It has become fashionable to blame the present-day socio-economic ills of Indian Muslims on their neglect of modern education and preference for the Madrasas which lay greater emphasis on religion than on modern science, resulting in their inability to compete on equal terms with their non-Muslim compatriots. The National Commission for Minorities (NCM), on the contrary, tells a different story. In its latest report on "educational and socio-economic problems of the minorities in India," the NCM affirms that "the gradual dilution and suppression of the rights guaranteed under Article 30 of the Constitution is the biggest reason for the total lack of educational development of the minorities."

Two questions are often asked: One - Who is responsible for the "ghetto mindset" of Muslims? Two - What are the special problems faced by the Muslims in India, which are not common to all people? An attempt is made here to look at these questions squarely and dispassionately, and seek answers.

... Partition caused incalculable harm to the Muslims left behind in India. They became acutely conscious of having to battle it out to prove their credentials in the new dispensation in which they had become "indigestible meat". In the early years after Partition, disturbing comments were often passed by their compatriots, even by some senior political leaders, such as "you got your share of the country," which hurt more than a bullet wound. This attitude of the majority community virtually created a "siege mentality" among Muslims, which, till today, is hard to overcome.

... One of the major differences bedevilling the Hindu-Muslim relations in recent times is the issue of the Uniform Civil Code. Muslims believe in an all-embracing, unambiguous and strict moral code, "exactly as it was revealed in the Quran and taught and practised by the Holy Prophet." ... The resistance of Muslims to any change in their personal law by an external agency rises from their strong faith in the Quran and Shariat. Any initiative for reform, if any, in the Islamic code, in the light of modern ideas and in keeping with the spirit of the Quran, must come from within the community and it is essential that the issues of reform and uniformity are delinked.

Moreover, Islamic personal law in no way affects the interests of any other community ...

Some time ago, Saeed Naqvi, eminent columnist, re-examined a whole list of issues ... connected with Indian Muslims and arrived at the following conclusions:

*In all controversies involving Indian Muslims, there is a wide gap between fact and perception.

*In a communally polarised situation there is tremendous willingness on the part of the majority community (and the media) to believe the worst about Muslims.

Once a controversy has been created, the silent majority among the Muslims does not stand up to overwhelm the lunatic fringe or those who seek to exploit the foibles of Muslims.

Fact and Perception Some major issues that fall under the same category are:

(a) Fact: The contribution of Indian Muslims to the defence of the country and to the promotion of national interests cannot.be minimised. Perception: Indian. Muslims have "extra-territorial loyalties".

(b) Fact: No judicial enquiry commission report has fixed the responsibility for starting a communal riot on Muslims. All such reports remain unimplemented and no offender was punished nor victims compensated. No errant official was also awarded exemplary punishment. Perception: Muslims always throw the first stone.

(c) Fact: Muslim representation in Government services and public service undertakings presents a dismal picture. (In the police and para-military forces, it is less than three per cent; none among 146 top business houses; two to three per cent in all-India services; bank employees 2.18 per cent; 28 Muslims in the 12th Lok Sabha of 541 and one-fourth of their population ratio in the State Assemblies. There are 14 States which could not send a single Muslim to the Lok Sabha) ...

Perception: Muslim appeasement; pampering the minority. (The jargon frequently used is "minorityism"). A number of resolutions passed by the National Integration Council, the Prime Minister's 15-point programme for the prevention and control of communal riots, representation in services, socio-economic and educational development of the minorities etc., the Gopal Singh Penal report and the Gujral Committee report (on Urdu)'still remain on paper.

The Maulana Azad Educational Foundation ... promised by Indira Gandhi more than three decades ago was actually created in 1989 and the first grant of Rs. 5 crores was given by the Central Government in 1993.

... Today, the Muslim community of India is "a rudderless ship tossing and turning at the whims of the wind." The Muslims are in search of a good leader. They want a leader who can tell them that Islam is not a pillow to rest upon but a belt to be girdled round the waist so that they are better able to strive for excellence in a highly competitive society. They want a leader such as Sir Syed, Maulana Azad and Rafi Ahmed Kidwai ...

As for the present-day leadership of Indian Muslims, this is what a poet has said:

"Kis ko yeh fikr hai ke qabiley ka kya hua,.

Sab ko yeh fikr hai ke Sardar kown ho."

(Source: The Hindu, 7 September, 1999) [Former Ambassador of India to Saudi Arabia]