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Why is the politics of the
Muslim community in India being dominated by clerics, most of
whom are not even Islamic scholars?
(Photo: ummid.com)
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Whenever I look up the news reports
on the issues and problems of the Muslim community in India, I
find that often the Muslim leaders addressing these matters are
clerics. The question arises, why is the politics of the Muslim
community in India being dominated by clerics, most of whom are
not even Islamic scholars? Why is the proportion of the
community’s leaders from the Muslim intelligentsia so small?
The Clerics
Obviously when the topics are religious issues of the Muslim
community, for instance interpretation of Sharia laws or Hadeeth
or Fatwas or Personal laws or matters dealing with madrasas, the
leadership belongs in the hands of the clerics and religious
organizations. But when issues are of a non-religious nature, for
instance Muslim educational institutions, or reservation for
Muslims in educational institutions and jobs, or the need to
address the community’s socioeconomic and educational uplift, or
the political situation of the community, or the civil liberties,
or the situation of Muslim women, the primary leadership role
belongs to the Muslim intelligentsia and Muslim political leaders.
Firstly, most clerics’ background in subjects like economics, law,
sociology and technology is not up to date for today’s issues.
Secondly, because of their background, most of the clerics (but
not all) often look at even non-religious issues from a
semi-religious perspective. Thirdly, most of them are not very
proficient in English language usage and oral communications with
modern electronic media journalists.
Altogether it reinforces in the minds of the mainstream media and
the nation at large a stereotypical image of the entire Muslim
community and its mindset as overtly religious. Often the entire
politics of the Muslim community is painted as a mirror image of
the BJP style religion-oriented politics. That causes many secular
Hindus to become indifferent to the deserving issues of the
Muslims, e.g. implementation of the Sachar Committee
recommendations.
The fact that a majority of non-religious issues of the Muslim
community are being addressed by clerics is skewing the perception
about the community, and is creating a stereotypical picture of
the Muslims in the minds of mainstream Indians, the Indian media
and the majority Hindu community. The mainstream’s perception is
that the Muslim community is often obsessed with religion and
looks at most issues from a religious angle, which is contrary to
the facts.
Indeed in the last couple of decades a genre of ‘political maulvis’
have evolved who have had hardly any formal Islamic education or
record of service to the community, yet they take lead in
bargaining for the community with the political parties at
election time. After the elections they also recommend to the
parties in power the names of Muslims to be given appointments to
government commissions and committees.
Compare that to the Hindu community and you find a stark contrast.
The number of mahants, sadhus, and Hindu clerics in the leadership
of the Hindu community is rather small. Hindu clerics come in the
picture when issues are related to Hindu temples, seminaries,
places of pilgrimage or religious trusts. Otherwise most Hindu
community leaders are from the intelligentsia and political
background. This is true of even the BJP which is a Hindu
fundamentalist party.
The Intelligentsia
In contrast the Muslim intelligentsia in the country often remains
invisible on the core socio-economic-educational-political issues
of the community. With their broader and more pluralistic
background the intelligentsia has a distinctly different
perspective on issues, which should be the dominant perspective on
mainstream issues, if the Muslim community wants to claim its due
place in today’s resurgent and modernizing India. However often
when the media wants an opinion on the issues of the Muslim
community, it turns to the clerics. The result is a stereotypical
image of the community. Whereas on the whole despite large number
of Muslims being depressed in education and economic status, the
community is reasonably vibrant, has a broad perspective, and is
trying to move ahead in the nation’s mainstream.
I recall that after the demolition of the Babri mosque the Muslim
intelligentsia held a well attended conference in New Delhi in
1993 where they pledged to take more active role in the political
and socioeconomic affairs of the community. But after a few
meetings they stepped back and left a vacuum in the leadership
arena at a critical time for the community. The over all
foot-dragging of the Muslim intelligentsia in getting involved in
the affairs of the community at the grassroots level is alienating
them from large segments of Muslim masses.
Most Muslim intelligentsia comprises of practicing Muslims who
have a healthy respect for Islamic scholars and learned clerics.
Yet there is a communication gap between these two sections of the
community that must be bridged. The need of the hour is not a
leadership contest between the intelligentsia and the clerics, but
cooperation and utilizing the strengths of both sections. The
intelligentsia can guide the clerics on how to present Islamic
elements in more acceptable modern jargon. The clergy can assist
the intelligentsia with their grassroots contacts at the street
level.
If we look at the leadership in various Muslim countries we find
that most leaders are from the intelligentsia or political
background. Clerics assume leadership role only when issues are of
a religious nature. So why should the situation in India be
different?
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