Morality is as important to human life as the immune system. It is deeply interesting to discover how the two are actually intertwined with each other; the immune system weakens when morality loses its grip on human life and behaviour. The absence of morality has made society vulnerable against deadly problems like HIV/AIDS and corruption, etc. Corruption has rendered our society and nation paralysed in every sphere of activity, and though vestiges of progress do seem to exist, we are actually hurtling towards a major downfall by ignoring ethics and moral values. Embezzlement of public money, scams, scandals, bribery, communal bias and lack of accountability are leading us to the brink of economic crises.
At the other extreme, another stratum of society is burning in the fire of sexual harassment, rape, child abuse, alcoholism, killing of innocents and an overall increase in crime and violence. Morality is the brake so essential to establish a just and balanced society, just as the most luxurious and expensive car is prone to disaster in the absence of an effective braking system.
In a nutshell, this is what Radiance has presented on this critically important subject of morality over 50 years of its service in Indian journalism. Radiance has never shied away from bringing up this issue, and has indeed studied mankind’s problems from various perspectives; socially, economically, logically, medically, psychologically and religiously, and presented appropriate solutions. It has been very interesting to go through articles published across 50 years; and I believe they have played a very important role in providing vision for our society. I would like to present a bird’s-eye view of the impressive collection that Radiance has contributed under this theme.
ON CORRUPTION
Radiance has been talking about corruption since 1967 when it was beginning to show itself in the Indian democracy. It repeatedly pointed out issues and urged the government to resolve the problem in the light of the Constitution, and urged people to take control by imbibing moral values into the fabric of society.
Radiance analyses the causatives behind corruption in this notable excerpt:
“The basic factors behind corruption are mainly two. One of them is psychological and the other is economic. Psychologically speaking, corruption may be described as an off-shoot of selfishness and greed. One is led to corrupt practices only when one’s individual selfish interest becomes paramount. Now, it is also an undeniable fact that each man is born selfish. He learns to be selfless as he grows. The most important institution which has, throughout history, taught this lesson of selfless service to the individual has been religion. Religion has tried to convince man that death is not the end of life.” (12 March 1967)
ON ALCOHOLISM
Alcoholism kills a person’s innate morality and paralyses all sense of right and wrong, at least temporarily, and can thus rightly be called the mother of evils. Radiance has shed a lot of light on this critical problem, drawing attention to it from various perspectives.
I found the coverage of this topic very informative and comprehensive. I also thought it vital to include the letter of former Jamaat President, Maulana Mohammad Yusuf, published in Radiance on Alcoholism:
“I have before me the press reports on your letter, addressed to the Congress President, Shankar Dayal Sharma, which was later at your instance placed before the Working Committee of your party, in which you have expressed concern ‘at the relaxation made by various Congress governments in the prohibition policy to earn additional revenue’. By way of ironical contrast, the papers also carried the news on the same day that the Government of Maharashtra was going to make cheaper liquor available to the people!
“I find myself in agreement with the comments made by Mr. Mishra. It appears that neither your party nor you yourself are in favour of total prohibition which is totally distressing, all the more so in view of the clear Directive Principle of State Policy laid down in Article 47 of the Constitution of India. While this Article deals with the positive aspect, i.e. improving public health, Art. 39(e) deals with the negative aspect, that the health and strength of workers are not abused. There is no gainsaying the fact that by encouraging the habit of drinking the State is certainly impairing the health and strength of drinking public.
“It is in fact ironically contradictory for the Govt. to augment its revenue for the good of the people through means which are patently injurious to the people.
“I hope you have also learnt about the proceedings of the sixth All-India Prohibition Conference, held at Jaipur on the 10th instant, inaugurated by Mr. Shriman Narayan, the Governor of Gujarat, presided over by Dr. Sushila Nayyar. Mr. Shriman Narayan said that “total prohibition should become an integral part of ‘Gharibi Hatao’ movement, and unless that was done, all ambitious plans for removing poverty and hunger would remain empty dreams.
“You have proved yourself capable of taking bold decisions. It is high time that you take a firm decision about this issue also. We will support you in your drive against alcoholism. I am sure you will receive the co-operation of many other parties and organisations, as also that of a great number of widely respected individuals.” (Jamaat President Writes to PM on Alcoholism: 8 Oct. 1972)
ON SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR & BIRTH CONTROL
Sexual satisfaction is a basic human need. Under the regulation of morality, it can be a blessing and can produce that great cornerstone of society called the institution of family, but if it is unleashed without any encumbrances, then it can create havoc, boost crimes and burn the foundations of society to ashes. Radiance discussed these points time and again.
