The Times of League October

8/3/2019 The Times of League October

1/7

October - 2011

Maharastra Honours G.M.Banatwalla!

National Unity

Communal Amity

Cultural Identity

Social Justice

Rule of Law

Dignifi

ed Democracy Volume : 1 Issue - 10 Dulkhada 1432 October - 2011 Pages - 8 Monthly Price : Rs. 10/- Annual Subscription : Rs. 120/-

THE TIMES OF LEAGUE

The Mumbai Corporation hasdecided to name a chowk after

late Gulam Mehmood Banatwala,

former parliamentarian and

president of Indian Union Muslim

League. The crossing of Ibrahim

Rahmatullah Road and Ibrahim M

Merchant Road will be named as

G.M. Banatwala Chowk on 16th

October.

G.M. Banatwala (15 August

1933--25 June 2008) served as

Loks Sabha member for seven

times and represented Ponnani

(Kerala) constituency from Indian

Union Muslim League.

Eminent guests at the naming

ceremony will be E. Ahamed,

National President IUML and

Minister of State for External

Affairs & HRD, Prof. K.M. Kader

Mohideen, Ex MP and General

Secretary - IUML, Milind Deora

MP, Murli Deora, Former UnionMinister, E.T. Mohammed Basheer

MP (Ponnani), Abdul Rahman

MP (Vellore), Amin Patel MLA &

President - Maulana Azad Finance

Corporation.

A brief about G.M. Banatwalla

(15 August 1933--25 June 2008)

His family, the Memon Family,

emigrated from Kutch of Gujarat

to Mumbai of Maharashtra. He was

born on August 15, 1933. His wife

was Ayesha, who died in 1998.They had no children.

He was a College Lecturer

early in his life. Then he gave

up his profession and came to

politics and became a great active

politician. He was elected to Lok

Sabha seven times from the

Ponnani constituency of Kerala.

He made the record of more time

elected Member of Parliament,

from Kerala same as Mr. Ibrahim

Sulaiman Sait. He entered politics

with his great speech both in Urdu

and English. He was known as an

Educationist. In 1960, he became

the General Secretary of Muslim

In the same period, he was a

corporation Councillor in Mumbai

Corporation. In 1977, 1980, 1984,

1989, 1996, 1998 and 1999 he

was elected from the Ponnani

Constituency of Kerala. In 1986,

he brought a private bill and

which made an Act of the Muslim

Women Protection of Rights on

Divorce Act, by the Rajiv GandhiGovernment. Later, he became the

State President of Muslim League

of Maharashtra.

In 1973, he became the

General Secretary of Indian Union

Muslim League together with

C.H. Mohammed Koya Saheb.

Banatwala became the President

of Indian Union Muslim League in

1993.

Banathwala was a member

of the All India Muslim Majlis-

e-Mushawarat, Kutch Memon

Jamaath, Muslim Personal LawBoard, Aligarh Muslim University

Court, etc.

League of Mumbai. In 1962, he

was a candidate to the Legislative

Assembly from the Umarkhadi

Constituency of Maharastra, but

he was defeated just for 400 votes.

But in 1967, he won from the same

constituency and became the first

member of Muslim League in the

Maharastra Assembly. In 1972,

he repeated his victory to the

Legislative Assembly.

An Unvailing ceremony Ghulam Mehmood Banatwalla Chowk was held on Oct 16, 2011 in Mumbai City. The Ceremony was organised by Mumbai

Corporation. The unveiling of the name was done by IUML National President and the Minister of State for External Affairs and Human Resource E.

Ahmed in the presence of the farmer Central Minister Murali Deora. The parliament members Milind Deora, E.T. Basheer and Abdul Rahman and

other degnitaries graced the ceremony.

Unveil ing Ceremony of Banatwalla Chowk - Mumbai


2/7

October - 2011

2THE TIMES OF LEAGUE

Editor

THE TIMES OF LEAGUEA Harmony of Hearts Monthly

Since the political harvest from Ram MandirYatra, in 1990,did not last long, the disappointed veteran BJP leader Lal Kissan

Advani, launched yet another yatra called Jan ChetnaYatra. The

entire nation was horrified to witness the consequences of the

Ram Mandirrathyatra which resulted in sparking communal riots,

demolition of Babri Mosque and the killing of hundreds of innocent

Muslims. With the polarisation of Indian society, once again he

plays his old dirty game of talking out another anyatra to arresthis political decline and strives hard to avoid his political eclipse.

