What is annoying me more is the growing influence of western culture, says Ameer, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind

There is a saying that 'Out of sight, out of mind'. That is why visiting each other, meeting friends is necessary to sustain friendship and relations. 

You meet a lot of people with varied backgrounds and tastes. Years pass by and you forget them. But sometimes you maintain a sweet memory of a long lost friend without meeting him for years together. Then one fine morning when you get a pleasing news about a long lost friend, how would you feel? Elated? Excited? Jubilant? Delighted? 

I felt so when I received an email with an interview given by Moulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari. It was sent by Br N. Ataullah. I was elated when I read the name of the interviewer. The words 'by Sharfuddin B.S, Kuwait.' glittered in RED.

Memories of meeting this brother lingered in my mind. I met him in Chennai then Madras at IIFSO meet twenty three years ago. We visited the Chennai Book fair. He was searching a book titled 'A Caravan of dreams' written by Idhris Shah. We had tea and butter biscuits in a restaurent. When we were waiting for tea, he did a startling act. He pulled a cigarette from a pack and started smoking. The poise, sityle, and the confidence with which he smoked was cahrming. Nowadays nobody smokes in SIO circle. We talked of current affairs. I don't remember the details. 

I have never met him again. But I have been following him over the years. Br Abdus Salam puttege was one of his friends who used to visit Chennai for printing Kannada Translation of Quran. Once Moulana M. A. Jameel Ahmed narrated an incident involving Br Sharfuddin Banagal (B is for Banagal). It was of a magnificent lecture delivered by Br Sharfuddin on Seerah at a non-Muslim gathering. I remember the joy with which Moulana M. A. Jameel Ahmed mentioned this incident. Br Sharfuddin was attached with Sanmarga kannada weekly. He was the Sub-Editor there. I preserved his visiting card for many years. Years later when I became sub-Editor of Samarasam Tamil Fortnightly I made my visiting card in a similar design. 

I could not meet him again. Twenty three years have passed. Now when I saw his write-up and photo with the Ameer-e-Jamaat, I was.... Oh! leave it yaar. Over to the interview.

Moulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari, a prominent Islamic Scholar acclaimed for his great works in Urdu Islamic literature, also leads Jamat-e –Islami Hind, as its All India President. Besides being an Islamic scholar, Moulana Jalaluddin, a septuagenarian leader has thorough comprehension of national and international issues that differentiates him from traditional Moulavis. He is bestowed with knowledge of a scholar, charisma of a leader, vision of a visionary, deliberations of a thinker and above all thorough comprehension of current affairs.   He was in Kuwait as a guest of ministry of Awkaf and Islamic Affairs and participated in IMA Youth Wing’s one-day conference organized under the patronage of Ministry of Awkaf and Islamic Affairs.

Here are the excerpts from his of interview with him taken at Le Meridian Hotel, Kuwait.

While India’s GDP is growing through economic reforms, why is the Jamaat opposing globalization and liberalization? Are you against progress ?

We are not against progress or any kind of development activities in India. However, we are against two things. Firstly, influence of western and particularly American culture to Indian society, which is being imported along with globalization and liberalization. Secondly, we oppose the scenario where benefits of development are reaped by very minute percentage i.e. 5% urban elite in India and fruits of development are not reaching the entire population. Even among the cities, only some cities are benefiting from the developments. You cannot see the glitters of development in cities like Patna and Kolkata, what you may see in Delhi and Mumbai.  The so-called development may bring glitter to only some cities. However in villages, which constitute majority of Indian geography, no influence of progress is noticed. Even today, it is sad to state that, in spite of big claims about progress and development more than 30% of people in India are living below poverty line. When we claim about higher growth rate of GDP, we forget that we are counting the common man along with TATAs, Birlas and Ambanis, and calculating the average. We support progress, which is directed towards the steady development of entire population of India.

More annoying is, the growing influence of western culture in India. As a result, extra marital sex and premarital sex in no more a taboo in our country among younger generation and doctors are now advocating safe sex rather than advising to refrain from such practices. When we talk about economic progress, we should not forget that this progress has brought enormous contrasts in our society. Several people are deprived of two meals per day, where as many million rupees are spent on fast food by urban elite. In many of our villages, people are deprived of clothing where as millions of rupees are being spent for cosmetics. Some are living in big bungalows while many cannot afford humble huts for themselves.  We are against this kind of contrasts in our society but not against progress. While west is suffering from the drawbacks of their own culture, we are welcoming it in our society without knowing the consequences.  If food, shelter and clothing are guaranteed to majority of the populace, we will whole-heartedly support such progress.

