IMA Media Release
Kuwait, Jun 10: Indian Muslim Association (IMA) Kuwait recently organized a lecture by Prof. Ahmad Sajjad (Ex-Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Ranchi University) for NRIs in Kuwait at Kuwait Medical Association Hall, Jabriya. The topic of the day was ‘Sachar Committee Report & Indian Muslims’ i.e. a report prepared during November 2006 by the Prime Minister’s High Level Committee (headed by Justice Rajindar Sachar) on Social, Economic and Educational Status of the Muslim Community in India including recommendations.
Visiting intellectual from India, Prof. Ahmad Sajjad in his lecture said that SACHAR COMMITTEE REPORT is an eye opener to all Indians and this report has exposed the myth of muslim appeasement, its findings are shocking testimony to six decades of institutional neglect and bias that has left the country’s Muslims far behind other Socio-Religious Communities in the areas of education, employment, access to social and physical infrastructure and political representation. Secondly, he said that its recommendations contain the seeds of major socio-economic transformation of 150 million Indian Muslims and if the recommendations were to be honestly implemented, it can bring dramatic changes in the life of Muslims.
He continued saying that the report has made numerous recommendations for urgent governmental action to redress the problem of Muslim backwardness. This is required not only in the interest of equity and fair play but also in the national interest because no country can hope to progress if it leaves behind 150 million of its population. Prof. Sajjad was insisting that for implementing Sachar report, a sustained nationwide Citizens Campaign is necessary to force governments at the Centre and in the States to act on the recommendations of the Sachar committee. He said the first step in mass mobilization for any campaign is the creation of mass awareness about the findings and recommendations of the Sachar committee and for the campaign to be successful it is important to remember that the problem of educational and economic backwardness and political empowerment of Muslims is not just a Muslim problem.
It must be understood and projected as a national problem. It is therefore of utmost important to ensure that the campaign has the support and participation of all non-communal, secular democratic organizations, groups and individuals.
The Lecture program started with recitation and translation of versus from holy quran by Sheikh Mehboob Basha. IMA President Mohammed Aslam welcomed the gathering and introduced IMA activities. He gave a call to all Indian Muslim organizations in Kuwait to coordinate each other in the developmental activities of Indian Muslims. He also urged to form a combined follow-up committee/pressure group to keep in touch with the Sachar committee and remind Indian Government to take the necessary action on the Sachar committee recommendations.
Muzammil Malik, a renowned businessman in Kuwait has presided over the program and president of KIG (Kerala Islamic Group) Faisal Manjeri, President of IMWA (Indian Muslim Welfare Association) Mir Ibrahim Ali Khan, President of FIMA (Federation of Indian Muslim Associations) Kareem Irfan, and Vice President of FIMA Mr. Mukhtar Marouf graced the occasion as Guests of Honor and shared their concerns in regard to the backwardness of Muslim populous in India and also urged the intervention by Indian Govt. to take necessary action relating to the social, economic and educational status of the Muslim community in India.
Audience participated in the question and answer session and supported the idea of forming a follow up committee by various Indian Muslim organizations in Kuwait so that a combined joint follow up with Sachar Committee as well as with Indian government can be channelized.
Mr. B.S. Sharafuddin convened the program and Mr. Hasan Yusuf delivered the vote of thanks. Dinner was served at the end.