Published On:28 May 2012
Posted by Indian Muslim Observer
Muslim Vision of Secular India: Destination & Roadmap
IMO News Service
This is no longer a hidden fact that the Indian Muslims are faced with problems on all fronts – be it social, economic or political – and they no longer enjoy their deserving place in the country. There is a long list of issues and problems, their protection is at stake and they are leading a very deplorable life from social and economic point of view. There has been a general realization during past few years that the Sachar Committee and the Ranganath Mishra Commission have encircled the issues and problems plaguing the Muslim society to a large extent but these two reports have become victims of politicization.
What shall be the role of Muslims in their dear country India that is progressing leaps and bounds on daily basis, what shall be their destiny and the approach map to reach it, what shall be the basis of their progress in the light of Muslim and Islamic viewpoint and analysis, and what shall be the parameters of growth and progress in the light of Islamic rules and within the framework of Indian constitution – these are some of the salient features of Dr. Javed Jamil’s paper titled ‘Muslim Vision of Secular India: Destination & Roadmap”.
It presents a plan that views Muslims as second largest majority capable of influencing all the policies and programmes being pursued in the country; but at the same time it regards them as “minority” in India from the constitutional point of view which should be given all the rights that are their due in that capacity. Again it emphasizes that as poor and deprived Muslims are part of the majority of the country which remains poor and deprived in almost all walks of life.
The Approach Paper also discusses in detail the ideological perspectives of the issues confronting the country and the community; and argues for a planning that combines ideological and practical approach to achieve the ultimate objects in minimum possible time.
Another point that the paper highlights is that the development of the country cannot be complete unless (1) it involves and benefits all the sections of society in an admirable way; (2) it takes along with it all the communities of the country without anyone of them feeling alienated, discriminated or left out; (3) It covers all the regions and states of the country; (4) It gives an equal emphasis on urban and rural development; and (5) It ensures that the growth and development take place without erosion of the moral values, strong family system, social peace and Indian cultural framework. It presents a plan the Way the Approach paper of the Planning Commission presents covering all the aspects of Muslim life. The paper argues that we should make a plan without compromising the basic principles of comprehensiveness, simultaneity and distribution of work followed by sustained monitoring and reassessment.
A salient feature of the paper is the facts and figures that are collected from several sources and their analysis for arriving at the possible solutions. It argues that the political empowerment of Muslims should occur in a way that not only Muslims get a due share in governance but they play a proactive and meaningful role in all the national and international affairs. It wants Muslims to develop into a dynamic, globally thinking community, aggressive in making efforts on all fronts not only for their own development but also for the establishment of a purer, healthier and more peaceful country as well as the world.
Another important aspect is that Dr. Jamil not only shows mirror to the problems affecting the community but also goes on to give reasonable solutions that are worth implementing. Some of these include:
·
Introduction
of Applied Islamics in higher religious
as well as modern institutions aimed at making a critical analysis of the
developments of the world from Islamic point of view and application of Islamic
principles for proposing alternative models for the betterment of mankind;
·
Converting
mosques into Islamic centres within the boundaries provided by respective
Islamic fiqhs (jurisprudence) under the supervision of Ulema so that the
mosques can help in the development of Muslims as a morally upright, socially
well-behaved community;
·
creation
of an extensive infrastructure for educational pursuits at all the levels and
in all the possible fields; and the use of education for the over-all
development of human beings as morally upright and socially useful creatures;
Usage of Technology in Educational growth; Private Investment in Education;
Network of Private Muslim Girls Schools; Working with RTE and the Governments
Strategic Plan; Establishment of Higher institutions with at least 100
universities and other higher centres in next 10 years; Muslim Women
Universities, Muslim Sports Colleges; econd language status in the country,
Urdu departments in all universities and degree colleges, Special Summer Camps
for Urdu and Moral Development, Urdu speaking courses on the line of English
speaking courses;
·
Establishment
of a People’s Corporate for greater participation of Muslims in the Corporate
Sector because without an adequate representation in Corporate Sector in every
capacity, neither Muslims can develop nor the nation can achieve its ultimate
goals. (Wealth Generation within the parameters of Islam and the requirements
of Indian Constitution must be one of the top priorities if peace and
prosperity are to be achieved); also emphasison medium and small scale
industries and trading;
·
Continuous
efforts for establishment of Islamic financial institutions in India;
·
Sustained
high-pinched campaign for hygienic conditions for Muslims and establishment of
peace colonies in the cities to ensure a hygienic living for Muslims to fulfill
their social, religious and cultural needs;
