Saturday, August 18, 2012

Political Iftars in India and its variations abroad

A new version of Iftar dawah is spreading all over the US, where Muslims are inviting prominent locals and other Catholic and Jewish leaders to come and break fast with them in their mosques, Islamic centers and even homes. This development should be a welcome initiative in view of the 9/11 backlash being unleashed by Islamophobe extremists. Favorable comments after such interactions are promoting Iftar in a different light than it is being observed in India. The more surprising developments in India is Iftars organised by US consul in Modi's Gujarat. People are skeptic if US is not about to promote Modi with a view to regime change in India. Even Israeli Ambassador organized an Iftar in Delhi, with very appropriate words dug out from old history, when Jews and Muslims used to respect each other's religious sentiments. Of course, with the present situation prevailing in Israel and Palestine, Indian Muslim would never be fooled by such empty diplomatic gestures.

Ghulam Muhammed, Mumbai
<ghulammuhammed3@gmail.com>

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http://www.timescrest.com/opinion/hunger-games-8578

The political iftar party

Hunger games

August 18, 2012

 


Over the last four decades or so India has ended up lending a unique flavour to the Islamic observance of Ramzan fasting. While collective fastbreaking is customary among Muslims, non-Muslims laying out an if t a rspread to Muslims is a uniquely Indian practice, and quite a novelty at that too. So novel, in fact, that it's gone viral across the globe with even the President of the United States now hosting a lavish iftar at the White House.
The Indian tradition of an if t a rparty hosted by a politician has now acquired so much cachet that it is a routine fixture found on the official social calendars of our president, prime minister, most chief ministers and many governors. Hundreds across the nation now plan for and throw iftar bashes (and that's counting only the 'big' dos, with public dignitaries in attendance) in the Islamic lunar month that has a maximum of just thirty days. Logically, there's a big rush for suitable dates. In the event of clashing iftars, the potential host's power and clout equations immediately kick in. And quite like many of our rather frequent Bollywood award functions, where the same old faces and identical itineraries render most rather stale, no one wants to miss too many if t a rparties either.
There's also a widely accepted template. Crisp white kurta - pyjama sand Muslim skull caps are found in plenty at all parties, while the menu would almost always showcase some mughlai cuisine, and desserts would include firni or shahi tukras. But these are not rigid. There have even been pure vegetarian iftar parties, like when Vishnu Kant Shastri was in the Lucknow Raj Bhavan, for instance.

However, most crowding the tables this ramzan may not know that the first ever 'official' if t a r was probably unintentional in some ways and the fallout from a political exigency. Back in 1974, H N Bahuguna had just become the chief minister of UP and had to deal with a big sectarian clash in Lucknow between Shias and Sunnis. Such election riots were customary back then and probably originated in a famous clash - during local polls - between Syed Ali Zaheer (a Shia barrister with the Congress) and Chaudhary Khaliquzzama (a Sunni taluqedar with the Muslim League) in the 1930s, which required the CM's intervention, and began a trend of such clashes that lasted well into the 70s.
Bahuguna too wanted to successfully broker a truce between Lucknow's Shia and Sunni leaders. However, Ashraf Hussain, the fiery Shia leader, was not amenable to the terms of the settlement proposed. The highly temperamental Hussain refused to meet the CM on the pretext that he was observing the ramzan fast. Bahuguna, known for coming up with many a wise stratagem, offered to break his fast with him.

Hussain found it hard to deny the offer. But then organising the eatables for that iftar became a pressing concern. One Abbass, who was the city magistrate of Lucknow and also happened to hold charge of the Hussainabad and Allied trusts (the erstwhile royal endowment trusts of Awadh) was called to arrange the if t a r items from the royal kitchens, which routinely held free iftars for the needy. This impromptu Bahuguna iftar had fruits, sharbat, sheermal, kababs and Lucknowi biryani. Later on Bahuguna held another, better structured iftar at his official residence, a practice he adopted after that day.

And then, in the initial months of the Emergency, Indira Gandhi sacked Bahuguna but picked up the if t a rcustom and quickly used his Lucknow-specific initiative to assuage aggrieved Delhi Muslims by throwing an iftar party for many who had suffered police excesses at Turkman Gate during one of Sanjay Gandhi's infamous anti-encroachment drives. The rest, as they say, is history - of loyal Congressmen religiously following this tradition year after year. 