This time he has chosen a weak and a boring theme for his yatra

anti-corruption and anti-black money. Indian people need no

tuition on corruption from Advani. Every saner Indian is aware

of the fact that corruption has invaded all aspects of our public

life. The constant dramatic revelations by our media to prove that

corruption has entered the highest echelons of the government and

even our defence forces are not exempt from this slow poisoning,

corruption resigns top to bottom in almost all the government

departments, the stock exchanges, the film world, the cricketing

community, the judiciary, political establishments from central

government down to local panchayat board. The 2G spectrum has

become the mother of all corruptions. Corruption has become

so beautiful, attractive and charming that almost all politicians in

power want to embrace it and kiss it. Not one Anna Hazare, even

one hundred Anna Hazare cannot put an end to this evil practice.

As the popular Tamil Lyricist Pattukottai Kalana Sundaram rightly

mentions in his lyric that, Thieves meticulously plan and steal, law

makers make laws to prevent theft, but theft cannot be prevented

unless the thief mends himself.

Let Advani look at his own house The BharathiyaJanata Party.

Let him peep into the face of his ardent followers, the authors

of the Himalayan Corruption the former Karnataka BJP Chief

Minister B.S. Yedyurappa and the Reddy brothers. Advani must

learn and understand the adage that charity begins at home. Lal

Kissan Advani, we conceive has indepth knowledge of the epic

Mahabharata and he must remember that All charioteers are not

Sri Krishna. Advani should instill in his mind that the adharmic

elements who assumed the role of charioteers ultimately earned

the wrath of divinity and perished.

Holy Quran Speaks

197. For Hajj are the

months well known. If any one

undertakes that duty therein,

Let there be no obscenity, nor

wickedness, nor wrangling in

the Hajj. And whatever good

ye do, (be sure) Allah knoweth

it. And take a provision (With

you) for the journey, but the

best of provisions is right

conduct. So fear Me, o ye that

are wise.

198. It is no crime in you

if ye seek of the bounty of

your Lord (during pilgrimage).

Then when ye pour down from

(Mount) Arafat, celebrate the

praises of Allah at the Sacred

Monument, and celebrate His

praises as He has directed you,

even though, before this, ye

went astray. It is better to learn

facts as such Forgiveness

Thus saith the Lord, Verily

those who are patient in

adversity and forgive wrongs,

are the doers of excellence.

Sayings of ProphetMuhamm ed (Sal)

Once Muhammad (Sal) was

asked, O Apostle of God! How

many times are we to forgive

our servants faults? He was

silent. Again the questioner

asked, and Muhammad gaveno answer. But when the man

asked a third time, he said,

Forgive your servants seventy

times day.

Do not say, that if the people

do good to us, we will do good

to them; and if the people

oppress us, we will oppress

them; but determine that if

people do you good, you will

do good to them; and if they

oppress you, you will not

oppress them.

Advanis RathYat raAll Charioteers are not Sri K rishna

Volume : 1 Issue - 10 Shawaal October - 2011 Pages - 12 Price : Rs. 10/-


3/7

October - 2011

THE TIMES OF LEAGUE3

MR. DEPUTY SPEAKER, Mr

Banatwalla, you have already

moved your amendment. In viewof what the Law Minister has said,

do you want to press it? He is going

to have a meeting with all the

opposition leaders after sometime.

That is what you also want. You

want an all-party parliamentary

committee to be set up If you want,

you may explain it.

SHRI G.M. BANATWALLAH

(Ponnani): We have just heard

the Minister. It its abundantly

clear that everyone acknowledges

the need for radical reforms in

electoral laws and processes.

There is no dearth. whatsoever ofrecommendations. Prof. Dandavate

was also kind enough to give us a

catalogue of various committees

and commissions which have

made recommendations from

time to time. Even the Chief

Election Commissioner has entered

the fray and has made various

recommendat ions. incuding

recommendations for identity

cards, electronic devices for voting

and counting etc., Despite the

fact that everyone acknowledges

the need for reforms and despite

the fact that there is no dearthof recommendations the electoral

reforms are still on deferred list.

I submit that this is because of

the lack of political will sustained

by a lack of national consensus. I

therefore, say that the need of the

hour today is to secure a national

consensus on this vital aspect.

