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The
feeling of minority and majority still existing
in the country even after 59 years of its freedom
is the most pathetic subject for every Indian
citizen (This agony is reflected in this book.
The country's identity and dignity is getting
obscured day by day and the agony against this
obscurity is both the subject matter and the feeling
of the book). Constitution of India provides single
citizenship i.e. the citizenship of India. As
per the article 51A of the constitution of India,
"to abide by the constitution and respect its
ideals and institutions, the National Flag and
the National Anthem, to uphold and protect the
sovereignty, unity and integrity of India, to
promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood
amongst all the people of India transcending religious,
linguistic and regional or sectional diversities,
to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity
and to value and preserve the rich heritage of
our composite culture are the fundamental duties
of every Indian citizen.
But
unfortunately, we emphasised more on our rights
undermining this fact that every right originates
from a sense of duty. Hence, every right is associated
with a duty. This is unfortunate that we care
more for our rights but ignore our inherent duties.
This is root cause of the minoritism.
Today,
every community is busy in creating a small segment
of its own. The boundaries around such segment
is faraway from the Nation. India is having citizens,
but not Indian citizens. Everyone is attributed
with an adjective of his or her own. Maulana Mohammad
Ali had once said that from religious points of
view every Muslim be an ordinary or of special
category is superior to even Mahatma Gandhi because
he is a Muslim and Gandhi is a Hindu. Someone
asked him before creation of Pakistan, "you are
first an Indian or a Muslim?" He said, "you don't
know how to put a question. You should rather
ask me if I am first of my father or of my mother.
My answer is I am of both and so I am their son."
At least he had answered as such but today the
citizenship is thoroughly divided rather it is
fractured cent percent and so it is neglected
as well. The reason is very creation of a segment
of his own and shamelessly calling it as a nation
citizenship gets divided into following terms.
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Communal Citizenship: Communal citizen
is one who is for the religion or community
as a basis of citizenship. It is religion based
citizenship.
-
Hyphenated Citizenship: A hyphen is used
between the words when two or more words are
connected. Hyphen is indicated as a very small
line. Hyphenated words are written as such -
Marathi-Indian, Bengali-Indian, Punjabi-Indian,
Tamil-Gujarati-Indian. Common terms are sometimes
cancelled as in Mathematics and only different
terms remain and so here the remaining words
will be - Marathi, Bengali, Punjabi, Tamil Citizen
and so on.
-
Secondary Citizenship: Minority in any
form is in secondary category, be it a linguistic
minority or community-based minority. A non-Marathi
in Maharashtra, Non-Gujarati in Gujarat becomes
a minority as such and thus minoritism gets
hold in the entire country. Though our constitution
does not explain the term 'minority' anywhere.
But those constituting less than fifty percent
number in their terms of religion, community,
language, caste are 'minorities'. This is what
common interpretation and the courts also as
it seems have recognised the same interpretation.
That is why no one belongs to 'majority' anywhere
in the country. Everywhere there is concentration
of the minorities only. In this way the 'women'
as a whole cann't be counted as human being.
They constitute 'second class humanity' only.
The
real component or unit of the Hindus is caste
only. The term Hindu is concord of the castes.
In Hinduism caste is real, religion is myth, so
it is not even a community. Dr. Ambedkar had once
said, "The Hindu religion is a four storey building
where one born on a particular storey has to live
and die on the same storey as ladder or stair
hasn't been made for ascending or descending from
one storey to the other. Therefore, there is simply
a conglomeration of backward castes, backward
class, lower castes etc. in it. So, the Hindu
is the biggest minority in itself as it is not
having a society or a community as such. On the
other hand the people belonging to the other religions
or the communities like to be called and remain
as minorities only and that is the reason that
they don't want to become as an absolute Indian
citizens. For them their religion is higher than
their nation. They consider themselves closer
to the persons of the same of the other countries
an Indian citizen of the other religion. Homogeneity
of Indian citizens means an Indian citizen irrespective
of his or her religion must be closer in comparison
to the persons of the same religion in the other
country. Such feeling that the other persons who
are not of the identical religion and are of different
religion, are not absolute Indian citizens creates
communalism and counter communalism and Indian
citizenship is thus fractured into pieces. Unfortunately,
it is Muslims who had sought Pakistan in the name
of religion are blamed to be early promoters of
the communalism and religious secessionism. The
background was as such that the people of two
religions couldn't live together. Mr. Jinnah was
of this view whereas two nation's theory based
on religion was not acceptable to Mahatma Gandhi.
