I am sure that the much awaited monthly "Omeiat Journal" published by the Organisation of Muslim Educational Institutions and Associations of Tamil Nadu from August 1976 should have been welcomed particularly by the Muslim community of this State because of its thought-provoking articles on educational matters and timely important suggestions for action to various Muslim institutions for safe-guarding their interests. Our hearty congratulations and thanks are to all those responsible for bringing out this time-warranted monthly.
The very first issue of the journal that came out in August last carried many interesting features and I was particularly impressed by two articles - one was from the pen of Dr. N.A. Noor Mohammed under a catchy heading "Education Equipment for life" and another from Mr. P.K. Shabbir Ahmed "On the need for an educational policy". Both of them had been well-written, emphasising the inevitable nature and necessity of education, the most important weapon in the world and without which one can hardly live without tension and confusion. An ignorant and illiterate person is like a deaf and dumb one who is always nervous, suspicious of others, unless trained properly. It is, therefore, a must that the community take troubles with happiness in giving proper education to their children.
The September issue was also good with articles on "Vaniyambadi Muslim Educational Society" and "Education under Mughal Monarchs". In his article under the later heading the writer Prof. Mirza Abdul Majid has pointed out the importance that Islam and Muslim rulers of India have given to education. But the unfortunate and undeniable fact is that the Muslims are educationally and economically backward in India and hence the responsibility to alleviate their sufferings because of poverty and illiteracy with the leaders of the community and government. How long can we sing the song of the past glories? The present scientific and materialistic world is full of challenges and competitions. Through education the community has to learn not only the technical, medical or any other professional know-how but also the art of diplomacy to have things done and face the various problems that crop up every now and then in every field of activity due to one reason or other.
The editorial "Unrecognised Schools" was a timely one in which the editor has rightly given the necessary instructions to Muslim institutions to protect their interests.
The percentage of educated Muslim women is regrettably very low and therefore all Muslim associations should give special attention towards their education. I would request the editor of the "Omeiat Journal" to endeavour his best to stress the need for sending Muslim girls in every family to schools and colleges and see that they are made equal to Muslim boys. If Muslim girls are allowed to remain uneducated, boys will find it difficult, if not impossible, to have equal educated life-partners. The marriages between the educated and the uneducated can hardly be successful.
(VMK in "Omeiat Journal" of October 1976)
Sunday, February 8, 2009
MUSLIM ULEMA TELL THE POINT - A REJOINDER TO MR. KULDIP NAYAR
I read with interest the article "Muslim ulema miss the point" by Mr. Kuldip Nayar in the 22-28 December 1991 issue of Radiance. He is a noted and reputed writer and author. He has also known the Muslim community from close quarters. He can easily understand the wishes and aspirations of the Indian Muslims in the proper perspective. His article under reference actually surprised me and I was in wonder if all non-Muslims think of Muslims in the same manner. In this write-up I try to explain something and remind him that Muslim ulema did not miss the point.
Muslim ulema have always been patriotic citizens of this country. They have played a vital role in the freedom struggle of our country. The history is replete with sacrifices and sufferings. It was not Maulana Abul Kalam Azad who wanted partition. The creation of Pakistan was the result of hypocritic, unprincipled and dictatorial attitudes of some leaders in the Congress and RSS who were not for accepting the reasonable demands of the Muslims.
Indian Muslims want to safeguard their identity in the same manner as every religious and linguistic community wants to do here. Our country's beauty lies in its different identities and cultural heritages. It is like a garden of different flowers. A Muslim or a Christian is in no way less Indian or less patriotic than a Hindu. We can all be together proud of our rich and unique composite cultural and religious heritage which is our country's thrilling and glittering beauty and speciality.
A uniform civil code for all is opposed because not only it will give a feeling of slavery to the minorities here but will also alienate them from the national mainstream. People of every religion have a feeling rightly that their religion is respected to the extent of giving importance in the laws of our country. In case a uniform civil code is brought in this feeling will be missing and I feel that this situation will be dangerous to our country's integration. We want protection of the Muslim personal law in India for national strength and togetherness of the people. We must continue to approve and cherish the formula and slogan of unity in diversity. The Russian case is also before us. Today it stands shattered.