That is why. I have moved my

amendment saying that an all party

commmittee be formed here and

now. Let us start this process will

sustained by national consensus

rather thatn continue to live with

all sorts of excuses. It was thelack of this political will sustained

by national consensus that we

had a very sorry spectacle in this

House. When Janata Party was in

power a Bill was introduced for the

purpose of preventing defecton and

a Member of the Janata Party was

in power a Bill was introduced for

the purpose of preventing defection

and a Member ofr the Janata

Party itself rose with the loudest

possible opposition to it and the

entire thing collapsed/ Hence I

emphasize the need for a national

consensus to start. Otherwise I am

sure that the electoral reforms will

continue to be in the deferred list.

There are various threats to the

electoral process as represented by

defective electoral rolls, the role of

money, the rigging, impersonation,

the misuse of official media or the

announcement of bounties on the

eve of elections and so on. As far

as rigging and other things are

concerned; I have no doubt in

my time that what happened in

Garhwal is a case which requires

serious study. It is, therefore,

necessary that we take all these

things into consideration. These

complaints are not new.As far the role of the money is

concerned. there were complaints

even after the first general election

of 1952 of money having played a

great role. I remember at that time

the late lamented Prime Minister,

Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, had said that

while talking of the role of money we

must not make any generalization.

He said that despite the role of

money many money-bags were

defeated at the polls and many

have-nots were elected. However.

we have to admit the fact that the

role of money is on the increasenow. Are we to consider merely

these assaults on the electoral

process? Are we merely to consider

threats to the electoral process?

Then we are far from cutting at the

root of the malaise. It is necessary

to take fundamental issues into

consideration. There is need for

proport ional representat ion.

There is also the question of

compulsory audit of the account

of all the political parties. Various

fundamental issues are there. It

is necessary to have a national

dialogue. It is necessary to havea national dialogue. It is necessary

to have a national consensus. It is

with this particular idea that I have

moved my amendment. I commend

my amendment to the House

stressing the need for a national

consensus on the consensus on the

specific electoral reforms that must

be carried out. Let us dedicate

ourselves to this task immediately.

17 November 1983

SHRI G.M. BANATWALLA,

(Ponnani): It cannot be denied

that the electoral process today

is vitiated by a large number of

shortcomings, defects and corrupt

practices. These may be the offshoot

of a crisis of character among the

so-called politicians. Nevertheless

the fact remains that there is a

lurking danger of people losing

faith in democracy, elections and

democractic institutions.

There is no doubt there is an

ubabashed manipulation of political,

economic, social and administrative

influences. There is therefore, a

need for urgent steps towards

electoraol reforms and we must

give up any attitude of complacency

or optimism based on expediencyand even a sense of despair.

There is no dearth of proposals for

electoral reforms. We have even the

proposals coming from the Election

Commission and these proposals

cover a very wide range. For a

very effective and cleaner electoral

process I must insist upon the

adoption of the proportional system

of representation. reducing the

voting age from 21 to 18, removing

of dominant role of money bags in

elections, prevention of defections

as also establishment of a full

functional control of the ElectionCommission over the Election

Departments in the States. I must

also strongly urge for a system by

which the Indian residents abroad

can also participate in our electoral

process.

The present Government, soon

after coming into power in the year

1980, promised to bring forward a

comprehensive Bill but now we are

reaching almost towards the end

of the term and the Bill is not in

sight. The process of consideration

is non-ending. We are told that

there is a Cabinet Sub-committeeand so on and so forth but then

the Minister must take the House

into confidence and let us know the

position with respect therto. I may

concede that legislation alone may

not help but as it is, the legislation

can generate tendencies, release

new forces and issue messages,

Indeed values and norms are very

important. It is, therefore, very

despairing to find, very dismal

record, I must say, to find that a

large number of defectors even

reach ministerial positions and even

the positions of the Chief Minister. As has already been pointed out

in this House, all these encourage

unhealthy trends.

The main purpose of the electoral

process is to bring into existence a

Parliament or an Assembly that

reflects the true popular will. India

is a plural socity. It is, threfore

absolutely necessary that the

electoral system adopted must

result in the existence of a House

which is a true mirror of the nation.

Therefore, I and my party always

insist upon the adoption of the

proportional representation and the

list system. It is this system thatis based on the principle of giving

representation to all sections of

opinion and is also based on the

principle that no vote is-wasted. It is

also a aystem which checks bribery

and such other evil practices.

