From: ngrjn@milton.u.washington.edu (V Nagarajan)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.bangladesh
Subject: Re: We Need A Hindu-Muslim Dialog (Was: Re: Muslim situation in India)
Date: 12 Apr 92 21:33:46 GMT
Article-I.D.: u.1992Apr12.213346.26374
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle


	While I generally agree with Anil Trivedi's contention that in a 
	conflict, anything considered relevant by any of the parties does
	indeed become relevant regardless of how the others may view it,
	in this particular discussion he is starting with the wrong premise,
	that Prof. Siddiqui was lecturing the Hindus. It is clear from Prof.
	Siddiqui's address that his intended audience was the muslim community.
	This is an important context and renders Anil Trivedi's comments
	non sequiter. 
	Regardless of whom they were addressed to, I like to read such articles 
	in order to understand the muslim perception of the communal tensions.
	Arun Gupta is doing a commendable job, imo.

	Now on to Shakil Ahmed's comment:

In article <1992Apr12.200915.2073@cs.yale.edu> ahmed-shakil@CS.YALE.EDU (Shakil Waiz Ahmed) writes:
>
>Once more, all you do is discuss why Saudi Arabia has a dismal record
>of treating minorities.  Of course, the fact that there is basically
>no religious minority in Saudi Arabia goes largely unnoticed.  More
>importantly, however, you once more fail to address even a single
>issue that the original author touched upon.  We are discussing
>DISCRIMINATION AGAINST MUSLIMS IN INDIA.  If you feel they are not
>discriminated against or that there is something incorrect about what
>the original author said, PLEASE POINT TO THOSE LINES and express WHY.
	
	and, later,

>We are talking about whether Muslims are discriminated
>against in India and what the problems are.  Whether Muslims in India
>identify with other Muslims in the east, west, north or south is
>completely irrelevant to the issue because it does not explain whether
>they are discriminated against, and if they are, why that is so.  

	Actually the second para more closely reflects Prof. Siddiqui's
	views *as expressed in his talk*. To quote,

Mohammad Nejatullah Siddiqui:

Muslim leadership is on record with repeated complaints of
discrimination, in both the public and the private sector, in relation
to employment and other opportunities.  In this they have the support
of many other observers, including those in the ruling party.  But the
Hindu communal organizations reject this view and, instead, complain
about undue favor being shown to Muslims.  The fact remains, however,
that their share of jobs is far below their population ratio. Their
detractors ascribe this to their lack of qualifications, rooted in
their educational backwardness.  In education, again, the same scenario
is repeated. Muslims complaints of discrimination are countered by the
charge of lack of initiative and perseverance which, again, has
something to do with their poverty.  Apportioning blames can hardly
solve our problems.  The whole matter requires detailed analysis,
taking the various regions of the country and the different sections
of the economy separately. The uncertainties created by opposing
hypotheses relating to employment, etc., can be removed only by factual
studies. As things stand now these uncertainties paralyze action and
provide an excuse for apathy at the official level. Let the country as
well as the community understand the situation in the light of facts
and figures.  This will enable them to distinguish between causes.
emanating form official inaction and those which can be removed by the
community itself through hard work and initiative.

	Muslims may or may not be discriminated against in India.
	The situation is far from clear. Some prominant muslims themselves 
	have postulated that the economic backwardness of Indian muslims 		is due to the emigration of the muslim elites during
	Partition. In a largely feudal structure like ours it is very
	difficult for a poor community to improve its lot even in the absence
	of active discrimination. It would be useful to compare the economic
	and political situation of the muslims in the North (from where
	most of the migration took place) to those in the South. I believe
	muslims are indeed better off in the South and their representation 
	in administrative, educational and economic spheres in indeed
	commensurate with their share in the population. Just a word
	of caution tho that this conclusion is based on a smattering of
	knowledge and cannot be used as proof of anything.

							- Nagarajan