People of India are by and large peace loving. It is a segment of politicians who create ill will and tension among them. It is also these people who do not give importance to the Constitution of the country in the matter of the Rights and Guarantees to the minorities. A Muslim does not agree that the Muslim Personal Law comes in the way of nationalism or homogeneity. A Hindu does not lose his respectability in his society if he has a woman as his wife without a marriage apart from his actual wife. In some states like Tamil Nadu many leading political leaders and other dignitaries of the majority community have lived or live with more than one wife, with or without marriages. How is it possible for these Hindus to do so? Why unnecessarily blame the Muslim community in which polygamy is less prevalent.
Maulana Abul Hasan Ali Nadvi has rightly said that the Muslims remained united in opposing the Supreme Court judgement in the Shah Bano case. It is not so much for granting maintenance to a Muslim divorcee, but more for ridiculing Islam and giving unwanted sermon to the government for a uniform civil code.
Mr. Nayar has quoted the example of some Muslim countries for their laws on marriages. He should know that the anti-Muslim and anti-Islam attitude of the so called national press and others have virtually weakened the hands of those people who are for changes in the Muslim Personal Law in accordance with Islamic laws.
The resolution of the Board that the Babri Masjid cannot be sold, purchased or exchanged nor can it be handed over to any individual, association or government by agreement or so called conciliation is not only reasonable, but also in the interest of the country. If a mosque is not safe in the hands of the government, then the Muslims will feel that the are not safe and the laws of the land have no meaning and validity. The place of Babri Masjid is vital. Its removal from its present place will mean rewriting the Indian history and defeat of the minority Muslims by Hindu fundamental forces. The Hindu wrote editorially a couple of months ago that " No formula that envisages the destruction of the Babri Masjid should be seriously entertained even if the Muslim community leaders decide." It further said that " to say that the surrender of the claim to the Babri Masjid is the sole right of the Muslim community is to surrender India's pride-a rich and composite cultural heritage."
It should also be kept in mind that no court of law will give a verdict against the Babri Masjid and its property as their case in crystal clear. The Board has not questioned the validity of any court in taking a decision in this matter, but it has only expressed its opinion about it.
If "many among the Hindus have come out in the open to oppose what is sought to be done to demolish the secular policy of the country", I don't think, they are doing any favour to the minorities here. We do not know what is secularism and what is Hindu Rashtra. Muslims are perhaps the worst sufferers of the term "Secularism". it is high time that it is redefined not orally as done hitherto but constitutionally so that no particular religious community is considered its whole beneficiary.
The Muslim Personal Law Board has expressed its opinion honestly in clear terms without any ambiguity so that justice is done to the minorities here and our country does not face another serious problem on national level, creating an impression in the world that there is no safety for the Muslim minority and others in India. Its resolution reflects the opinion of all right thinking people.
(VMK in Radiance, Delhi dated 12-18 January 1992)
Muslim ulema have always been patriotic citizens of this country. They have played a vital role in the freedom struggle of our country. The history is replete with sacrifices and sufferings. It was not Maulana Abul Kalam Azad who wanted partition. The creation of Pakistan was the result of hypocritic, unprincipled and dictatorial attitudes of some leaders in the Congress and RSS who were not for accepting the reasonable demands of the Muslims.
Indian Muslims want to safeguard their identity in the same manner as every religious and linguistic community wants to do here. Our country's beauty lies in its different identities and cultural heritages. It is like a garden of different flowers. A Muslim or a Christian is in no way less Indian or less patriotic than a Hindu. We can all be together proud of our rich and unique composite cultural and religious heritage which is our country's thrilling and glittering beauty and speciality.
A uniform civil code for all is opposed because not only it will give a feeling of slavery to the minorities here but will also alienate them from the national mainstream. People of every religion have a feeling rightly that their religion is respected to the extent of giving importance in the laws of our country. In case a uniform civil code is brought in this feeling will be missing and I feel that this situation will be dangerous to our country's integration. We want protection of the Muslim personal law in India for national strength and togetherness of the people. We must continue to approve and cherish the formula and slogan of unity in diversity. The Russian case is also before us. Today it stands shattered.