Gandhi or the other leaders of India weren't at
all ready to accept that the people of two religions
couldn't live together in one Nation.
The
group in lesser number feel the need of special
protection and assume the category of 'the minorities'
or 'the backgrounds'. Later on their role becomes
counter productive. The Society and the Nation
having more the number of such groups are said
to be more divided and unorganised. Hindu society
too comprises of minorities as the same is fiercely
divided into castes and sub-castes. None of them
commands the position of majority. All of them
aspire to attain the status of minority. Some
of them are lesser in number whereas some of them
are backwards and so on. All of them want protection.
They want protection from one another. Here lies
the seed of infinite nationalism. This poisonous
seed is to be burnt to ashes forever. Hence we
will have to firmly resolve to make an end of
this disturbing trend that saw once the creation
of Pakistan. It is too much now and it should
be buried in the past for ever otherwise there
will be a constant fear of creation of a new Pakistan
within the Indian boundaries. We don't rely in
two nations theory and hence we will not allow
its foul smell to affect our civic lives. The
capacity and glory will get its stronghold in
the whole world only when the foundation of the
Indian society is based on genuine and comprehensive
democracy. The rights of any citizen will be not
be breached in India on the basis of religious
differences or any other differences based on
the community. All will be treated equally and
they are having equal rights. It is our avowed
objective to establish a true and secular democratic
republic based on Sarva-dharma Sambhava. The unit
of this democracy is citizen or voter not the
institution or a community. The basis of democracy
is majority, not the plural number. The people
have right to vote and each vote has same value.
There may be change in view or opinion. Hence
election is held after every five year.
Number
is sometimes unchangeable. Shri Muzaffar Hussain,
a well-known writer has very beautifully discussed
all these theories in this book. He has mainly
emphasised on nationality and Indianness and this
is most important aspect in itself. It seems he
wants to swim against the current.
I
would like to mention in this context that Maulana
Bukhari in a meeting recently held in Delhi had
expressed an opinion that there should be a separate
and independent forum for the Muslims. Maulana
Saheb has a grudge to this content that all the
political parties of this country have utterly
failed in protecting the interest of Muslims.
The mentality of justifying two Nation's theory
and creation of Pakistan in hidden behind such
demand. There is an underlying meaning beneath
it that all the political parties are working
in favour of the Hindus only. On the other hand
there is a complaint to this effect that the socalled
secular political parties appease the Muslims
considering them as their vote banks. In fact
common Muslims have never been appeased in this
country. Only Mullahs and Maulavis have been appeased
in this country. No one has ever pointed out to
the common Muslims that their interest lies in
being as perfect Indian citizens. Those poor Muslims
have always been utilised for the political purposes.
In the religion fields whatever religion it may
be only Mullah-Maulavis and the priests have monopolised
the situation. They are not religious minded,
but they are religious fanatics. We are not remembering
this aspect that due such fanaticism mini-Pakistan
and mini-Hindustan are existing side-by-side in
every village and locality of the country and
these are ultimately suppressing the feeling of
Indianness. Two nations based on their respective
religion can't be allowed to exist side by side
within the boundary of one Nation. This is nothing
but divisive secessionism. We will have to face
such result if we care only for our religion,
not for the nation. One loves more for his or
her caste, community and religion and feeling
for the nation is of secondary importance. The
perfect Indian citizen of this Nation is one who
considers India as his motherland and possesses
a special kind of love for it and feels much closer
to his fellow countrymen irrespective to their
religion than to those of co-religion of another
country. India as a nation will be destroyed it
tussle between the religions and orthodox religious
fanaticism continues even after creation of Pakistan.
