Wednesday, March 06, 2013

Muslim voice can't be heard as a monolith

The issue of Babri Masjid has long been under scrutiny, but B&E’s Syed Khurram Raza finds that the Muslim voice can't be heard as a monolith

Lecturer in Kirori Mal College Khalid Ashraf says “Both Muslims and Hindus should respect the verdict of the court and it is the government who has to see to it that the court order is implemented in its true spirit. It is high time that leaders of both the communities understand that education, peace and development are more important than these masjids and mandirs. If there is no peace and no welfare, then the basic purpose of the mosque and temple is defeated. If human beings live in peace and harmony, then the purpose is served whether the mosque or the temple exists or not.”

Syed Shahabuddin is very categorical that once a masjid is always a masjid. He says, following the Hanafi school of thought, that a masjid’s place cannot be given to anyone nor can be used for any other purpose.

Shahbuddin does not blame Rajiv Gandhi and says that the late leader was misled. He says, “When I met Rajiv Gandhi, he told me that he was misled by two persons and he named them.” Shahabuddin says “If the suit is decided in favour of the Muslims, then in my view Muslims need not build a mosque at the mosque site. But they also should not give it to anyone else as the Islamic law does not permit anyone to sell or gift masjid land. Nevertheless, they can give the adjacent land to the Hindus.” However, there will be few takers of this formula as hardliner Hindus will stick to the Garbh Griha demand.

There are some other Muslim leaders who are in favour of giving the land to Hindu organisations but with the condition that the land goes to Shankaracharya and that the VHP, Bajrang Dal and Shiv Sena is kept away. One leader, who does not wish to be identified, says, “We want to restore the glory of Shankaracharyas and keep these elements out. We are having talks in this regard.”

Two senior members of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board fully endorse Shahabuddin’s viewpoint of not building the mosque in case the verdict goes in favour of Muslims. They are of the view that this issue should be buried once and forever.

During the monsoon session, several Muslim parliamentarians sat together when one MP recieved information that inputs from Intelligence agencies suggested the verdict could go against the Muslims. One of them immediately called up Zafaryab Jilani to get the exact feedback. When Zafaryab Jilani assured them that there was very little chance of such a thing happening, they were relieved. However, they have decided on the immediate need to ensure that Muslims take the verdict humbly and do not celebrate or hail when the result is out.

Muslims born after 1992 are not even interested in this issue. They are more interested in social networking sites, big money, football or Shah Rukh Khan. According to sources, the Centre is already drawing contingency plans. There is a feeling at the Centre that some stray incidents could take place. It does not apprehend anything major as the losing side will have the option to knock on the doors of the Supreme Court.

The Uttar Pradesh chief minister, Mayawati, has already asked for more forces from the Centre. A strong message has gone out to the DMs and police officials that if anything untoward happened in their areas, strong action will be taken against them.


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

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