·
Development
of a health infrastructure at every level with the involvement of Muslim
medical and paramedical force to meet the health needs of the community;
Corporate cum charity Hospitals in big cities; De-addiction Centres and Islamic
Counselling
·
Equal
emphasis on urban and rural Development;
·
Establishment
of a healthy and morally upright media in the country with the active
participation of Muslims;
·
Proper
use of NGO sector as a tool of change in the right direction and empowerment of
common people; empowerment of women within Islamic framework; building an
all-religion alliance against dirty economics (commercialization of human
weaknesses, economic disparity, corruption, etc); and, building a more peaceful
world through cordial relationships with all the countries of the world
including Muslim countries
The demands from the government include not only demands related to Muslims but also related to the common problems of Indian people. Some of them are:
·
Introduction
of “fundamental prohibitions” in the constitution to be able to eradicate
social evils and the “dirty economics”;
·
Introduction
of “Right to Health” as the fundamental right that must have an overriding
impact on all the activities;
·
Adoption
of policies that counters economic disparity including a tax structure that
collects more revenues from the rich than the poor masses);
·
Corruption
at all levels – government, corporate, NGOs – must be uprooted through suitable
measures including a well meaning Lok Pal Bill;
·
More
representation of Muslim in Ministries (in accordance with population) both in
Centre and States,
·
Steps to
ensure greater representation in Parliament and Assemblies,
·
Ways to
ensure greater participation of Muslims in civil services, military and other
administrative services (Central and provincial),
·
Establishment
of Equal Opportunities Commission at the earliest;
·
At least
10 per cent reservation of Muslims as a whole with 75 per cemt reserved for
Muslim OBCs (any suitable workable formula can be developed that safeguards the
interests of all the concerned parties);
·
Special
efforts to ensure road connectivity to Muslim localities and villages, better
municipal conditions and uninterrupted power supply;
·
Facilitate
establishment of higher Muslim institutions: establishment of at least 5 Muslim
women universities and 5 Muslim Sports Colleges;
·
Demand
for allotment of at least 20 per cent budget to Muslim NGOs;
·
Demand
for passing of Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice
and Reparations) Bill, 2011” without any further delay; and
·
To
facilitate establishment of Islamic financial institutions in the country
including Islamic Banking.
·
A
National Drive for Hygiene; Comprehensive Programme for Control of AIDS
“This paper is in effect a preliminary description of Muslim Vision of India. India of their dreams is the leader that guides the mankind to developing a healthier, purer, and more prosperous and more peaceful world, with the fruits of development reaching every human being living anywhere in the world irrespective of his caste, colour, creed and faith. Muslims do know that, despite having emphasis on certain aspects of development, their vision is not entirely different from the vision of their fellow countrymen belonging to other religions; and this is why they have reasons to feel confident that their vision of India will be realised one day with the support of all Indians. Indians on the other hand need to realise that India cannot reach its destination until Muslim becomes active partners in this pursuit. Muslims need the support of their countrymen and the countrymen must not fail them.”
The Man behind the Work
Dr. Javed Jamil is quickly emerging on the international scene as a thinker whose amazing versatility is compelling the world thinkers to appreciate his work and admire the comprehensiveness of his approach in dealing with contemporary issues. He has already propounded several remarkable theses in various fields that range from Community Medicine to Physics, from Social Sciences to Economics and from international affairs to religion. His works include The Devil of Economic Fundamentalism, The Killer Sex, In Search of a Comprehensive Solution for AIDS, Rediscovering the Universe, Beyond Einsteinian Limits, Islam means Peace, he Essence of the Divine Verses, Islamic Model for Control of AIDS, Scientific and Social Theories derived from Qur’an, Family Welfare in Islam and Islam and Science. If the novelty of work, freshness of approach, depth of thoughts, ability to influence the world and capability of revolutionizing knowledge are the criteria of greatness, Dr Javed Jamil should soon find a place in the greatest thinkers of the contemporary world. His theory of economic fundamentalism and his concept of Peace Economics, his dynamic theory of health and universal theory of relativity and his novel approach in Applied Islamics are great enough works to give him a permanent place in the history of knowledge. His recent work, “Despite Shortcomings, Muslims are Most Civilised in the world” recently attracted huge debate on international internet forums. His coming works also include “Scientific & Social Concepts derived from Qur’an” and “Westernism: the Ideology of Hegemony”.
Dr Javed Jamil was the first to organise a public demonstration against the Shah Bano case verdict. He ran several health and education related projects and presented Islamic Models of Family Welfare and AIDS Prevention, which generated a lot of debate in the 1990s. His current focus is on presenting a Muslim perspective of India’s foals of development and to work for making Muslims a vibrant community that can play a meaningful role at national and global levels. This is represented in his work, “Muslim Vision of Secular India: Destination & Roadmap”.