While we are on the question

of electoral reforms, we have also

to see to it no scope is left for the

arbitrary and functioning of the

Election Commission itself. I am

here constrained to refer to the

present situtation in the two districts

of Bihar - Pumea and Katihar. The

State Electoral Officer there hasissued thousand of notices to

voters to come forward and adduce

evidences of their citizenship.

It will be shocking to know that

there has been absolutely no basis

for the issue of those notices. An

arbitrary and authoritative action

has been taken. I am told that the

present roll was simply taken and

compared with the past roll and

the names which were not there

in the past roll but were found in

the present roll were arbritrarily

selected ar random and thousands

and thousands of notices have beenserved upon the innoecent voters

over there to adduce evidences of

their citizenship.

We are told that this action has

been taken under section 21(1) of

the Registration of Electors Rules,

1960. But this rule deals with the

deletion of the names of the dead

electors and persons who cease to

be ordinarly resident: it has nothing

to do whatsoever with citzenship..

I must say that there has been

throughout the length and breadth

of the country, an increasing and

Excerpts from Banatw allas Parliamentary SpeechOn Electroal Reform - August 1981

(See Page No. 5)


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October - 2011

4THE TIMES OF LEAGUE

Though there may be injustice to some extent* and often a feelingof persecution, but the nature of our democracy is such that it allows a

person or group to give vent to their feelings publicly.

Gujarat carnage aside, it is mainly the failure of Muslim leadership to

raise real issues concerning Muslims. Otherwise the Hindu leaders and

parties in even states like Tamil Nadu which have barely 5% Muslim

votes, have championed the cause of minority and it is not just votes or

appeasement alone, which prompts them to do it.

In society, politics, media, there are non-Muslims who speak for

Muslims. Otherwise, which group has not faced injustice! * The status

of Dalits in Indian society is yet to improve much and tribal populace has

suffered most from the apathetic administration. But thats the general

problem of a bureaucracy, which is corrupt and insensitive. Muslims do

have a much better social status despite their poor financial state.

In Sports, Films, Arts and especially Indian traditional music, Muslim

representation is more than their percentage. This shows that complaint

ofbias and communalism doesnt hold much water. Of course, it is

a casteist society so there is bound to be a feeling of discrimination

experienced by each section, but Indian society is a much better

evolved society with an interaction of Hindus and Muslims for over a

millennium.

In this democracy you can shout from the rooftop that you have faced

bias at any office or any official of any rank has been guilty of partiality.

There are a range of commissions where you can complain and media

channels and a press that is absolutely free to give your story and tell

them your grievances.

And government jobs are not everything. We are lucky to have a great

advantage in free media, where if nothing, at least if you are angry,

your letter to editor can get published after a few rounds to the office. I

mean,dilkaGhubaarnikalnekekaiirastemaujuudhaiN.

If percent of Muslims is not too high in government jobs, there are

all other avenues and business. Just an incident, whatever people may

term Mulayam Singh Yadav (a majority of politicians and also public

servants are guilty of corruption and nepotism) but he dared to fire at

the KarSewaks.

In the late 80s and early 90s, the Mandir movement was so fierce that

despite any amount of lure for Muslim vote no government could have

risked that. He did and it kept the faith of many Muslims in the inherent

secular nature of this country and the fact that somebody stood for Me

and the Mosque despite all odds. And there are always voices of dissent

against any totalitarian regime. May be these are some of the reasons.I think extremism cant come to Indian Muslims because of our

democracy that may not be perfect but is still the best in the world in

many respects. Our Supreme Court is a great institution and we ought to

be proud of it. Yes, Gujarat became a fasicst state but hopefully it would

prove to be the last such pogrom. New laws against communal violence

and riots are on the cards. Compensation for riot victims and justice will

also come steadily.

When you see Harsh Mander, a brilliant person, resigning from IAS

just because he was shaken by Gujarat riots, and forming AmanBiradari

or TeestaSetalvad fighting for victims of riots, your trust in the values of

this country and society enhances tremendously. I dont think there is

any cause for Muslims to get infected by any extremism.

If people in failed Muslim countries where even organising

demonstrations and rallies is banned or even writing a blog can bedangerous, get extremist I understand but not in India. Here you can

be a Muslim of any sect, organise a rally or demo, stage a protest,

climb up a tower in Delhi to demand that India should help Saddam,

as a person had done, and what not. Remember the huge rallies on

Caricature Controversy when lakhs poured on streets in India, whether

rightly or wrongly, but can they come out in most countries in Gulf?

