Events & Issues

New Delhi, 2 August 2010

Radicalization of Muslim Youth

NEW DANGEROUS PORTENT

By Syed Ali Mujtaba

There are two very disturbing news coming out of from the country’s Marxist bastions. One from Kerala and the other from West Bengal. Both point towards the growing radicalization of Muslim youth, particularly those enrolled in academic institutions in the country. 

The first pointer of this extremism was an incident in Muvattupuzha town in Kerala. Wherein radical Muslim youth chopped off a college professor’s right palm. His crime? Preparing a question paper with alleged inflammatory references to Prophet Mohammed for an exam in a private college.

The Malayalam professor T.J. Joseph was returning home with his family when a group of 8 Muslim young men travelling in a van, pulled him out of his car and cut-off his right palm. Joseph was arrested and released on bail in April last, for hurting religious sentiments and breaching communal harmony. He was also suspended from the College where he was teaching, following angry protest marches by various Muslim organizations.

Undoubtedly, the issue of the ‘inflammatory’ question paper could have been settled by the civil society via initiating inter-faith dialogue. But condemnably it was allowed to degenerate into a communal issue. Those behind the dastardly act tried to communalize the issue. Thus, in order to correct one wrong another mistake was committed.

The second incident took place in Kolkata, again in April last. Wherein a learned Muslim lecturer Shirin Middya of the Aliah University, was warned by the student union to wear a burqa if she wanted to teach. Else, the union would not allow her to come to the University. When she refused to comply with the students’ diktat they forced her to wear the burqa. Her pleas that she was hired by the University on a part time basis to teach Bengali fell on deaf ears, forcing her to approach the media.

Significantly, this occurred in West Bengal’s first Islamic University. Recall, the University was established by India’s first Governor General Warren Hastings as Alia Madrasa College in 1781. The State Government upgraded the college giving it University status in 2005.

Leading to a fracas. The University authorities disassociated itself from the issue by stating that the institution did not have a dress code, thus wearing the burqa was not required by the teachers. Further, instead of the University taking action against the students, it asked the lady lecturer to seek employment elsewhere, given that she was only a temporary employee.

Predictably, the incident has evoked wide reactions. Not a few argue that the lecturer should have reported the matter to the police instead of highlighting it in the media. Many feel she did so with the purpose of bringing a bad name to the Muslim community.

Interestingly, despite the isolated nature of the two incidents, both have taken place in educational institutions and underscore the growing influence of radical Islam on Muslim youth, hitherto unknown in the country. However, in recent times, groups that promote a radical or militant version of Islam are trying to grab the space and are influencing the youth towards a hardliner militant version of Islam.

Presently, there are many different varieties of Islam which are practiced in India. A few important ones being, deobandi, barelvi, tablighi, jamayat islami, the followers of different imams or religious scholars, Shafai, Hanafi, Hambali, Maliki and those call themselves the Ahle Hadis.  Last but not the least, Sufi Islam, the corner-stone of Indian Islam. 

There is no gainsaying that the majority of Indian Muslims have nothing to do with any of the versions of Islam and would not touch the extremist version with a barge pole. Nonetheless, there are certain elements among the Muslim community who are trying to create an exclusive community, one that is different from the rest of society, and trying to carve a niche for themselves as representatives of the Muslim community.

Regrettably, these extremist elements have made it into an issue of: Either one is with them or with the enemy. Clearly, a disturbing trend for a multi- religious society.  At the same time however, extremism is not only a Muslim prerogative. Tragically, radicalization of religion is a growing trend in India, even among certain sections of the Hindu community. Plainly, a dangerous portent for both Muslims and Hindus and needs to be nipped forthwith in the bud. Albeit tactfully, there should be no negative fall out.  

The solution lies in initiating a campaign for inclusive development of all the communities in the country. This could be done at two levels. One, based on the notion of ‘unity in diversity’ that could be steered through inter-faith dialogue. Two, by commencing discussions within the Islamic community. Since both the campaigns are complimentary they are should be given equal weightage.  

As far as the problem of radicalization of Muslim youth is concerned there is a pressing need to encourage modern and enlightened Muslims to look at things in their totality since we live in a multi-cultural and multi religious milieu, not in a single religious State. A heterogeneous Muslim society adhering to different varieties of Islam should not be allowed to be highjacked by fringe groups who use militant means.

To the majority of India Muslims, Islam is based on certain believes and practices. They have no inclination towards a militant or any other version of Islam. They just want to practice their faith in a peaceful way, adhering to the secular, socialist and democratic character of the Indian State. 

In sum, a small section of the Muslim community by giving a political meaning to their religion is brining bad name to the community. Worse, by portraying themselves as crusaders of Islam, they are trying to extract political mileage out of their acts of extremism. In reality they are the black sheep of the community.

Hence it is high time that the moderate voices of Islam isolate the extremist and militant elements from the community. There acts should be condemned by all like-minded people. This would go a long way in ensuring peace and harmony in the country. Wherein other religions to may take up cudgels against the rouge elements in their community. ----- INFA 

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)