The debacle in local bodies election in Tamil Nadu and some thoughts

More than eleven brothers and sisters affiliated with the Islamic Movement contested in the just held local bodies eletion in Tamil Nadu. They were supported by the newly launched Welfare Party of India. Infact the state President of the welfare party Mr S. N. Sikkander toured, campaigned and strived for the victory of the canditates in fray. While the majority of them contested for the post of Corporator or Councillor one brother (Br A Syed Nazeer) contested for the Municipal Chairmanship. All of them have been defeated badly. Even the much hyped Janab T Ismail Sahib (the first member of Jamaat to get elected as councillor in the whole of country) too bited the dust.


The outcome is indeed sad and shocking. Ofcourse winning and losing a election is part of the game. But, it is sad that not a single soul managed to win. 


But, at the same time it is pleasing to note that thousands of voters across the state prefered to vote for these brothers and sisters. The fact that these canditates in their maiden attempt have succeeded in striking the chord with vast multitudes of people is itself reassuring. 


It should be noted that each and every single vote procured by these men and women is much more, more and more valuable than others. 


Because these are not the votes which were casted driven by the communal zeal or caste affiliation. These are the visa documents given by the noble for a dawn of new era.


These votes are not the one which are casted driven by the devotion to one's own party. These votes were casted by those noble souls who marched towards the polling booth attracted by the slogan மக்கள் பணம் மக்களுக்கே public money should be spent for the public alone.  


These votes were not bought for a few hundred rupees. Rather these are the votes of those illustrious sons and daughters of this great nation who believe in probity in public life. 


These are not the votes which were casted induced by the childish wish that "My vote should not go waste. I will vote only the winning canditate". Rather these are the votes casted by the responsible citizens of this country who believe in the concept of Welfare State, Communal Harmony, Inclusive Democracy etc.


Therefore we should thank all of these noble souls who prefered us and voted us. We should do everything to consolidate them and save their good-will. We have to work harder and harder. We have to work  indefatiguably. 


Besides we have to analyse the reasons for this debacle. What went wrong? Why did we fail? What to be done? How to rectify, reform and reach out? 


At the same time all those brothers and sisters who worked tirelessly deserve praise and acclaim. They have spent their time. They have spared their money. They have done everything. May Allah accept their endeavours and reward in excess. 


Another point is that these brothers and sisters have become known figures in their respective areas. In a way this is capital to us. And this capital if invested properly would give rich dividends in near future. Insha Allah. The urgency and the need of contiuous work and struggle is undisputable. Allah-o-Akbar.

Crossposted in Luthfispace.

Periyar Dasan Abdullah's journey towards Islam!

Periyar Dasan, nay Janab Abdullah Sahib is a Muslim now and he has completed his Umrah too. His homecoming would be celebrated in a big way throughout the Tamil speaking world. For a beleagured community the pleasing, charming, enthralling news of conversion of a celebrity like Professor Periyar Dasan is a booster. It has energised the youth. It has enthused confidence. It has emboldened the faith in Allah. எல்லா புகழும் அல்லாஹ்வுக்கே!

We hope that Professor Abdullah Sahib would serve the Islamic cause in a big, big, big way. He has already hinted about it in his interview. He speaks about translating Haykal's book 'Road to Makkah'. But, 'Road to Makkah' was written by Leopold Muhammad Asad. And, Haykal's book was on the life history of Prophet Muhammad(PBUH). He may have inadvertantly mixed the names of the author in his passion and emotion. One should understand that he has just made a momentous, life-changing decision of following the basic tenets of Islam.
No doubt he has come a long way to reach this point. He himself has said that in this interview. and in this interview.
The million dollar question is What made a staunch athiest like Periyar Dasan turn towards his Creator? What is the turning point? The following is the answer.