Below are some excerpts from these valuable writings that really lead us to the roots of the problem:
“I was much amused to read an article “Legalizing Abortion” in the issue of Caravan, 1st March, 1966. When I read the enlightened author’s statement, ‘There is no immorality in an unmarried girl becoming pregnant’, my imagination was spurred to draw a rosy picture of ultra-modern society and happy-go-lucky debonair enjoying free sex life without taking any responsibility to maintain the girls they enjoy and shirking the responsibility to father the resultant life on the pretext that they are not sure whether they themselves are responsible for the innocent life or one of the innumerable boy friends of the girls who had free access to them during their independent life. Thus they can enjoy all their earnings themselves without having anybody to share.” Ultra-Modern Morality: Dr. M. O. Shaikh, Jul 10, 1966
“The economic system of Islam has cut at the very roots of capitalism. It prohibits usury, abolishes monopolies, bans gambling and speculation, disallows hoarding and introduces Zakat and a system of inheritance. These injunctions cut at the very roots of those evils which have made the social life of everyone in the west except the capitalist, a perpetual worry.” Birth Control: Feb 9, 1964
“The moral teaching of Islam prescribes simple and virtuous living, blocks the way to many such luxuries and entertainment which lead to overspending. It insists on simplicity in dress and household furniture, and uproots immorality, squandering and such over indulgence in pleasure, which have worked as the most prominent motive forces of the birth control movement.” Birth Control: Feb 9, 1964
ON AIDS/HIV
In spite of widespread public denial, the root cause of AIDS/HIV remains immorality – and this lethal disease takes birth when society throws open the doors of illegal and unnatural sex. The world needs to open its eyes and hearts to the fact that morality, not condoms, is the solution to this gigantic problem. Radiance has addressed this issue in the light of Islamic teachings time and again:
Radiance left no stone unturned in creating the proper kind of ‘public awareness’, in order to help people prevent this curse.
Sikandar Azam in his article, “AIDS and Dead Sea” (22-28 Nov. 1992) states, “The Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has acquired global attention. Seminars, symposia and conferences have been, and are being organised, and programmes launched at national and international levels to combat the deadly disease.
“The known causes of transmission of this deficiency syndrome are extra-marital behaviour, blood transfusion and infected needles of drug users. The HIV/AIDS virus destroys the body’s immunology system… Prostitution and drug addiction are the known factors causing the spread of HIV/AIDS virus.
“The spread of AIDS virus is, in fact, a Divine punishment for it is the inevitable corollary of the violation of Islamic system of Nikah (marriage) – the safest and most licit way of satisfying carnal urge.
“The Qur’ān has repeatedly reminded the practitioners of sexual perversion of the scourge meted out to the people of Hazarat Lut (Blessings of Allah be to him) who had indulged, in spite of the warning of the prophet, themselves in homosexual behaviour. The whole locality inhabited by these rebels against the Divine injunctions was completely annihilated. The ruins in the northeast of the Dead Sea are still a reminder of the scourge. To the authorities on Geography, this particular area is the worst ruins of the natural destruction on earth.”
ON HOMOSEXUALITY
Radiance has boldly asserted its views on the dangerous effects of homosexuality, both from a religious and social perspective:
Without mincing words, Radiance has spoken out against the growing ‘liberal’ attitude of social institutions, notably the courts of law, which also hold considerable power over the attitudinal changes in society. Look at the following excerpt:
“The High Court judgment legalising homosexuality is shocking. This is like legalising murders, terrorism and rapes. Homosexuality is in fact much more dangerous than any of these, as it hassled, leads to and can lead to huge loss of life. Out of all forms of unhealthy sexual practices, homosexuality is the unhealthiest and has been the cause of the beginning of the epidemics of both Syphilis and HIV/AIDS. Here are excerpts from a report on the impact of homosexuality on health:
“Early reports in the 1980s suggested that male homosexuals had an average life expectancy of less than 50 years… With the push for ‘safe’ sex and improved treatments for AIDS, one would expect that the life expectancy might have increased since then. However, a Canadian study in 1997 found that male homosexuals have a life expectancy of 20 years less than the general male population…. A third study, published in 2002, found that the median age of death of 88 homosexually partnered men was 45 years, while for 118 unpartnered homosexual men it was 46 years. [This is part of a very lengthy report. It is enough to understand the central idea.]
