Radiance, a weekly published regularly since its launch in the summer of 1963, is as relevant today as it was 50 years ago.
The post-Partition era of the 1950s and 1960s were trying times for the Muslim community in India. Today, it’s no better. Then, Muslims were suspect on political grounds. Now, they carry an added tag of ‘terror suspects’.
Although communal riots were common and discriminations against Muslims were widespread 50 years ago, secular forces were strong enough to challenge the communal elements. There were political parties and politicians who would stand for democratic values and follow certain principles in public life. Caste and communal calculations did matter, but those were not the only considerations for engaging in politics.
In today’s India, nothing is off-limits. The line between secularism and communalism is so blurred that even the communist parties appear to have lost direction. The credentials of the so-called secular Congress Party with regard to Muslim issues are also doubtful. When it comes to Muslims, the entire nation led by our national media starts behaving like police, prosecutors and the judge. Muslims and terrorists have become synonymous. Mere suspicion is ground enough to detain and torture any Muslim, especially the youth. In the name of national security, excesses have become commonplace and considered fair. Our national media is so carried away by the nationalistic zeal that it has become an accomplice of police and security agencies in its discrimination against the community. No sooner a Muslim suspect is arrested, our newspapers and private television channels start portraying him or her as terrorist and traitor.
Hindi newspapers have traditionally been anti-Muslim. They either ignore the community in their reporting or portray it in a negative manner. English-language newspapers were more professional and generally secular and balanced in their reporting. Of late, a good number of them have taken a position that is compromising their professionalism and, in the process, antagonising their Muslim readership.
In this background, the Muslim community needs to have as many media outlets as possible. But the situation is so hopeless that the 200-million-strong community does not have the resources to run a major daily newspaper even in Urdu, the language spoken by the community in North India. Currently, we are witnessing a new trend wherein non-Muslim tycoons are buying Urdu newspapers. Dailies Inquilab of Mumbai and Azad Hind of Kolkata, both pillars in their respective areas, have already gone out of the hands of their Muslim owners.
Radiance was launched as an English-language weekly. In normal circumstances, this should have been converted into a daily newspaper in 50 years time. But again, the situation is so pathetic that its mere survival is being celebrated as an achievement.
Fifty years ago, Radiance was the only English-language periodical for the Muslims and by the Muslims of India. Today, there are quite a few more news sources – from print to online. But almost all of them are the result of individual efforts, with limited resources and unlimited apathy of the community. Therefore, the survival of all new ventures depends on individuals’ zeal and ability to bear the monetary and emotional losses.
Radiance, on the other hand, is a well thought-out effort of an organisation with a strong ideological base and nationwide network of members and sympathisers. It was launched as a forum for an alternative discourse on issues concerning the Muslim community and the Indian nation at large. Its ideological tilt apart, it has served the purpose of conveying the sentiments of the community. It has also served as a reference point for experts and intellectuals interested in knowing the thought process of the community. It continues to fulfil this need.
As Allama Iqbal, the Poet of the East, has said: Ek Bulbul Hai Ke Hai Mahw-e-Tarannum Ab Tak; / Us Ke Seene Mein Hai Naghmon Ka Talatum Ab Tak. (But yet there uncompanioned sits a lonely bulbul, all day long;/ Its throat a‐throb with music still and pouring out its heart in song.)
[The author is Adjunct Faculty with the Department of Mass Communication at Sharda University. He has previously worked with The Times of India and other English-language dailies]