பெரியவர் தண்ணன் மூஸா (தொண்டியைச் சேர்ந்த கவிஞர் மூஸா) தான் எழுதிய சௌந்தர்ய முத்திரை என்ற புத்தகத்தை என்னிடம் தந்து அதற்காக அணிந்துரை எழுதி தருமாறு என்னிடம் கேட்டார். இது என்னுள் திருப்பம் ஏற்பட்ட இடமாகும். நானும் அந்த நுhலுக்கு அணிந்துரை எழுதித் தந்தேன். பின்னர் அவர் ஏன் அணிந்துரையை எழுதுவதற்காக என்னை ஏன் தேர்ந்தெடுத்தார் என்று பலமுறை யோசித்தேன். பின்னர் அவரை தொலைப்பேசியில் தொடர்பு கொண்டேன். அவர் ஐ.எப்.டி.யை சேர்ந்த சிக்கந்தர் என்ற சகோதரை அறிமுகப்படுத்தினார். அவருடன் சில சகோதரர்கள் வந்து என்னை என் இல்லத்தில் சந்தித்து இஸ்லாத்தை பற்றி விளக்கினார்கள். பின்னர் நான் பல புத்தகங்களை விலைக்கு வாங்கி அவற்றை வாசித்தேன். தினமும் 5 மணி நேரம் திருக்குர்ஆனை படிப்பதற்காக நான் நேரம் ஒதுக்கினேன். அப்போது இறைவன் இருக்கிறான் என்று எனக்கு உறுதியாகி விட்டது. 2004 ஆம் ஆண்டில் கடவுள் மறுப்பு பிரச்சாரத்தை முற்றாக நிறுத்திக்கொண்டேன். அதன் பிறகு நபிகள் (ஸல்) அவர்களின் ஹதீத்   நூற்களை ரஹ்மத் பதிப்பகம் முத்துப்பேட்டை முஸ்தபா அவர்கள் வெளியிட்ட போது ஏழு பாகங்களின் வெளியிட்டு விழாவிற்கும்; என்னை அழைத்தார்கள். என்னை ஏன் இவர்கள் அழைக்கிறார்கள் என்று எண்ணுவது உண்டு. நாத்தீகப் பிரச்சாரத்தை கைவிட்டது அவர்களுக்கு தெரியும். ஆனால் நான் இந்த தேடலில் இருப்பது அவர்களுக்கு தெரியாது. ரோடு டூ மக்கா என்ற ஆங்கில நுhலையும் படித்து அதனை மக்காவை நோக்கி என்ற பெயரில் தமிழில் மொழிபெயர்த்து வைத்துக் கொண்டேன். இப்படியே எனது ஆய்வு தொடர்ந்தது. அப்துஸ் ஸமது, லத்தீப் (கவிக்கோ) அப்துல் ரஹ்மான், ஜவாஹிருல்லாஹ் முதலியவர்களெல்லாம் எனது நண்பர்கள் தான். அவர்களுடன் எல்லாம் பழகியிருக்கிறேன். ஆனால் இனங்காட்டிக் கொள்ளாமல் எனது ஆய்வுகளை செய்து வந்தேன். சில பேருக்கு எனக்கு இந்த நாட்டம் உள்ளது என்பது தெரியும்.

Poet Tannan Moosa came with his book and asked me to write a preface for his boom 'Soundharya Muthirai'. It was the turning point in my life. I wrote preface for his book. Afterwards, I asked myself innumerable times 'Why did he chose me to write preface for his book?' I asked the revered poet himself. He came to see me along with Br S N Sikkander, of Islamic Foundation Trust. He and some of his friends came to my house and explained the salient features of Islam. I bought many books on Islam. I started reading Quran daily for Five hours. Then I got convinced that God EXISTS! Then I completely avoided delivering speeches on athiesm. Br Mustafa of Rahmath Charitable Trust has broughout seven volumes of Sahih Buhari in Tamil. He used to invite me for the book release functions. His gesture made me think. I used to wonder why these gentlemen invite me inspite of my athiestic background. I had excellant rapport with AKA Abdus Samad, M A Abdul Latheef, Kaviko Abdur Rahman, M. H. Jawahirullah etc.They are all my friends. I continued my search to acquaint myself with the Truth. They were not aware of my quest and only a few knew about my quench to know the Truth.

 Alhumdulillah! It is a pleasing, heartening news that an humble gesture of Moosa kaka would open the door of eternal success to a staunch athiest! Moosa Kaka, Well done! Moosa kaka has been the literary advisor of Islamic Foundation Trust and a confidant of Moulana M A Jameel Ahmed Sahib. S N Sikkander is now State Secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind. 

Read : நான் ஏன் இஸ்லாத்தை ஏற்றுக் கொண்டேன்?
Read : நான் ஏன் இஸ்லாத்தை ஏற்றுக் கொண்டேன்?  - excellent write up by Abu Umar, Jazakallah, Abu Umar!
Photos of Periyar Dasan's Jeddah speech click here.
Read : Periyar Dasan, Valampuri John and Islam!