 to 30. Also, since this problem is universal the UNO has also drafted declaration of minority rights. And it is not religious minorities only who insist on their minority status the majority itself has not been able to liberate itself from this category.

One usual question asked is why Muslims refuse to become part of Indian mainstream? It is thought that Muslims in India live in their own shell and refuse to be integrated in Indian mainstream. This is not true by and large. There may be few isolated cases but overwhelming majority of Muslims is very much part of Indian mainstream. Perhaps following their religion, i.e., Islam itself is thought to be the cause of isolation. One is not required to renounce ones religion to become part of Indian mainstream.

The important question is who defines what Indian mainstream is? Is Indian mainstream constituted by upper caste Brahminical Hinduism? Certainly not. Then only a small percentage of Indians, probably not more than 20 per cent people can qualify for that. A vast number of Hindus themselves will be left out from this concept of mainstream. Our mainstream is basically constituted by our composite culture and Muslims have richly contributed to this composite culture. There have been great musicians among Muslims throughout history and continue to be even today. Bismillah Khan, Zakir Ali Khan, Vilayat Ali Khan, Fayyaz Ali Khan and several others are shining stars of Indian music. Bismillah Khan was also honoured with ‘Bharat Ratna’ few years ago. In other fields of fine arts like painting, poetry and fiction writing there have been some of the greatest name of minority communities, particularly Muslims. Their contribution in these fields is recognised by India as well as the world.

In sports too religious minorities have made significant contribution be it cricket, hockey or any other sports. Some of the greatest names of cricket world come from amongst Muslims. In film world who can deny the contribution of Muslims? Be they directors, actors actresses and music directors and background singers, there have been great Muslim names. They are so well known that there is no need to mention them here. Dilip Kumar, Mehboob Khan, Naushad, Meena Kumari are some of the legends from the film world. Among new generation Shabana Azmi, Shahrukh Khan, A.R. Rehman are great names. And if literature, music, fine arts, sports, films etc. do not constitute national mainstream what else does? And if it does where Muslims are lacking?

It is also not true that Muslims do not speak regional languages and insist on speaking Urdu. This is utterly mischievous propaganda. In Tamil Nadu they speak Tamil, in Kerala they speak Malayalam, in Gujarat they speak Gujrati, in interior Maharashtra they speak Marathi or variant of Marathi, in West Bengal they speak Bengali, in Assam, Assamese and so on. In these regions which I visit frequently I need services of interpreters to speak to Muslims in their regional language. Now even in the Hindi heartland Muslims speak chaste Hindi and the new generation of Muslims do not know Urdu at all. In this respect Urdu has hardly any future in India. It will soon become like Persian or Arabic learnt by some specialists.

Another myth is that all Muslim children go to madrasas and avoid modern secular education. This too, like other myths about Muslims, is far from true. It is children of the poor who mostly go to madrasas because of their locations, convenient timings and lack of means to send them to secular schools though

poor also have ambition to give good education to their children. No one from middle class families among Muslims sends their children to madrasas. They send their children to modern schools, and if possible to English medium school. Middle class families among Muslims are now sending their daughters also for higher education and this trend is on increase and Muslim girls are greater achievers in modern education than boys. All available data shows this clearly. Thus the myth that Muslims do not send their daughters to schools also needs to be demystified.

Another myth is that Muslims do not practice family planning. The Sangh Parivar publishes pamphlets saying Muslims believe in ‘ham panch hamare pacchis (We five, our twenty- five). Needless to say that this is highly mischievous propaganda. There are two parts of this popular myth: firstly, Muslims marry four wives as per their shariah and that they beget highest number of children.

Both these myths need to be exposed. It is true Islamic shari’ah permits (does not make obligatory) to take four wives. But this does not mean all Muslim males take four wives. Even if they want sheer male/female ratio will not permit them to do so. In India according to 2001 census there are 935 female for every 1000 male. Among Muslims this ratio is even more adverse, i.e., there are about 930 females for every thousand male. Even an males cannot get one wife according to this census figure let alone one Muslim male marrying four wives.

Such propaganda is motivated by sheer animosity or prejudice. Fact is that highest number of bigamous marriages take place among tribals (about 14 per cent) and Muslims are at the bottom with 5.6 per cent bigamous marriages and upper caste Hindus have 5.8 per cent bigamous marriages (according to the Government of India survey of 1974, the only all India survey ever conducted). If there is provision for polygamy in law it does not mean that all will take more than one wife and if there is ban on polygamous marriages it does not mean no one will take more than one wife. It is basically a problem of male-dominant culture than that of religion.

It is also not true that all Muslims beget large number of children and do not practice family planning. Family planning is also more related to literacy and income levels. All studies in India by demographers show that poor people of any religion tend to have more children and people of middle class (whatever the religion) tend to have less number of children. Among Muslims too, studies in Malegaon, Kanpur and other places clearly show that educated middle class practice family planning and poorer, illiterate Muslims do not. Thus it is poverty-related and not religion-related problem.

If there is relatively less family planning among Muslims it is because of poverty and lack of awareness than religion. Those Mullahs who come from poorer strata (and most of the mullahs come from this strata) do invoke religion for opposing family planning but it does not mean all Muslims necessarily listen to them. In states like Kerala there is more family planning among Muslims than Hindus in U.P. as Kerala Muslims are more educated than Hindus in U.P. Thus, sterilisation among Kerala Muslims is 42.7 per cent whereas among Hindus in U.P. it is only 18.2 per cent. It is obviously poverty and literacy related phenomenon.

One should not go by politically motivated propaganda and examine reality, which is much more complex and multi- dimensional. It is in the interest of whole nation to work for uplift of Muslims and raise their income and educational levels. It will ensure better national integration and national progress. Mere hostile propaganda motivated by narrow political ends would prove to be a drag on national development.