Author: T Thomas
Publication: Business Standard
Date: April 26, 2002
Introduction: In a secular country,
there should be no special laws based on religion.
What was happened in Gujarat has
once again brought into bold relief the two unfortunate characteristics
of India society. Firstly there is the latent but strong anti-Muslim feeling
among Hindus in several parts of this country. It erupts into cruel violence
from time to time in several states. The antipathy towards Muslim is shared
even by other minorities, like Christians and Sikhs. Secondly the Gujarat
incidents and the reactions to them show how isolated the Muslim community
has become. There has been no rush of voluntary agencies to go to the aid
of the Muslim victims of genocide in contrast to the response to last year's
earthquake.
The purpose of this article is to
examine with sympathy the steps the Muslim community can take to change
the national perception about itself. My views are based on my experience
as a member of another minority (Christian) community.
The first steps is to put an end
to the separation of Muslim children from children of other communities
while in school Muslims should ensure that their children go to school
with children from other religious groups. That is where we all get to
know about the beliefs and practices of other religious group. It is through
the friendship we make in school and college, and through teacher of other
faith whom we respect, that we begin to understand and respect the beliefs
and practices of other groups. It does not mean that Muslim children should
not learn the Koran. These can be taught in a special class for Muslim
children either in the school itself or in the mosques. It will be like
the scripture or moral science lessons in Christian school. It is not a
compulsory subject but in many Christian school Hindu children join such
classes out of intellectual curiosity. As a matter of fact, the scripture
prize in Cathedral school in Mumbai is often won by Hindu students! Muslims
should consider opening up their School for the general education of children
from all communities, and restrict classes on Islamic subjects as an optional
item. This change in the conduct of Islamic schools will go a long
way to integrate the community.
Another useful step will be for
Muslims charities to establish charitable hospitals accessible to members
of all communities. They present a face of compassion to the community
in general. Rich Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia should be told
by Indian Muslim leaders to direct their funds to building such hospitals
rather than building more opulent mosques in India. In fact the building
of such affluent mosques in poor Muslim mohallas and fitting them with
elaborate loudspeakers that blare out at odd times of the day and night
are a source of irritation to many non-Muslim neighbours. Islamic funds
from abroad can be more usefully directed to less obstructive use.
A third step will be for Muslims
to adopt in their business and professional life a dress code that does
not mark them out as being different from the rest. Is it really necessary
for men to have a beard or wear caps and long shirts or for women to wear
a burqa or head scarf to show that they are Muslims? These dress and appearance
codes were at one time probably appropriate for people who lived in the
Arabian peninsula and in a community where women had to hide their form
for their own safety. Beards as a symbol of religious identity also
belong to that era. Is it relevant today in this country? Equally,
is it not necessary for a Christian to wear a cross so prominently that
everyone can recognise him as Christian, or for a south Indian Brahmin
to wear a caste mark on his forehead to proclaim that he is a Vaishnavite
or a Shaivite. One could argue that Sikhs are recognisable by their
turbans and that they do not face the same hostility and isolation as Muslims.
This may be because 1. Sikhs are much more integrated in many other ways
with the rest of the community and 2. They are a much smaller community
whose presence is mainly in and around Punjab.
A fourth step will be to disabuse
the rest of the India that imams and mullahs do not represent or speak
for the Hindus or Christians of this country. There should be cadre of
secular leader who will represent their views along with views of other
communities.
Namaaz several times during the
day is another habit which sets Muslims Apart, and can prove to be an irritant
where office team work is involved. Can Muslims not offer their prayers
briefly in silence without having to interfere with the activities of their
team mates?
Flights to Mecca with concessional
fares for Muslim pilgrims going on Haj is an irritant to others who do
not obtain such concessions to go to Mansarovar or Tirupathi or Bethlehem.
It may be advisable for Muslims voluntarily to give up this discriminatory
privilege. Let the intending pilgrims save and pay their way as others
do for their pilgrimage.
Another major step will be the voluntary
adoption of the uniform civil code by Muslims, while at the same time campaigning
for the abolition of special laws for other communities-like the Hindu
Undivided Family provisions, or the Christian Marriage Act. If we are truly
a secular country there should be no place for such special laws based
on religious divisions. The perpetuation of such laws will only lead to
communal divisiveness. What we need is the freedom to practice each one'
s religion in a peaceful manner that does not interfere with other communities.
Since that is guaranteed under our constitution, what is the need for civil
laws that perpetuate divisions along religious lines?
Muslim women need to organise themselves
more forcefully to demand greater freedom in their personal lives. Women
are the best instruments for reforming any community because of their innate
ability to influence children, husbands, brothers and parents. Leading
activist among Muslim women should try and focus on this issue within their
own community.
Lastly there is the question of
religious conversions, which applies to Muslims as well as Christians.
It is resented by Hindus because of the fear of being diminished in numbers.
I believe it is wrong for any religious group, either through compulsion
or through inducements. Christ was born a Jew and died a Jew. In fact he
never founded a religion called Christianity. This was created by his disciples
well after his death. He never asked anyone to convert his fellows Jews
to Christianity. Coming nearer home, Mother Teresa never converted any
one; she merely set an example for others to follow.
I am Christian through accident
of birth, not out of choice or after studying all available options. I
am sure this applies to most of us - whether we are Hindus, Muslims or
Christians. Once we recognise and accept this fact, viz that we belong
to particular religious group (just as we belong to a particular racial
group) purely by accident of birth, then our ability to tolerate others
from a different religious affiliation will be much greater. The
majority Hindu community cannot wish away or even suppress 130 million
Muslims. If they try to do so they will create domestic Al-Qaedas.
Nor can the Muslims live forever as an embattled community that isolates
itself through its superficial symbols of education, mode of worship and
appearance - all of which have nothing to do with one's innate beliefs.
With enlightened secular leadership these communities can exist peacefully.
And that is essential for the progress and longer term prosperity of our
country.
