Radiance Viewsweekly has proved itself through its 50 years journey to be a shining star on the horizon of Indian journalism despite dark periods in the history of independent India. This could be possible because it was established on principles of truth, justice, morality and fearlessness. It has not only stood to its values without compromise but has set an example for journalism that it is not impossible to live up to the values of ideal journalism – the fourth pillar of democracy.
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind congratulates Radiance on its Golden Jubilee celebrations and wish that its voice would become louder and louder and it would show right path not only to Indian people but to the world community at large and shine ever brighter and brighter.
DEFENCE OF JIH AGAINST UNJUST CRITICISM
Radiance has played a key role in expounding the true message, vision and contributions of JIH in making a society based on strong moral foundation, equality, peace and justice. It very boldly and clearly conveyed the views of JIH on social, national and international issues, defending and bringing out rationale to justify JIH views when illogical and irrational criticism was falling from all sides, including the government. It stood with truth and justice and opposed the injustices done to JIH when it was hastily banned along with communal and fascist organisations responsible for demolition of Babri Mosque and violence against Muslims afterwards.
Radiance is continuously discharging its duties till date, to raise its voice against all kinds of injustices and violation of human rights ensured by the Constitution of India to individuals, communities and organisations.
Radiance stood with justice firmly and defended JIH from unjust and irrational attacks by its critics who were charging JIH of being communal and anti-national and being bracketed with communal and fascist organisations. The Congress government, its intelligence agencies, Leftist movements and political parties and even some Muslim organisations attached to Congress party were leading these attacks on JIH. Out of many examples of this is an article “A Close Study of JIH, Are its Critics Honest?” by Syed Bakhshish Hussain from Ranchi in 1 July 1973 issue. The author has raised serious objections to the government and the common citizens of India, as to how JIH is being branded as communal and being bracketed with RSS. He says: On what basis the blame has been put on an organisation which is working for a society based on equality, justice and human dignity. Have the government or the critics and so called Muslim leadership setup by the government gone through the literature available in more than one dozen languages? Can the government or anyone point out anything in the literature which can be termed as raising communal sentiments and anything being done which is not permitted by our Constitution? In so many years no one has been able to point out anything in this regard and still JIH is being termed as communal without reason.
The JIH believes and is trying to convince the countrymen that the solution to all our problems – whether individual, social, or political – lies in Islam, the way prescribed by our Creator for the whole mankind, i.e. the complete submission to the will of Allah the Creator, Cherisher and Sustainer of this universe and all within it. As the society goes away from this natural path, it would move towards grief and agony. It has been seen in the history of mankind that the prophets of God tried to convey and explain this message of truth; they and their followers were not considered enemies and were persecuted initially. Radiance very clearly explained this viewpoint of JIH to the countrymen.
Syed Bakhshish Hussain, who participated in a JIH conference, further writes, “Being an ex-government servant and a free citizen of a free country, I was really ashamed to see the police and the C.I.D. during the whole week in such a holy congregation. The rapidly growing ailments of the country could not be cured by the prescription and medicine of our Russian friends and our American and European helpers and it is unfortunate that the physician possessing the correct prescription and effective medicine has been rejected as enemies.” (ibid)
The author concludes his article by advising the government having wrong attitude knowingly or unknowingly about JIH with the following words: “I wish and pray that our Prime Minister, Home Minister, Chief Minister and other dignitaries could see the Jamaat-e-Islami and their activities from the close quarter with open mind and one day repeat what Mahatma Gandhi said after attending their Patna Ijtema: ‘It is a gathering of faquirs in which I would have liked to come on foot.’” (ibid)
PROTECTING RIGHTS OF CITIZENS AND ORGANISATIONS
Radiance played a key role in protecting fundamental and democratic rights of Indian citizens and organisations during these 50 years. The role played by Radiance was exemplary, particularly when the JIH was declared an unlawful organisation on 10 December 1992, under the “Prevention of Unlawful Activities Act 1967”, four days after the black day in the history of independent India – the day when Babri Masjid was demolished by communal fascist forces on 6 December 1992.
After the demolition of Babri Masjid, then Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, while addressing a meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party, said: “There is no other way but to ban the organisations which are guilty of opposing the rule of law and the constitution and of horrendous perfidy. The communal parties and organisations have exhibited total betrayal of the nation”. (The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 9 December 1992)
Radiance in its special article of 3 January 1993 argued: “One wondered how the Jamaat’s name crept in this list while everyone knew for certain whom the Congress-I president and the head of Union Government meant while uttering the above words.”