Can you outline how central and state governments have responded to Sachar Committee report ?

Sachar committee report is a big eye-opener for all, which reveals the truth that despite the hue and cry about Muslim appeasement, Muslims are among the most deprived communities in India. The report confirms that they are more backward than OBCs in many areas.  The government was bound to accept this fact since ‘Sachar Committee’ is a government appointed body. If such a committee would have been appointed by any other independent organization or a Muslim organization, the government would have probably rejected the report. Sachar committee report enumerates detailed data and irrefutable proofs explaining the status of Muslims in various fields in different states.

There was another report called ‘Ranganath Mishra’ commission report, which unfortunately was not tabled by the government in the parliament. This report also reveals similar facts identified by Sachar Committee report.  Muslims are demanding that the recommendations of Sachar Committee and Mishra Commission report have to be implemented.  According to government’s official statistics, Muslims constitute 14% of the population. Though actual percentage of Muslims is obviously much higher than government statistics, Muslims need to secure minimum and appropriate share of 14% in all aspects of life such as education and representation in legislative assemblies.  According to Mishra Commission report minorities should get 15% reservations in employment and education, out of which 10% reservation should be given to Muslims owing to their pathetic condition in India. Furthermore, the commission also recommends that if there is any leftover quota from the remaining 5% unutilized by other minorities, it also needs to be given to Muslims.

All major Muslim organizations including Jamate Islami Hind, Jamiatul Ulema Hind and Majlis Mushawarat unanimously demand that the recommendations of  the Sachar Committee and Mishra commission  reports have to be implemented.  However, government is lending a deaf ear to the plea of Muslims. Ironically, central government and none of the state governments have taken any step forward to implement Sachar committee recommendations. The BJP led state governments have rejected these recommendations saying that these are attempts to appease Muslims. Meanwhile state governments led by so-called secular parties also has not done anything to implement it other than rendering some lip services. In West Bengal, a state where Muslims are severely deprived, the government has announced that it will give 10% reservations to Muslims. Since assembly elections of West Bengal are round the corner, it is difficult to judge if the government is sincere in its announcement or if it is just an election gimmick. In West Bengal, where Muslims constitute almost 27% population, the  government now accepts that they have committed a mistake by sidelining Muslims during the  long span of communist rule in the state. Other than announcement in the wake of upcoming assembly elections, no practical steps have been taken to implement the report.   However, Andhra Pradesh government has announced 4% reservation to Muslims and in Karnataka there is some kind of reservation existing from the beginning. In Kerala, government has formed a committee to study the implementation of recommendations of Sachar Committee report. Apart from this, practical steps towards implementation of the Sachar committee and Mishra commission reports are not being seen anywhere in India.

How did Muslims themselves respond to the Sachar Committee report to do something for the community at non-governmental level ?

As far as Muslim organizations are concerned, all Muslims organizations have welcomed sachar committee report and are pressurizing the government to implement its recommendations.  However, there are no collective efforts from the Muslim organization towards implementation of Sachar and Mishra commission report. Muslim organizations are expressing their views through their own separate platforms. Needless to say, the Muslim organizations had been striving for the betterment of Muslims even before the submission of Sachar Committee report. Jamate Islami Hind also has established many schools, colleges and hospitals in different parts of India. It has also served employment generation. Many other Muslim organizations have also contributed toward the upliftment of the community. In Hyderabad for example Salahudddin Owasi has established many schools, colleges and contributed towards social work. Jamiatul Ulema Hind has established many Arabic Madraras and colleges. Vision 2016 is also part of the Jamat’s activities towards upliftment of the society in general, and Muslims in particular. Sachar committee report has reconfirmed the importance of such activities. Muslim community in India is a huge community and all these efforts rendered by Muslims are just small efforts compared to the size of the community and magnitude of the challenges they are facing. Muslim organizations joined together cannot produce the same thing what a concerned and responsible government can produce.

  
From reports, we understand that recently many innocent Muslim youth are targeted in the name of war on terror. What you say about this situation ?

American policy of war on terror initiated by erstwhile US government has influenced many countries including our own country. Thus, it is true that Muslims particularly many innocent Muslim youth were targeted in the name of war on terror. An atmosphere is created through media stereotypes where if any terrorist activities is reported, Muslims are blamed at the outset, without finding out the real culprits.  However during the recent past there have been several instances in India where many activists from non-Muslim outfits have been arrested for terrorist activities, with cases registered against them, and some of them are even behind the bars.  This has brought a slight change in the trend of out rightly blaming Muslims for any untoward incidents without finding the real culprits.

