Book :Muslim Vision of Secular India: Destination & Roadmap
Author: Dr. Javed Jamil
Page: 352
Price: INR 540
Publication: Misson Publication
Preview by Syed Zubair Ahmad
This is no longer a hidden fact that the Indian Muslims are faced with problems on all fronts – be it social, economic or political – and they no longer enjoy their deserving place in the country. There is a long list of issues and problems, their protection is at stake and they are leading a very deplorable life from social and economic point of view. There has been a general realization during past few years that the Sachar Committee and the Ranganath Mishra Commission have encircled the issues and problems plaguing the Muslim society to a large extent but these two reports have become victims of politicization.
What shall be the role of Muslims in their dear country India that is progressing leaps and bounds on daily basis, what shall be their destiny and the approach map to reach it, what shall be the basis of their progress in the light of Muslim and Islamic viewpoint and analysis, and what shall be the parameters of growth and progress in the light of Islamic rules and within the framework of Indian constitution – these are some of the salient features of Dr. Javed Jamil’s latest book titled “Muslim Vision of Secular India: Destination & Roadmap”. The book is an upgraded and modified version of the document under the same name, which was released about three years back in the midst of huge enthusiasm in the community.
The approach paper is important because it is the first comprehensive approach paper for trying to analyze the Muslim Perspective of India’s goals of development and developing a national level multi-faceted, holistic strategy for the socio-economic empowerment of Muslims within the parameters of Islam, Indian culture and national interests, The paper not only makes a critical analysis of national policies and presents a Muslim perspectives of the direction in which the growth is taking place in the country, it also critically analyses the problems of the country especially related to economic disparity, erosion of human values, spread of social evils and overriding negative impact of economic forces; and critically analyses the problems Muslims are facing and discusses the various issues involved. It covers almost all range of issues from religious education to modern education, employment, absence of Muslims in corporate sector, problems in medium and small scale industries, issues related to Islamic Finance sector, urban developmental issues, rural issues, health issues, importance of NGO sector, empowerment of women within Islamic framework, social and security issues, issues related to media and many more.
It presents a plan that views Muslims as second largest majority capable of influencing all the policies and programmes being pursued in the country; but at the same time it regards them as “minority” in India from the constitutional point of view which should be given all the rights that are their due in that capacity. Again it emphasizes that, as poor and deprived, Muslims are part of the majority of the country which remains poor and deprived in almost all walks of life.
The Approach Paper also discusses in detail the ideological perspectives of the issues confronting the country and the community; and argues for a planning that combines ideological and practical approach to achieve the ultimate objects in minimum possible time.
Another point that the paper highlights is that the development of the country cannot be complete unless (1) it involves and benefits all the sections of society in an admirable way; (2) it takes along with it all the communities of the country without anyone of them feeling alienated, discriminated or left out; (3) It covers all the regions and states of the country; (4) It gives an equal emphasis on urban and rural development; and (5) It ensures that the growth and development take place without erosion of the moral values, strong family system, social peace and Indian cultural framework. It presents a plan the Way the Approach paper of the Planning Commission presents covering all the aspects of Muslim life. The paper argues that we should make a plan without compromising the basic principles of comprehensiveness, simultaneity and distribution of work followed by sustained monitoring and reassessment.
A salient feature of the paper is the facts and figures that are collected from several sources and their analysis for arriving at the possible solutions. It has covered not only the Sachar Committee and Rangnath Commission reports but also recent studies like the Kundu Commission Report and analysis by Saleh Shariff. It argues that the political empowerment of Muslims should occur in a way that not only Muslims get a due share in governance but they play a proactive and meaningful role in all the national and international affairs. It wants Muslims to develop into a dynamic, globally thinking community, aggressive in making efforts on all fronts not only for their own development but also for the establishment of a purer, healthier and more peaceful country as well as the world.
The Approach Paper gives more emphasis on Solution rather than merely analyzing the problem and suggests more innumerable measures in various fields. It emphasizes coordination between the governmental and community institutions as most of these measures require efforts at both the levels. He talks of empowerment on four fronts: Ideological, Social, Economic and Political. The success cannot be achieved unless Muslims focus both on their own role as well as the role of the government. While dealing with ideological empowerment, he gives an aggressive response to the machinations of the forces of Hindutva.
Dr. Javed Jamil’s book will surely be studied with great optimism. It remains to be seen up to what extent the Government of India make use of this report. A blueprint or rather a roadmap to the progress of Muslims in the country has already been prepared and it is upon the decision-makers to see that adequate measures are taken for its implementation. The concluding remarks by the author are worth reproducing here:
“This paper is in effect a preliminary description of Muslim Vision of India. India of their dreams is the leader that guides the mankind to developing a healthier, purer, and more prosperous and more peaceful world, with the fruits of development reaching every human being living anywhere in the world irrespective of his caste, colour, creed and faith. Muslims do know that, despite having emphasis on certain aspects of development, their vision is not entirely different from the vision of their fellow countrymen belonging to other religions; and this is why they have reasons to feel confident that their vision of India will be realised one day with the support of all Indians. Indians on the other hand need to realise that India cannot reach its destination until Muslim becomes active partners in this pursuit. Muslims need the support of their countrymen and the countrymen must not fail them.”
