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Islam in Xinjiang (China): The survival of Uighur language
2008-05-09 11:10:00
The Chinese Turkestan was always known to have a majority Muslim population but not much was known about Muslims in this region and other parts of China till recently.With the Communist country, at last, opening its doors to outsiders and journalists rushing to Tibet and Xinjiang, new facets of Chinese life are emerging.The photographs of the streets of the Western region of Xinjiang surprised me. Like the photograph on the left (above) that shows Arabic alphabets.The signboards were readable and the script was Arabic and similar to Urdu. Such signboards are common in this region of China. The Uyghur language which is written in Arabic script is spoken by over 10 million people but it is surely a miracle that despite state oppression, the script has survived to this day.In India, within sixty years after independence Urdu script has almost gone out of public life even in Muslim dominated towns of North India. Here the State governments may be apathetic to the language but the situat...
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Gujarat 'encounter cop' Vanzara beaten up in jail by sub-ordinate
2008-05-06 21:14:00
Not many high-profile offenders have to pay for their misdeeds in this country, as they mostly manage to get away due to their connections and money. Else, the victim doesn't have the resources to fight the case court after court, hiring the best lawyers.But there are exceptions. Remember DIG DG Vanzara, an accused in the Sohrabuddin-Kausar Bi-Tulsiram Prajapati fake encounter case. The 'killer cop' who came from a poor background, was helped in his education by Muslims of his native village and had later became a pointsman for the rioters during the Gujarat carnage, is certainly paying for his sins in the . Almost a year in the jail Vanzara's bail plea has been rejected by Supreme Court and now he has to suffer the ultimate humilation of being beaten up by his own sub-ordinate, a disgrace of highes degree in any force.DSP NK Amin hit Vanzara with a bat in Sabarmati Jail and the authorities had to intervene. Amin was angry with Vanzara and told him that it was due to his wrong ...

Shia-Sunni clash in Lucknow
2008-04-30 21:13:00
Once again Lucknow witnessed a Shia -Sunni clash on Tuesday. Though over a dozen persons were injured, the violence didn't spread and was effectively controlled.It was the same area of Walled City: Husainabad, that again witnessed the groups of Shia and Sunni youths indulging in stone pelting and rioting.The trouble started over a petty argument over rickshaw fare and as those quarrelling belonged to different sects, it led to tension and soon supporters of both the sides came to streets.Though Lucknow has a long history of such sectarian conflict, it was felt that old days of Shia-Sunni tension are a thing of past. Specially after the ban on Azadari and the Madah-e-Sahaba procession was lifted, it was believed that the things would get normal. However many such clashes have occurred in Old City in the last couple of years.Lucknow is known to be a City that doesn't have a Hindu-Muslim friction, rather it is Shia-Sunni schism that this place is notorious for. Though the scale of vio...
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Harassment of Muslims acquires a new dimension
2008-04-25 19:59:00
You just need to read the following instances to get an idea how an entire community is maligned by the State and its machinery through smart media manipulation:1. Madhya Pradesh police claimed that terrorist camps were organised near Choral in Malwa region. All national papers and electronic channels, as usual, accepted the claims. Local newspaper 'Prabhat Kiran' (and later other papers too) in Indore exposed the claims and told the real story that there was no camp ever held.The policemen had organised a 'live raid' and arms had been hidden by policemen themselves earlier, in order to later recover them and prove that they had caught anti-nationals who were planning a major strike. The police's story fell flat and the SP had to go on leave due to embarrassment but this truth about the fabricated story was never printed in national media. Channels ignored it.2. A journalist, Nadeem Ahmad, who represented fortnightly English newspaper Milli Gazette, had gone to cover riots at S...
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Great poets series: Zauq and his Urdu poetry
2008-04-21 12:01:00
laaii hayaat aaye, qazaa le chalii chaleapnii khushii na aaye na apnii khushii chale[hayaat=life, qazaa=death]Sheikh Ibrahim Zauq (1789-1854) is among the classical masters of Urdu poetry whose couplets are oft-quoted in conversation and in writing, more than 150 years after his death. Zauq is known for his absolute command on the language. Yet his poetry is simple and straight. For almost half-a-century, he remained associated with the Qila-e-Mualla (Royal Fort). Bahadur Shah Zafar was his disciple in poetry. In his life, Zauq was considered the greatest poet of the era, the Khaqaani of India.Zauq was a contemporary of poets of the calibre of Ghalib and Momin in the golden age of Urdu poetry. But not even a single collection of his poetry could be published during his liftetime. He passed away in 1854. In a way, he was fortunate that he didn't see his beloved Delhi getting ravaged by the British after the struggle of 1857.Selected couplets of Zauq:ab to ghabraa ke ye kahte haiN ki...