Thats why, I guess, a resounding No from Indian Muslims to any form

of extremism.

By : Sharique - At Indian muslim.in

Indian Muslims are away fromextremist influences because...

Conference to Focus on Muslims in US and Europe

Scholars from across the United States gathered at Indiana University (IU) Bloomington in the last week of September 2011, to share thelatest policy-relevant research and to advance discussion of research methods to study the affairs of Muslim minorities in the West.The conference, Muslims in the United States and Europe: Islamophobia, Integration, Attitudes and Rights, was held at the University

Club of the Indiana Memorial Union. One of the presenters at the free event will be Justin Gest, a Harvard College Fellow in the Department

of Government at Harvard University and author of the book, Apart: Alienated and Engaged Muslims in the West. The book looks at why some

young Muslim men become radicalized, while others become apathetic when faced with barriers to integration.

Other presenters included scholars from the University of California-Berkeley, Grand Valley State University, Middlebury College, Reed

College, Rutgers University and City University of New York. They examined the differences between how Muslims have succeeded in

integrating themselves into American society as compared to across Europe.

American Muslims, on an average, are very successful and well integrated into American society, but they face a glass ceiling in politics

and have become the target of hateful rhetoric by politicians, said Abdul KhaderSinno, IU associate professor of political science and Middle

Eastern studies, and the conference organiser. While Muslim politicians get elected more frequently and are more visible in Europe, European

societies are becoming Islamophobic. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as attempts by al-Qaeda to attack targets in the West have

galvanized anti-Muslim feelings, he said.

The conference was

sponsored by West European Studies, the Center for the Study of the Middle East, the Office of Womens Affairs and the departments of

political science and Near East languages and cultures in IUs College of Arts and Sciences.


5/7


October - 2011

tendentious propaganda of a large

number of infiltrators in various

States of our country. There has

been a tendentious propaganda,vicious propaganda, that a large

number of infiltrators are there in

the State of West Bengal, Bihar,

Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir,

and Gujarat in addition to Assam.

In Purnea and Katihar of Bihar,

the Akhil Vidyarthi Parishad recently

threatenedto launch an Assam type

of movement with respect to the

so-called infiltrators, Immediately

therearter, we find that the Chief

Electoral Officers of the State have

fallen a prey to thuis propaganda.

In this very House, when a

Calling Attention motion was beingdiscussed on the question of the so

called large scale infiltrators into

the various States of our country.

the Honble Home Minsiter, Shri

P.C. Sethi, stated categorically as

late as the 18th August 1983 that

Government has no information

about any recent large-scale

infiltration into any part of the

country. Inspite of this statement,

we find that in these two districts

of Bihar thousands and thousands

of notices are being served. I

cannot help feeling that these

notices have been served by the

electoral officers, either because

they have fallen a prey to this

vicious propaganda, or because

they want to appease elements like

the ABVP.

This is a dangerous game.The voters are being harassed,

persecuted, Illegal notices which

do not fall within the purview of

section 21 a) are being issued to

them. I cannot help feeling that

there is some collusion between the

officer of the Central Government,

the State Government and the

electoral officers in the State, as a

result of which such a distrubing

situations has come up. Now

anxiety and panic is being create in

the various States of the country.

I must appeal to the Government

to see that the these i l legal

notices are withdrawn. I must

appeal that the innocent voters

should not be subjected to this

persecution, harassment, arbitrary

and authoritative functioning of the

officers in a most illegal manner. Ihope that the categorical assurance

will be given to this House, and

through this House to the entire

nation, which is in a state of anxiety

on this particular account.

Sir, I have many things to say.

But, then I accept the punishmentthat you are giving me for being a

patient and a disciplined member of

this House. In deference to your bell

and your restlessness and with the

hope that next time you will bear

with me, I conclude with fervent

appeal that the entire question of

electoral reforms brooks no further

delay and also with a fervent appeal

that the harassement of the people

in Bihar, particularly in these two

districts, must end forthwith. the

Harassement.

MR. DEPUTY SPEAKER:

You have made the shortestspeech.

Banatwala Chowk Inauguration

(Continue from Page N o. 3)

When villagers see these two young sisters, Fatima and Jainab,teaching at a madrassa in this small village of Rajasthans Barmerdistrict, they hardly believe it. Only a handful of men can boast

of being educated in this village on the western borders of the

country.

