– Dr Mohammad Manzoor Alam –
As a roaring chorus of condemnation of the Sangh-inspired storm of intolerance rises to high heavens, the perpetrators of crimes against humanity are busy defending the indefensible. Sangh stalwarts, with the silent backing of the government at the Centre, are in denial, pretending that nothing has happened that required such nationwide outrage and protest by the best of our writers, poets, artists and scientists across the country.
Taking the lead, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has said that much is being made out of small things, thus indirectly ignoring the devastating wave of intolerance sweeping northern India. Worried over the trend of hate and hysteria unleashed by the Sangh, the President of India has cautioned the country thrice over the last couple of weeks against this mischief.
Not only the intellectual leaders of the country, whose numbers are now too large to be counted easily, have warned against this anti-national mischief but the Reserve Bank Governor Raghuramrajan has warned the country twice over the last few days. The last high-profile person to publicly vent his worry over intolerance, for which he has been denounced by the Sangh as a crypto-Pakistani, was actor Shahrukh Khan.
The fact remains that to describe the ongoing orgy of murder and mayhem as mere intolerance is a gross understatement. The brilliant Indian writer Arundhati Roy has explained why she has returned her award. (She also refused a Sahitya Akademi award in 2005).
“First of all, ‘intolerance’ is the wrong word to use for lynching, burning, shooting and mass murder of fellow human beings. Second, we had plenty of advance notice of what lay in store for us. So I cannot to be shocked by what has happened after this government was enthusiastically voted into office with an overwhelming majority. Third, these horrific murders are only a symptom of a deeper malaise…Whole living populations – millions of Dalits, Adivasis, Muslims and Christians – are being forced to live in terror, unsure of when and from where the assault will come.”
The growing intolerance in the country has drawn everybody’s attention including the global rating agency Moody’s analysis wing, Moody Analytics, which has shown concern over the deteriorating business and investment environment in India because of violence and instability. The Sangh-controlled government at the Centre has tried to pooh-pooh the Moody Analytics view saying that those were merely the views of a “junior” employee. To that Modi Analytics has replied that these were not the views of a single “employee”, but of Moody Analytics as a whole, as an organisation.
In the face of such horror, the common government and Sangh view is that there is nothing wrong with the communal environment in the country and those who are protesting are doing it under a vaguely defined “conspiracy,” which seems to be known to them only. Thus they are trying to defend the indefensible.
Seeing the public outrage growing, even the Prime Minister has twice appealed for public serenity and peace. If there is no turmoil, what is the reason from such an appeal? We are further befuddled when we see the same Prime Minister on two days in Bihar clearly trying to trigger a civil war between Muslims, Backward castes and Dalits telling them that Lalu-Nitish are trying to “steal” reservation from them and pass it on to “a community”. We all know which community he is talking about.
Whatever BJP-RSS may claim about the Moody Analytics, the British home secretary has said that he would talk to Prime Minister Modi about the Moody Analytics report. The British PM, too, will raise the issue of the Moody report. After all, the report cannot be dismissed so easily.
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About the Author
Dr. Mohammad Manzoor Alam
Dr. Mohammad Manzoor Alam is an erudite Islamic Economist and Social Scientist. He has been associated with Institute of Objective Studies (IOS) as its Chairman for over 25 years now. Dr. Manzoor Alam, a Ph.D. in Economics from Aligarh Muslim University, has held various high-ranking positions in many international organizations such as Economic Advisor in the Ministry of Finance and National Economy, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Associate Professor Deptt. of Islamic Economics, University of Imam Mohammad-bin-Saud, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Chief Coordinator for the Translation of Meaning of the Holy Quran in different languages of the world at King Fahd Holy Quran Printing Complex, Madinah Munawwarah, Saudi Arabia; Chief Representative of International Islamic University, Malaysia (IIUM) in India; Member of the General Committee of the IDB Scholarship Program for Muslim Communities in Non-Member Countries, Islamic Development Bank, Jeddah, K.S.A.; Consultant of the International Institute of Islamic Thought, USA in India; Founder Member of International Islamic Charitable Organisation, Kuwait; and Member, Steering Committee, Istanbul Talks, Civil Solidarity Platform, Istanbul, Turkey.
Dr. Manzoor Alam holds membership on the board of many international journals as well. He is Member of the Advisory Board of MEDAD, published from the KSA; Member of the International Advisory Board of American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences, published from the USA; and Member of the Advisory Board of Awqaf, published from Kuwait.
In India, apart from being Chairman of Institute of Objective Studies (IOS), Dr. Manzoor Alam is ably guiding the Indian Muslim community with his vast experience by serving in different capacities such as General Secretary, All India Milli Council, New Delhi; President, Indo-Arab Economic Cooperation Forum, New Delhi; President, Indian Association of Muslim Social Scientists, New Delhi; and Member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board.
Under his stewardship, Dr. Manzoor Alam has successfully transformed the Institute of Objective Studies to being India’s foremost, pioneering and only organization in the country engaged in generating knowledge in Islamic Perspective, Educational development of Indian Muslims, Research, holding Conferences, seminars and workshops on vital issues, Publications and Advocacy for Muslims and other weaker sections’ causes.
Address for Communication
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Mobile – +91- 9810157494 – email: manzoor@ndf.vsnl.net.in
*Disclaimer : The views expressed by the author in this feature are entirely his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of INVC NEWS.