Like namaaz, iftar too showcases the basic Islamic feature of equality. Ostensibly, anyone can sit and eat with anyone else, so seating is evenly arranged to denote such Islamic egalitarianism. As Iqbal famously wrote: Ek hi saf mein khade ho gaye mehmood-o-ayaaz/ na koi banda raha aur na koi banda nawaz ( while offering namaaz, Sultan Mehmood and his slave Ayaaz stood shoulder to shoulder in the samerow / removed wast distinction between them as terand the slave ). But official status supersedes the basic etiquettes of if t a r many a time --as it has in the past in many well-known instances, and continues to do so at functions today too. But being a Congress invention, the if t a rculture remained exclusive to Congress circles for a long time. Other parties or political leaders did not really host any. It was only when they came to power at variousl levels that they began to pick up the custom from official social calendars. To stick with UP, the iftar party's birthplace, one candidly remembers Mayawati's first public iftar some years ago. Nadeem Mazhar, then a BSP activist, introduced 'behanji' to iftar culture. Unlike the usually elitist composition of guests at iftar gatherings at Lucknow's Hotel Gulmarg, that event was austere and largely attended by more common folk. It was quite refreshing. But the tokenism inherent in our political iftar parties is still mostly an elitist affair, sadly. Nevertheless, Muslims across the nation do see these overtures as significant statements on Indian secularism. Some do shun it though, and are often quickly seen as unkindly disposed to Muslim sentiments. Narendra Modi is a good example.

The writer is a Mumbai - based lawyer and commentator.

"Zero Tolerance" of Times Of India

TIMES OF INDIA' DOUBLE GAME CLEARLY EXPOSED THAT ITS OWNERS AND EDITORS ARE SHAMELESSLY FOLLOWING THE LONG DISCREDITED 'TWO NATION THEORY' AND ARE BENT TO WRECK INDIA'S INTEGRITY, SOVEREIGNTY AND SECULAR POLITY, IN THEIR VAIN AND MISGUIDED HOPE OF FISHING IN TROUBLED WATERS.

AS CORPORATE MEDIA THEY CERTAINLY HAVE FULL RIGHTS TO THEIR NEWSPAPER POLICIES, BUT THEY SHOULD BE BETTER AWARE OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF SOWING DIVISIONS AND INSTIGATING STRIFE IN THIS MULTI-CULTURAL, MULTI-RELIGIOUS AND MULTI-ETHNIC NATION..

MUMBAI'S MUSLIM RAGE RAMPAGE AT AZAD MAIDAN PICKED UP EVEN MEDIA AS ITS  TARGET, WHICH IS A DEPLORABLE ACT IN ANY SENSE OF THE WORD. HOWEVER, THIS SHOULD NOT PREVENT THE MEDIA, ONCE IT HAS FINISHED WITH ITS SELF-DEFENCE LITANY, TO PONDER, HOW BIASED AND PREJUDICIAL IT HAS BEEN; MISUSING ITS INDEPENDENT CORPORATE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES, WITHOUT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ITS CAPABILITIES, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES TOWARDS BUILDING OF A PEACEFUL NATION.

IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL, TIMES OF INDIA HAS TAKEN UP LK ADVANI'S 'PIOUS' LINE THAT THE PRESENT RIOTS IN KOKRAJHAR ARE NOT BETWEEN HINDUS AND MUSLIMS, BUT BETWEEN INDIANS AND FOREIGN MIGRANTS. TIME OF INDIA HAS USED THE WORDS 'BANGLADESHI MIGRANTS', SUMMARILY MISUSING ITS FREEDOM OF PRESS PRIVILEGES, TO CALL INDIAN MUSLIMS AS BANGLADESHIS, WITHOUT FOLLOWING ANY DUE PROCESS OF LAW; IF NOT ANY NORMS OF DECENCY.

JUST A POLICE COMMISSIONER ARUN PATNAIK HAS MOUNTED THE AZAD MAIDAN PODIUM TO REMIND MUSLIMS OF THE 1992/93 RIOTS, IT IS TIME, TIMES OF INDIA TOO BE REMINDED, HOW ANOTHER AZAD MAIDAN MOB HAD EARLIER MADE AN UNPLANNED DIGRESSION, WHILE DISPERSING FROM THE MEETING AND ATTACKED TIME OF INDIA BUILDING, INFLICTING THOUGH ONLY SYMBOLIC DAMAGE. ONLY TIMELY SWIFT POLICE ACTION SAVED IT FROM A MAJOR DISASTER.