How many Muslim Mohallas Madarsas hoist National
flags and sing National Anthem collective on the
occasion of Independence day as per the fundamental
duties of the citizens mentioned in the constitution
of India. Answer to this question is not that
some institutions Hindu fanatics also don't observe
such things. A person can't be given the right
to slaughter a calf because the other happened
to slaughter a cow. Both of them are assassins
of national consciousness. Flag hoisting and singing
the National Anthem is common practice in all
other religious societies of India. Why do the
Muslim Institutions and Mohallas abstain from
doing so? The fundamental duties of the constitution
of India mentions that all such customs and orthodox
systems prevalent against the dignity of the women
will have to be relinquished. There is no reason
to protest the formation of Uniform Civil Code
to change the provision of oral Talaque and keeping
four wives at a time which is against the honour
and dignity of women. There is nothing wrong in
declaring the upkeep of more than one wife at
a time illegal. Polygamy is prevalent among certain
sections of Hindus as well. Such custom is going
on in the tribals. But then this Uniform Code
will contain all the good provisions of different
religions and more that will not be any religion
specific. It would be a secular code based on
the equality of men and women. May be that Hindus
too will oppose any such uniform code. But to
say that Parliament or courts don't have the rights
to change the personal laws of any community,
is to oppose the supremacy of the Parliamentary
democracy and to negate the rule of law which
are the main spirit and basic structure of the
constitution of India. To emphasise that personal
laws or shariat or religion is supreme is nothing
but to negate the supremacy and universality of
the constitution of India. Impartial, unbiased
and fearless Judiciary is the foundation and essential
element of democracy. If judicial institution
is not acceptable to the people, democracy will
be completely spoiled. It should always be kept
in mind that whosoever thrusts communalism, it
is the country and the Nation which disintegrates
ultimately. 12 crore Muslims can't leave the country
nor can they be driven out of the country. In
such a situation why the majorities as well as
the minorities shouldn't forget their number and
decide to live together as common citizens of
the country? This is the moot point. This book
of Muzaffar Hussain Saheb presents unique analysis
and review of this point. Therefore, author has
said, "Any solution to the problems relating to
the requirements and sentiments of the minority
should serve the interests of the country and
the state concerned." Only one right is important
and it is human right. The rights and duties of
all the humans are common, so from this point
of view minoritism becomes quite irrelevant. The
author to corroborate his points of view has presented
the background of the minoritism and considered
its history elaborately. Under this background
it has been said. To accept special rights for
any community alongwith the provision of equal
human rights are mutually contradictory principles.
This creates a controversy and the majority class
begins to feel unprotected and adopts defensive
mechanism. The author has considered the issue
of conversion also. Conversion is made no doubt
to enhance the number of the religious community
but the mindset that works behind such move is
"My religion is superior to your religion" which
in turn is against the spirit of Sarva -Dharma-Sambhav.
The question is as to what is the need of making
conversion when all religions are on equal footing?
Conversion is in fact runs parallel to the society.
Converting any non-Muslim as Muslim is a wrongful
act committed in the name of religion. Such spirit
is to be thoroughly discarded. As long as this
spirit remains, the followers of different religions
can't co-exist and live together as common citizens.
The Muslims don't approve the freedom of thought.
They didn't harmonise with the national movements
because the spirit love thy neighbour irrespective
to one's religion was beyond their comprehension.
They are not ready to pronounce Vande-Matram or
Jaihind. They will say only Allah-Ho-Akbar. For
them, the flag of their religion and National
flag is one. They are not ready to think in the
national perspective and to become a bit progressive.
If they will not change their mindset and look
all religions with respect, the progress and development
of Islam will also be stalled. There must be equal
respect for every religion and in addition to
this feeling must contain human approach and morality
also. 'Secularism' is indifference to any religion
whereas the principle of Sarva-Dharma Sambhav
doesn't emphasise on any specific religion. There
is no such feeling that mine is the supreme religion.
Now in the scientific era, the identity based
on religion and community has lost all its relevance.
There are only four blood groups and every human
being irrespective of his caste, creed and race
possesses any one of these four groups. Blood
is not related at all with identity, insistence
and urge of any religion. We will not be able
to join the original stream of the Nation till
we adopt the feeling of Sarva Dharma Sambhav.
All the religions have to be given human face.
In human approach is the main problem of today's
world.
The
author has very brilliantly indicated as to how
the issue of minoritism was brought forth before
the United Nations, how a person belonging to
the majority groups in a province becomes a minority
in another province; how the feeling of minoritism
has acquired global dimension and how minority
begins to dominate over the majorities. After
discussing the problems of the minorities in the
other countries and the other religious minorities
within the country at greater length, Muzaffar
Hussain ji has described about the Indian Muslims
in Indian perspective. To me this description
is thought provoking indeed. It is not necessary
at all to agree with all the view of any writer
but definitely it is essential to know his thought
and opinion. Sometimes proper understanding of
the question proves much helpful in searching
its answer. This reduces the tension of mind.
