Shahabuddin's Letter to The Organiser, 11 February, 2000

Apropos Shri J.C. Bose's letter "Minorityism in Secular Bharat" (Organiser 21 February, 2000) the Muslims in India, do not constitute a nation but they do constitute a distinct religious community. Their self-conscious identity as a religious community does not detract from their duty or right to be 'equal partners to transform India into a strong and prosperous country' This transformation does not require the various identifiable sections of our people - identified by religion, caste, race or language - to lose their identity or to assimilate themselves into the dominant religion, caste etc.

Every identifiable community, whether a religious or a linguistic or a regional or a caste group - participates in politics not only to serve the people as a whole but also to protect and promote its legitimate aspirations and interests. This cannot be dubbed as 'communalism' or 'separatism'. Simple majority rule works in a homogenous society but when there is scarcity of resources and there are many identities in a heterogeneous and plural society it does not work. This is because a majority associated with a religion or a language or a caste etc. tends to become a permanent majority and becomes unmindful of the rights, interests and aspirations of the other groups which constitute minorities.

The Muslim community, which constitutes the largest minority group, has its own family laws and customary practices, based on, and inseparable from, its religion. Hence a democracy which treats all religious groups equally, has to respect such laws and practices. Indeed the Hindu community has its own Hindu Code.

Apart from this, the Muslim minority does not enjoy any special rights and privileges which are not available to the Hindu majority. The right to establish educational institutions of their choice is available to all religious groups in practice. There is no such thing as Minorityism - it is a figment of the majoritarian imagination. Minorities which are well treated are a source of strength for the nation; only when minorities are ill-treated or oppressed or sought to be assimilated against their will, does Balkanisation loom on the horizon. If the rights, interests and aspirations of various communities are not protected, it may lead to emotional Balkanisation, even when physical Balkanisation is not possible.