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The end of BJP in UP: Gets 1.35% votes in by-poll
2008-04-18 21:26:00
Amid the blue hue that has swept UP, the humiliating defeat of BJP and its absolute marginalisation in the state has been totally overlooked.In the three Assembly by-polls, the share of votes in Muradnagar, Colonelganj and Bilgram, the party has been extraordinary low. It could get just 1.35%, 3% and 5% votes in the elections, the results for which were announced two days back. The BSP won all the three constituences, as also the two Lok Sabha seats. Surprisingly, the Lotus has wilted in the state where it emerged in the mid-80s pitting Hindus and Muslims against each other. And today it seems both Hindus and Muslims have forgotten this party in India's most populous state.This is shocking for the party that it got such a low vote shate. And it has happened barely two decades after the Ram Mandir movement threw the country into communal flames. Clearly the electorate no longer considers BJP as a political option.It was this state where the BJP had got 57 seats out of 85 at the heig...
More About: News , Politics , Opinion , Poll , Uttar Pradesh

Maya Magic: BSP sweeps bypolls winning 2 Lok Sabha, 3 Assembly costituencie
2008-04-16 10:45:00
The elephant's march continues. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) not only won both the Lok Sabha by-polls but also emerged victorious in the three Assembly constituencies were by-elections were held in Uttar Pradesh.The counting began in the morning today and soon it was clear that Congress' prince Rahul Gandhi's whirlwind tours across the Hindi-Urdu heartland and his stays at the dwellings of Dalits, have failed to cut any ice with the electorate.In Azamgarh, its maverick candidate Akbar Ahmad Dumpy won whiile BS Tiwari won the Khalilabad seat. Dumpy was once a close associate of Sanjay Gandhi. A turncoat, he had sometime back joined the BSP.The party also won Bilgram (Hardoi), Karnalganj and Muradnagar seats--leaving the entire opposition raning from Congress to Samajwadi Party and the BJP stunned. Unstoppable Behenji!Urdu Muslim India Islam Poetry Religion Hindu Shairi Ghalib Literature Ada Lucknow Meer Faiz Indian Muslim Blog Cricket Ghazal Blogger Islamic Hindi Kavita Shayar Sahitya
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Arrogant Congress leaders paving way for BJP
2008-04-14 18:22:00
Three statements on the issue of price rise by UPA leaders show their arrogance:First, Kamal Nath said that the food scarcity is because the poor are now eating twice a day and most people in country side are having meals both times which they never had in the past.Then, Sharad Pawar said that the North Indians are now eating rice also while South Indians are eating more chapatis and due to this change in food habits, the situation has worsened. And now comes Kapil Sibal's statement, saying that the 'government has no magic wand to control prices'. Why are you in governnment Mr Sibal, resign, if you can't do anything? And the industrialist-turn-politician Kamal Nath's statement reflects the same elitist mindset, blaming the poor for every wrong. And Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar doesn't know perhaps that North Indians (people of MP, UP, Chhattisgarh and many other states) have been eating rice for centuries. Read the story at Sify site.English dailies...
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When Burqa gets Saffron Band: BJP and Muslims
2008-04-09 20:47:00
The photo shows a veiled woman who has also got the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Mahila Morcha's band tied around her head.Just around 10 years ago it was extremely tough to find Muslims in BJP. Those who joined the BJP were looked down upon in the Muslim society.A few years after demolition of Babri Masjid, particulary after 1995-96 Muslims slowly started getting into the party. Atal Behari Vajpayee, who had been forgotten, came back to the centre-stage so that the party could get more acceptability.Many Muslim politicians joined it either due to lack of opportunity to rise in Congress or because they felt BJP is a much better option than Congress which had only exploited Muslims for half-a-century.And when the party failed to prove its majority in parliament after a 13 day government, it again projected Vajpayee as a Mukhauta. More Muslims joined the party. Once aggressively anti-minorityism, the party also formed Alpasankhyak Morchas (minority wings) in all states.And after the ...