Hussain ji has called the principle of minoritism
put forth in the name of religion as 'cancer'.
He has assessed the approximate number of Muslim
citizens residing the different countries. Thereafter,
he has clarified as to how the Muslim society
is divided further into innumerable sects, communities
and ideologies. The politicians and Mullahs-Maulvi
for their vested interests want that the Muslim
minority may remain backward illiterate and deprived
of progressive move. But the author has expressed
his hope that this mindset will change, politics
of religion will come to an end from the nation
and the country and a new move with national outlook
to look into the problems of the Muslim will take
place one day. This aspect should be deeply and
seriously considered. Religion provides identity
to a man. It is easier to live life as a Muslim,
Christian etc in comparison to live simply as
a man. There are certain reasons for such misunderstanding.
The
author after presenting the problem regarding
continuance of conversion to the Christianity,
decline in population of the Parsis etc has informed
about the growing number of persons who favour
to enter into marriage negotiations with the another
society. In this context, those entering into
inter-religious marriages must be closely associated
with this cause as they may be considered as 'friends
of Parsis'. The description about the Jews undergoing
severe tough times and filing solute ultimately
in India only awakens one's feeling that it is
far good to live amicably with the majority society
of India. This book provides the interpretation
and review of the Supreme Court's decisions regarding
certain issue related to the minority community.
Whenever there will be a need to write in the
constitution of India as to which is the religion
being practiced by the majority society, it would
be said that this is the country of a number of
minority communities only. This is a shocking
observation but warrants serious consideration.
The comments made on the Human Rights Commission
and the Minority commission are also thoughtful.
The author notes it painfully that the commission
is meant for solving the problems but the commission
sometimes becomes itself a problem. The view that
the facilities being provided to the minorities
are very much helpful in disintegrating the majority
society compels one to ponder over this aspect.
Though the mentality of Shri Muzaffar Hussain
is somewhat different, yet unfortunately he is
himself considered to be one among the minority
community. He has considered the problems related
to the minority community. Such contemplation
and review is necessary for the majorities. It
is unfortunate as well that the majority community
wants that minority community may live on their
mercy. On the other hand the minority community
intends to become a 'pressure group' on the basis
of 'Vote Bank' which one of these two ideas emerges
as victorious after tussle is quite irrelevant
because the society undergoing the strain of such
tussles ultimately gets spoiled itself. Hence,
the issue how to save the society and the country
is important one. It is a fact that the so called
parity or equality in absence of equal opportunity
creates only disparity at last. When lives of
many don't get start on equal footing, everyone
and all are not similarly placed, then treat them
equally is equivalent to justify unequality. The
persons similarly placed should be treated equally.
This is the reason that the provisions of granting
certain specific facilities were made in the constitution
with a view to remove backwardness by way of giving
more facilities to the needy. This was the background
behind reservation as well. Practicing untouchability
on one hand and opposing it simultaneously is
nothing but a dishonest move. It did never appear
that it will bounce back so strongly. Reason for
making these provisions can be seen in the concluding
speech given by Dr. Ambedkar in the constituent
Assembly. It was said by him therein that if parity
or equality as prescribed in the constitution
was not translated into reality in the social
life or conversely if disparity or unequality
was removed from the society, the so-called view
regarding equality could become inhuman. But this
view is really superb over which thinkers of the
majority society must ponder. Though that is not
the subject of this book. This book mostly emphasises
the mentality of the Muslim society. In a recent
Judgement of the Supreme Court emphasis has been
given on the need of common civil code in the
country. The court while deciding the propriety
of the right to freedom of religion has explicitly
said that a common civil code is necessary to
instil national spirit and to create the sense
of harmony and the feeling of Indianness among
all the citizens of India. This civil code must
be free from religious discrimination. To me this
code is must for the equality of men and women
also. It would be quite inhuman if the question
of equality is considered specifically from the
religious point of view. This is essential for
the honour of women as well. This sort of misunderstanding
must be removed that in the name of common civil
code, rather Hindu code will be implemented thoroughly.