AS THE PRIME OPINION MAKER OF THE NATION, IT MUST REALIZE ITS NATIONAL AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES OR THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD STUDY THE DESIRABILITY OF NATIONALIZING OF THIS NATIONAL ASSET THAT IN THE HANDS OF MISCHIEF-MONGERS IS BECOMING A DISTINCT THREAT TO NATION'S COMMUNAL HARMONY AND PEACE..

GHULAM MUHAMMED, MUMBAI
<ghulammuhammed3@gmail.com>

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---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Abdul Hameed Yousuf <ahameed12@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Aug 18, 2012 at 11:21 AM
Subject: {13794} "Zero Tolerance" of Times Of India
To: nrindians@googlegroups.com
Cc: bazmeqalam@googlegroups.com, voiceofaligs@yahoogroups.com


Recently The Times of India wrote two editorials: “Zero Tolerance” (TOI, Aug 14) and “Stop the Persecution” (TOI, Aug 16).
In the first editorial it has taken a stand about the persecution of the Rohingya minority in Myanmar, i.e. “India has no control over events in foreign countries”
But in the second editorial that is related to persecuted Hindu minority in Pakistan it suggests that “the ministry of external affairs must forcefully take up with Pakistan the issue of better treatment and protection of its minorities”
Question: If the government of India can be suggested to take up the issue of persecution of minorities with the Pakistani government, why can it not be suggested to do so with the government of Myanmar?
Both the minorities are facing discrimination, intimidation and maltreatment which should be should be stopped with immediate effect. It is surprising why the TOI adopts dual standard to the two human tragedies: the persecution of minorities in Myanmar and the persecution of minorities in Pakistan.

Here are the two editorials
Zero Tolerance 

Crack down on ethnic rioting,whether in Assam or Maharashtra 

Saturdays violent protests in Mumbai,leaving two protesters dead and over 60 injured,have raised serious concerns about the citys police and law and order management.And it also shows how combustible the Assam situation is if not contained,violence could spread to other parts of the country as well,particularly states with large migrant Bangladeshi populations.The Centre shouldnt treat the Assam riots as happening in a remote part of the country,and therefore of relatively low priority.This is an era of instant communication and violence can easily spill across state borders.There have been instances where northeasterners have been harassed in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.The Union home ministry,in coordination with affected states,must put in a zero-tolerance policy with respect to ethnic violence,no matter who the perpetrator is or in which state it is happening.Its only when authorities send the message that its serious about stemming violence that the anarchy will stop.
One of the curious elements behind the Mumbai rioting is that they appear to have been instigated by mass distribution of text messages and video clips relating to atrocities in Myanmar.A protest organised by the Raza Academy and Madina Tul Ilm Foundation appears to have gone out of control,with large crowds gathering and a section of them going berserk.Its up to community leaders to calm tempers by emphasising the obvious,that India has no control over events in foreign countries.Its one thing to protest peacefully and quite another to engage in arson and rioting.Intelligence also needs to be beefed up in a sensitive city such as Mumbai.


Stop The Persecution 

New Delhi must take up with Islamabad the question of ill treatment of its minorities 

The recent spike in the influx of Hindus from Pakistan highlights the growing tide of extremism in that country.Over the last week,several batches of Pakistani Hindus have travelled to India on 45-day religious visas.But after crossing the border,many families have made plain their intention to stay on and apply for permanent Indian residency.Narrating stories of harassment,forced conversions and persecution at the hands of Islamists,their unwillingness to return to Pakistan is an indictment of that countrys state machinery,which has failed to protect its minorities.Cases such as that of 14-year-old Manisha Kumari who was kidnapped and forced to convert to Islam are not only un-Islamic,they also place the Pakistani government in a bad light.
It is not as if Pakistans intelligentsia is apathetic to the plight of its minorities.Several social activists such as Asma Jahangir and Ansar Burney have long been working for the protection of minority rights in Pakistan.However,Pakistan has witnessed a progressive shrinking of its liberal space and a Talibanisation of its society.The assassinations of politicians Salman Taseer and Shahbaz Bhatti last year for opposing Pakistans oppressive and anti-minority blasphemy laws exemplify this point.Only determined action against extremists and a re-evaluation of anti-minority biases in Pakistani state institutions as well as educational curricula can remedy the situation.With Pakistani Hindus landing at Indias doorstep and asking for asylum,the ministry of external affairs must forcefully take up with Pakistan the issue of better treatment and protection of its minorities.


Abdul Hameed Yousuf

 Bangalroe

9535226784
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