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Best wishes on Hindu New Year from An Indian Muslim
2008-04-06 12:44:00
Wishing all of you, a happy New Year on Gudi Padwa to all from An Indian Muslim .Gudi Padwa, also known as Ugadi and Vishu, is celebrated on the first day of Chaitra, which falls on April 7 this year. This marks the beginning of Hindu New Year.Also, Chaiti Chand is celebrated today. Please tell me if I am wrong anywhere. The Indian government's Calendar Comittee had agreed upon the Saka (Shaka) era and Chaitra 1 as the beginning of the New Year.May the New Year bring prosperity to everybody and the nation. Also, let's make resolve for greater interaction among Hindus, Muslims and other sections of the society, and make efforts to reach out to the other and work for harmony in the society during the year.anindianmuslim.comUrdu Muslim India Islam Poetry Religion Hindu Shairi Ghalib Literature Ada Lucknow Meer Faiz Indian Muslim Blog Cricket Ghazal Blogger Islamic Hindi Kavita Shayar Sahitya
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Remembering PN Oak: The original Hindutva historian
2008-04-04 23:40:00
Does the name of Professor Oak rings a bell? The historian who used to make claims about Taj Mahal originally being a Hindu temple and similar other assertions about Qutub Minar and many other mosques.That was the era when RSS didn't have historians, scientists, writers, journalists, doctors, academicians and other professionals in its fold. But Oak, was quite dedicated to his cause. He was mocked at, but he continued to publish his works, make such claims and write letters in newspapers.Oak died sometime back. Not many tears were shed. Perhaps, because he had become irrelevant. Or may be, the Saffron brigade now had an army of able professionals to espouse its cause in every field, much more eloquently in TV cameras.Still, one expected a few obituaries. Hardly any attention was paid to the demise of the original Hindutva Historian. The man who had founded the Institute for Writing Indian History , spent all his life, for the cause, especially in the era when Marxist historians domi...
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Nehru's newspapers Qaumi Awaz, National Herald shut down in Congress regime
2008-04-01 22:47:00
On April 1, Qaumi Awaz, the Urdu daily from national capital, New Delhi, which was founded by India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, brought out its last copy.The masthead, the photo of which is shown on the top left, will be remembered for a long time. Till its last day of publication, the words :"Baani: Jawaharlal Nehru" (encircled in red for those who can't read Urdu)", were printed in the same manner.National Herald has also closed down. The papers were earlier published from Lucknow and nearly a decade back, the Lucknow edition was closed Pandit Nehru, the great visionary, and founder of modern India, had established these papers.Ironically, the newspapers closed despite all possible resistance and the fact that Qaumi Awaz still used to sell and had a good circulation though there was no money.And it all happened when Congress -led UPA is in the office and Sonia Gandhi's intervention would have saved the papers.The English daily could also have been revived (Qaumi Awa...
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Stamp on Majaz Lakhnawi: Poet of romance & revolution
2008-03-30 22:36:00
The postal department of the government of India, has issued a stamp on romantic-revolutionary poet Majaz (1911-1955).It is a befitting tribute to the great poet who wrote the first verse on India's tricolour, wrote the famous Tarana-e-Aligarh and apart from his magical poetry that looked at women as an intelligent companion-a 'hamsafar', also wrote the Nazm 'Aavaara' which had become the voice of youths in his generation and thereafter.The Nazm 'Aye Gham-e-dil kyaa karuuN, Aye wahshat-e-dil kyaa karuuN' has been sung by Talat Mahmood and Jagjit Singh, both in their own styles. One can see the Tile Wali Masjid, the parts of Imambara and the skyline of Old Lucknow in the background of the stamp.It is this City where he grew up and where lost his life on the roof of a liquor shop on a winter night, abandoned by companions. And where fifty years later people still recall his tragic demise.Majaz Lucknowi couldn't marry his love, Azra, who instead chose a civil servant rather tha...