 
Reports about attacks against churches, moral policing by anti social elements and atmosphere of hatred show that communal elements are growing in India. What you think about this situation ?

It is true that there are communal elements in India and there are continued efforts by anti social elements to spread communalism. However, it is not true that communalism has grown much higher than ever. There were no major communal riots in India after the Gurjart riots, which is still famed as the biggest communal riot in India post partition. Previously Bihar was considered as a communally sensitive area. Bihar now is a riot free state, though there is poverty, corruption and many other problems which can be capitalized by anti social elements. During the rule of Lalu Prasad Yadav and Nitish Kumar there were no communal riots in Bihar. Earlier during the rule of congress, communal riots were common in Bihar. In Uttar Pradesh as well, which is again considered as the most sensitive state, there was no major communal riots reported in the recent past even during the rule of BJP, which was followed by the rule of Mulayam Singh and Mayawati. Recently there were some communal riots in Hyderabad. However, it did not spread to other parts of the state, unlike Gujarat riots which soon spread to the entire state. This does not mean that you can have a sigh of relief that communalism has faded away from India. Efforts are needed to promote the atmosphere of understanding and tolerance and communal elements need to be defeated.  Peace is a basic need of human beings, which is also an inevitable need of progress. Jamat and other organizations can only wish and advocate peace. However, government has more power to ensure and establish peace.

 
You have mentioned about Gujart riots. Do you think Narendra Modi, who is termed as architect of Gujarat riots will be convicted by the court ?

As you know, there are several cases against Narendar Modi and justice will take its own course. We do not have any other sources to know about the status of his case other than media. The Supreme Court of India has given many impartial judgments in the past, which strengthen one’s belief in judiciary. In any democracy, the Court is the final door to knock for seeking justice. Hence, one has to wait and see what happens.

What you think about women’s reservation bill presented recently by the ruling party ?

Women reservation bill is not beneficial to minorities, particularly Muslims. Majority of the Muslim organizations opposed this bill including Jamaate Islami Hind. Moreover, all other small and big political parties are against this bill except the Congress and the Communist party. BJP is has adopted a middle path in this regard. If this bill is passed, it will be a gateway to the so-called upper cast elites to strengthen their political might. Their women folk will also reach the parliament alongside their men. Women folks of backward communities are already less in number in politics. This bill is in no way beneficial to any backward communities. Muslim organizations including Jamaat e Islami Hind feel that a separate quota for Muslims and other backward communities has to be fixed in the women’s reservation. Otherwise, women’s reservation bill in its current form only serves the interests of the upper cast elite. According to Lalu Prasad Yadav, a political strongman with proven track record, “even we cannot reach parliament if this bill is implemented”. Jamate Islami Hind has visited many national level political leaders to express its dissatisfaction regarding the bill and we feel that many parties think on similar lines.

Is there any preparation by JIH to launch a political Party ?

Jamat Islami Hindi is an organization with a mission and we have no intension to become a political party. The Jamaat has its own area of work and has a long way to go. However, in the current political scenario of our country, the Jamaat feels that there is a need of a political party, which pursues value-based politics and serves the interests of the weaker sections.   Hence, Jamaat will support any movement to establish such a political party, which particularly addresses common problems of weaker sections in India, including Muslims.  The Jamaat will support such a party and feels that time is ripe for its establishment. Educational upliftment, employment generation, eradication of communal riots, over all social development could be some of its agenda.

 
Can you brief about the Vision 2016 project initiated by JIH ?

Through Vision 2016,  Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has initiated so many social service activities towards the betterment of downtrodden people, Muslims in particular, in areas where they are living under pathetic conditions. Many schools have been established in many parts of India. In Delhi, we have undertaken a big project of hospital construction. Scholarship programs for talented poor children have also been initiated. Interest free loans and monetary support are being given to many people to generate their own means of income and to come out of the clutches of poverty.

Through Vision 2016 project, relief activities have been initiated at a larger scale compared to our customary relief activities, towards people affected from natural calamities and riots. We also support marriage needs of poor families.  However, the outcome of entire project cannot be anticipated soon. It is like giving education to a child. Outcome of the education is apparent when the boy grows up, secures his own job and social status. It is a long process and any social change cannot be anticipated within a short time. You may have to wait for 10-15 years to see at least some better consequences of the project.

We are doing social service activities from the beginning, much before the presentation of Sachar Committee report. However vision 2016 is much focused and a large-scale project compared to the previous social service activities of JIH.