Stop generalizing, calling Indian Muslims 'backward': Talk on facts, social indicators

Shams Ur Rehman Alavi

'You don't look like Muslim'.

Many people have heard this line time and again from their non-Muslim friends.

This is because it is deeply embedded in their mind that Muslims are backward.

It's a bias, they have grown up with. Either at home or through media, the society--it's conditioning.

Backward, on what social indicators? How the entire Muslim community can be termed backward?

And aren't Hindus backward? But many Muslims also keep repeating the line 'Muslims are backward'.

Either its sex ratio or discrimination with women and girl child, infant mortality rate or acute malnutrition, dowry deaths, even other social backwardness parameters like child marriages or other indicators, Muslims don't perform bad.

Yes, as far as education is concerned, Muslims are a bit behind. But there are Hindus too, large sections who are far behind. Visit rural parts of the country or tribal hamlets, you'll see the poorest of poor--sans proper clothes, malnourished and without bare minimum facilities.

More people who die of hunger or the poor and homeless who die because of natural factors--heat or cold in extreme seasons, while sleeping in the open, are Hindu. Ya, but in that case, it becomes another category--caste or tribe, not 'Hindus'.

Muslims are more urbanized and have a different social system, there are a lot of factors that need not be explained here, but they helps them survive despite all odds. But by parroting the sentence that Muslims are backward, many educated Muslims too fall in this trap.

WATCH VIDEO: How media created image of Muslim women as backward

It is defaming Muslims for no reason. There are tremendously educated people among Muslims, there are actors and sports persons, there are Muslim achievers in all fields just like in Hindus or Sikhs, Christians or Jains.

Yes, benefits of schemes don't reach large section of Muslim masses just like certain other sections. Often, state policies and lack of due representation are among the reasons. But that doesn't make Muslims 'backward'.

Muslims are working hard, also making progress despite the fact that they are under-represented in government jobs, in MNC's management, politics, and don't get reservation. Still, the community members are doing their bit, trying to move ahead despite all odds.

But it is need of the hour to expose this 'backward community' narrative. It is not at all true that Muslims are backward. There is poverty, there are issues, but terming 'Indian Muslims' as a whole is backward, is wrong.

Nasty but cleverly crafted. This propaganda, this vilification campaign has serious affects. It hurt self-belief, confidence of youth, many of whom genuinely believed that, 'there was something wrong with the community', 'we are most backward'. It's a bad joke, terming a huge population--200 million as 'backward'.

We must be realistic, we must be aware, we must know where we lag. But we definitely don't allow ourselves to be branded. We understand how some do get a sadistic pleasure in spreading such lies. You can't generalise and target a community, using falsehoods.

It has no basis. It is just an attempt to sully the image of Muslims.

READ: Myths about Indian Muslims and backwardness among community

WATCH VIDEO: How media created image of Muslim women as backward

Irony: Muslims will vote for 403 seats in UP but can contest just 318

Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state in India, is going to polls. The state with a population of nearly 200 million, has the largest Muslim population in the country.

On Wednesday, as poll schedule was announced, a post about the fact that Muslim candidates can't contest all the seats in UP, was being shared widely on social media.

It mentioned that soon after independence, the discrimination began. So Muslims will vote in each constituency but they can't contest in each of them. Why? It is because Muslim Dalits and Muslim Tribals are denied reservation.

As a result, the seats reserved for Dalits, can't have Muslim contestants. This is because of a Presidential ordinance. And, it is true for most other states too--on seats reserved for SCs and most seats reserved for STs too (with some exceptions).

First, Tariq Anwar Champarni, wrote a post on Facebook, in the morning. He mentions, ""India is a secular state where there can't be any discrimination on the basis of religion...but see the other aspect...of all the 4,120 Assembly seats in India across different states and union territories, Muslims can't fight nearly 1161 seats (28%)".

Champarni writes that depriving a community from contesting polls on so many seats, leads to injustice from the beginning. Hindus can fight all the 4,120 seats and Muslims can contest just 1161 seats.

"If you are really secular, just, then you must fight to ensure that the backward-weaker sections among Muslims, get the right to contest election these seats", Champarni further wrote in this post.

Some other writers also expressed similar opinions. Author, journalist Dilip C Mandal also mentioned the fact. "It is a joke of Indian democracy that Muslim candidates can contest just 318 out of 403 seats in UP though they will vote on each seat...."

It is also a fact that often Muslim majority seats are kept reserved. With Muslim representation already low, it hurts the community further, feel observers. 

Will BJP decision to give reservation to Upper Castes in Gujarat help the party or will it boomerang?

Gujarat government has decided to provide 10% reservation to Upper Castes in the State. An ordinance is being brought to this effect.