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Of our so-called Muslim leaders
2008-03-26 20:18:00
*Salman Khurshid, the modern and liberal Muslim face of Congress in UP*Mohsina Kidwai, 'veteran' Congress 'leader*Ahmad Patel (Fourth term in Rajya Sabha, courtesy his closeness to 10 Janpath)These are just a few names to begin with. They are suave, sophisticated and educated. Salman Khurshid can't win a Lok Sabha election. I doubt if he can win an Assembly election either. Of course, he is the grandson of Zakir Hussain. And one hardly gets to hear anything from him on any any issue (not taking about Muslim issues alone).Mohsina Kidwai, hasn't won an election for ages. She has no credibility in the state she comes from. After all, either it is riots or killings like Maliana, one never heard her voice. She is in Upper House, a Rajya Sabha member, elected not from UP but Chhattisgarh.Muslims fail to understand why consistently these 'leaders' are forced upon them. Why should leaders who don't have any following be given posts or kept as show pieces. Either replace them with po...
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Closure of Biswin Sadi: End of an Era in Urdu journalism
2008-03-25 19:43:00
The closure of Biswin Sadi, one of the most popular social-semi-literary Urdu magazine, has come as a shock for Urdu-walas in the country. Unfortunately it was neither financial loss nor lack of readership but a reported 'embezzlement' of the elderly owner's kin that led to this abrupt end of the magazine's life.It was probably the oldest surviving Urdu magazine in India*. It was just ten years ago that the debate had begun whether the magazine should change its name as the Beeswin Sadi (20th century) was coming to an end.But it was later decided that the old name would be continued and even after the arrival of the new millennium and the New century, the magazine continued to be published under the same name (It didn't become Ikkiswin Sadi). Under the late Khushtar Girami, it had already became a great institution.After his demise, Z Rahman Nayyar, brought out the magazine with the same passion. Until recently it was doing fairly well. Though Shama, Ruby and other similar maga...
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Chacha's Qeema-stuffed Samosas
2008-03-21 19:36:00
Chacha sells qeema-stuffed samosas, a non-veg delicacy which is no longer very commonly visible in Cities.Inflation has hit him hard. Chacha is quite old now. Yet, he and his wife make 200-odd samosas, which fill his cycle's rear basket.On road, those who know him, wave at him and buy the samosas from him. Outside mosques the business is better when people are coming out after prayers.The best day is ofcourse Friday when the mosques are packed to capacity. Along with Biryani, Haleem and Zarda, Chacha's samosas have also many takers.But price of mutton has been soaring and buyers don't want to spend more than Rs 2 for each samosa, which has become thinner and the quantity of qeema (minced meat) getting lesser.There are admirers of these samosas. Those, if they came to know about the delicacy and the place it is sold, can buy the whole basket. But this is the parallel Muslim economy--Biryani for Rs 6-10 a plate and Keema samosa just for Rs 2-3, that flourishes in old quarters and n...

Selection of great Urdu couplets--I
2008-03-20 11:50:00
For centuries the couplets of these master Urdu poets have survived and become part of our conversation. Some of the 'ashaar' are posted here (more or less chronologically).ab ke junuuN meN faasla shaayad na kuchh rahedaaman ke chaak aur girebaaN ke chaak meN(Mir Taqi Mir)Khudaa ke vaaste usko na Tokoyahii ek shahar meN qaatil rahaa hai(Mirza Mazhar Jaan-e-JaanaaN)kuchh to hote haiN mohabbat meN junuuN ke aasaaraur kuchh log bhii diivaanaa banaa dete haiN(Ghulam Hamdaani 'Mus.hafi')na chheD aye nikhat-e-baad-e-bahaarii raah lag apniitujhe atkheliyaaN sujhii haiN, ham bezaar baiThe haiN(Insha)terii suurat se kisii kii nahiiN miltii suuratham jahaaN meN terii tasviir liye phirte haiN (Imam Bakhsh 'Nasikh')ab to ghabraa ke ye kahte haiN ki mar jaayengemar ke bhii chain na pyaa to kidhar jaayenge(Zauq)meherbaaN ho ke bulaa lo mujhe chaaho jis waqtmaiN gayaa waqt nahiiN huuN ki phir aa bhii na sakuuN(Ghalib)taDaptii dekhtaa huuN jab koi shaiuThaa letaa huuN apnaa dil samajh kar(Tas...
