Indian Muslims safer, but face discrimination: Shabana Azmi
Aug 16th, 2008 | By Sindh Today | Category: EntertainmentNew Delhi, Aug 16 (IANS) Indian Muslims are in a ’safer place’ as they have a ’stake and space in Indian democracy’ as compared to Muslims in other parts of the world, feels noted Bollywood actor Shabana Azmi; but she is unhappy that there is still discrimination against the community.
Accusing Indian politicians for promoting a stereotype image of the Muslim community, Azmi, in an interview with television journalist Karan Thapar on CNN-IBN’s ‘Devil’s Advocate’, also blamed the community for allowing themselves to listen to the fundamentalists.
Apprehending that the lingering Kashmir crisis could lead to a Hindu-Muslim divide elsewhere in the country, Azmi, also a noted social activist, sounded bitter for being unable to buy a house in Mumbai because she is a Muslim.
Reposing her faith in the country’s democracy, Azmi said: ‘I think Indian Muslims are in a safer place because the Indian Muslim has a stake and space in Indian democracy.’
‘It’s a very huge thing that we are part of a democracy and Indian Muslims can aspire to become a Shah Rukh Khan, can aspire to become Irfan Pathan, the President of India, and that makes the Muslims far more hopeful than those in other parts of the world,’ said Azmi.
Azmi’s interview is to be telecast at 8.30 p.m. Sunday.
She said that Indian democracy lacks the understanding of security for minorities while Indian politics makes only ‘token gestures’ to Muslims but never addresses the ‘real issues’ afflicting them.
‘I think there is not enough understanding of the fact that in a democracy how you treat the security of the minority must be a very important part for the success of a democracy,’ she said.
‘You cannot only make token gestures and actually let them be in the state that they are as the Rajinder Sachar Committee report shows. Token gestures are made, but real issues are never addressed.’
Responding to suggestions of discrimination against the Muslim community, Azmi said with a tinge of bitterness: ‘I cannot get a house in Mumbai. I wanted to buy a flat in Mumbai and it wasn’t given to me because I was a Muslim and I read the same about Saif (Ali Khan).’
‘Now, I mean, if Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi cannot get a flat in Mumbai because they are Muslims, then what are we talking about?,’ said Azmi.
Responding to Thapar’s query on her feelings about the Western perception of ‘Islam as a threat and Muslims as figures of fear and hate’, Azmi said she felt ‘exasperation, anger, hurt and bewilderment’.
But she agreed with Thapar’s suggestion that part of the onus is on Muslims to change the image of their religion and community.
‘I think it is. I would accept that. I don’t think that the Muslim leadership has bothered to clear the air about what Islam actually is,’ she said.
She added that ‘the community is also allowing itself to listen to the fundamentalists, who actually are not their leaders at all.’
Asked if Muslims need their own leaders, Azmi said: ‘No, no, no, no. Jawaharlal Nehru was a leader of Muslims and that’s the way it should be. You don’t need a Muslim leader for that.’
She also blamed politicians for promoting a stereotype image of the Muslim community and stifling their moderate and liberal voices, but added that there was a fledgling resurgence of liberalism in the community.
‘You look at all the politicians, whether it is Atal Bihari Vajpayee, or Indira Gandhi or anybody, the minute it’s a Muslim question, you get all the dariwalas (bearded people) and Maulvis only to speak,’ she said.
She, however, added: ‘There is a resurgence of the moderate liberal voice which is now taking on the affairs of the community.’
Azmi also agreed with Thapar’s suggestion that the present crisis in Kashmir could create a Hindu-Muslim divide elsewhere in the country.
‘Absolutely. I can see that happening. That’s why I am so distressed over what is happening in Kashmir. For heaven’s sake it should be brought to a stop and it should have been brought to a stop right when they started that nonsense,’ she said.
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Yeah, Muslim do face discrimination in India. I am myself from India and I agree with you that we feel more secured here than in Pakistan. I am not saying India is perfect in all sense. It does need some steps to integrating people specifically in Kashmir.
I don’t know how you call it secured when you have skills but can’t find a job. I am unemployed and looking for job for more than one year. I noticed that I have been turned down because of religion. I am planning to leave for another country to find life with no worries.
I dont know why you are whinning. I know my friend who is happened to be hindu had waited for two years before landing on any job. I am not saying we are 100 perfect but I can guarntee you that we are better off than other countries in our neibourhood.