It is a decision, which may seriously affect the fortunes of the party in the long run. Has it been a decision taken after due consideration and thought?

There are several questions. Is the party flaying with fire? Will the decision help the BJP or it will boomerang.

Firstly, BJP was always seen as a part of Upper Castes, especially, Banias and Brahmins.

As it had to expand its base, it played Dalit card, Tribal card, as well as Backward card, and wooed them.

But, its leaders, core cadre and supporters remain among the Upper Castes. Besides, RSS [Sangh] is mostly dominated by Upper Castes. Has the decision been taken to appease the Upper Castes?

1. Anandiben Patel government has taken a decision and the first thing is to be seen is that whether this decision will stand in the court. The Gujarat government spokesperson says that the government will stand by decision and will fight its case in the court[s].

2. But, then, comes the crucial question. If Upper Castes or Economically Backward Classes [EBCs] among them get quotas in jobs [and education], will it not defeat the very purpose of reservations. Upper Castes have not been marginalised or exploited.

3. The Gujarat government says reservation [in jobs and in higher education] will be to all those whose annual income is Rs 6 lakh. Really! Those earning Rs 5 lakh per month are poor, in Gujarat government's view? That's quite strange.

4. Reservation was a constitutional measure to uplift status of Dalits and Tribals, the historically oppressed and disadvantaged people who were denied education, who were kept out of power, and who suffered untouchability and inequality of the worst kind.

Upper Castes have been over-represented in government jobs. Hence, can it be called fair or it just a means to appease the forward castes and set right the situation in Gujarat, which witnessed Patel agitation.

5. The decision may anger the Backward-Dalit-Tribal supporters of the BJP. Uttar Pradesh is a crucial state. Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) may take the BJP to task over this 'reservation decision'.

Already, RSS leaders' statements over reservation, cost BJP, an important state like Bihar. But the BJP must have weighed its options well.

The BJP government has been facing the ire of Patidars [Patels] in Gujarat and had recently seen how Jats went on rampage in Haryana. Right now, the BJP has taken a decision in Gujarat, and it will take sometime before the picture gets clearer.

[Photo courtesy: The Indian Express]

Facade of liberalism, tolerance falls off: Isn't Indian society intolerant, violent and more discriminatory than other countries?

It is very common to say, that India is the nation of non-violence. Indians take pride in the fact that 'we taught non-violence' to the world.

So often it is said that we are 'sahishnu samaj' i.e. a tolerant society, that people begin to believe it from their childhood without realising that the truth could be just the opposite.

How much we know about tolerance, peace and liberalism? In fact, if you pick up newspaper of any day you will realise that we are a 'hinsak samaj'--a violent society.

Just today, the first story in paper was that of a man who was disabled permanently due to tortured by cops just because his vehicle had hit a cop's vehicle. A youth (Hindu), committed suicide because of harassment by cops.

Yet another case, a schoolboy brutally beaten by his teacher for touching 'thaali' of other students in Rajasthan. Just a couple of days back, a 90-year-old Hindu man was burnt to death in Uttar Pradesh for stepping into a temple.

These are mostly cases of injustice against Hindus. Not just police, anyone in power is engaged in violence against the 'weak', the 'poor, and the 'other. Law is applied in accordance with the victim's and the accused's social-financial status.

Further, recent incidents show that the facade of 'tolerance', 'liberalism', has fallen off completely. Claims about 'sahishnuta, sambhav' are not true. Many of us are beginning to see the reality.

Some of you may not immediately agree to this as the moneyed middle class is generally not the victim of prejudices, state's oppression. The problem is that the moment you feel you are morally superior, your culture is best, your 'sanskar' are ideal, there is no possibility of reform.

For improvement, you have to accept that there are issues with your society, very serious issues. At least, I feel, that we are members of a 'hinsak samaj' that has a 'mob mentality'.

TEN POINTS ABOUT VIOLENCE IN OUR SOCIETY

1. It is common to term other countries as barbaric, but in which country do you hear leaders deliver hate-filled, racist, threatening and poisonous speeches day in and day out. This happens in world's biggest democracy.

2. The sadhvis, saints, threaten minorities on regular basis, demonising them, warning them to kick them out of the country, at the drop of hat, and the politicians 'justifying' hate, killings.

Where does it happen?

Does it happen in countries we contemptuously talk about, and whom we term as 'banana' republics. Are such political statements against minorities, atrocities, mob violence ever heard there?

3. In which country, there is such social sanction to violence, mob killings and discrimination. In which country, there are always 'action-reaction' theories floated.

4. Where would Ministers goes to site of tragedy and declares, "it was an accident". Takes meeting in the temple from where the false, provocative rumour was spread about an air force personnels' father carrying bovine meat in his house.

