Credit goes to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who entrusted Justice Sachar Committee with the responsibility to probe the problems of Muslims. The data – political, social as well as economic – clearly point out that Muslims have slipped below the level of Dalits. In other words, they are more backward today than even Dalits.
The Sachar Committee report has awakened Muslims across India. There were agitations, dharnas and demonstrations demanding reservations for Muslims. Before Sachar, it was Mrs. Indira Gandhi-appointed Gopal Singh High Power Committee in 1980. Mrs. Gandhi also had announced 15-point programme for economic uplift of Muslims, but hardly any fruitful result came out.
It is a fact that government policies have been biased and partial towards Muslims. The Sachar report has brought this bitter truth before us. And we are well aware of the Government’s policies toward Muslims. We can have a feel of it when we examine different policies and trends.
Articles 340, 341 and 342 of the Constitution deal with “backward classes”, Scheduled Castes and Tribes. According to the Constitutional (Scheduled Caste) Order of 1950, a convert to Islam or Christianity from the Scheduled Castes, the poorest of the poor, cannot claim any of the privileges of reservation. In 1956, this was amended to include Scheduled Caste converts to Sikhism within reservation quotas, and in 1990 this facility was extended to Buddhists as well. Can one ask why Muslims and Christians still continue to be excluded?
West Bengal, a state with a progressive government, has a Muslim population of 25.2%, but only 2.1% of state government employees are Muslims. Delhi, which has secular governments on both tiers, state and national, has 3.2% Muslims in government jobs despite 11.7% Muslim population there.
If Dalits are backward and underprivileged and are given reservation, why not Muslims be given the same privilege while they are more backward now than the Dalits?
Well, Muslims’ demand for reservation is truly justified; but, will just sitting idle and waiting for government help bring any solution while the world is moving ahead? Haven’t the two events – Babri Masjid demolition and Gujarat genocide – conclusively proved that depending on the government has been a big mistake?
Situations in India are changing fast. We must comprehend it and change our course accordingly. The major part of the task ahead is passing into the private sector. Nearly 60% of the economy is in services outside government control. This private sector-led economy has opened a very competitive marketplace where one can find a place only if one is competent (multi-skilled) and diligent. Here self-employment and entrepreneurial behaviour provide the best avenues for the betterment of one’s lot. Muslim youths who have mastered the talent and skill are making ways in the field. So, here we need to explore the job sectors, prepare ourselves accordingly and show our worth. A lot of Muslim youths are getting jobs in the private sector on the basis of their talent and are proving their excellence.
On educational front, the scenario is undergoing a massive change. Education in India is privatised. More and more private institutions are being opened. Further, India is a signatory to GATS which has opened avenues for foreign educational organisations to have an access in the country. This is bound to create a new environment in our educational system and call for several measures for readjustment. To get education is becoming more challenging and more expensive in this competitive environment where the number of educational institutions is falling short against the rising number of the aspirants.
Within the next five years, 20% of our population will become college going. With the 11th five-year plan, the nation has to undergo an overhaul in higher education. Today, India has 350 universities. In order to achieve the targeted gross enrolment of 15% by 2015, the National Knowledge Commission (NKC) proposes to set up 1,150 more universities, and an additional 50 national universities. Yet, there are two opinions within the NKC itself; the other group recommends 3,000 universities with an intake capacity of over 10,000 per university. Ironically, the system will remain inaccessible to the other 85% of the eligible candidates.
It is high time Muslim intellectuals and organisations realised that just one AMU is not sufficient to accommodate the entire Muslim aspirants. Even if the entire seats of AMU is reserved for Muslims, it in not going to solve the problem.
In this phase of transition pertaining to educational system, genuine commitment, a social vision and dynamic approach is needed by the Muslim leaders, intellectuals and organisations. Privatisation of education has opened avenues for all to open educational institutions of their choice.
At the very primary level where the foundation is built, we have no school of our choice. We send our children to a school where Islamic values are at stake. Look at the schools in and around Delhi where Urdu is no more taught. Is this not a great loss to the community? The bulk of Islamic literature is in the Urdu language of which our new generation has been deliberately deprived. If DAV and Shishu Mandir can have branches across India, why should not Hamdard Public School open its branches?
A great number of students from lower middle class family are not in a position to go in for higher studies. What they require is polytechnics, to be technically equipped to get a job at the earliest. See the services rendered by Imaarat-e-Shariah, Phulwari Sharif, Patna. Hundreds of students equipped with one or another technical skill field themselves in the market every year. Can’t we have such institutes in other states?
Needless to say there is great need for the institutions of modern professional education. We need to go in the field of Engineering, Medicine, Bio-Tech, Mass media and so on in large numbers. A section of students preparing themselves for Civil Services, need proper residential facility with proper food, standard coaching and guidance. Many students fail to make their way due to the shortage of these facilities. Indian Muslims need more institutes like “Study Circle” supervised by Saiyid Hamid of Jamia Hamdard, which can help them unlock their potential. Let’s get an inspiration from Sir Syed Ahmad Khan who despite all discouraging circumstances, moved ahead and the result is quite obvious.
Where there is will, there is a way. One can raise funds if one has brilliant projects. The schemes for minorities announced by the Central and State governments can be exploited. One can get a lot of money from Islamic Development Bank (IDB) if proper projects for educational institutions are submitted. “There is no dearth of money but dearth of dedication and vision,” said Maulana Nizamuddin, chief of Imaarat-e-Shariah, Bihar, a few months ago when he was in Saudi Arabia for Umra.
Without wasting time, let’s hit on the root cause that has the key to our success. Let’s kick the era of overdependence on crooked politicians and vote bank politics and realise that in this era of transition, we have to set the goals ourselves. Educational backwardness breeds economic backwardness and economic backwardness perpetrates educational backwardness. Hard work and establishment of proper institutions alone is going to help us. The sooner it is realised, the better it is for us.