Adv. Masood Peshimam
The constant notation of 4 recruits to Daesh or Islamic State from Kalyan is being blown out of all proportions which is an aberration. The parents and relatives of these recruits were not in the know of the developments.
It is not understood as to how these boys in the teeth of escalating materialism have risked their lives and their costing families comfort with the practical affiliation to the IS in Iraq and Syria.
Once again these IS recruits have captured the limelight with the video release by Daesh featuring Fahad Shaikh and Aman Tandel threatening to bringing war to India. In the video Fahad Tanvir Shaikh is heard speaking in Arabic talking of avenging the demolition of Babri Masjid, killing of Muslims in Kashmir, Gujarat and Muzaffar Nagar. The identity of Fahad Tanvir Shaikh is not yet identified as well doubt about authenticity of the video prevails. There remains the question as to whether this development is to create disharmony and discord between the two communities in Kalyan which is otherwise much comfortable
The comfortable relations between the two major communities can well be explained by the fact that one distinguished Ayurvedit Doctor Bhau Sule has financed the Haj of one Muslim Advocate.
Another prominent leading personality Vijay Pandit, the passionate fan of Urdu poetry organises Mushaira and Kavi Sammelan with the help of Urdu poet Afsar Dhakni and Vijay Pandit has equally arranged the Haj felicitation of another Urdu poet Israr Muztar at Sonowne College in Kalyan. The instances of Hindu Muslim unity and fraternity galore. The cosmopolitan culture of Kalyan would always help in saving the youth from being radicalised and getting extremist. The city’s cosmopolitan culture is credited to have bolstered and positively impacted in developing the secular culture.
Kalyan was the traditional focus of disorder which is no more the case. Even the interaction of Muslims with the police is fairly good quite evident from the fact that a lot of Muslim young boys are enlisted in the police mitra or police friend the concept propounded by the Maharashtra D.G. Pravin Dikshit to assign the duties to the young boys to involve along the police in curbing the growth of crime. The Bazar Peth Police station in Kayan is quite enthusiastic in implementing the directive of the Maharashtra D.G. Recently a meeting by Bazar Peth Police Station in Kalyan was held in Pandit Wadi addressed by Inspector Survanshi. In the said meeting I was one of the speakers suggesting the police to further motivate the youth to cooperate the police not only in curbing the growth of crime but equally making the environment free from communal venom and hatred. The meeting was graced by the Hindus and Muslims both. The good relation of both the communities were not affected by the senseless rhetoric by the I.S.
Formerly Kalyan continued to remain in the news for Muslims raising protest over the issues concerning them. Now the Muslims of the city despite being concerned and sensitive over the injustice done to the community but there is not much of protest like Bhiwandi & Mumbra in vicinity where they are very loud and vociferous.
In the teeth of this scenario the question of the Muslims being influenced by the IS or Daesh propaganda does not arise. The local corporator Kashif Tanki said that every Friday prayers at the Masjid, the Imam warns everyone to stay away from such groups and asks parents to keep an eye on what their children are doing online. Significantly the Imam of Kaba during Haj pilgrimage asks Muslims to shun and avoid extremism. Imam of Kaba’s articulating his concern against the growing extremism is good to note. However the fact remains the extremism of other communities is not less dangerous. Much worse the false arrest of Muslims in the name of combating terrorism. Muslims by and large in Kalyan are not at all susceptible to the pernicious campaign of Islamic State. Instead they have not liked the four boys risking their lives and embarrassing their parents. Hence given this situation the Imam asking the youth to desist the participatory format of Dash or I.S. though good appears to be out of tune with the grass root reality.
Extremism in any form or shape is never in national interest be it Muslim, Hindu or any other for that mater.
India is a vibrant democracy where the people irrespective of any considerations defeat the nefarious designs of the unscrupulous communal forces and that alone would defeat the unhealthy stuff released by the I.S.