Radiance raised its voice against this injustice very boldly. It condemned this oppressing act of the Union Government. This was shocking but not surprising that the Congress Party has been doing such balancing act to prove itself Secular. This pseudo secularism has devastated the foundation of the Constitution and Indian Democracy and has helped the fascist forces. Radiance writes: “In order to maintain a balance as manifestation of pseudo-secularism once it was decided to bracket the Jamaat with the known communal parties, the Home Ministry was in frantic search of necessary material to frame the Jamaat as a communal outfit. But it failed miserably. (3 January 1993)
A number of articles by legal experts and analysts were published in Radiance proving this act of banning JIH as against the Constitution. One such article was published in the issue of 31 January 1993 namely: Ban on Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Legal aspects X- Rayed by Syed Yusuf. The Supreme Court of India on 18 March 1994 held that the Central Government has failed to justify the immediate ban imposed on JIH with effect from 10 December 1992 under the Section 3(3) of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act 1967. Radiance wrote a detailed article entitled SC Quashes Immediate Ban on Jamaat in its issue of 27 March 1994.
On 18 April 1994 Justice Mr. B.M. Lal Tribunal delivered its decision holding that “there is sufficient cause for declaring the Jamaat an Unlawful Association and accordingly conforming the ban imposed by Union of India on 10 December 1992.” Jamaat moved to Supreme Court against this decision of one-man Justice B.M. Lal Tribunal constituted by Union Government. Finally, on 7 December1994, the Supreme Court bench comprising Justice J.S. Verma, Justice S.P. Bharucha, and Justice K.S. Paripurnan quashed the ban on JIH. Radiance carried out a detailed article in its 18 December 1994 issue reproducing the arguments in defence of JIH that were presented before the Supreme Court bench by Jamaat’s Counsel Mr. Soli J. Sorabji.
RADIANCE STOOD FIRM WITH TRUTH
Radiance stood firm by truth fearlessly and questioned the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi when she charged JIH of being communal. She was expressing concern over the wave of communal violence in Moradabad, Allahabad and Aligarh, etc. She named certain organisations as responsible for the communal violence and included Jamaat-e-Islami in the list and charged that Jamaat was spreading the virus of communalism leading to escalation of violence.
Radiance questioned the statement of the Prime Minister and conveyed to the countrymen the truth of the matter. In 16 November 1980 issue it commented editorially on the matter and clearly stated that: “Accusing Jamaat-e-Islami of being communal is a favourite pastime for many Toms, Dicks and Harries. But when it comes from Prime Minister or a Home Minister of a country, it stands on a different footing and is not to be brushed aside as just another prank of politician. It does no credit to the high office of the Prime Minister that she happens to hold to make such a serious allegation against a major Muslim organisation without putting forth and iota of evidence to substantiate the charge.”
It further added on the same page: “Freedom of speech and expression ensured and guaranteed by the Constitution is not a licence for character assassination, all the more so by a Prime Minister or a Home Minister of the country. She and her Home Minister should either substantiate the charge or observe silence till such time as they are ready to prove what they charge the Jamaat with.”
INTRODUCING JIH MESSAGE AND CONTRIBUTION
Radiance played a very important and crucial role in introducing the true message of JIH and its efforts and contribution for making a society based on equality, justice and human dignity. This was a very daring stand adopted to support and advocate truth when the majority of the Indian society, the government and media – the fourth pillar of democracy – were having indifferent attitude.
Important decisions and resolutions on various social, national and international issues of JIH were conveyed to the countrymen from time to time.
Radiance also published a special and detailed article on completion of 50 years of Jamaat e Islami and explained its message, way of working, activities and progress achieved in various fields and its contribution to Indian society. The article entitled 50 Years of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind was written by S. Ausaf Saied Vasfi, in 25 August 1991 issue. He writes: “The Jamaat-e-Islami Hind is doing in India what perhaps doesn’t even occur to its contemporaries: It is making Man, It is imbibing character, It is inculcating Islamic Consciousness, It is injecting Islamic orientation, It is producing trustworthy and dependable Muslim citizens who will never ditch Islam or the country. You can bank upon them.”
In the same issue brief biographies and contributions of some prominent leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami-Hind were published to show the country some samples of the kind of persons and leaders it is aiming to produce, who can inspire the young generation of our country. The glimpses of lives and contributions of these jewels of JIH is more than sufficient to explain to the countrymen, the message and the way of life it is trying to establish in the society.
The role of Radiance is exemplary and unmatched particularly in creating awareness and motivating people for striving for a progressive and prosperous society based on Morality, Equality, Justice and Human Dignity leading individuals to real success in this world and in the hereafter.
[The writer is Secretary Jamaat-e-Islami Hind]