The Muslim community is ill-served by its leaders, whether they be conservative clerics, politicians in various parties or by stereotypical civil society representatives. None of them has adequately been able to articulate the problems and challenges facing the community, voicing forever a litany of woes or reinforcing the ghetto mentality that more enlightened souls say the community suffers from.
It is true that the majority of Muslims are economically and socially backward because of low educational levels, and much of the discrimination and disadvantage they are subjected to is greatly due to this. It follows therefore that community leaders should be working to change this state of affairs.
Instead, much of the deliberations head off in other directions. The 30th general session of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind — a moderate conservative association of clerics — held at Deoband, home to a large conservative seminary, reflected this confusion and weakness of the community. The association and the seminary are independent of each other, but each reinforces the generally confused stand of the other.
The most "newsy" part of the meet was the resolution against singing Vande Mataram because of its alleged references to idolatry. This is a non-issue for many reasons, not the least because it is hardly a subject at centre-stage at the current moment. More moderate voices have pointed out that those verses are not even sung in the national song.
But the other discussions also raise concerns. A resolution reiterates the need to forge unity "among Muslims and Dalits and for ending social differences" and it goes on to say, "Being Muslims, we should come out of the false notions of social superiority."
On the other hand, some of the resolutions passed at the session are not just retrogressive, but mindless too. Referring to the women's reservation bill, there is the curious formulation that "Such a desperate measure to bring women into the mainstream will create various other social problems issues (sic) including their security."
Though the Jamiat has a large membership, it would be a mistake to deem it as the voice of Muslims. Nor are its resolutions binding in any way on the millions of Muslims around the country.
Most Muslims would differ with some of its whimsical views and agree with the sensible ones. But if such meetings were to take robust stands on matters of grave concern to the community, they could provide some direction. That regrettably has not happened and a good opportunity has been lost.
