The unpatriotic Indian Muslims
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Is it not a general quality for
all the human beings to love their parents irrespective of their economic and social
status? Similarly is it not an unwritten inclination for all the citizens of
every nation to be patriotic to their nation? Does it mean that every son and
daughter or every citizen of any nation should proclaim loudly and frequently
their love for their parents and the mother or father through certain slogans
to convince others regarding their love for their parents and nation ? If they
don’t do so, can they be then declared as not loyal to their parents or nation?
Why is this endless debate on secularism,
nationalism and patriotism in India
in the recent months in the media? Why suddenly there is a spurt of fanatical
statements made by certain politicians, religious gurus, MPS and ministers and
even a Chief Minister against the
minority communities, particularly, the
Muslims regarding their patriotism when some of them declared that they will
not say, “Bharat Matha ki jay” for some personal reasons?
I had a childhood friend who
never used to sing our National Anthem (she was a Hindu girl) not because she
was less patriotic but, because, she was extremely shy of singing. Even in our
public functions don’t we see the VIPs on the dais, not singing the National
Anthem and stand in attention pose? Then do we consider all of them as
unpatriotic? Is it not historical fact that, great number of Muslims during
freedom struggle joined the Congress Party just to participate in freedom
struggle? It is still fresh in my memory the contributions made by my grand
father and his friends towards the freedom movement and what passionate
discussions they used to have over Gandhiji’s
methods for freedom struggle. I have also come across few Muslim men who live alone in India with great
difficulty due to age related health and security problems after wasting
their Green Card obtained by
their NRI sons to live in USA, telling them that , they love India too much in
spite of many adverse factors and can not imagine migrating to other nations
just because the living standard is far better there. They say, this nation has
given them education , livelihood and
peaceful family life and hence want to be engaged in community service in old
age to give something back to this nation and can not think of leaving India in
preference for other nations. To me, it is patriotism of high order though I
have never seen them shouting Bharat Matha ki Jay on any occasion. Is not every
Muslim who opted to choose India
as their Mother land during partition did so
for love towards this nation? Are
they not contributing to the development of this nation through their hard work
and productive activities? Have they not lived in harmony with other
communities exhibiting to the world that India’s beauty lies in “unity
with diversity” Don’t we have Muslim defense personnel who are ready to lay down their lives to save the nation’s
honor?
When India is facing several
serious issues such as, poor infrastructural facilities marring the quality of
our daily life, serious problems in the health and education sector, FDI
hurdles in spite of tall promises ,
heavy circulation of black money nullifying
the effects of economic reforms , unsafe environment for women,
deplorable mal nutrition status of huge
number of children, high level of corruption , greater burden of heavy taxes
and inflation on middle class , dangerous level of unemployment among ,even the
highly educated youth, lowest priority given to agriculture resulting in growing number of farmers suicides, water and
power crisis in several states , endless
postponement of electoral police ,judical
and administrative reform etc., Is it not a waste of time and energy ,
day after day in the print and electronic media
on the need for tokenism to prove patriotism and nationalism ?
Law breakers, terrorists and
criminalised politicians may loudly shout Vande Madharam, Bhrat Matha ki Jay or
Jai Hind and yet be betrayers to the nation. A law abiding, a hard working and
honest Indian Muslim may not be very particular to shout certain slogans to
prove his/ her loyalty to the nation yet love this nation. What is the need
for the Indian Muslims to prove every
day to self proclaimed new champions of patriotism that, they are patriotic?
Generally we believe that,
religion is a personal matter between God and an individual. Every person need
not take special efforts to prove to
others that they are very religious.
Similarly nationalism and patriotism ideologies are ingrained in every citizens. It lies in the heart and the soul irrespective of their castes and
religions .It is not the duty of every
Muslim to please fanatical political and communal leaders expectations related to nationalism
through symbolic gestures. Some would like to do it due to fear for their life and
others may not be willing to express loudly their fine sentiments towards
certain matters. After all, it is a
matter of personal right and liberty.
Any body who have any doubt on
the nationalism or patriotism of the Muslims can visit Chennai and talk to people to find out what a humanitarian and
massive arrangement the Muslim community organized to help the fellow citizens
of all the communities who were affected by the flood, the recent cyclone and during
the very recent Jallikattu protest by the youngsters of Tamil Nadu .
By the way, repeatedly, we hear
some politicians and certain fringe elements
from majority community asking the Muslims who defy and question
dictatorial methods in these matters, “to go to Pakistan.” From when Pakistan has widely opened its borders to all the
Indian Muslims and declared that all the “unpatriotic Indian Muslims “ are
whole heartedly welcome to their nation ? It
is very irritating and distressing to
realise that Muslims have to constantly prove their loyalty through
tokenisms ,in spite of hundred of years
of existence and productive contribution to the economy, society, culture and
literary work, just because some fringe
elements from majority community have
become shouting brigades over patriotism and nationalism as if they are AGMARK
nationalists. If they are true nationalists,
they wont be adopting aggressive methods to polarise the different
communities who were hitherto living in absolute harmony . Let the
nation judge and identify the real
traitors .
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