Media Release
Jeddah, Sep 14: "We should learn to convert challenges to opportunities. Challenges come up while mkaing the nation and community strong. In history, there is no nation or community that has developed without going through challenges. We need not worry seeing the current situation of India," said Sheikh Khaleelur Rahman Sajjad Numani addressing a gathering at the reception organized by India Fraternity Forum (IFF) in Jeddah in his honour.
Sheikh Numani said, “Today, not only India, but the entire world is going through very critical situation which the Ummah has never experienced earlier. However, the positive prospects of the challenges faced should be well utilized as great opportunities.”
“There is a gross misunderstanding that there are only two major communities in India, Hindus and Muslims, which it quite baseless. There are more than 6,000 different ethnic and cultural communities and tribes including the Tribals and Adivasis (aborigines), Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Lingayats etc, which counts a population of hundreds of millions. Unfortunately, when the British rulers thought of giving independence to India, the Brahmins who have been enjoying the benefits of power hatched a plan under Mahatma Gandhi to keep the Muslims away from the corridors of power, as Muslims form the largest community in India. Thus, immediately after independence, all the ethnic tribes and communities were included under Hindus, to create a feeling that Hindus are the largest community in the country. For example, the 75 million strong Lingayats of South India were never recognized as Hindus before independence and they were not practicing idol worship either, but after independence, they were smoothly absorbed into Hinduism. They protested against this move and submitted their representation at least 60 times before the government of India on their inclusion as Hindus, without their consent. Often communal riots were conceived and executed to keep these communities within the fold of Hinduism,” he added.
Quoting from his experience, Sheikh Numani gave examples of his interactions and deliberations with various tribal communities in Maharashtra to help them to safeguard their identity, culture, customs and traditions, rather than being forcefully absorbed into the Hindutwa stream.
When the law commission's questionnaire on Uniform Civil Code was circulated last year, Sheikh Numani contacted these Tribals and Adivasis and they joined as a party to the case in the Supreme Court and declared their stand against implementing Uniform Civil Code (UCC). Same was the position of Lingayat community, towards UCC.
Sheikh Numani advised the Muslims to understand the historic conquest of Makkah without any bloodshed, in the light of the life of the beloved prophet (pbuh). “Today, under the present circumstances it is more relevant and logical to work on the tradition and strategy of the prophet (pbuh), especially on the principles of peaceful coexistence,” he said.
He lauded the efforts of Popular Front of India (PFI) and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) in materializing the slogan of unity in diversity through peaceful coexistence and urged to support their activities of developing the nation, as enunciated in their project 2047.
In his felicitation address, Abdurrahman Baqawi (vice president of All India Imams Council, president of Darul Qaza Kerala State and chairman of Markazul Hidaya Trust) explained the important role of an Imam in the Muslim community, particularly in the present Indian situation. He urged to work for our dignity and honour in the country.
Farzan Rizvi (Aligarh Muslim Old Boys Association Jeddah) praised the community services of IFF.
A video clip was presented by Omer Hussein before the gathering to briefly explain the services of IFF, particularly the Hajj volunteer services.
The programme began with the recitation from the Quran by Mohammed Zakariya Biladi and with the melodious Nath presented by Ameen Ansari.
IFF regional president Faizuddin presided over the function and Ashraf Morayur, president of Indian Social Forum (ISF) delivered the vote of thanks. Zakariya Biladi introduced the guests and compered the function.