People of India are by and large peace loving. It is a segment of politicians who create ill will and tension among them. It is also these people who do not give importance to the Constitution of the country in the matter of the Rights and Guarantees to the minorities. A Muslim does not agree that the Muslim Personal Law comes in the way of nationalism or homogeneity. A Hindu does not lose his respectability in his society if he has a woman as his wife without a marriage apart from his actual wife. In some states like Tamil Nadu many leading political leaders and other dignitaries of the majority community have lived or live with more than one wife, with or without marriages. How is it possible for these Hindus to do so? Why unnecessarily blame the Muslim community in which polygamy is less prevalent.
Maulana Abul Hasan Ali Nadvi has rightly said that the Muslims remained united in opposing the Supreme Court judgement in the Shah Bano case. It is not so much for granting maintenance to a Muslim divorcee, but more for ridiculing Islam and giving unwanted sermon to the government for a uniform civil code.
Mr. Nayar has quoted the example of some Muslim countries for their laws on marriages. He should know that the anti-Muslim and anti-Islam attitude of the so called national press and others have virtually weakened the hands of those people who are for changes in the Muslim Personal Law in accordance with Islamic laws.
The resolution of the Board that the Babri Masjid cannot be sold, purchased or exchanged nor can it be handed over to any individual, association or government by agreement or so called conciliation is not only reasonable, but also in the interest of the country. If a mosque is not safe in the hands of the government, then the Muslims will feel that the are not safe and the laws of the land have no meaning and validity. The place of Babri Masjid is vital. Its removal from its present place will mean rewriting the Indian history and defeat of the minority Muslims by Hindu fundamental forces. The Hindu wrote editorially a couple of months ago that " No formula that envisages the destruction of the Babri Masjid should be seriously entertained even if the Muslim community leaders decide." It further said that " to say that the surrender of the claim to the Babri Masjid is the sole right of the Muslim community is to surrender India's pride-a rich and composite cultural heritage."
It should also be kept in mind that no court of law will give a verdict against the Babri Masjid and its property as their case in crystal clear. The Board has not questioned the validity of any court in taking a decision in this matter, but it has only expressed its opinion about it.
If "many among the Hindus have come out in the open to oppose what is sought to be done to demolish the secular policy of the country", I don't think, they are doing any favour to the minorities here. We do not know what is secularism and what is Hindu Rashtra. Muslims are perhaps the worst sufferers of the term "Secularism". it is high time that it is redefined not orally as done hitherto but constitutionally so that no particular religious community is considered its whole beneficiary.
The Muslim Personal Law Board has expressed its opinion honestly in clear terms without any ambiguity so that justice is done to the minorities here and our country does not face another serious problem on national level, creating an impression in the world that there is no safety for the Muslim minority and others in India. Its resolution reflects the opinion of all right thinking people.
(VMK in Radiance, Delhi dated 12-18 January 1992)
Sunday, February 1, 2009
An appeal to the TN government
The All India Urdu Conference held in Chennai by Measi Urdu Academy and Muslim Educational Association of Southern India on 31st January 2009 has rightly appealed to the government of Tamil Nadu to exempt the Urdu speaking children from the existing Tamil Nadu Learning Act 2006 and allow them to study their mother tongue Urdu as the first language in schools which are having facilities for its teaching. According to an estimation there are more than 300 schools in Tamil Nadu offering Urdu as a medium of instruction or first language.
It is not fair to deprive any child from learning his/her mother tongue in school. Urdu is a sweet language spoken all over the country and abroad. Even Nehruji's mother tongue was Urdu. It is is one of the officially recognized languages in India and has official language status in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi.
The Tami Nadu government must be aware that removing Urdu from part I and thus preventing children from studying their mother tongue will very much harm the educational upliftment of the Urdu speaking minority, render Urdu teachers jobless and create a situation for closure of Urdu schools.
