Hard Working: The Only Option

arrangement, why cannot that same arrangement suffice for the one per cent as well? Certain Muslim intellectuals are constantly telling us that although Muslims comprise twelve per cent of the country’s population, in government services their proportion has not increased beyond two per cent over a long period of time. They are at pains to point out that even after the education and training of Muslim youths has been arranged in educational institutions, and coaching centres have been established to enable many Muslim youths to pass in competitive examinations with flying colours, the proportion of two per cent in the services shows no signs of increasing. This is only half the truth. Muslim intellectuals stress the fact that the proportion of two per cent in government services is unchanged despite their best efforts, but they do not tell us anything about the qualified Muslim youths. Where are they standing in the unemployment queue? At which recruitment windows have they been lining up unsuccessfully? Not unless this figure is presented will the story be complete. If our friends would take the time to ascertain this figure, they would learn that the simple reason for Muslims’ continuing to occupy two per cent of the available government posts is that they themselves, of their own choice, did not enter government service. They either left for the Middle East, Europe or America, as they knew only too well that in foreign countries they could command far better salaries on the basis of their qualifications. This exodus is common among both Hindu and Muslim youths on a large scale. To me, Muslims can find better guidance in the successful experience of the Sikh community instead of in the fanciful ideas of their misguided leaders and intellectuals. Once I was present at a special meeting held in New Delhi at which many Hindus and Sikhs were present. One comparatively