By Dr. Aslam Abdullah
Among the ruling elites of India comprising mainly people of the so-called upper castes is the growing notion that India is meant to be ruled only by people approved by them or from amongst them. They believe as propagated by the Hindu nationalist organization the Rashtriya Swayam Sewak Sangh (RSS) that Christians, Sikhs, Muslims, Buddhists, Jains, and even pagans were forced to renounce Hinduism and renounce their belief in the supremacy of Hinduism and Rama and Krishna, the two deities whose origin and existence is part of the Hindu folklore. Since non-Hindu religious minorities were forcibly converted, hence, it is the obligation of upper castes to bring them back to Hinduism and make them pronounce the glory of Ram and Krishna.
With 30 percent of Indians belonging to non-Hindu religious minorities and some 50 percent coming from the castes described lower castes and tribes described scheduled, the task of reconversion is a monumental task. But this is the task that the RSS and its affiliated groups have given a priority.
I am an Indian by birth and I was born in a Muslim family. I have no reason to believe that my forefathers came from Arabia or Central Asia. I have no hesitation in accepting the Hindu heritage of my forefathers. I am not aware if they were forcibly converted from Hinduism to Islam. But what I can say is that I validate their conversion and admire them for believing in Islam and passing on to their generations till i was born. Now it is my obligation to live their legacy and commitment and pass it on to my next generations.
I admire them for their decision to accept Islam because that was the only avenue available in India in those dark ages to live as dignified human beings. As members of non-upper castes, I am sure, many of the peers of my forefathers were living the miserable life like the people designated as lower castes by Hindu religions. They were living outside the pale of human civilization. They had no dignity. Their job was to serve the upper castes in every possible way. Their women were like sexual objects for their men. They were not allowed to protest if their daughter or wives or mothers or sisters were raped. They were not allowed to even visit the areas of the upper caste unless they have to remove their feces and dirt. They were not allowed to drink water from their wells. They were not even allowed to visit the temples to pray to deities. In fact, the tradition of killing a low caste person for reading the holy scripture set by Rama was there to perpetuate the religiously sanctioned in humanity.Manu Smiriti, the book that degrades lower castes, was the law of the day.
In this inhuman and choking condition, Islam came with its ideals of equality, humanity, and prosperity. It told people that human beings are equal and people cannot be termed as low and high based on their birth. People achieve a higher status in the eyes of God because of their good deeds and upright character. It told them that women are not the property of anyone. They have an independent identity and are equally responsible for their action and life. It told them that religious institutions are not to be monopolized by people claiming to be upper castes. It told them in the eyes of God all are his creation and no one is to be deprived of his or her dignity because of his or her birth. It challenged the false notion propagated by the upper caste Hindus that menial jobs are to be performed only by the lower caste. It demolished the idea that birth status has anything to do with the nature of work people choose to do in life. It liberated them from the injustices their forefathers had lived for thousands of years in the name of God and his message.
It was the right decision of my forefathers to abandon a faith that divided human being into low and high based on their birth. I have no hesitation to admit that over the years, many of my forefathers succumbed to the menace of Hindu hierarchy and they created the false divisions of Ashraf and Azlal. They promoted discrimination on the basis of their birth. They went against the decisions and intentions of their forefathers.
My forefathers did not accept Islam to prove their superiority over others. They accepted Islam because they wanted equality, respect and dignity, and upper mobility in life in every sphere even in religious matters.
So the upper castes have no right to question me or my forefathers. Because we believe that by accepting Islam, we strengthened India as a country that stands for equality, justice, and humanity, something that Hinduism, as promoted by those who shout Jai Sri Ram, cannot offer. The very fact that religious minorities are being forced to say Jai Sri Ram is itself a proof of the intolerance and hatred such groups show to God and humanity.
I am glad that my forefathers did not accept Ram as a glorified one because of his killing of a lower caste as reported in Ramayana. I am glad they renounced Hinduism. I am glad, that they used their conscientious to liberate them from the bondage of upper castes. I hail their decision and I stand by them. I will never say Jai Shri Ram and I will proudly declare that my forefathers did the right thing to challenge the upper caste hegemony on God.
I believe that I am not alone in my assertions. Muslims of India in general support this position. There are millions and millions who reject Hinduism because of its castes and disrespect to human beings who do not belong to the upper castes.
Yes. You are right, Sir.
So very true.
Well written…
Even if a Muslim says Jai Shri Ram and dies, he is still a martyr of Islam and goes to highest level of Paradise as he/she is being killed for the faith in his heart.
