Masihuzzama Ansari
NEW DELHI—Expressing concern over the constitutional crisis in the country, top intellectuals, former diplomats, and human rights activists vowed to preserve the basic idea of India at all costs.
They were speaking at a symposium organized by Jamaat-e-Islami Hind.
Titled ‘Preserving Idea of India’, the symposium was held at the India Islamic Cultural Centre here on Sunday.
All the speakers unanimously emphasized the need to nurture ‘Bharat Bhavna’ or the ‘Idea of India’.
National President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Syed Sadatullah Husaini stressed the need to preserve the Idea of India.
“We all want to save the Idea of India. That is why we have gathered together. Ours is not a country of one language and culture like Europe. People of many languages, cultures, and religions live here. Here one language and culture cannot be imposed. Our country is completely different from European nations,” he said.
“It is necessary to understand that the Idea of India is preserved. Not only Muslims but the entire social setup will crumble if the idea of India is harmed. One should not live under the misconception that he will remain untouched. If not today, tomorrow everyone will be affected,” he said.
Quoting an English philosopher, he said: “No civilization ever dies, but civilization always commits suicide and the reason for this is people fighting among themselves.”
Jamaat President said every effort will have to be made to save the Idea of India. “We need to save this idea among children, among intellectuals among women, and in different sections of society. Jamaat Islamic Hind will do whatever it can to cooperate in this work,” he said.
Engineer Mohammad Salim, National Vice President of Jamaat-e-Islamic Hind, said that the country’s identity and its core spirit are being harmed by misusing the constitutional institutions, curbing freedom of expression, and attacking the democratic structure.
In his keynote address, former Foreign Secretary Prof. Muchkund Dubey said: “India has witnessed hatred for the first time, whose effect is visible in the society. Earlier, this used to happen in a particular region but the game of spreading hatred at the organized and national level is being seen for the first time.”
He noted that if buildings and monuments built by Muslim rulers in North India are removed, then there will be nothing left to showcase to the world. He said history cannot be erased.
Discussing the rights of citizens, Prof. Dubey said: “The Indian Constitution protects the rights of all. No one has been deprived of fundamental rights. No one can be stopped from practicing his or her religion.”
“The Indian Constitution contains the essence of all religions and traditions of the country. The Constitution seeks to promote brotherhood, the right to equality, and the right to expression of all views. There is a need to remove poverty in the country,” he added.
Prof. Dubey expressed concern over the restrictions on religious freedom. He said it is necessary to protect the ‘spirit of India’. “There is no hope from the government now. There is no hope from the opposition either. Opposition parties are working against the spirit of India. The opposition of the country is also behaving like the ruling party,” he said.
Prof. Muchkund Dubey also criticized the role of the media. He said no change is expected from the media as there is no sense of accountability.
“Those working for change find themselves in a big dilemma. Earlier we used to perform, go to court, gherao but now there is no scope for this,” he said.
Former member of NITI Aayog Syeda Hameed said efforts are being made to change the culture of the country in its original form. “In this way, all of us together should try to protect the constitution. The country’s biggest need is to preserve the message given by the builders of the country. There is a bigger threat to the mixed culture of the country. Together we have to move forward shoulder to shoulder and uphold unity and brotherhood,” she said.
Former Professor of IIT Mumbai Prof. Ram Puniyani threw light on social harmony. “Historical event is used to promote hatred by a particular class. If it is tested based on logic, science, and history, then most of the cases will prove to be baseless. Even if there is truth in any incident, it will not be related to religion but to politics and state expansion,” he said.
He said that the correct knowledge of history can make us prove many false facts that are used to spread hatred and make a large population of the country misunderstood.
Goswami Sushil Ji Maharaj, President of the Bharatiya Sarva Dharma Samvad and Dharmik Jan Morcha, said unity among different communities in the country will take this country much further.
“Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has been working for harmony and unity in the country, I will always be present whenever it gives me a voice. Like Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, many other organizations in the country should come forward to strive for peace and harmony. Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has been working selflessly for the mutual brotherhood. Together we will preserve the democratic spirit of the country,” he said.
Prof. Apoorvanand, Department of Hindi, University of Delhi, said there are attacks on Muslims. “Mosques are being attacked collectively in an organized way and all this is done by Hindu extremist organizations. There is a need to save the spirit of India. Its source lies in the Constitution of India. Every image in the country is being damaged which is a symbol of a common culture for Hindu-Muslim. The liberties of the citizens are being curtailed which the Constitution has given us,” he said.
Giving a recent example of a school in Seemanchal, Bihar, Prof. Apoorvanand said Friday prayers were made controversial.
“This is not the elixir of independence. There is no happiness in the heart of any honest person. Prof. Dubey, who has been a diplomat and foreign secretary, says that there is no hope of change from any government or party, if Kapil Sibal, who has spent 50 years of his life in court, says that there is no hope then it is a matter of despair. This is not nectar at all,” he said.
He said Muslims are feeling insecure in this country. “We have to understand what we are fighting for. That is the secular idea in which we can all live with each other while respecting each other. The scope of democracy has to be further expanded. We should widen its scope and find more opportunities so that we can increase the circle of living together. Most of the Hindus still do not know what is going on in the hearts of the Muslims of the country,” he said.
Laeeq Ahmed Khan, assistant secretary of the Public Relations Department of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, conducted the proceedings. Mohammad Ahmed, National Secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, presented a vote of thank.
