INDIAN MUSLIMS

INDIAN MUSLIMS An Analysis of the Past 69 Years A LL manner of sacrifices were made in order to achieve independence and to improve the system of the country after the removal of colonial rule. Yet, with the dawn of independence, the practical result was quite the reverse. The system of the country actually worsened. Hopes associated with independence remain unrealized. Previous generations held the British responsible for all the problems, but when independence came, it in no way solved the problems, it actually aggravated them. When the dawn appeared after the night of August 15, 1947, all the lights had gone out, and never again did they shine with the same brilliance. Never again was the same euphoria experienced as at the brink of being independent. The expected happiness had somehow failed to materialize and is yet to be found. What has happened? Amongst many reasons, for our discussion let us analyse the role of the Muslims in both the achievement of independence as well as the failure post independence. Muslims & the Freedom Movement Before 1947 Muslims were honoured and respected and they enjoyed a status of a, giver, group contributing towards the independence of the country. They played an important role in it at great sacrifice to themselves. But subsequently they failed to gain the same status. The cause was not traceable to enemy plots and prejudice, but lay rather in the internal weakness which had led them to divest themselves of their creativity in this modern age. They paid no heed to God’s admonition that, only those would find permanence, stability and firmness in this world who proved themselves useful to others. (QURAN 13: 17) In the new India there were many opportunities for Muslims to have played a creative role. They only had to identify and avail of them. There are two examples to illustrate this point. The first is given by Swami Vivekananda, an Indian Islamic history abounds in instances of exemplary conduct that the general public could have benefitted greatly from having them presented in their correct historical context in a purely realistic style.