The emerging Indian Muslim changes stereotype

By Firoz Bakht Ahmed

The stereotype image of Indian Muslims is slowly changing. The 'burqa' remains, but is no more omnipresent. The madrassas exist but the educated Muslim is no more a rare commodity. And Hindu-majority India has plenty of Muslims as national icons. Meet the emerging Indian Muslim!

Wahida Prizm, the first woman Surgeon Lt Commander in the history of the Armed Forces Medical College in Pune, cricketing heroes Munaf Patel, Irfan Pathan and Zaheer Khan, tennis star Sania Mirza and classical singer Zila Khan are just a few one can think of without effort that are changing the Indian Muslim's image.

A new class of confident Muslims has emerged, thanks mainly to modern education and the truly secular credentials of India. No wonder, the Muslim youths are increasingly challenging the orthodoxy and bigotry of an entrenched clergy.

Frankly, India's multi-religious roots, deeply entrenched in the values of secularism and democracy, have played a vital role in helping the community to prod on even after events like the 2002 Gujarat riots. Not only is there an entrepreneur class in every nook and corner of the country but a strong middle class is emerging, thanks partly to Islamic educational institutions.

The new enlightened and liberal Muslims are bursting with enthusiasm and a will to challenge orthodox traditions and norms. We have an upcoming generation that doesn't compromise with what is anachronistic. To this generation, the partition of India, which like no other event pitted Muslims and Hindus against one another, is an event that is best forgotten.

This new class lays great emphasis on education. It is strongly critical of the role of groups like the Muslim Personal Law Board and Babri Masjid Action Committee. Given the opportunity, they are ready to embrace modernity. The liberals among them are increasingly in positions of influence.

The middle class is growing and the economically better off Muslims are more visible. The overall population growth in the community is falling while the educational graph is on the rise. Educated middle-class Muslim women are breaking the stereotype and asserting themselves.

There was a time when it was difficult to find educated Muslims but today there is no dearth of them. M. Atyab Siddiqui, a leading lawyer and social activist, is a brilliant embodiment of this new class of Muslims ready to take on religious bigotry. But the community has to go a long way in its battle against the Mullahs and Imams who do not conform to modernity. And Muslims often have to walk that extra mile to overcome continuing prejudice.

Sadia Dehlvi, a woman activist, documentary maker and editor of Bano Urdu monthly, laments that the greatest tragedy of Muslims is not only their socio-economic backwardness but the churlish vote-bank politics and the politics of semi-illiterate politicians from within the community.

The matrimonial ads in some prominent newspapers reveal an interesting story. The ratio is five women to one man! An educated Muslim female wants her spouse to be better qualified than her whereas the reality disappoints her. This also results in many Muslim women getting older waiting for a better match.

Syeda Hameed, a Planning Commission member, believes that during the last two generations the status of Muslim women has improved greatly in the field of education. Today they work as judges, professors, doctors, scientists, journalists, lawyers and administrators.

No doubt there are problems like economic backwardness and unemployment, but these are issues that confront every Indian community. What is important is to look at the larger reality without putting a carpet on existing problems.

source : IANS