The issue of "Vande-matram" as a test for patriotism is again back in the news. Can cheering for the Indian cricket team and the singing of a song be the right criteria for gauging the patriotism of Indian Muslims. Do Indian Muslims feel that they have to prove their patriotism on a daily basis? In a two part series IndianMuslims.info's Charu Bahri looks at these issues

Part I

It seems to have become a case of "My land your land"� where the lands in question are different countries; my India, your Pakistan has become the refrain of many Indians Hindus towards their fellow (and this must be reiterated) Indians hailing from Muslim communities.

For some inexorable reason, the Indian Hindu is prone to believing that the Indian Muslim owes his/her allegiance to Pakistan, albeit secretly. Why?

Apparently, the supposition is that an Indian Muslim will support a land that was once a part of greater India yet is now an Islamic state. Almost as a corollary, every Indian Hindu is considered a patriot until proven guilty just as every Indian Muslim is a potential (and therefore suspected) terrorist until s/he proves his/her patriotism.

The double standards are obvious yet rooted in no justifiable cause. Incidents of terrorism on Indian soil linked to Muslim groups should not be reason for the entire Indian Muslim community to be blamed for these terrorist acts.

What do Indian Muslims have to say?

For metallurgist and plasma techologist Max Babi, an Indian Muslim from Gujarat who grew up among Hindus, Parsis and Christians, this belief translates to being questioned for any action, however innocent. He recalls that his friendship with a HAM radio operator once led him to think of assembling a powerful wireless transmitter. Inspite of knowing that Max has no contacts in Pakistan, his closest Hindu pals predictable yet callous response was, "Will you then send information about our defense projects to Pakistan?"

Max lived close to four decades in Gujarat, but then relocated to Pune and recently to Chennai. He says he is beyond doubt, much more comfortable in Chennai than in all his previous residences. Considering the innumerable times he has had to make a show of and prove his patriotism, this is not surprising.

Max recalls being told by colleagues in Gujarat and Pune that they believe all Muslims should prove their nationalism, but no one could ever tell him how. He recounts one of his ex-bosses, an MNC chairman once losing his temper because his division was doing poorly and asking his right-hand, a Shiv Sena supporter and a henchman to quote a much revered Balasaheb Thackray phrase verbatim, ostensibly to give him a clear message "If you don't want to live here, go wherever you want, but where can you go?"�

For Max this attitude has meant that many times, he has had to lie about his religion to protect himself.

Another Rajasthan-based businessman who chose to remain anonymous told me he has resorted to changing his name to protect his identity and persona from fundamentalist Hindus. He also narrated numerous instances of being openly abused by his Hindu (so-considered) friends.

Software engineer Shadab Hussain believes that Indian Muslims have no choice but to integrate with the mainstream India, but unwelcome attitude of Hindus make this process difficult. In his opinion, the Indian Hindu communities steadfastly believe that all Muslims should have relocated to Pakistan at the time of partition and hence, they are not open to accepting Muslims as an integral part of India. As long as this attitude prevails, Indian Muslims do not have much chance of integrating with the mainstream community. In his words, "we are just standing on the verge, hoping to be welcomed. If the doors remain shut we will keep standing outside the door anyway as there is no road backward."

In short, Shadab does not believe that Indian Muslims even have the opportunity to prove their patriotism as propaganda by right wing Hindus encourages every one of them to be assumed to be traitors.

Fortunately Sayeda Urooj, a university of Delhi lecturer opinion is more positive. She cannot recall ever having been discriminated against on religious grounds, even though she too grew up largely amongst non-Muslims. She thanks her parents open-minded, liberal attitude, their not being ritualistic in public and their open opposition to fundamentalism of all kinds for her affirmative experiences.

Sayeda mentions her Muslim friends share her view that if they educate themselves and their families, positive change is imminent.

Mirza Beg studied at Roorkee University in the late 1950s and 1960s, after which he served there as faculty for five years. He believes that his out-spoken nature has saved him from many an embarrassment, often turning the tables to those questioning his loyalties. While he recalls that in his early youth he felt that criticizing Pakistan was the litmus test for Indian Muslims patriotism, he slowly realized that such criticism would be looked upon by many as kowtowing and not believed in anyway.

He then changed stance to always carry his opinions on his sleeves, and not keep quiet in face of stupid criticism. During the September 1965 war with Pakistan, he remembers a staff get-together where his head of department began a tirade against the Muslims of Deoband for helping Pakistan. Never one to keep quiet, Mirza asked him the source of his information, whereupon it became very clear that there was no such source. In spite of the persons seniority, Mirza's faculty colleagues supported him.

Mirza maintains that being clear in ones balanced view engenders respect and helps educate those with a communal background.

Nafisul Hasan is a government officer and also runs a school for poor children in Dehradun. He has never felt the need to prove his loyalty. In his mind, he considers himself a Muslim who is also an Indian, a son of Indian soil, who has his peoples and country's best interests at heart.

He believes his actions (and only if the need arises, his words) are good enough to convince his fellow non-Muslims of the righteousness of his work, and of the fact that the Muslim community is an integral part of India, as the right or left hand of a healthy body. If one hand is paralyzed, the body can't function effectively. The Indian Muslim community too needs to be well-integrated.

While he does acknowledge discrimination on the basis of religion, he believes one has to create a demand for oneself by hard work and by being responsive to the needs of the community.

What about celebrities?

Do celebrities have to prove their nationalism especially when adverse events such as the Mumbai blasts occur?

In an interview with journalist Harneet Singh, eminent Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan replied the question by saying that he doesn't have to prove anything. He has never felt left out. He is as Indian as he can be and he has never had to feel otherwise. Nobody forces him to make statements.

In fact, Shah Rukh continued to say that he is all for telling what Islam really means. In his words, If someone wants to know what Islam is, they just have to look at me. I am Islam. I am an educated, tax-paying citizen with a calm disposition. I am not a terrorist. If anyone wants to know about Muslims, they should look at such people and they'll know.�

[ Part II : The irony of it all ]

[photo by : Torea Frey]