As a muslim myself,I have a question for Mr.javed jamil
“Isn’t it a hypocrisy of majority of Muslims to demand for a secular
Laws in a country where they are a minority communitybut demand for a Islamic state and Sharia rule if they are in majority”
This is happening all over the world
Nida,
It is clear that you are not a believing Muslim. The other day you were supporting homosexuality. It apperas that you are a liberal, leftist. Now coming to your question:
1. India is already a secular country. Muslims are not demanding it. India is a secular country because the majority of Indians wants it to be secular. The day the overwhelming majority of Indians will think the other way, it may not continue to be secular.
2. There are a large number of Muslim countries where despite overwhelming majority, Islamic Constitution is not in force.
3. Where the majority of the country is Muslims wanting to have an Islamic constitution, they have every right to have it.
4. Leftists want leftism to prevail even where they are in minuscule minority.
dr. jamil, with all due respect, what does a question has to do with someone’s belief? either you answer or ignore it. her question is why do you demand secularism in india? You have also justified with your answer above that its is majority’s right to demand as they please in any country then why complain.
So we Hindu can have a Hindu countries becoz we Hindu are majority
Mr.javed jamil,
How can you come to a conclusion that I m not a practising or believing Muslim,
Just because I asked you a question and gave my opinion on LGBT community, you decided I m not a believing Muslim, NO your wrong I m a believing Muslim
Any islamic countries with they Sharia laws or rule doesn’t bother me, I am a Muslim and I was born in India so I m more worried about my nation, in my opinion Saudi arabia is not a good society,I m not bothered about them,as a Muslim it’s Mecca and Medina I respect I love,but as a India I hate Saudi Arabia because they don’t support India on Kashmir issue,
But I do like a country like Tajikistan which is now a secular country,they lerned from they past mistakes and separated religion and government,
Why I am telling this is,Muslims in India always depend upon government schemes, we depend on govt for haj subsidy,
You said India should be secular, then haj subsidy should be stopped,
In indian constitution the word SECULAR was added in only 1974 but India was secular before that also because the majority of people in this nation were and are not only secular but also liberal minded
Name few Islamic countries which has peace and prosperity, very few,how many noble prize people from Islamic countries have won…very very few for a population of morre than 1.5 billio npeople
Read my book, “Muslims Most Civilised, Yet Not Enough” and you will find answers to all your questions.
A practising Muslim cannot hate an Islamic rule.. the true one, not like Saudi Arabia.
Muslims have already called for no to Haj Subsidy. You must also read y coming book, “Muslim Vision”, and you will have answers to all the questions regarding the role of Indian Muslims. In a secular country, Minorities have right to demand certain steps the way other deprived communities are getting. But I am in favour of Muslims making their own efforts as well, in addition to demanding their genuine rights.
I thought you were not a practising Muslim because it is liberals, not practising Muslims, whop in one or the pretext support all human weaknesses including alcohol, gambling, prostitution, homosexuality, etc. But if you say you are a practising Muslim, you will have to revise many of your ideas.
@javed jamil sahaab….its clear from all the comments of a certain nida ahmed…that she is not a muslim but a hindutwadi coward masquerading as a muslim liberal…there are quite a few on this forum……its just that you have to “sniff” their sole aim to discredit muslims and islam ..by any possible way….my humble request is just to shun this hindutwadi troll…and concentrate on your noble mission…regards Akbar from mumbai.
Mr.javed jamil
Ok you say we cannot hate a Islamic rule if we are a Muslim,right,
But Mr.jamil we live in 21st century we cannot see everything through a religious perspective, if u say Islamic Sharia rule is good but it’s totally against we women,e.g:Iran,Saudi Arabia
Show me one Islamic country which is developed,advanced or where education is good, sports excels,
As a Muslim I m more concerned about my country not about other Muslim countries, then that makes me a bad Muslim
I hate Pakistan from my heart so that makes me a bad Muslim
No not at all
Mr.javed jamil
Have you read some of the comments made by our community members which are so offensive and abusive against other religions and against India,highly influential people like yourself should advice them not to be so ignorant,
We as a community should change our mindset and major religion s of the world has gone through reformation, even what I read in daily news paper about our Indian Muslims where always complaining about everything from politics to policies to business opportunities, we have become a complaining community not a competitive community, Right now change in thinking is important to live peacefully,
@javed jamil sahaab…this validates my comment to you about a deceitfull hindutwadi…who felt “pricked”…about the abusive offence…but this self assumed “muslim liberal” has nothing to say when hindutwadi scums such as -rss..hindu …patriot..naveen singh appear with highly offensive and abusive comments against our holy prophet..muslims/islam….i appeal to you – jamil sahaab in all my right sense NOT to reply to this hindutwadi chanakyaa….after all negative and spitefull garbage against muslims/islam is ..condoned …by this maukautaa “muslim liberal”…..after all …birds of same feather flock together ( such as rss..hindu…naveen singh …patriot and this deceitfull – muslim liberal )…..hell to hindutwaad.