The minister categorically says, "it was not pre-planned incident". Then, he says, 'justice will be done, to arrested youths too'. This happens in India. Prime Minister doesn't speak up to allay fears or to rein in the fanatic groups. Ministers speak like louts.

5. In this violent society, lives of Dalits, Tribal, Poor, Minorities, so many others don't matter. There is so much hate prevailing in the society among different sections of people on the basis of colour, creed, caste, faith, class and region.

6. The laws are promulgated and applied to discriminate, subjugate your own people, cow slaughter laws made stricter and people are framed, bizarre punishments given.

The law-enforcing agencies put blame on victims. After an innocent man's murder, meat kept in his refrigerator is sent for lab test.

7. Where in the world, 'food fascim' has reached such bizarre levels. The country tops in beef export but people are attacked, killed just on suspicion of carrying beef.

There are housing societies that don't let 'non-vegetarians' live. In schools, children are asked not to bring 'non-vegetarian food', even omelette in the lunch box. In angan-wadis 'anda' is not given to kids, as it 'offends sensibilities'.

So you are taught from childhood that 'meat eaters are bad', that they are evil. This thought process can't be altered easily. All these your 'sanskaar'. The poor malnourished tribal kids are deprived out even egg in angan-wadi. This shameless violence is taking place in a country when 70% Indians are non-vegetarians!

7. Rationalists are killed. People are threatened for speaking in their minds. Governments refuse to act against extremist campaigns and vigilante groups' divisive acts and thuggery, as in Mangalore. Organisations that ought to be banned, are termed 'nationalist'.

8. With due respect to the courts, we all know who gets death sentences, who get hanged in this country. Most of them are Poor, Dalits, Tribal and Muslims. And further, the society has the cheek to claim that they are 'liberal', 'non-violent, 'good to weaker sections'. The list is endless.

9. People don't want to accept their own bigotry. If you talk about 'khaps', immediately the issue will be diverted and you will face the question, 'Why X things happen at Y place, reply first, Why you don't speak about it". So the problem is failure to 'confront bitter truths'.

10. I haven't talked yet about rapes, the gang rapes, the amount of sexual violence, which exists in the country, majority of which goes unreported. I don't even want to venture into this territory, as this piece can't end.

I haven't talked about communal riots, at all. The list is endless. But still we consider ourselves 'sahishnu'. Even on social media, people threaten others just because their opinions don't match with someone.

Hold the mirror and see your face. When I look, I see it as one the most violent, barbaric societies in the world. The reform, the change, can't begin unless we accept that there is a problem. 

Caste composition of India: Percentage of different groups including Upper Castes, SCs & STs in the country

What's the caste composition of India? The recent controversy over reservation has once again opened the lid off India's caste cauldron.

So, what is the percent of OBCs (Other Backward Castes) in India's population. The figures range from 40% to as high as 52%.

In fact, it is also possible that the OBCs could number around 40% of Indian population. In some regions, the backward castes are landed communities and influential but have little presence in government jobs.

Caste-wise population and their percentage in India

As per ancient system, except Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas, all the others are Shudras [almost 90% of India's population]. The Shudras include all OBCs, Dalit [SC], Scheduled Tribes and intermediary castes. In the pie chart, Upper Castes includes Brahmin, Kshatriya and Vaishya etc.

The non-Hindu OBCs include Muslims. The intermediary includes Hindu castes of Jat, Reddy, Patel and Maratha (as per their status in various areas). The Upper Muslims are non-OBC and non-ST while the rest include upper Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists and rests.


Is this distribution or caste composition correct? I don't know, frankly.

The 14.2% Muslims are thus divided as per their castes in this chart.

So are the OBCs most numerous in India? I was recently reading an article published in a weekly paper about the by-poll in an assembly constituency.

It was stunning to see the detail of caste configuration to which they had calculated, in order to understand ground realities as how caste cohesiveness works in elections.

They had mentioned each and every group that even constituted over 1% of the population. There were castes like Dangi, Kiraar, Lodhi and what not! Many of them form large population in a constituency, even 15-20%, but groups that represent just 1-5% have the numerical strength in legislature and executive.

The reason is that historically the groups that are disadvantaged, find it enormously tough to go ahead of Brahmins, Banias, Thakurs and the elite among Muslims, Sikhs, Christians or Jains. One wonders how much fragmentisation we will witness in the years to come.

DALIT/SC [Scheduled Caste population] in India: 16.6%

Dalits number around 20 crore or 200 million in India. The percentage is 16.66% in India's population. They are also referred to as Scheduled Caste or SC. As per 2011 census, population of India is 121 crore or 1.21 billion.

There are Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and Buddhists among Dalits. However, Muslim and Christian Dalits don't get reservation in jobs and admissions in educational institutes despite their belonging to SC caste.