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Journeying with a Jamaat in Train
2008-03-10 17:25:00
Railway journeys are always fascinating. Due to the long duration, one gets to interact with many different people.On a recent journey my seat was close to the coupe in which members of a Jamaat were sitting. They were probably going down South.Mostly in India, people do try to help you when you are praying and so when the group started their prayers, the other passengers, shifted from that coupe to the neighbouring seats, to facilitate the namaaz.Just to make a conversation, a Hindu gentleman told the Jamaat guys--Passenger: "Haan bhai namaaz to zaruri hai, isi sab se yah duniaa qaaim hai". (Prayers are necessary to keep the world safe and sound)The Jamat guys--- :( [Blank Faced, no expression, no reply]Passenger tries again: Says something about religion protecting people in Kali Yug.The Jamat guys--- :( [Again, Blank Faces, no expressions, no replies]The man, dejected, kept mum thereafter.Sometime in the night when they had dinner, another newcomer, tries to start a conversation:...
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Tea in Lucknow: Huzoor Chaai pijiye!
2008-03-08 14:22:00
In the winters, Kashmiri Chai is one specialty of Lucknow , which you won't find elsewhere.This pink-coloured Chaai is a delicacy prepared through a special process.It tastes very different from tea and even those who don't like tea, drink cups and cups of it.The preparation of Kashmiri Chai, ( it derives its name form Kashmiri Mohalla of Lucknow) is different in the sense that the hot beverage is tossed in air repeatedly for a long time from one container to other and then only this colour and odour appear. The tea leaves are also different.It is a connoisseur's tea and even a minor slip in procedure will raise the eyebrows of the Lucknow-walas. It is served along with Balaai (in Lucknow malaai is called baalaai, as baalaa means top in Urdu).[Of course, I am not there in this photo on the left.]If you are planning to go to Lucknow, don't miss the Kashmiri Chai. You can get it at Akbari Gate and some other localities in the Walled City.Nimish (also called Makhan, which is also a ...

Jamiat-e-Ulema heading for a split: Arshad Madani removed from the post of
2008-03-07 20:03:00
One of the oldest and most influential Muslim organisations in the country, the Jamiat-e-Ulama seems to have almost split.The 85-year-old organisation which has played vital role in securing the rights of Muslims and fought many battles is today in a sorry state, with a group 'expelling' Maulana Arshad Madani, the president. In the executive body meet on March 6, not only the leadership of Maulana Arshad Madani was challenged and another group of Ulema (that supports Maulana Mahmood Madani) nominated Qari Mohammad Usman as the working President of Jamiat thereby 'removing' Arshad Madani from the post for his anti-Jamiat activities.Maulana Arshad Madani's newphew Maulana Mahmood Madani moved a resolution, expressing lack of confidence in the President. Maulana Arshad Madanai later walked out along with his supporters. A final attempt for patch-up would be made later this month in a special meet of the General Council (March 26).The episode has shocked Indian Muslims. Under the p...
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AIMIM turns 50: Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen's role in Hyderabad and AP pol
2008-03-04 20:55:00
The AIMIM, a political party based in Hyderabad , has completed fifty years of its existence and a big celebration was organised to mark the occasion two days back.The party that is mostly confined to Hyderabad and some other towns of Andhra Pradesh, is often in the news for protests and the 'ability' of its cadres to bring Old Hyderabad to a halt on any issue (or non-issue).It's name clearly suggests that it is a party to secure the interests of Muslims. And though it is generally not viewed favourably in media and other sections of the society, it's a unique case in our political system.Due to its strong presence in Old Hyderabad, the Majlis that sends 1 MP to Lok Sabha, 5-6 MLAs in the AP Assembly and has presently 36 councillors in the 100 member Municipal Corporation, does hold considerable clout in Andhra Pradesh, which could be termed as disproportionate to its vote share in the State. The fact that the Capital city of Hyderabad has nearly 40% Muslim population is MIM's s...
