I wonder why Indians are always talking about Pakistan whilst in their own country minorities are leaving the HOLY land that is called HINDUSTAN!!!??
Indians often boast about their largest democracy and just system of governance. Unfortunately the ground realities tell us stories which are contrary to Indian claims. The real face of Indian democratic system can well be explained by minorities in India who cannot practice their faith freely. They are rebuked, tortured, intimidated and coerced to show allegiance to Indian union at the cost of their belief system.
The controversial national song of Indian union called Vade Mataram contains phrases which are touchingly negative for the Muslims and their belief system. Since Indian Hindu extremists are too powerful therefore they force the Muslim minority of India to recite Vande Mataram even if it is against their belief system. The real democratic system caters for all its citizens irrespective of their faith and allows them to practice their faith freely.
Recently Mr. Odey Thakray the President of Shiv Sena has warned the Muslims of India to leave India and go to Pakistan as they were against Vade Mataram. As per the details on 3rd November 2009, Deoband School of Thought held a congregation which was attended by over 300,000 Muslims and Indian Home Minister Chidambaram was also invited. During the process Muslim clerics directed their followers not to recite portion of Vande Mataram which was considered un-islamic and contrary to the Muslim faith. Shiv Sena a Hindu extremist group could not digest such a dissent and therefore reacted fiercely by issuing a warning to the Muslims of India to leave India and go to Pakistan if they do not accept Vande Mataram.
Thakray’s stern warning to the Muslim minority of India was no surprise to the keen observer as it indicated the Hindu mindset against Muslim minority in India. In fact it reflected the old history behind Hindu-Muslim rivalry and clearly defined parameters of two distinct nations in India “the Muslims and the Hindus”. These two nations have divergent characteristics and distinct approaches to life. For example cow is a sacred God for Hindus and they worship it while Muslims treat it as a Halal animal whose flesh is consumed in the human food after it is properly slaughtered under the name of God.
The concept of God in Muslim faith is entirely different than idol worshiping Hindus. Their cultural norms and mores are absolutely different from each other. This was exactly what Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Allama Iqbal and other intellectuals of the time felt and a concept of two nation theory in India led Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah to get a separate homeland for Muslims where they could freely practice their faith without any check. Jaswant Singh has recently tried to reject the two nation theory in his book India-partition-freedom citing political errors made by Pakistani leaders and their followers. Would he just introspectively study the real face of Hindu nation and then ask himself realistically as to what were the real causes of creation of Pakistan? The answer will be that Hindu and Muslims are two different nations having different faiths, cultures, values, civilizations and social norms. Indian partition was based on two nation theory and the ground reality confirms it.
If Indian Muslims have no faith in the contents of Vande Mataram they will never recite it even you compel them forcefully. Resultantly India will see more violence between Hindu and Muslims. Suggesting Muslims to go to Pakistan and leave India is too awkward for a politician to say. May we suggest to Mr. Thakray to rise to the occasion and give a separate piece of land to the Muslims of India and let them live there as a separate nation causing no harm to Vande Mataram.
In fact Indian political leadership has always been unfair and unjust in its dealings to demonstrate the true social norms and values of democracy. The subjective and qualitative complexities of Indian politico-social moorings suggest that there is wide gulf between rhetoric and practice. In other words it is a system of extreme or classic hypocrisies in which maintenance of double face is the key to success or survival. The power motives with a special design of hegemonic ambitions dictate rules of the land. The poor and the weak have to remain meager and servile while the elite mighty maintain the status quo. Any change is considered a threat to the norms of democracy and hence the poor Muslim minority, cannot have a sense of any optimism in their lives. They are frequently rebuked and intimidated to live like a second rate citizens of India. This is certainly a black spot and a filthy mark on the face of Indian democracy.
Odey Thakray ??