BaKhabar, September 2012, Page-6 [Islam encourages Lawful earning and prohibts unlawful earnings and lustful lifestyle + Preparing for an Amazing Ramadan]

Communal Riots and the Question of Economic development of Indian Muslims

... By Mohammad Allam, Aligarh (mohammad_allam@rediffmail.com)

In the present world order, wherein the economic power carries far more weight than any other power, Indian Muslims lag far behind expectations in terms of economic muscle. With huge population of around more than 150 million, Indian Muslims should have been in a much better position than their counterparts. But due to lack of education, proper vision, planning for development, leadership crisis, and frequent occurrences of communal riots, they are in worst position. After 65 years of independence, if they are in this condition, not even in the stage of economic take-off, from where can the community start its journey of development?

Burning of Assam in communal riots is not a new phenomenon. The 65 years of Indian history tells us enough about how Indian Muslims were deliberately destroyed economically, socially, politically and culturally through the tool of communal riots. Whether it was planned like Gujrat (2002) or not planned like thousands of other communal riots which broke out in various parts of India, they reflected the commercial angle of inflicting maximum economic damage. Eminent historian Bipin Chadra says that communal riots started in 19th Century but did not occur frequently till 1946-47. (Communalism in Modern India). The cost of these riots is worth billions of dollars. The shocking finding is that, in most of the cases of communal riots, Muslims suffered heavily in economic terms. A startling finding was that in most of the communal riots, the rioters targeted the property of Muslims on large scale. According to one estimate of State Government of Gujarat, the total loss of property, in 2002 pogrom, was around Rs 687 crores. This proves beyond doubt that these rioters had planned to block economic development of Indian Muslims.

maslaki disputes!!

During the time of the British Government, most of the riots were termed as a tool by the imperialist power to divide India on communal line, so that the imperialist power could rule for longer period of time. But what about the present state of communal riots? Is it not a handiwork of the communal forces which want to divide the country on communal line? If so, then why does the government continue to be a silent spectator in all these cases? Has the government hidden wish to allow this trend of communal violence to be continuing against Muslims?

If we analyse major communal riots of India, we find that the policy of government is less focused on preventive methods but mostly involves post-riot reactionary measures, while the need of time is to implement such policy which could prevent the occurring of communal riots. One example is the delay in passing of Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Reparations) Bill, 2011. This delay shows that the government is under grip of hidden communal forces of India. Is it not shocking that communal riots are handiwork of the seekers of power through vote politic? If it is true then still the Indian Muslim are sufferers. The most striking aspect is that they are targeted by the communal forces through means of legally acquired democratic power, which is considered a blessing to the citizens of every country around the world? Most of the communal riots use to occur during the time of elections. Why?

What should be done? The Indian Muslim should unite and strongly influence public opinion. The media should be in their hands by producing more and more journalists and experts of laws posted around the world, while politically they have to be neutral players in politics of vote. Every political party is the same for Indian Muslims. Some destroy Indian Muslims secretly and indirectly, while others hurt them directly and openly. The only difference is the approach. The Indian Muslim should invest more in developing human resources than in immovable properties. They should invest overseas through own banking systems. While the creation of a powerful centre for raising voice should be centered outside of India. A quick and well established relationship with all the maslaks of India should be top priority. These maslaki people should know that they are Muslims in the eyes of communal forces. It doesn’t matter how much they are secular.
Indian Muslims should strengthen the hands of all those secular people who are fighting on behalf of them against the communal forces. A better link with the people of other Islamic nations and organizations would be better to defeat the communal forces in India who have become insane due economic development of the country. These communal forces should be made to realize that the economic development of India is directly or indirectly also linked to Islamic nations where the Indian Muslims are presented as progressive and well developed in India through agents (e.g., Indian diplomatic officers). This is really surprising that Indian Muslims earn hard currency for the nation and facilitate the “Oil Diplomacy” and “Market Facilitator” in Islamic countries while they are vulnerable at home.

The holding of some high official positions by Indian Muslims does not mean that everything is fine for rest of them. In fact these post-holders are big stakeholders in the power politics and are of no use for the Indian Muslims.

So, the communal riots whether killing the people on large scale or not, creating panic among the Muslims or not, one thing is certain that these riots have destroyed the economic power of Indian Muslims, and are not letting them reach a stage of economic take-off from where any community develops leaps and bounds. Wonder when Indian Muslims will get this chance! But it is certain that this will not be possible as long as communal riots continue to occur frequently and all the monetary savings of Indian Muslims are used for their survival, and rehabilitation of lakhs and lakhs of Muslims turned homeless, living in unbearable camps. Can anybody give an example from around the world where any group of citizens faces violence and damage on such a large scale, and still became an economic power?