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After Hyderabad, screening of Islamic movie stopped in Kolkata
2008-03-03 09:19:00
Al-Risalah, the first Hollywood movie on Islam, which has been dubbed in Urdu/Hindustani and released in India, has been taken off theatres in Hyderabad .Following this the screening of the movie in Kolkata was also stopped. Director, Moustapha Akkad directed the film that has songs composed by AR Rahman.The song 'Marhaba Mustafa' has already got popular. The movie was originally made in Arabic and English, and has recently been dubbed with lyrics and dialogues translated by Hasan Kamal. Of course, Prophet (SAW) has not been depicted on the screen.No prize for guessing about the Hyderabad ban though: Majlis had protested the screening. When questioned that when Muslims in many other countries were watching the movie and clergy had okayed it, an AIMIM leader said that "it will still not let the movie run in the City".The Indian distributors must have suffered loss as the movie is getting banned in one city after the other. However, they hope to earn through VCD that has more songs i...
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Ram Vilas Paswan and Muslims
2008-03-01 17:48:00
Once the enfant terrible of Dalit politics in India, Ram Vilas Paswan, appears a lonely figure in the Indian political scenario.A die-hard Dalit politician, who genuinely took up Muslim issues, and was touted by most including his opponents as Prime Minister material, has been marginalised by the growth of BSP. In conversation he no longer exudes the same confidence and looks dejected.He is trying hard to keep his Lok Jan Shakti Party (LJP) flock stay together but he knows it is difficult to survive the Mayawati storm sweeping across the heartland and even beyond. Though he is still a Union Minister, Paswan is no longer the force, he once was.In the 80s when anti-Muslim rhetoric was at its peak, Paswan was the only politician who countered rustic rabble-rousers like Uma Bharti, Mahant Awaidyanath, Kalyan Singh and their comparatively more 'suave' hate-preachers like Lal Kishenchand Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, both on ground-level and in the parliament in the same idiom.His spe...
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After Ulema, it's government's turn
2008-02-27 18:11:00
After the recently convened Anti-Terrorism Conference & the Ulema's historic Deoband Declaration, the Centre and State governments must also take care of the following critical issues:1. The 'secular' Congress government in Maharashtra must immediately give sanction for prosecuting all the rogue cops booked for biased action and shooting innocents during the Communal Riots of 1992-1993 in Mumbai.Indian Madarsa Students: Eternally in the dock.2. The Vilas Rao Deshmukh's Congress-NCP combine 'secular' government should immediately accept the Sri Krishna Commission Report and implement its recommendatiosn without any further delay.3. The Congress-led UPA government that has been playing the "Sachar committee card', should instead rein in the agencies that routinely arrest innocents, term Madarsas as threat to national security and in turn creating suspicion among Muslims regarding the police and law-enforcing agencies.4. Put on a curb on spreading falsehoods about Muslims an...
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Anti-Terrorism Convention at Deoband: Will it succeed or meet the fate of L
2008-02-24 19:47:00
Darul Uloom Deoband is hosting a convention against terrorism on February 25. Apart from representatives of hundreds of leading seminaries and madarsas, the heads of Jamat-e-Islami, Jamat Ahl-e-Hadis and All India Muslim Personal Law Board chief are going to attend it.The agenda will be to send a strong message against terrorism. And also to counter the propaganda that links madarsas with terrorism. The Darul Uloom Rector Maulana Marghoobur Rahman has said that fundamentalist forces, sections of media and fundamentalist organisations are spreading falsehoods.Despite LK Advani's (in his capacity as Home Minster of India) assertion in Parliament that no Indian madarsa is involved in any such activity, the madarsas are regularly targeted and baseless charges are made, trying to defame the educational institutions. The aim is also to urge the government to stop the excesses on Muslims.I wonder if any lesson has been learnt from the failure of the recent Lucknow conference. Why the Isla...
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Do we need Muslim MLAs: Concerns over delimitation of constituencies in Del
2008-02-22 19:20:00
There is lot of concern expressed regarding the de-limitation (had-bandi) of Assembly constituencies in Delhi. The Muslim leaders are complaining that their constituencies have been worst affected and there are apprehensions that even fewer Muslims would make it to the Assembly.Since independence the Lal Quila and Jama Masjid were part of the Matia Mahal constituency. The voters of these areas will now vote in Chandni Chowk. "The irony is that Matia Mahal is no longer part of the Matia Mahal constituency, and new areas have been added", says Shoaib Iqbal, who has been representing the seat for 15 years.Many say that hardly Muslim MLAs would get into the Assembly, the elections for which are due in October this year.Delhi has 70 Assembly constituencies. Concerns are also visible in newspapers that Muslim presence will dwindle in the house.But, do the number of Muslim MLAs matters that much?Is it not better if the real issues--refurbishing of school buildings, cleanliness in slums, pr...
