Aasim Bihari: Freedom fighter who led movements, battled for downtrodden all his life

Shams Ur Rehman Alavi

Ali Husain Aasim Bihari who was a freedom fighter, big leader, organised workers in Bihar & Bengal, brought out newspapers, formed multiple organisations.

He, led Momin Ansari community, and all his life fought for workers' rights. Suffered a lot in process and his family also lived in challenging circumstances. 

Hailing from Bihar Sharif, Nalanda, he had to shift to Kolkata to earn a living and it was here that he began involved in freedom movement and started an unprecedented political and social journey despite financial constraints.

Aasim Bihari left a huge legacy but led a tough life. His family bore consequences of his immense passion for awakening the masses, at the cost of his own health and finances. He opposed partition of India and worked for uplift of downtrodden. He passed away in independent India and was buried in Allahabad.

I don't think it is easy to write about his missionary zeal and his sacrifices without getting tears in eyes. He faced personal tragedies, the death of his brother, the lack of money that caused hardships to his daughter, the suffering of his wife and entire family. 

He was ailing and couldn't be treated. He had declined the post of minister, also refused to take a princely sum, luring offer from a major political party, and his integrity for the cause was unquestionable.

In a life of constant struggle. Aasim Bihari formed organisations, led agitations, ran campaign to release nationalist leaders from jails after Jallianwalabagh massacre by sending letters from people of all parts of country to Queen & Viceroy. Brought out journals, weavers were organised amd turned into a political force.

Born in 1889 [1890*], he passed away in 1953. From Jamiatul Momineen, his lifelong fight for rights, awareness, awakening and education among masses, continued. CM recently released book on him and it has been decided to add a chapter on his life in school textbook.

[There is slight variation in references about his year of birth. However, the date of birth is April 15.]

Terrorism: Right-wing mob lynches 80-year-old Muslim man, burns his body in Bihar

An 80-year-old man was lynched by a mob in Sitamarhi in Bihar. The attackers were part of a  religious procession, and they beat the elderly man to death.

They later burnt his body in full public view. Worst, the administration not only failed to stop the rioters, it tried to suppress the news of this horrific murder.

If this is not terrorism, what else is? How can members who were part of a religious procession turn into monsters?

The definition:

Terrorism is unlawful use of force or violence that is aimed to scare, terrorize and instill fear. 

So what happened in Sitamarhi on October 20. The right-wing extremists insisted on taking the Durga Puja procession to a Muslim locality.

" According to the local police officials, a prior warning had been issued to avoid any clashes.
Upon being denied entry, the procession turned rowdy, leading to clashes....", reports The Quint.

The elderly man, Zainul Ansari, was returning from his daughter's home. Those who were part of the procession, found a Muslim man alone and allegedly lynched him.

Then, Muslim houses were attacked. All this happened after those in a Durga Puja procession turned violent. Police officials' role is questionable as despite earlier warning the procession went and they could not prevent this mindless violence.

Further, local administration apparently tried to hide its failure. The news was suppressed, internet was shut in the area. It took over ten days before the news came out of the State. It's almost unbelievable.

Not only the level of hate, radicalization and communalism but also administration's carelessness and how media outside Bihar couldn't get information about it. Now the arrests have begun but shouldn't senior officials' responsibility be fixed.

This report on the portal was the first to reveal the horrific nature of crime. Strangely, the photographs and video that were crucial evidence, were deemed 'inflammatory' and the portal was sent notice by police. 

Speaking up is even more important, as there is threat, fear and officials--after their failure, try to hide the truth. That, people in religious procession can resort to such crimes against humanity, is an example of growing madness.

And, instead of action against officials, attempt is made to silence the media. 

This didn't happen in Port Blair but in the heart of North India. When the Quint mentions, ' The incident, however, went largely unreported ', it shows the sorry state of affairs. Who had stopped local media or Patna-based correspondents from reporting? Deeply disturbing on many counts.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar who claims to be a secular politican, must take action against police officials responsible for the incident. It's a test case for him. Sadly, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav also remained silent.

READ: ELDERLY MAN LYNCHED IN SITAMARHI, BODY BURNT

Hatred drives politics, politicians in India: One generation takes decades to learn, next again falls in trap

The reports in newspapers give an indication that how regionalism and parochialism are hurting the nation.

If a person doesn't belong to your state, he becomes 'outsider'? Does being a Gujarati, makes you more proud than being an Indian!

Sad it may seem but this happening in India. Reports suggest thousands left Gujarat after a girl was raped.

As the perpetrator was from North India, there was anger against people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

The result was that there were attacks and North Indians began leaving the state in droves. But the question is that how long this divisive politics will continue? There are hundreds of crimes but you don't get upset.

The anger is fuelled when there is one crime by an 'outsider'. Now this outsider can be someone from another state, belonging to another caste, adherent of some other faith or a person outside your social class.

Religious, regional or linguistic feelings can be stoked and communal passions inflamed at the drop of hat in the country. Unfortunately, this helps certain politicians. The reason is that there is lack of development and politicians have failed to deliver.