This must be explained exclusively that the civil
code will contain all the good provisions of different
Personal Laws. It will not be based on a particular
religion. The devout and fanatic Hindus too many
oppose any such code as they had opposed the Hindu
code. But this is beyond comprehension as to why
the Mullah and Maulvis are opposing this decision
of the Supreme Court. Though recently the Supreme
Court by upholding the rule mode by the Haryana
government to debar the person having more than
two children from becoming Sarpanch or Deputy
Sarpanch has cleared the way for implementing
the provisions of Family Planning on the People's
representatives. The Mullah and Maulvis are opposing
this decision too. To check the population is
a national issue. Explosive increase in population
is the root cause of many problems of this country.
Panchyat is also entrusted with the task of regulating
population. This rule is be followed by the others
also when it will be observed that Sarpanch and
Deputy Sarpanch are also following the same. It
will create a doubt in the mind of others if minority
society will oppose such propeople and pro-nation
law and move. it is an irreligious act for the
custodians of religion if they behave as fanatic
contractors. They are not behaving as religious
leaders but as dealers who are standing in the
auction market of religion for calling bids. Religion
is to be saved from such religious fanatics. This
is need of hour to give a human face to the religion
be it of the majority or of the minority. After
all 'Religion' and 'Spiritualism' are two different
concepts. Fundamentals and universal values of
all the religions are some. A truthful person
or a liar may belong to any of the religions,
he may be a Hindu, Muslim, Parsi, Christian and
Jew. But it seems as if ostentation or outward
show were only religion for us and we have overlooked
good aspects of all religions. Religious integrity
can't get support of intellect, thought and science
till social utility aspects of intellectual freedom
is accepted by heart. Man with conscience can't
tolerate intellectual serfdom forever. Our is
the country of the land of yoga and the land of
experiment with emphasis on humanity. The people
of different caste creed and religion has been
living in harmony in this country and it is a
human indication that they may lead a happy and
prosperous lives mutually. This holy land will
turn into unholy one if religious discrimination
or minoritism gets stronghold or human rebel does
arise in the name of religion or minority society.
The Majority Hindu too will have to abstain from
doing certain things. Dominance or dictatorship
of the majority is also not ethical. Today the
humanity and ethics both are absent from the scene.
In today's world, the term morality is ridiculed.
Such approach poses a threat to the very concept
of one nation one people. In such a situation
it seems as if Muzaffar Hussain were trying to
sell mirrors in the market of blind men. But today
science has made it possible for us to donate
eyes to the blinds.
I
am myself not agreed with all the views expressed
in this book. The minority view or opposite view
should be welcome at least if respect can't be
shown to them. Here lies the greatness of democracy.
And I feel that this democracy is the milestone
of Indian national spirit. After all, to make
man a human is the sign of progress. Human Rights
are superior to all other rights. This is one
of the main issues of this book. The author has
pointed out the dangers of minorities in details
and has also suggested as to how to deal with
them. He rings the alarm bell at last and says,
"Minoritism is deception for human civilization."
But it should be taken into account that majoritism
is equally dangerous. Emphasis is on number, on
quality in both instances. Any ism based only
on number spoils people's ethos. There are no
readymade answers to such questions. Answers are
to be thoroughly searched through the process
of musing and contemplation. Sometimes, answer
to these questions become questions themselves.
It cannot be expected that everyone will agree
with all the views of the author. But it is expected
definitely that the process of thinking begin
in this direction after reading this book. For
this Public awareness is required. We should not
forget that keeping mum or maintaining silence
is a sin when there is need to raise one's voice
because "MAUNAM SAMMATI SAKSHNAM' i.e. keeping
mum is equivalent to giving sanction to a thing.
The wicked become active in the society where
nobles or thinkers are inactive. Today nobles
are inactive and wicked are active. This is the
problem of today's world. This book presents elaborately
all these aspects of the process of contemplation
for which author of this book, Muzaffar Hussain
deserves praise a lot. Human integrity is greatly
required in today's world. This is the foundation
of Indian nationality mutual consideration is
characteristic of a man. This consideration must
be strong at all India level and it will be called
the feeling of Indianness based on human integrity,
which is quite unaware of the number of minorities
and majorities. The main issue before the country
is regarding the future of democracy and nationality.
What are our resolutions in this regard? This
book will be helpful in questing all these answers.
I give my thanks to Muzaffar Hussain ji for this
book and I hope the considerate readers and patriot
thinkers will welcome this book very much. My
good wishes to this important and precious book.
Justice
Chandrashekhar Dharmadhikari
Mumbai
30th
July 2003
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