Secondly, these bhagwa murderers kill and burn mercilessly even if you say Jai Shri Ram.
So Muslims have to protect their lives, dignity and property themselves in self-defence.
Because police is surprisingly booking cases onto the dead and burnt Muslim victims and govt is rewarding murderers openly.
We hear (in day-dreams) Tabligh Jamaat having a good ten lakh followers all over India have decided to start helping community in forming a quick first-response defense network against mob-lynching through whats app locally.
How brave and intelligent of Moulvi Saad and other shoura moulvis? But he speaks only Awadhi dialect….Kaam sabse badaa! Nizamuddin duniyaa me sabse paak jagah!
Asad Owaisi bhai is doing his Bol Bachchan work nicely. He couldn’t boycott fraud EVM elections for greed of 2 seats and saving brother. Now he is a topi-Sherwani show-piece in Parliament.
Also Jamaat e Islami Hind is still sleeping and cannot give continuous dharna at important govt offices in Delhi, Supeme court, collectors offfices with peaceful satyagraha protests as taught by Gandhiji to make Central govt hang the murderous bhagwa terrorists for inhuman mob lynchings of Muslims and Dalits.
Why don’t you come forward and set an example
Muslims have very cruel and barbaric legacies, infact we can call the muslims as the asurs emerged out of middle east some 1400 years ago. Then they invaded indian subcontinent plundered it they massacred the non muslims and raped their female ones, mass conversion took place for the fear of death. There are lots of persian plunderers who invaded india Mohammad bin qasim , Mhmood gajnavi, Ahmad shah abdali, Mohammad ghori and many more , they all were demons who were thirsty of the human blood. It is said that then the Bakhtiyar khilji(pimp of Mohammad Ghori) torched the great NALANDA University , it burned for 6 months. The history of muslims traces its roots from those bloody acts done on hindus centuries back. The present scenario in india which is hindus against muslims is only due to the legacy of the Muslims, every non muslim in india knows that once the muslims make their population above a certain limit , they will declare INDIA a Muslim Republic. I appreciate indian govt for enforcing the acts like CAA, NRC because there are millions of muslims who have illegally trespassed into india, they must be deported for ensuring the safety of the indian nationals.
Sirf gine chune logone India ko loota tha, I mean like,teri hatheliyon pe, baki sab to India me settle hogaye. Aur Muslim to in logon se pehle se India me phuche. Aur agar mass conversion hua hota to sabse pehle upper caste hindus ka hota aur bhai rape ki sajha quran ke hisaab se sidha maut hai aur nalanda ६ baar jali thi bakhtiyar khilji ne aakhri baar jalaya tha, aur uske baad bhi nalanda chal rahi thi, main reason ye tha ki nalanda ek buddhist university he, naki hindu university, aur tere baat se to aisa lag raha hai ki tu upper caste wala hai kyunki tu koi hindiu rashtra nahi banayega sirf brahmin rajya banayega.
Sirf gine chune logone India ko loota tha, I mean like,teri hatheliyon pe, baki sab to India me settle hogaye. Aur Muslim to in logon se pehle se India me phuche. Aur agar mass conversion hua hota to sabse pehle upper caste hindus ka hota aur bhai rape ki sajha quran ke hisaab se sidha maut hai aur nalanda ६ baar jali thi bakhtiyar khilji ne aakhri baar jalaya tha, aur uske baad bhi nalanda chal rahi thi, main reason ye tha ki nalanda ek buddhist university he, naki hindu university, aur tere baat se to aisa lag raha hai ki tu upper caste wala hai kyunki tu koi hindiu rashtra nahi banayega sirf brahmin rajya banayega.
This Pakistani wants to divide India and rule again after fall over of Mugals. He is trying to distort facts and writing fake information to break India. This type of terrorist and traitor must be killed on immediate basis. Our Army is doing well by eradicating such goons on day to basis.
Why people are forcing others to chant their mantra like JSR etc. Is this a norm of democracy. Not heard anything like this in Western World. Christians are not forcing us Indians to chant their mantras. Not in Arab World to say by force their religious Azaan. Why only in India after the arrival of BJP rule? Does Hinduism teaches this, to force others to chant JSR? Why this hypocrisy on minorities?
Why people are forcing others to chant their mantra like JSR etc. Is this a norm of democracy. Not heard anything like this in Western World. Christians are not forcing us Indians to chant their mantras. Not in Arab World to say by force their religious Azaan. Why only in India after the arrival of BJP rule? Does Hinduism teaches this, to force others to chant JSR? Why this hypocrisy on minorities in India.