Hence, it is easy to divert attention to these factors. There is poor growth in Bihar and hence Bihar residents go out. Similarly, in Gujarat, the situation is bad and hence locals who want jobs, are upset with outsiders.

So it's easy to blame 'outsider' or the 'other', everywhere. It suits politicians. The society also behaves like a mob. For a few years, you can survive on communalism, then regional hatred, which can be followed by linguistic movement or caste anger.

That's how a generation will go. By the time, you realise that you have been cheated, you are too old. The next generation also gets cheated in the same manner. And that's how this game continues in the country. The sole way is stop the politics of hatred and divisiveness. 

Urdu newspapers flourish in Bihar: Several prominent Urdu papers published from Patna

Shams Ur Rehman Alavi

Bihar has been a citadel of Urdu for ages.

The state has more Urdu readers than many of the North Indian states.

In fact, Patna has nearly a dozen major Urdu papers published from the city.

The photograph [Courtesy Mahtab Alam sahab] on the left shows many papers.

While many Urdu speakers in Uttar Pradesh had a superiority complex in terms of Urdu and felt that they were guardians of the zabaan, truth is that Bihar has been more fertile for Urdu, post-independence. Though I am a 'UP-ite', but it's a fact and we must accept it.

These are the Urdu newspapers published from Patna, the capital of Bihar. You can find the major papers like Qaumi Tanzeem, Taseer, Inquilab, Pindar, Jasarat-e-Bihar, Farooqui Tanzeem, Ameen, Pyari Urdu, Hamara Samaj, Sangam and Awami News.

There are some other papers too published from Bihar. Akhbar-e-Mashriq has an edition too.

Bihar had thousands of Urdu schools till a few decades back and still there are Urdu schools across the state though UP performs badly on this count.

In the last two decades, Urdu journalism has seen a revival. Though Urdu papers were strong in Hyderabad, Telangana [earlier Andhra Pradesh], Karnataka, Maharashtra and Kashmir, the situation once again improved in North India.

In Delhi and UP, there are many big newspapers now. West Bengal and Jharkhand too has several Urdu papers.

However, the situation in Madhya Pradesh is not as good, as the traditional newspapers haven't kept themselves updated with technological advancements.

Among big states, Rajasthan and Gujarat don't have Urdu newspapers though almost all the states from JK, Punjab in the North to Tamil Nadu in the South, have Urdu publications.

IMPORTANT LINK:

LIST OF MAJOR URDU NEWSPAPERS AVAILABLE ONLINE IN INDIA: CLICK TO READ

Six best cartoons on BJP's defeat and grand alliance's victory in Bihar: Cartoonists' response to election result

While millions of words have been written on the electoral outcome of the Bihar Assembly poll and the analyses continue, the cartoonists and artists have said it with a few strokes of their pens and brushes.

See these five cartoons that describe the BJP's loss and Nitish Kumar-Lalu Yadav's JDU-RJD-Congress alliance's victory. Clearly, 'Cow and Pakistan' are part of every illustration as BJP had made them a poll issue.

Surendra's cartoon touches the topic of reservation too. Others are by Manjul, Satish Acharya, Shreyas Nevare. The penultimate cartoon was published in Punjab Kesri. All these cartoons are about the results, except the last, which was about the exit polls.

Muslim population in Indian states, percentage as per Census 2011 report on religions: UP, West Bengal, Bihar have largest Muslim concentration

The population of Muslims in India is slightly more than 14.2%.

The last census was conducted in 2011.

However, despite the huge nationwide exercise, the figures about religions were not disclosed till as late as 2015.
 
There is lot of confusion about figures of Muslims in Indian states. 

The reason is that various reports are cited including estimates of United States (US) agencies and other international organisations like PEW group.

Also, there is a trend of 'exaggeration' among sections of Muslims, which creates misconceptions. We must know the figures as per the census report. Here is the Muslim population in different states as per the government of India's official figures.

Muslim population is highest in Uttar Pradesh, which is home to 3.84 crore Muslims but they account for nearly 19.5% of the population of the state, followed by West Bengal,  Bihar, Maharashtra, Assam and Kerala.

The percentage of Muslims is highest in Jammu-Kashmir among big states and in Lakshadwip among the union territories. These are figures as per census 2011, and the current figure would be slightly high. The next census will take place in 2021.