TRIBAL/ST [Scheduled Tribes population] in India: 8.6%

The tribal population in India is nearly 10.5 crore or 105 million. The STs percentage is 8.66% in India's population. STs mostly live in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa [Odisha], West Bengal and North Eastern states.

Also, there are tribal pockets in Southern India and remaining parts of the country. Among tribals too, there are Hindus, Muslims, Christians, other communities and atheists who don't affiliate to any religion, Some worship their own God.

OBC population riddle: Estimates vary from 40% to 52%

As we have already discussed the population figures of India above, it is clear that OBCs are the biggest group. They are not Savarnas and at some places they are dominant too but educationally backward, mostly.

The OBC stands for 'Other Backward Castes'. In some states, they are just called BC or Backward Castes. The number is estimated to be between 40%-52%. The need for Caste Census is to have a correct figure of all the castes and to understand their share in jobs and representation in polity.

The backward castes are historically disadvantaged but some of them have strong population in certain regions. The Yadavs are strong in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. With Muslims, they have been able to form government in both states for more than two decades now.

The Jats have been a powerful community in Northern India, especially, Western UP, Haryana and parts of Rajasthan. Similarly, the Kurmis have an area of influence.

Upper Castes, Savarna population in India: 10-12%

As there has been no caste census in India since 1931, there is no clear picture for castes other than SC, ST. The SCs, STs are counted apart from religious minorities. But the complete caste census is not conducted.

Among Upper Castes, which are also called forward castes, there are Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Banias and some other castes that are dominant or influential for centuries in different regions of the country.

Most caste scientists put the figure of 'Upper Castes' at 12%. However, some say that it could vary from as low as 8% to as high as 15%. In the absence of authentic figures, the figure of 12% is agreed upon mostly.

The Upper Castes have a disproportionate power in government jobs, in private sector and even in politics. In educational institutes, higher judiciary and top bureaucracy, they are often more than 50%, which is four times higher than their strength. 

Brahmins

Percent wise Brahmins are more in percentage terms in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. However, in UP, they form less than 8% of state's population. The Bania are even less, not even 3% in India.

The last census that recorded caste population registered 4% Brahmins in India. Since then, the population of Dalits, OBCs and Tribal have increased apart from minorities. Fall in population growth rate of Brahmins, have led to assumption that they are now around 3%.

Similarly, Thakurs are not too large a community but have traditional power due to their financial resources, land ownership and clanship, they are visible and wield influence. They [Brahmins] are barely 3% overall in India's vast population.

Kayasthas

The Kayasthas are not Savarna but they consider themselves as 'Upper Caste'. Some Upper Castes also consider them as Savarna, due to their disproportionately high strength in educational institutes and bureaucracy.

They are more visible in cities because of jobs and hence their presence in posh colonies. But this 'job strength' aside, the Kayastha's population is not even 1% in states like UP and  Bihar, which they chiefly inhabit. All over the country, they are barely a few million and less than 1% in India.

Dominant castes in AP, Karnataka, UP-Rajasthan

Reddys are considered Upper Caste, as they are moneyed and privileged. They are over-represented in jobs and Assemblies. In Karnataka, Backward Castes like Lingayat and Vokkaliga dominate, just like Gujjars and Meenas are strong OBCs in UP-Rajasthan regions.

Meenas have got ST status in some regions. The situation in Tamil Nadu is entirely different. Due to strong Dravidian movement against caste, condition of backwards and Dalits improved. Yet Bramins have more influence than their real numbers.

CASTE-RELIGIOUS COMPOSITION IN NUTSHELL

*Dalit or SC: 20 crore [16.66%]
*Tribal or ST: 10.5 cr  [8.66%]
*Backward Castes: 48 crore to 61 crore [40%-52%] पिछड़ों की आबादी

Combined SC, ST, OBC population in India
दलित, आदिवासी और अन्य पिछड़ी जातियों का भारत की जनसंख्या में अनुपात: 75%
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Savarna, Upper Caste population in India
सवर्ण जनसंख्या यानि सवर्णों की कुल गिनती
*Brahmins: 4 crore [3%]
*Bania-Thakur[Rajput, Kshatriya]-Other Savarnas: 4 crore [3%]
*Dominant Castes that are counted as Upper Castes in States, their status yet to be cleared
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Religion-wise

*Muslims 17.2 crore [14.2%]
*Christian 2.78 crore [2.3%]
*Sikh 2 crore [1.72%]
*Buddhists, Jains, other faiths 1 crore [1%]

[Total population of India: 121 crore or 1.21 billion. Hindus constitute 79.8% of India's population. Buddhists are 0.7% or nearly 85 lakh while Jains are 0.37% or 44 lakh]
[जाति आधारित जनसंख्या आंकड़े or Caste-based figures of population estimated as per census and Mandal commission reports]