Despite being women from a minority community, these two

have not only completed Aaleema, a religious course considered

equivalent to anything from Class 12 to graduation, but also

pursue the aim of bringing about cent percent literacy among

girls in the area!

As a result, they teach at least 100 girls these days in a madrassa

of Kharchi village, around 550 km from the state capital Jaipur.

They want every girl here to complete Aaleema like them.

Literacy rate among Muslim girls is very low in our area. Our

father had a rare dream that daughters become graduates. It didnot matter to him that we were girls. So he sent us to Jamnagar

in Gujarat for getting education, the older Jainab told IANS.

The average literacy rate of Barmer in 2011 was 57.49 %.

Genderwise, male literacy was 72.32 % and female 41.03.

After completing Aaleema, we thought we should share our

knowledge with others who are not as lucky as we were. So we

started contacting illiterate girls and requested them to join the

local madrassa, said Jainab.

Fatima says that they went from door to door to spread

awareness. The parents here are hardly willing to send girls to

school, but they were somehow convinced. Now girls from far-off

places come to study, she said.

The course is more on the religious side, but we have made

sure that modern education is provided to the girls. So the girlsare being taught computers also, she added.

Two girls, Shaharbano and Latifa, come from JunejonkiBasti

village to study. The fact that their place is 60 km away has not

kept them from pursuing their dream of completing Aaleema.

I am determined to pursue studies till I am able to complete

Aaleema, said Shaharbano, who is about 16 years old.

A Message from Prof. K.M. Kader Mohi deen EX.M.P.,

National General Secretary, Indian Union Muslim League

President, Tamil Nadu State I ndian Union Muslim League

It is heartening to learn that the Government of Maharastra, hascome forward to name a prominent road in the heart of the Mumbai

City as BANATWALLA CHOWK. As a member of Legislative Assembly

of Maharastra State and as a member of parliament for more than

three decades he has proved his prominent intellectual position in

the debates as well as the contribution to the Legislative business

of the house. His Bill on Shariat Law which was adopted as the

Government Bill by the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and it

was passed by the Parliament. The Shariat law gives security to

the Muslims religions rights, especially protects the Shariat law of

Muslims community in India.

Gentle in expression, moderate in action Banatwalla Sahib out

shone the political stars in the democratic firmament of India. In

cherishing his golden principles, the Government of Maharastra has

created a memorial in naming a prominent road in Mumbai City as

Banatwalla Chowk. Let us all thank the Government of Maharastra,

and let us all strive hard to put into practise the immortal principles

of Banatwalla sahib. I convey my Hearty congratulations to the

organizers and wish the function a grand success.

Chennai - 14 .10.2011

Two womencombat I ll iteracy


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6

THE TIMES OF LEAGUE

October - 2011

Muslims have played avery important part in the

freedom struggle of the country.

MaulanaAbulKalam Azad, Ali

brothers, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan

are a few examples. Our school

syllabi, both state and central,

cover the freedom struggle. But

how many Muslim freedom fighters

find their place in the history text

books, which are the first source

of information for the growing

generation about our past?

The number of Muslim freedom

fighters is very less in our history

text books, said K Kunhali,

principal and teacher of history,

Hidayathul Muslimeen

Yatheemkhana Higher Secondary

School, Manjeri, in Malappuram

district. Only AbulKalam Azad is

given at least a mention in our

books. Even Sir Sayyid Ahmed

Khan is presented as pro-British

and communalist. Books portray

Muhammed Ali Jinnah as the only

reason for the partition of the

country. So students have only

such an idea about our past.

Mr Kunhali says this with his

experience as the teacher of history

for years. He also talked about

the portrayal of Muslim freedom

fighters in the text books in Kerala.

MuhammedAbdurahman found

only mention in our textbooks

but more importance was given

to K Kelappan. Even though

VariyankunnathKunhahammed

Haji and Ali Musliyar fought against

the British and captured power,

their struggle for independence

has no much space in our books.

They were staunch suppoerters

of the Congress and wore qadar

(khadi). They captured power

and ruled some parts of Malabar

for about six months. At last the

British caught and executed them.

But this glorious age in history can

be known only from books other

than text books. And this happensat a time when even Pazhassi Raja

and VeluthampiDalawa are adored

by text books. Both had sided with

Congress passed the Quit India

resolution? That Azad had actually

chalked out a plan so as to avoid

the partition of the country,

which even the Muslim League

accepted?