We request the goverment of Tamil Nadu to consider the appeal made by the Urdu conference now and others in the past and help the Urdu speaking minority to march forward in the educational arena without any hamper.
It is not fair to deprive any child from learning his/her mother tongue in school. Urdu is a sweet language spoken all over the country and abroad. Even Nehruji's mother tongue was Urdu. It is is one of the officially recognized languages in India and has official language status in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi.
The Tami Nadu government must be aware that removing Urdu from part I and thus preventing children from studying their mother tongue will very much harm the educational upliftment of the Urdu speaking minority, render Urdu teachers jobless and create a situation for closure of Urdu schools.
We request the goverment of Tamil Nadu to consider the appeal made by the Urdu conference now and others in the past and help the Urdu speaking minority to march forward in the educational arena without any hamper.
A letter to Mr. T. Rafeeque Ahmed
Dear Mr. Rafeeque Ahmed,
Assalamu Alaikum
It is with pleasure that I received the Silver Jubilee commemorative souvenir of the T.Abdul Wahid Matriculation & Higher Secondary School and read it with interest. The late leader, guide and philosopher Janab T. Abdul Wahid sahib is undoubtedly a great visionary and practical in all his approaches. He did what he thought was right with his best efforts and succeeded in all his attempts. He never followed anything blindly. Even in business we have heard leather magnates saying that he always bought raw skins after entering into export contracts without indulging in speculations which was the order of the day with tanners at that time. In short he was rational in thinking and scientific in actions which is really a special trait rare among the people particularly Muslims. We miss him very much. May his soul rest in peace.
I take this opportunity to thank and congratulate you for continuously improving the standard of the School for the benefit of the students belonging to all communities. I know personally that even non Muslim professionals like doctors, engineers, businessmen etc. prefer and admit their children in your school because of its excellent training, education with moral values, good infrastructure, etc. We wish that it should be the case of other Muslim institutions too, but it is not so. There are only a few Muslim institutions in Tamil Nadu where excellent education is available. You are aware more than people like me that even in Chennai Muslims who want to give better education to their children admit them in non-Muslim institutions like DAV etc. In Ambur your school enjoys this reputation. It gives us great pleasure as members of the Muslim community.
And exactly this is the reason why interested people like me aspire to see a women's college functioning under your able guidance and imparting excellent higher education to women for their bright future. There is no power as strong as education to Muslim women which can make our community live with dignity and honour in the present fast changing world. Where do our women stand? I need not tell you. Their case is very pathetic inspite of some educational progress which we see in them, thanks to the efforts by the AMES. But you will agree with me that there is a lot to be done for them as only a very few can get education in other places like Chennai and Bangalore.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
V.M. Khaleelur Rahman
Assalamu Alaikum
It is with pleasure that I received the Silver Jubilee commemorative souvenir of the T.Abdul Wahid Matriculation & Higher Secondary School and read it with interest. The late leader, guide and philosopher Janab T. Abdul Wahid sahib is undoubtedly a great visionary and practical in all his approaches. He did what he thought was right with his best efforts and succeeded in all his attempts. He never followed anything blindly. Even in business we have heard leather magnates saying that he always bought raw skins after entering into export contracts without indulging in speculations which was the order of the day with tanners at that time. In short he was rational in thinking and scientific in actions which is really a special trait rare among the people particularly Muslims. We miss him very much. May his soul rest in peace.
I take this opportunity to thank and congratulate you for continuously improving the standard of the School for the benefit of the students belonging to all communities. I know personally that even non Muslim professionals like doctors, engineers, businessmen etc. prefer and admit their children in your school because of its excellent training, education with moral values, good infrastructure, etc. We wish that it should be the case of other Muslim institutions too, but it is not so. There are only a few Muslim institutions in Tamil Nadu where excellent education is available. You are aware more than people like me that even in Chennai Muslims who want to give better education to their children admit them in non-Muslim institutions like DAV etc. In Ambur your school enjoys this reputation. It gives us great pleasure as members of the Muslim community.
