SOCIETY

Sociologist Mumtaz Ali Khan On Caste-System in Muslim India

There is no caste system as such in the Muslim society. The status of purity and pollution is not governed by the birth of a person. There are no restrictions on food. What food one can take or avoid is common to all, irrespective of their social or economic status. The restrictions are based only on Halal or Haram.

Similarly, there are no restrictions on the occupational choice of Muslims. There is no pressure exercised by one group over the other that persons of one group should undertake certain type of occupations or avoid such type of occupations. Muslims as a group are free to choose their own occupations.

Muslims are free from the imposition of restrictions in their movements or social interactions. They can reside in any area, visit any area at any point of time. The question of purity and pollution does not arise.

All Muslims are equal in the eye of Islam. There are absolutely no religious restrictions. Any Muslim can visit any Mosque or Madarsa. While offering prayers in a Mosque or any other place of religious institution, there are no prohibitions or restrictions on people based on birth or status.

Islam does not permit a Muslim to believe in the doctrine of Karma. What Muslims have achieved in their life is only due to their own efforts. Deprivation is due to one's negligence or carelessness. There is no relevance of previous life to Muslims

But there are some ground realities which lend valuable support to the contenders that Muslim society is not free from the operation of caste system. An objective analysis and assessment are needed here.

The division of the Muslim society into Sheikh, Syed, Moghal, Pathan, Patwegars, Quraishis, Nadafs has added fuel to their fire or salt to the wound. It is definitely a matter of shame that we have fragmented the Muslim society, whereas Islam ensures a perfect egalitarian society. Whereas, in Islam there is no room for differences between neo-Muslims converted from the low-caste Hindus and those from the high caste Hindus.

Social equality prevails. Nevertheless, there will be some social reservation on inhibitions in matters relating to matrimonial alliances for some time.

(Source: Islamic Voice, May, 1997)

Hindu-Muslim Fraternisation in Kerala

Vasudevan Nambudiri donated .04 acres of land from his property to construct the Masjid, when he came to know that the area for the mosque was not enough while his 80-year-old neighbour, Hajjumma, readily agreed to part with 0.90 acres of land when a devaprasnam' conducted by a committee of the temple showed that the 600-year-old temple required renovation.

These acts of benevolence generated a lot of enthusiasm amongst those involved in building the mosque at Karkidakam Bilal Juma Masjid and renovating the Manikkoth Siva temple in Mankada. Work is progressing at an extremely fast pace here. This atmosphere of communal harmony that permeates the village has its roots in the past. The tradition of communal harmony continues undisturbed in Mankada.   

(Source: The Indian Express, 19 March, 1997)

Window-Dressing?

In a country (Pakistan), where the general perception is that the Muslims of India have all been confined to the ghettos, the fact that India's chief justice happens to be a Muslim, Justice A.H. Ahmadi, has come as something of a surprise - a pleasant surprise, one hopes. It is also not generally known that several governors of India's states happen to be Muslim and that even an arch Hindu revivalist political party, the BJP, has prominent Muslims among its office-bearers. It would be quite unfair to suggest that all this is part of India's clever window-dressing.

(Source: The Dawn, Karachi, 12.3.1997 &Courtesy: The Communal Combat, May, 1997).

'Tainted' Politicians Turn to Godmen

Godmen, tantriks, astrologers and priests are much sought after these days here, thanks to the fodder scam the scam has veritably opened new vistas for them, providing them with enough 'fodder' for undertaking religious rituals and magical spells. And their new-found clients are mainly those politicians enmeshed in the scandal, besides those who are out to exploit the prevailing uncertain political situation to the best of their advantage.

Laloo Yadav has drafted the services of Swami Siwaji Singh alias 'Satellite Baba' to ward off the evil spirits that are threatening to unseat him. The Satellite Baba is at present engaged in performing Shiv Bhakti Mahayagna in a village situated on the border to the Raghopur Assembly constituency of the CM. The Yagna, which began on May 9, will conclude on May17,

The Satellite Baba challenged that the CM would not quit and would survive the political crisis. He pointed out that due to biased reporting in the media in connection with the fodder scam, the CBI officers' mind got confused and diverted.' The Baba even maintained that several Ministers had approached him directly or indirectly for appointing them to the CM's throne. Baba claims that he was instrumental in deflecting the danger zeroing on the Chief Minister towards Nepal and Pakistan, as a result of which the Deuba Government in Nepal and the Benazir Government in Pakistan fell Mahanta Jaiprakash Bharti, popularly known as Naga Baba, organised a 'Maha Vishnu Yagna' at Sabalpur Diara in Sonepur for the chief Minister. The day the CM went to Sabalpur to participate in the opening of the Mahayagna, the CBI Director announced that he had given his consent to prosecute him.

Interestingly the CM in the happier days, used to take a special pride in deriding the ritualistic practices prescribed by the priests to their clients. The Chief Minister who used to often boast that unlike Dr. Jagannath Mishra, he never wore finger rings and stones is now firm believer. Laloo Yadav now sports seven finger rings, perhaps to weather the political storm, has almost made habit to visit the Sitla Mata temple at Agam Kuan in Patna. Besides walking stick carries possesses talismanic charm of a tantrik.          

(Source: The Hindustan Times, May 15,1997)