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Kosovo's independence: Birth of third Muslim country in Europe
2008-02-20 17:30:00
Kosovo is the latest country to have proclaimed independence. After Albania and Bosnia, it is the third country* with a Muslim majority in Europe . The reactions have been mixed. USA, France, Germany and some other countries have decided to recognise the fledgling nation. Some other countries including Spain, Russia and Serbia (that lays claim over Kosova) have criticised the move of Kosovan government, to unilaterally declare its independence.The birth of Kosova should be seen as another sign of harmony between Europe and Islam . The fact that such large Muslim populace has existed in Europe for centuries, should also serve as an eye-opener for those who consider Islam as incompatible with West.Kosovo has a population of 2.1 million (21 lakh) and 90% populace practice Islam. There is a Christian Serb minority in the country also. The new government has downplayed its religious affiliation and is all set to be a secular nation on lines of Albania.After disintegration of Yugoslavia, an...
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Dividing UP: Harit Pradesh, Bundelkhand & Purvanchal
2008-02-17 19:02:00
Uttar Pradesh , the heart of India, and the great landmass with a population of 200 million may get trifurcated into three states (or even four states).And Lucknow may lose its political power that will get divided among Varanasi, Jhansi and Meerut, the capitals of the proposed states. It may take a couple of more years for the states to come into existence, but the growing regional aspirations among people in these regions and the politicians' vested interests will ultimately lead to the division of these states.Though UP is difficult to govern, given its size, the fact remains that smaller states have turned out to be bigger failures. As long as Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand were part of greater Madhya Pradesh and greater Bihar, the situation in these regions was not as bad as today.Both the states that had huge mineral deposits and other natural resources, have become hotbeds of Naxalism. Corruption has grown by leaps and bounds and insurgency has made development impossible. These ...
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Reprinting caricatures: Extreme act of provocation by Denmark newspapers
2008-02-13 18:42:00
The newspapers in Denmark have republished the same caricatures that had offended Muslims across the world. Their decision to print the cartoons is not a 'solidarity to the commitment to free speech, which they claim.Rather, it is an act of provocation that shows extreme insensitivity, and criminal chutzpah. The newspapers have overstepped all limits of decency and their decision goes against the Danish values, which the Danes have been so proud of.The caricature is not just offensive because Islam forbids pictorial depiction of Prophet, but also because the 'bomb-shaped turban' in the caricature is a fascistic attempt and such hatespeak is unimaginable in a continent where the mention of Holocaust and doubts on its veracity can land a person in jail.Clearly, when it comes to Islam, things are different. Hurting sentiments no longer remains an issue. Given the kind of furore the cartoon controversy had generated in the past, the irresponsible reprinting can severely hurt the proc...
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Haji Ishtiyaq's arrest: Anger against Mayawati govt
2008-02-09 20:20:00
Haji Ishtiyaq, a shopkeeper, in Baghpat, was picked up by the police on January 27, just because of a 'prediction' in a mocking tone, that Mayawati government may not last long. His arrest has now become a major issue in Western UP.The conversation between Haji Ishtiaq and a BSP worker who was drinking near his shop, that ultimately led to the arrest, is reproduced here*:Haji Ishtiaq: Making merry, aren't you!BSP Worker: Ya, it's our government & we will make merry for next 15 years in the state. (two more terms)Haji Ishtiaq: Let's see how long Mayawati and her government lastOn the complaint of the BSP worker, Ishtiaq was later arrested, charged under sections meant for anti-national activities, linked with terrorists and thrown into jail. He was even charged of conspiracy to kill Mayawati.But the issue has now snowballed into a major controversy. Nearly 50,000 attended the Mahapanchayat, which was addressed by Ajit Singh and Kokab Hameed. Maulana Masood Madani has critici...
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