And exactly this is the reason why interested people like me aspire to see a women's college functioning under your able guidance and imparting excellent higher education to women for their bright future. There is no power as strong as education to Muslim women which can make our community live with dignity and honour in the present fast changing world. Where do our women stand? I need not tell you. Their case is very pathetic inspite of some educational progress which we see in them, thanks to the efforts by the AMES. But you will agree with me that there is a lot to be done for them as only a very few can get education in other places like Chennai and Bangalore.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
V.M. Khaleelur Rahman
A letter to Mr. T. Rafeeque Ahmed
Dear Mr. Rafeeque Ahmed,
Assalamu Alaikum
It is with pleasure that I received the Silver Jubilee commemorative souvenir of the T.Abdul Wahid Matriculation & Higher Secondary School and read it with interest. The late leader, guide and philosopher Janab T. Abdul Wahid sahib is undoubtedly a great visionary and practical in all his approaches. He did what he thought was right with his best efforts and succeeded in all his attempts. He never followed anything blindly. Even in business we have heard leather magnates saying that he always bought raw skins after entering into export contracts without indulging in speculations which was the order of the day with tanners at that time. In short he was rational in thinking and scientific in actions which is really a special trait rare among the people particularly Muslims. We miss him very much. May his soul rest in peace.
I take this opportunity to thank and congratulate you for continuously improving the standard of the School for the benefit of the students belonging to all communities. I know personally that even non Muslim professionals like doctors, engineers, businessmen etc. prefer and admit their children in your school because of its excellent training, education with moral values, good infrastructure, etc. We wish that it should be the case of other Muslim institutions too, but it is not so. There are only a few Muslim institutions in Tamil Nadu where excellent education is available. You are aware more than people like me that even in Chennai Muslims who want to give better education to their children admit them in non-Muslim institutions like DAV etc. In Ambur your school enjoys this reputation. It gives us great pleasure as members of the Muslim community.
And exactly this is the reason why interested people like me aspire to see a women's college functioning under your able guidance and imparting excellent higher education to women for their bright future. There is no power as strong as education to Muslim women which can make our community live with dignity and honour in the present fast changing world. Where do our women stand? I need not tell you. Their case is very pathetic inspite of some educational progress which we see in them, thanks to the efforts by the AMES. But you will agree with me that there is a lot to be done for them as only a very few can get education in other places like Chennai and Bangalore.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
V.M. Khaleelur Rahman
Assalamu Alaikum
It is with pleasure that I received the Silver Jubilee commemorative souvenir of the T.Abdul Wahid Matriculation & Higher Secondary School and read it with interest. The late leader, guide and philosopher Janab T. Abdul Wahid sahib is undoubtedly a great visionary and practical in all his approaches. He did what he thought was right with his best efforts and succeeded in all his attempts. He never followed anything blindly. Even in business we have heard leather magnates saying that he always bought raw skins after entering into export contracts without indulging in speculations which was the order of the day with tanners at that time. In short he was rational in thinking and scientific in actions which is really a special trait rare among the people particularly Muslims. We miss him very much. May his soul rest in peace.
I take this opportunity to thank and congratulate you for continuously improving the standard of the School for the benefit of the students belonging to all communities. I know personally that even non Muslim professionals like doctors, engineers, businessmen etc. prefer and admit their children in your school because of its excellent training, education with moral values, good infrastructure, etc. We wish that it should be the case of other Muslim institutions too, but it is not so. There are only a few Muslim institutions in Tamil Nadu where excellent education is available. You are aware more than people like me that even in Chennai Muslims who want to give better education to their children admit them in non-Muslim institutions like DAV etc. In Ambur your school enjoys this reputation. It gives us great pleasure as members of the Muslim community.
And exactly this is the reason why interested people like me aspire to see a women's college functioning under your able guidance and imparting excellent higher education to women for their bright future. There is no power as strong as education to Muslim women which can make our community live with dignity and honour in the present fast changing world. Where do our women stand? I need not tell you. Their case is very pathetic inspite of some educational progress which we see in them, thanks to the efforts by the AMES. But you will agree with me that there is a lot to be done for them as only a very few can get education in other places like Chennai and Bangalore.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
V.M. Khaleelur Rahman
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