(Pervez Bari): If Muslims remain negligent as the 12th Five Year Plan unfolds and continue to remain in the same mode while the 13th Plan also comes and goes then they would be pushed to the rock bottom of the social structure. From there it would take hundreds of years to retrieve and extricate themselves to place them higher up in a respectable position in the social order.
The 21st Century has brought new problems, ideas, icons & civilizational aspects, a qualitative change from the previous century for which people, particularly the Muslims, are least prepared. Rapid educational development in the form of technology is becoming the real power of the States. The States are withdrawing from welfare services, education etc. Those spaces have to be filled by the groups coming from civil societies. The absence of the State from civil amenities affects the poor most.
The above observations were made by Maulana Mohammad Fazlur Rahim Mujaddidi, chairman of SEE, (Strive for Eminence and Empowerment), while delivering the key-note address in a seminar on “21st Century’s Socio-Economic Challenges” organised here on Sunday (September 30th) in the industrial city of Kanpur.
Mr. Salman Khurshid, Union Minister of Law & Minority Affairs, presided over the seminar in the absence of Hazrat Maulana Syed Mohammad Rabey Hasani Nadwi, Rector Darul-Uloom Nadwatul Ulema & president All India Muslim Personal Law Board, who could not grace the function due to ill health.
Mr. Prakash Jaiswal, Union Coal Minister, was the chief guest at the programme. Mr. Zaheeruddin Ali Khan, Managing Editor of Hyderabad’s Siasat, Urdu daily newspaper, Mr. Mohammad Azam Khan, Entrepreneur of Hyderabad, Mr. S. M. Hilal of Foundation of Civil Liberties, Mr. Akhtar Husain Akhtar, Dr. Jameel Ahmad and Dr. Suhaib Ahsan of Kanpur were guests of honour on the occasion. Many important dignitaries, academicians, social activists, NGOs and delegates from all over India participated in the programme. Ms Samra Sultana made a Power Point presentation on Elementary Education.
The seminar was organized under the aegis of SEE and was held at Ragendra Swaroop auditorium in the Civil Lines locality of Kanpur. At the outset Qari Mohammad Ilahi recited verses from the Holy Quran. Mr. Mohammad Iqbal Khan, Director, Crescent Academy, Delhi, who conducted the programme with aplomb, at the start made introductory remarks about the seminar.
Continuing Maulana Fazlur Rahim said: “Roti, Kapra aur Makaan” the basic dreams of the 20th Century, have been replaced by Quality Education, Health & Economic participation. Indian economy is the fastest growing economy of the world after China. Its GDP at factor cost at constant (2004-05) prices in the year 2010-11 is now estimated at Rs.48,77,842 crore. The Muslims and other weaker sections missed the bus as is clearly reflected in Sachar Committee Report (2006) & Justice Rangnath Mishra Report (2008).
In a such a scenario the Maulana exhorted Muslims to make it a political demand/agenda and ask their members of Parliament (MP), members of legislative assemblies and Corporators about their welfare. They should act as a Millat and not as individual/group/Bradaries. They should look at the deliveries and not commitments made by the people’s representatives or government of the day, he added.
Mr. Salman Khurshid in his presidential address said that Muslims are second to none as they have excelled in every field nationally and internationally in the past. Muslims laid down their lives in India’s freedom struggle which cannot be matched by any other community. However, with the passage of time Muslims became complacent and have slid down the social order to be at the last rung of the ladder.
Mr. Khurshid urged Muslims to help themselves by adoring with jewel of education and positive thinking to claw back and be abreast with other communities in all walks of life. Only the gem of knowledge and education can turn the tide in their favour, he added.
He lauded Maulana Fazlur Rahim Mujaddidi as a visionary with a mission and acknowledged that whatever he has conveyed through his keynote address, he could not state as a Union Cabinet minister due to constraints which he, however, did not spell out.
Speaking on the occasion Mr. Prakash Jaiswal admitted quite frankly that after hearing Maulana Fazlur Rahim’s keynote address his perception about the problems of Muslims has changed. He felt dumb-struck at the statistics displayed by the Maulana, a product of Madarsa education, in his key-note address pin-pointing under what head and how much the Muslims need funds to extricate themselves from the morass of illiteracy and poverty.
Eulogizing Maulana Fazlur Rahim, Mr. Jaiswal said these statistics of the Five Year Plans are usually understood by the bureaucrats alone and the political clan and even ministers like him are blissfully ignorant about it. He admitted that he has been in the dark about the intricacies of the 11th Plan and what it has achieved. Similarly, what is envisaged in the 12th Plan, he does not know.
Overwhelmed, he candidly said that without the progress and development of 20 per cent Muslims India cannot become a Super power. Otherwise it would remain only a pipe dream, he added.
He announced on the occasion that from today from his MP funds he would allot 25 per cent more to Muslims in their development works. He profusely assured to implement whatever has been said in the seminar.
Mr. Zaheeruddin Ali Khan made a Power Point presentation on the Waqf land scandal in Andhra Pradesh and the activities of Siasat Group in the social sector. He urged Muslims to stop begging forthwith and realise their importance.
Mr. Mohammad Azam Khan also made a Power Point presentation urging to remove the hurdles of the 11th Plan in the 12th Five Year Plan. Mr. SM Hilal said due to weaknesses in the delivery mechanism the 12th Plan may also suffer the same fate as that of the 11th Plan. So, the Muslims and other weaker sections must try to understand the delivery mechanism to keep tab on the welfare schemes meant for them, he added.
Meanwhile, Mr. Salman Khurshid released a book entitled “The Minorities And the 12th Five Year Plan” by Maulana Mohammad Fazlur Rahim Mujaddidi on the occasion.
It may be mentioned here that the seminar was webcast live on http://www.cacademy.org with link http://96.125.174.63/~devtechn/projects/jamiya/
while the ETV Urdu also telecast the programme live. (pervezbari@eth.net)