The Author seems to have limited knowledge about Hinduism.
1) I agree that Hindu caste based system has made Dalits to convert to another religion. But your forefathers accepted Islam not because of equality, respect & dignity but they were forced to convert into Islam. This is because your forefathers had several options like Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism etc. & these religions are much superior than Islam but still due to fear of death by Mughal Empior they had to convert into Islam. It means every Indian muslim should keep in the mind that your conversion is forceful only. Anyway.. but if you are happy with Islam now.. stay in Islam itself.
2) Author said that Ram killed lower caste person. I think author has no knowledge about Hindu scriptures. Ramayan & Mahabharat has been written by 2 sages Valmiki & Vyas resp. & both of them were not from upper caste. Hindu Vedas have been written by Vyas whose mother was fisher woman. Most of Hindu sages were from lower caste. Thus before Kaliyug started, hindu had caste system but it was based upon your Karma & not where you born. However, in Kaliyuga caste system was based upon your birth & this is the reason of Hindu downfall. Thus, Hinduism has no so-called caste based system that makes injustice to low caste people. However, now the things are changing.. Hindus have started to dissolve this caste based system & efforts being taken to unite Hindus together.
How dare you you idiot, valmiki and vyas ate both upper caste brahmin, don’t you have fear, Upper caste will kill you for spouting nonsense.
Thank you for this read. I am agnostic, so just want to share my unbiased nature in this response. Couple of things you got wrong- our ancestors (yes, ours) all came from Africa. Some before and some later. As we all mixed, we settled in India. Yes, the Mongols (mispronunciation: Mughals)came and forcefully converted some of them because one of the Mongols had converted to Islam. So yes, your lineage was initially forced. Regardless, Islam is a beautiful religion. In the mythology of Ramadan, Ram was a lower caste compared to Raavan who was upper caste. Again, it is a story. A story used by Aryans to propagate the religion of Hinduism, that shares similarities with Romanian and Bulgarian mythology. It’s pretty cool stuff if you care to research it all. Bye and take care.
Ramayan*
Everything false
jai shri ram is a cheap sentence if anyone wants heaven then be a muslim and read all the kalimahs
Alah is cheap sentence people those proud of their religion islam just want to say ur past has make ur religion more prone to harm and terroism . Jai shree ram .
Tell me reading Bhagavad Gita and following Shri Ram how many innocent were killed and I’ll tell you by reading Quran (reading only few pages which boggles mind as reading a demon 😈 possessed book) how many innocents were killed.
Tell me reading Bhagavad Gita and following Shri Ram how many innocent were killed and I’ll tell you by reading Quran (reading only few pages which boggles mind as reading a demon 😈 possessed book) how many innocents were killed.
Hundreds of Thousands of people become Muslims (according to Various Statistical Agencies, Pew Being one of then), AFTER READING THE DIVINE REVELATION, THE GLORIOUS QUR’AN.
Hopefully, If you read The Divine Revelation with OPEN HEART AND OBJECTIVE MIND, then you will also accept Islam.
From the very beginning ( Days of prophet Mohmad) the convesion to muslim was mostly under the sword. In India many kings were converted under sword. In Persia all were converted forcibly and few parsis left dispersed to India. The history of muslim rulers are a barbaric saga of cruel killing. In fact history is full of barbaric rulers with muslims leading the way.So the probability of the author/s forefathers converting under force is more than their leaving Hinduism due to torture oh upper caste Hindus.Had that been the case no higher caste Hindu would have convetred, but that is not the case. So, most of the cases of conversion were f under threat.
But all these historical facts does not give right to the present ruling faction and their follower to persecute minorities in the name of Honduism, the most tolerant religion of all . The spirit of the constitution must be upheld with the government treating all citizens equally.
The Muslims also should introspect and should not treat others as kafirs and declare jihad against them.
The authors view on lord Ram are wrong. He has a little or no knowledge of Ramayan. Nothing is going to change if anyone want to be a Muslim or Hindu. Everyone has right to believe and practice whatever they want. Important thing is to be a good human. No one can guarantee that which religion people are much better than other because it depends person to person. Every one has common sense and voice of his/her inner soul which tells us what is wrong and what is right. Religion is a way for human kind to learn how should we live a better life. Religious books are just like researches done by our ancestors from years and their leanings are great. we should learn from them and respect them irrespective of religion.