The books of yore covered the

role of Muslims in the freedom

struggle, said Abdul Ali of Manjeri

in Malappuarm. In the late 1950s

and early 1960s, books mentioned

the Ali brothers, Dr MA Ansari,

Hakim Ajamal Khan, Khan AbdulGhaffar Khan and HazrathMohani

among other leaders of the

freedom struggle. The Jamiat

to be entered by the Europeans.

Veliyankode Umar Qadi began the

first civil disobedience movement

in the 17th century. He assembled

people through his various works

and speeches. He educated the

Muslims of their religious duty to

fight against oppressors. Vakkom

Abdul QaderMoulvi began a

newspaper Swadeshabhimani.

He gave total journalistic freedom

for his editor who later became

more famous than him. The revolt

of 1921 took place at a time when

the whole Muslim world wasfightingfor the restoration of khilafath.

Gandhiji and Ali brothers began

it in the country as the Khilafath

movement. The movement took

the shape of an open revolt in

Malabar where Muslims and Hindus

fought together against the British

Raj.

However, studies are going on in

the field. The revolt of 1921 is again

subject to study by many scholars.

One of the reasons for the revolt

not to find a place in books of the

past could be that details about it

were present only in the Arabic-

Malayalam script. Nowadays when

the Arabic- Malayalam script has

given way to Malayalm, Muslims

too learn Malayalam. So there is

an increased awareness, but still

there is a need to include at least

the names of Muslim freedom

fighters in text books so that at

least the coming up generation

may realize that Muslims too had

fought for the country. They could

understand that Muslims were nottraitors but real patriots.

Are Muslim freedom fighters given rightfulcoverage in Kerala history text books?

Ulema-I-Hind too was mentioned,

though nothing was given in detail.

Muhammed Abdurahman Sahib

was the lone Muslim from Kerala

who found a place in text books.

Abdul Jaleel of Malappuram also

recollects that he had not studied

about the revolt of 1921 in text

book.

The struggle for freedom had

begun at a very early age in

Kerala, the state being the first

the British in the beginning, but

turned against them only when the

British sidelined their interests.

Of course the books do mention

Maulana Azad and Khan Abdul

Ghaffar Khan. But can one

understand from the books that

Azad was the president of the

Congress at the most crucial age

of the Second World War? That

Azad was the president when the

Maulana Shaukat Ali

Hakim Ajmal Khan

Abul Kalam Azad

Maulana Mohammed Ali

Dr. M.A. Ansari

Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan


7/7

October - 2011


KALEIDOSCOPE

Modi is a common

criminal and who happens

to be the CM: Sanjiv Bhatt

Ahmedabad, October 18:In a setback for the Gujarat

government, a special court granted

bail to suspended police officer

Sanjiv Bhatt who has accused

Chief Minister NarendraModi of

complicity in the 2002 communal

riots. Coming out of jail, the officer

said rule of law has prevailed.

Bhatt termed Modi a criminal

and who can get him killed.

For me, Modi is a common

criminal and who happens to be

the chief minister and that doesnt

make any difference. As a police

officer I see him as a criminal, he

told news channel Times Now.

This government can try to

eliminate me as they have done

to (former minister) HarenPandya.

They can resort to anything and I

am prepared for anything.

I am a threat to NarendraModi,

his stooges and and his cohorts

and they will try to neutralise the

threat. If they have to eliminate

me, they wont mind doing that,

he said.

30 for allegedly forcing a police

constable, K.D. Panth, to sign a

false affidavit about his attending

a meeting called by Modi soon

after the Godhra train burning that

sparked the riots.

In an affidavit filed in the

Supreme Court in April, Bhatt

alleged that after the Godhra train

carnage, Modi had asked the police

at a meeting to allow the majority

community to vent their anger

against Muslims.

Union Law Minister Salman

Khurshid said the court order

showed the independence of the

legal system.

No matter how much people

speculate and put question marks,

ultimately... we have shown our

system is independent and it

does not get swayed either by

public opinion or by any kind of

pressure, Khurshid told reporters

in New Delhi.

Islamic centre near Ground

Zero in legal trouble

Aproposed Islamic centre nearthe site of the twin towers that

were destroyed during the 9/11

terror attacks here has run into

legal trouble, with a utility firm

saying the centres developer owes

it USD 1.7 million in back rent.