I am hindu Sindhi living in Pakistan. I can give you idea what is going on Pakistan in relation to treating minorties. Though, Most of time we don’t get jobs very easily no matter how skilled we are. Therefore, most of hindus living in Sindh run their business to make their ends meet. I also need to point out too it is also happening with Sindhi Muslim who have been discriminated on all walks of life. Most of companies are owned by Punjabi in Sindh ( Interior Sindh) and labors are imported from Punjab or some Urdu speaking from Karachi. In a country where their own people are not safe how we can blame others. India is much better country at least we see democracy and secular system exception to some minor conflict which could be resolved with little efforts.
I dont agree that Muslims are safer in India than anywhere else. I am from America and I am safe and I dont feel discriminated!
Satish: You are absolutely right about the plight of Hindu Pakistanis. I am Pakistani and I know how it goes there. I am Urdu speaking as well (my family migrated from UP), and I can say that we are discriminated in Pakistan as well.
I would like to ask Shabana Azmi. How many Muslims have voiced a disgust at Kashmiri separatists.
I know none. The core issue is that Muslims regard their religion and their “umma” i.e. their muslim brotherhood above nationhood. How can any muslim, including Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar claim to be an Indian, when their religion denies patriotism. As for violence, Dear Ms Shabana Azmi are you aware of the
rantings your husband has made. I can go on with this, but i guess the pseudo-secularist credentials of Indian Media will censor me. - waronindia.com
I am disappointed with Shabnaji’s comment that Muslims are treated unfairly in India..Has she ever considered the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh or Pakistan; not only have their numbers dwindled but they get a rough deal out and out…Muslims in India are safe , enjoy monority status , considerations are there to the extent that poor Muslims claim Haj mioney from the government..Do Hindus receive pilgrimage money / not even in India do they get…She also mentioned that Hindus look at Muslims in a different light…untrue..it is just that unfortunately terrorists the world over claim to be of Islamic origin..hence the world Islam is considered with caution .It is up to educated Muslims like Shabna Azmi to change that view and project the good aspects of Islam..
Whatever it may be , it is most unfortunate that religion is causing dysharmoney !!!
I am a Maharashtian Hindu from Mumbai. I am not able to buy a house in Gujarati dominated area such as Ghatkopar in Mumbai. The reason given is that they don’t like to live with non vegetarians! I don’t know whom I should complain to, perhaps Thackarey et al!?
Point is people have biases and that is true very where even in US (I am currently in US). These can never be justified. However I am not about to lose sleep because Shabana could not buy a house.
There are other minorities like jews, Jains and parsis that live in India. Have you ever heard riots are denial of house to these groups based on religion? Never it happened. If muslims are disliked the world over its for them to do some heart search than blame others. All terrorist attacks have been by those who proclaimed themselves islamists. No one like to have potential trouble makers.
And as some body said here in this column , there is always preference for a particular group. For example Brahmins insist only vegetarians for letting out premises.. Marathas do not like North Indians and also south Indians!!! The list goes on. In fact in India every one is a minority. As for me I am aTelugu in Tamil Nadu. I am a minority here and I was officially denied stipend on the basis of my nativity. Yes, its true and I still hold that communication by the Dean.
Hello, my muslim fellow citizens, please stop having that victimhood mind set. Azmis come and go but you have to live with your neighbours whom you cant wish away. It happens to every one of us all but you people being hyper sensitive jump to conclusions too easily to find some one to blame for all your real and imaginary troubles. And our so called intellectuals, the muslim apologists, are always there to help you out to constantly feel victimised. Forget you are a muslim and start thinking you are a first class citizen like any in India and see the difference.But if you wear a sherwani or a burqa and want to maintain in your office and want to go Maszid 5 times for namaz leaving your work, then you may well have trouble with your target oriented employers..
This refers to Shabana Azmi’s provocative observations in her interview. Prima facie, the sense of discrimination any Muslim faces as a minority, could be admissible to some extent. But such discrimination is faced by any community in India, not restricted to religious communities alone. A dispassionate analysis of the of Muslim status in India is called for.
First, let us turn the perspective on the face of Muslims. Well-meaning Hindus and so-called secularists have been accommodating to the point of fault so long. Well, have Muslims really tried to integrate in India? Whether you or like it or not; there is another side to the proverbial coin. Have you seen the letter addressed by Indian Mujahideen and the vilest language it uses for Hindus while glorifying Quran and Islam and quoting murderous verses and Ayats from Quran. Significant number of Muslims believe in taking the literal meaning and have no qualms in committing anti-social and illegal activities in the name of their religion.
Despite extreme provocation and the vilest language, there has been no backlash in India against the Muslims. In fact Muslims have not been discriminated at all in India. Au contraire, theirs is a success stories in all walks of life straddling Politics to the cutting edge technology. In fact, if you run a reality check on an “ Indian Who’s Who “, you will find Muslim names and personalities mentioned everywhere! So, where is your case of being isolated or denied rights and privileges?