Yes Nida you are correct. As an educated muslim I personally feel that all the muslim should open their eye. As a borned Muslim I should respect to Koran and Allah. But simultaneously as an educated Indian i should think more about India from a social prospective. We need to educated our community.
Mr.javed jamil
I hope you read the comments posted by one Akbar,
Is this the way to decide who is a true Muslim and who is not,
Being a Muslim if I question your readers conclude I m not a Muslim, is this right Mr.jamil,
The greatest enemy of we Muslims are ourselfs,ignorant fool you are Mr.Akbar
Let me .javed jamil decide if my questions and comments are not valid and are worthless, I ll quit reading and commenting in this magazine
1. I never support any offensive remarks made by anyone including Muslims against any other religion. While Muslims have also engaged in such things, the truth remains that the offensive remarks made against Muslims and Islam far outweigh the opposite.
2. Religion with emphasis on morality rather than identity is far far superior to any other modern ideologies including capitalism and leftism both of which have sacrificed morality for the sake of economics. The deaths related to immoralities like alcohol, gambling and sex kill more people every year than any other form of violence. But the so-called liberalists support them in the name of “freedom”.
3. I am in favour of all religions uniting on the grounds of common moral, family and social values and launch an onslaught against the so-called liberal ideologies that seek to turn humans either into animals or machines.
@javed jamil sahaab…..well thought and balanced reply from an just and respectfull momin…again i wish to repeat if you observe and analyse the comment of this sanghi chanakyaa named nida ahmed…it all n everything spears and arrows at muslims………but such hindutwadi trolls are all over the social media nowadays…spitting venom at muslims and thereby “proving” their patriotic credentials…copy catting their kissing cousins – zionist jews of internet haganah..but personally i commend your efforts in promoting the true spirit of islam….may your tribe increase…AMEEN. i would like to share with you a website – oxfordislamicstudies.org…a mine of info for islamic researchers….and one line reply/ackhnowledgement of my reply will be highly appreciated….salam n regards – Akbar from mumbai.
Thanks Akbar Bhai. I will visit that site.
I appreciate your sentiments and approach.
Was Salam
Assalamu alaikkum
Dear Sir,
Firs of all congrats for your hard work to publish this valuable book.
My humble suggestion is please translate this book all regional Indian languages for the benefit of the whole Muslim community in INDIA.
Wassalam.
mr.javed jamil
you did not answer me on many questions,you av answered only on offensive comments made in MM,but your logic that others also use foul language so nothing wrong in we replying with same foul language lacks wisdom,just a small example
“if a dog bites a human,does he bites back the dog”
No but he avoids the dog
mr.javed jamil
I have great respect for you and I wanted to ask and clarify many things for you but your more interested and appreciate people like mr.akbar who talks like a jingoist,so I av come to know that in MM jingoism prevails over sensible conversations,
I am really disappointed
my comments are still pending moderation, muslim mirror is not giving any reason for delaying the post.it should take action immediately.
Still waiting for a reply from Mr.jamil
Nida,
I had said that if you read “my book “Muslims Most Civilised, Yet Not Enough”, you will get all the answers — about the strengths and weaknesses of Muslims and about how chaotic the so-called Western world is. I dont have time to enter into debate here.
You read these two books, and you will Insha Allah have all the answers. I am not one who looks aside from Muslim problems. I believe in comprehensiveness. While I criticise West for their ideology based on economic fundamentalism, their wrong policies leading to huge crime rates in their society, their massive commercialisation of human weaknesses leading to millions of deaths every year, their extremely dangerous role in wars and civil wars leading to 180 million deaths in the last century, their policies of hegemony etc but I also appreciate their technological advances.
Regarding the Nobel question and everything else, better learn to read books and spend some money. No more communication here.
with profound apologies, i have seen your book, its a piece of garbage.
Why your suggesting to read books written only by you,
Refer me some other source and author’s books,
Like a westerner( as you say) ur marketing ur own books
180 million deaths,
Lifestyle is a personal preference,
Deaths because of lifestyle and habits is a personal choices of people,its their life, but terrorists av no right to kill fellow human,
Unfair justification, it’s irrelevant ,
This is no way to justify the dastardly acts of terrorism, any kind of terror,