Within last fortnight, two important events took place. Though both the developments will have far reaching effects on India’s socio-political scenario, the mainstream media failed to notice them. The Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, Prof. P.K. Abdul Azis said in a statement that reservation in higher education should be provided for Muslims. Later on former M.P. and renowned columnist, Syed Shahabuddin held a daylong convention on reservation in New Delhi. Both these gentlemen represent canvas of the Muslim society in India. While Prof. Azis is an academician, who brought the university back on rails and within a short span of time turned it into an institution of academic excellence, Syed Shahabuddin is a well-known intellectual and parliamentarian who has contributed much to India’s composite culture. Both Prof. Azis and Syed Shahabuddin have demanded reservation for Muslims to create a level playing field.
We all know that the UPA government appointed a high level committee headed by Justice Rajinder Sachar to determine, “Social, Economic and Educational Status of the Muslims” but shied away from implementing its “Report”. The Committee was appointed on March 9, 2005 and submitted its report in November, 2006. Since then two years have passed but the government did not took positive and functional steps for implementing the committee’s recommendations. The fact is that our ruling elite has no will to correct the wrong doings to Muslims and the committee was simply an eye-wash like Srikrishna Commission of Maharashtra. The government failed to take action on both the “Reports”.
The question arises, why Muslims need reservation? Though it was known that Muslims are lagging behind other communities but the Sachar Committee Report has officially accepted backwardness of Muslims. It has clearly shown that Muslims form a backward class within the scope of Article 15(4) of the Constitution. Hence they are entitled for reservation in employment, education and other welfare and developmental schemes of the government. Harsh reality is that they should also get reservation in legislatures because their representation is decreasing day by day.
In the “National Convention on Muslim Reservation”, Syed Shahabuddin said, “Muslim battle for reservation began with the reversal of reservation in legislatures and jobs by the Constituent Assembly on second thought in 1949 and the subsequent non-fulfilment of the promise for a generous treatment made by our national leaders.”
On the eve of the independence our leaders publicly promised for impartial treatment with the Muslims but history of post-independence India shows that the promise has been breached to the extent that an elected government of a state connived with terrorists in the demolition of Babri Masjid (1992) and in another state, the government itself engineered genocide of Muslims (Gujarat, 2002). This is the justice with the largest minority community and is an example of India’s “impartial governance”. It is established now beyond any doubt that general treatment of the ruling elite with Muslims is that of “second class citizen”. In these circumstances, reservation umbrella should be provided for them for their all round development which will ultimately effect nation’s progress as well.
Another factor which should get attention of the authorities as well as intellectuals is that Mandal Commission has provided 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes including Muslim OBCs. But in practice, Muslim OBCs are not getting their share at all due to prevailing bias in the administration. The existing bias may be understood by a report that, “Hindu OBCs are only 30 per cent of the total Hindu population whereas Muslim OBCs account for 65 per cent of the total Muslim population” (“Hindu OBCs are only 30 per cent of population”, The Pioneer, November 3, 2006).
Sociologists believe that nearly 80 to 85 per cent of the total Muslim population is in the OBC category. But if we leave such a high percentage, then again Muslims should get at least 65 per cent of Mandal Commission reservation which they are not getting. Muslims share in Indian population is 12 to 13 per cent. Hence, logically Muslim OBCs should be provided 12 per cent of reservation within the 27 per cent quota. If that can be done without prejudice, then majority of the Muslims will come under reserved category and their prospect of progress will automatically increase.
Democracy in a plural society depends on how the legislature which is fountainhead of political power represents sections of citizenry. In India, it seems that a conspiracy is being hatched to block the way of Muslims in legislatures. Most of the constituencies, which have more than 25 per cent Muslim concentration, have been reserved for Scheduled Castes. This fact deprives them from contesting elections. If we want to see plural society survive in India, then Muslims should be provided reservations in legislatures also.
All the points discussed above are important not only for the development of the Muslims but also for keeping and enhancing India’s image as a secular nation. The 1986 UN Declaration of Right to Development is another dimension which calls for immediate intervention of the state in case of Muslims.
The Right to Development aims at the improvement of the well-being of the entire population on the basis of free, active and meaningful participation and fair distribution of gains of development. Reduction of regional disparities and peaceful secure environment become essential components of realising the right to development. Any sign of deprivation and domination would severely jeopardise the progress towards equitable development. The Sachar Committee Report and its findings are a product of the history of betrayal on the part of the ruling elite in case of Muslims. Still there is time when the required affirmative action can be taken.
The demand of the Muslims for the constitutional reservation is a struggle through which they are trying to assert their right to fair and just development and the opinion of AMU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. P.K. Abdul Azis and Syed Shahabuddin represents collective will of Muslim masses.