Please ponder, who are the most vociferous opponents of a Uniform Civil Code, in India? Who vehemently oppose unification even after 61 years of independence and a bloody partition? How can you integrate a Society that has a significant minority inclined to respect an outdated religious law than a civil law? While Hindu law also recognises polygamy, the Hindu marriage Act expressly prohibits that.
Man as a social animal has a natural desire to herd together. Clanship and Fraternal ties are hardwired in our genetic makeup. But it cannot be carried to rigid extremes! If a community wants to maintain exclusivity and insularity, then is it the fault of the “Rest” for not integrating? Please understand, Muslim community whether in India or Europe, prefers to insulate itself against cultural amalgamation with the host country. Note the fundamentalism and radicalism demonstrated in major European cities and at home in India.
India’s other religious communities like Parsis, Christians, Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs have integrated themselves very well. What is it that hinders the average Muslim from integrating? Please ponder over some “Fundamentally Muslim” aspects, elaborated below.
Muslims are made to believe in the innate supremacy of Islam. What does your Shahadat say? “There is no God but only one God Allah, and Muhammad is his last Prophet”. Exclusivity starts fundamentally here! Alas, in Islam, there is no room for any other religion or Gods. The enlightened and educated Muslim, can glibly argue a convincing logic for this declaration. But what about the multitudes of your coreligionists who swear by this and take the literal import? This colours their behaviour towards other communities. You are wrongly accusing a liberal and secular majority for promoting religious bigotry and hatred. Hindus can never be accused of exclusivity. Who gave the mantra “Ishwar Allah Tero naam”? Honestly, Can any of your Mullahs / Maulanas / Imams technically accept this maxim? Can they accept “partnership” of Allah with Ishwar? But we Hindus can! We still revere Sai Baba who always used to quote “Allah Malik”
Our Muslim intelligentsia are raising hue and cry about not getting place in some Housing Societies. But can the lakhs of Hindu and Christian workers pray to their cherished God in Saudi Arabia? Even photos are defaced. Consider Saudi, the fountainhead of fundamentalism carefully: temples or churches cannot be constructed in their ‘hallowed soil’! Why, even non-Muslims are banned from stepping into Mercca and Medina. But the Arabs want democratic rights of foisting their religion, culture and philosophy down the throats of other gullible Societies! The Indian Muslim needs to carefully analyse this Arab imperialistic policy. With Muslims, they demand and extract unquestioned Loyalty. If God is Most beneficient, Most merciful, All knowing, Omnipresent, where is the need to promote loyalty and suzerainty and face Mecca always. These fundamental aspets of Islam hardwires insularity. This in turn, is devastating for practising Muslims in their respective homelands and puts them into perpetual state of dilemma, whether to declare loyalty to own country or the global Ummah. So much for Muslim tolerance in other countries. Shabana and her like-minded friends would be doing a great service to humanity if they are able to foster tolerance and respect for other religions and humanity and convince Saudi Arabia to change.
Come back to secular India, the only home to Hindus - mosques proudly co-exist in holy places like Varanasi, Mathura, Prayag (Allahabad), Rameshwaram, Madurai, Kanchpuram and countless other places considered holy pilgrim centres by Hindus. Yes, these mosques were not constructed peacefullyl; existing temples were destroyed and paved way for grand mosques and the idols despatched to Iraq and Persia for using as steps. Still, the Hindus have let bygones be bygones and declared India as a secular state and equally welcomed all religions to coexist peacefully
Finally, dear Muslim! Who is isolating you? Why do you complain? Next time, when you complain, please introspect and find out ways for your coreligionists to integrate. Ask your women to abandon Burkhas and take up education seriously. There is no need to isolate your women under some ancient Arabic customs. The stanglehold of obscurantist Mullahs and Maulanas aided by generous Petro-Rials from Saudi is so strong in India that the neighbourhood Mosque gives grants / scholarship for girls to don the Burqha and attend college? Why don’t the educated and sensible Muslims analyse and reform. Is there a genuine effort on the part of educated Muslims to reform such outdated practices and customs? Are the ‘intellectuals’ like Shabana and Javed doing anything about these issues, other than raving and ranting about isolation? Will Pakistan or Bangladesh, homes for sub-continents’ Muslims accommodate their liberal lifestyles? They will serve their community better by trying to reform rather than accusing blindly a generous majority, which has a glorious record of being a safe haven from religious persecution. Please ask Parsis and the Dalai Lama and his tibetans what they think of Hindus and India.
Please realize, while you are pointing one finger at others, the balance four fingers are curved inwards pointing towards yourself. Therefore look inwards and introspect. The auspicious Ramadan period may be the correct time to do that!