To say that homosexuality is natural is like saying that criminal tendencies are natural. These are not natural but human aberrations of most dangerous kind. Homosexuality has already become the harbinger of death of at least 40 million people that have died of AIDS so far. Its legalisation will surely lead to more people succumbing to it with greater spread of AIDS and other sex related diseases. There is a need to sexually isolate the HIV infected rather than legalising homosexuality in the name of AIDS so that they do not spread HIV to others.” (Dr. Javed Jamil, Homosexuality is the biggest killer – Real and Potential: 12 Jul 2009)
Radiance laments the spineless decision of the Indian judges to reverse the constitutional provision that punishes unnatural sex, in strong terms:
“Through the most retrograde verdict, 2 July, declaring Section 377 of Indian Penal Code (which punishes unnatural sex) as violative of the fundamental freedom of ‘gays’, the Judges of Delhi High Court have made a significant contribution to expediting the ongoing phase of the country’s ‘cultural catastrophe’. If the morally debased and sexually perverted people can be called a ‘sexual minority’, and, therefore entitled to the elimination of all legal barriers on their debauchery, time is not far off when they may claim the constitutional right to make the demonstration of their heinous crimes on the cross roads, and the Judges like Mr. A.P. Shah and Mr. S. Muralidhar may not hesitate to concede their request.” (Dr. Mustafa Kamal Sherwani, Anti-Homosexuality Must Promote Indian Homogeneity: 12 Jul 2009)
ON NUDISM
Nudism is the stepping stone that paves the way to sexual aggression and immoral behaviour. It encourages the mind to accept everything, from the inappropriate to the outright vulgar and perverted, as ‘natural’ and ‘normal’. A glimpse of what Radiance has said in this regard:
“The impact of western pictures on the Oriental Cine World is great and incessantly on the increase. Indian Filmdom has copied and imitated any things from them including the nudist elements…If the standards prescribed and observed by the Film Censor Board permit the present display of nudism, they have to definitely be altered and set right by Union Government urgently, so as to be in tune with the nation’s culture, dignity, honour and march towards “ideal progress” and prosperity.
The evil effects of sexual pictures on the society in general and the youth in particular need no special enumeration. From the ugly and vulgar influence of these pictures, it can be easily visualised how the mental make-up of the citizens of India will be moulded….The Indian film producers are only commercial minded. And for them display of nudism – either three-fourths or more than that – is a guaranteed means for making money.
The Union Government should curb this tendency and direct them to produce pictures with “definite purpose and constructive themes” with specified “standards and quality.” (Mannam Bala Krishna Rao, 26 Aug 1973)
Even more appalling is the new coinage called ‘sex tourism’, being promoted by western countries, aimed at destroying any vestiges of morality by converting flesh trade and prostitution into a full-fledged industry itself. Radiance reports on this alarming issue:
“Millions of young women and children from third world countries are sold across the world into sexual slavery in a trade which is increasingly international and “Industrial” in character.
Prostitution, pornography and so-called “sex-tourism” are now operated largely by mafia-type organisations with ramifications in various countries, according to members of the international Abolitionist Federation (IAF).
These same children were exported and exploited by crime networks in Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore and elsewhere. Another in Manila specialised in the export of very young to Singapore, Kuala Lampur and Tokyo.” (20 Oct 1984)
ON MORALITY IN LEGISLATION & GOVERNANCE
Morality is fundamentally what differentiates the social animal from the rest of wildlife! Morality as such has been instrumental in shaping and guiding most constitutions and religions across the world. Radiance has much to praise about the Indian Constitution:
“The Constitution of India, one of the world’s best constitutions, has streaks of morality. Its spirit is moral. But morality as such is dormant. It is between-the-lines. Let this ambiguity go lock, stock and barrel. After a national debate on the subject let us, our Parliament amend the Constitution and give it a moral edge, moral overtones, moral orientation and moral ambience. Let this amendment being proposed by the Muslims of India be incorporated in the “basic structure” of the statutes.” (Dr. S. Ausaf Saied Vasfi, 17 Jan 2010)
CONCLUSION
Radiance presents its arguments in a very balanced fashion, without undermining its standard. We perceive it at times, to be speaking as a true representative of the Indian society; at times it talks to us as a social worker, discussing problems, solutions, and obstacles; and yet at other times it steps into the shoes of a scholar, teaching us morals, ethics and values. The most striking fact is that Radiance has emphatically addressed problems with a multi-dimensional approach: from social, political, economic as well as religious perspectives. Most journals and magazines discuss solutions to problems from merely academic point-of-views, which can never provide the complete picture or appropriate resolution. Radiance gives us not just the grassroots reality of the matter, but also provides a concrete, authentic Islamic perspective, without which all discussion would be mere beating around the bush!