Lower Manhattans controversial

Park51 Islamic centre has in

turn filed a law suit against

Consolidated Edison (Con Edison),

saying it owes the company only

USD 881,000 and calls the utilitys

demand grossly inflated.

The centre has filed the suit

against the company over a default

notice it was issued in September.

A New York state judge has

stayed any action until after a

hearing on November 17.

Whether it is bowing to political

pressure or seeking to retain the

valuable premises for itself, Con Ed

appears intent upon proceeding

with the wrongful termination,

one of the development groups

leaders Sharif El-Gamal said in the

lawsuit.

The centre, Park51 owns part

of the property on Park Place but

rents a part from Consolidated

Edison.

Con Edison has threatened to

terminate the lease, which would

imperil El-Gamals right to buy the

property and derail the plans to

set up the Islamic centre.

El-Gamal has obtained a court

order preventing Con Ed from

ending his lease.

The centre, which includes a

mosque, faced stiff opposition last

year from politicians, activists and

families of the 9/11 victims, who

felt that an Islamic centre should

not be built a couple of blocks

away from the site of the World

Trade Centre that were razed to

the ground by planes hijacked by

Al-Qaeda terrorists.

The interfaith centres leaders

said the project will be a 16-

story community centre with

recreational, educational and

cultural programming rooted

in a spirit of cooperation and

coexistence.

Diwali in Pakistan: Muslim

League ministers celebrate

with Hindus

The ministers of Pakistan MuslimLeague (PML) are celebrating

Diwali at the party headquarters in

Islamabad.

The PML leaders are seen with

tilak on foreheads and seeking

blessings from a couple that is

posing as Hindu gods.

We dont get to see such pictures

about our neighbouring country in

Indian media. Even if it is just a

gesture, it is important. Religious

minorities must get the feeling

that they belong to the place. Their

culture must be respected.

When different communities

come together to celebrate a

particular festival, it shows the

society in positive light. Just like

iftaars are organised in India

during Ramzan, despite the politics,

such gatherings and events sends

a message to the minority and

generates goodwill.

Bereft ofCredibility

The President of the United

States is considered to be the most

legally powerful man on the earth.

But US President Obamas refusal to

support statehood for Palestiniansin the wake of mounting pressure

from Israel serves to indicate the

actual sinews of power of the

worlds most powerful democracy.

When it comes to the question of

any concession to Palestine or its

embattled residents, the American

Presidents, otherwise known

for ordering wars against and

devastation of supposedly hostile

nations, are rendered lame-duck

for all practical purposes.

Obamas plight is not unique.

Most of the predecessors were no

better than him. With Netanyahu

receiving more standing ovations

than Obama in the US, and Israeli

premier already seen in the role of

interlocutor between White House

and the Republicans who dominate

the House of Representatives

on key issues, Obama is likely to

remain beholden to Israel for rest

of the term. Corporate stranglehold

of the American democracy has

rendered it Democracy Inc. And

now Israeli tail wagging the

American dog exposes the claims

of the most powerful democracy

for one and all to see and judge for

themselves. The larger question

then is: Should the peace in the

most strife-torn part of the world

remain so helplessly hinged to the

vagaries of the polls prospect of

the US president and shifting sand

of politics in the US? If it is so and

indeed Obamas pathetic attempt

to stall the Palestinian statehood is

a definite indication then the ones

cherishing peace and justice must

begin to look for option better than

democracy to achieve their ideals.

Obama has saddened the world,

especially the Arab folk, with his

speech in the UN. He had raised

hopes of responsive and democratic

governance in the Arab world with

several of his initiatives including

the Cairo speech. If not the UN,

from where else should the peace

efforts seek legitimacy? With the

US presidents hands tied against

the aggressor, oppressor and

expeller, how could its credibility

as an honest broker in the Middle

East Peace Process be tested? The

US would owe answers to several

such questions.

Earlier, Bhatt walked out of

the Sabarmati jail in Ahmedabadamid showering of rose petals and

cheering of supporters. He hugged

his wife Shweta Bhatt, who was

waiting for him outside.

I am happy that the rule of law

has prevailed and this would be

a victory for hope, a composed

Bhatt told reporters outside the

jail.

Sessions Judge V.K. Vyas

granted him bail on the condition

that Bhatt would cooperate with

the investigation and would be

present whenever called.

The Indian Police Service(IPS) officer was arrested Sep

Documents

The Times of League October