State                                         Muslim population [Figures as per Census 2011]

Uttar Pradesh                            3.84 crore
West Bengal                              2.46 crore
Bihar                                        1.75 crore
Maharashtra                              1.29 crore
Assam                                      1.06 crore


Kerala                                        88 lakh
Jammu and Kashmir                    85 lakh
*Andhra Pradesh+Telangana        81 lakh
Karnataka                                  78 lakh
Rajasthan                                   62 lakh


Gujarat                                       58 lakh
Madhya Pradesh                          47.7 lakh
Jharkhand                                   47 lakh
Tamil Nadu                                 42.5 lakh
Delhi                                          21.5 lakh

Haryana                                       17.8 lakh
Uttarakhand                                 14 lakh
Odisha                                         9.1 lakh
Punjab                                         5.26 lakh
Chhattisgarh                                5.1 lakh

[Lakshadweep has a small population, just 64,000, but it is predominantly Muslim]    

OVERALL POPULATION OF INDIA: POPULATION OF ADHERENTS OF DIFFERENT RELIGIONS IN INDIA [Number of followers of each faith, percentage]

India's population: 121.09 crore [1.21 billion]

Hindus    96.63 crore   (79.8%)

Muslims  17.22 crore   (14.2%)

Christian 2.78 crores (2.3 per cent)

Sikh 2.08 crores (1.7 per cent)

Buddhist 84 lakh (0.7 per cent)

Jain 45 lakh (0.4 per cent)

Other religions and persuasions (ORP) 0.79 crores (0.7 per cent) 

Religion not stated 0.29 crores (0.2 per cent)

BIG FIVE STATES: Maximum Muslim population is in these states

The big five are UP, WB, Bihar, Maharashtra and Assam--each having more than 1 crore or 10 million Muslims. The states that have 5-10 million Muslims include Kerala, Jammu Kashmir, Karnataka, Rajasthan.

Then comes, the states that have 20-50 lakh Muslims [2-5 million]. They include Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Delhi. Next come, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Punjab and Tripura.

But even states like Haryana, Orissa (now Odisha) and Punjab that have lesser Muslims, often have cities, towns and regions that have a strong Muslim concentration or Muslim dominated pockets where the impact of Muslims on local culture is quite visible.                

The states and union territories that come later in the list include Himachal Pradesh, Tripura, Manipur, Meghalaya, Goa, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Andaman Nicobar, Daman and Diu, Dadra Nagar Haveli, Chandigarh et al.

[*Jointly, Andhra Pradesh+Telangana, population in Census 2011 was 8.45 crore, which meant there were 81 lakh Muslims (9.6%). Andhra is a bigger state in terms of population but has less Muslim percent. Telangana has a higher Muslim population than Andhra. After bifurcation, the religious population hasn't been officially known for both states].

How media turned Nitish Kumar from hero to villain within months!

Just refresh your memory and you will recall how Nitish Kumar was the darling of media, till just a few months ago.

Whenever there was a mention of the Bihar chief minister, the word 'Sushasan' or 'Good Governance' was used to describe his achievements.

It was routinely said that he had brought a turnaround in Bihar, from the era of Lalu Prasad Yadav's 'jungle raj'.

After Lalu was ousted from the power by the JDU-BJP combine, Nitish Kumar was seen as a true leader, a man who was changing Bihar.

It was said that crime rate had come down in Bihar, development was again visible and the mafia had been brought under control. The backward Bihar was now a progressive state, we were told.

Those who don't live in the State, obviously, have no idea about the ground realities, and are dependent on media to understand the 'change'.

In fact, there was so much positive news about Bihar, that we even heard how advertisements were being given to newspapers, in order to get good coverage. Negative stories were not being reported at all.  If it was happening, it wasn't good either.

Remember how Forbesganj firing was totally blacked out from media. Now within the last few months, ever since, he had a fallout with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Nitish Kumar is no longer the 'Vikas Purush'. All positive coverage has gone away.

No longer, we hear the word 'Sushasan Kumar'. In fact, there are reports now that the law-and-order situation is bad. Really! The 63-year-old leader who comes from the JP movement, just like his bete noire RJD's Lalu Yadav, is now miffed with media.

In a function, a bitter Nitish Kumar asked the photographer that why was he taking the photographs, when they won't be published them in the newspaper.This is in sharp contrast to the earlier situation when Nitish Kumar got excessive coverage.

In fact, a section was uncomfortable, and felt that due to huge money in the form of Ads, the TV channels and newspaper in Bihar, have 'sold themselves out'. [media bhi business hai bhai]

Now JDU leaders rue that the media no longer gives them coverage as it is in the hands of BJP. In India, media is largely independent, despite the political affiliations of the owners of the media houses.

Lot of people outside Bihar wonder how it is happening so fast. What is the true picture? Something is surely amiss here.

With Mukesh Ambani's growing stakes in media houses, it is suspected that there is growing influence of owners on journalists.

In news rooms, there is a clear order that stories against BJP's future PM wouldn't be telecast. But to say, that Nitish Kumar has been blacked out just because his opposition to Narendra Modi and the JDU's severing ties with BJP in Bihar, is almost unbelievable. Is it that the media has been swept away by the 'Modi wave'?

For eight years, he was doing everything right. Even eight months ago, he was doing great. He was looked at as a statesman and was positioned as the future Prime Minister. However, it is a fact that Nitish Kumar is no longer a favourite among media men.

How this 'hero' to 'zero' transition took place! It is not a great mystery. But the change in coverage does have impact on people who don't belong to Bihar and live outside the state. Without firsthand experience or information about whether things are improving or they have worsened, they are at loss to understand such a transformation in media views.

What's the reality. And the mystery behind the change in image! Just a few more months and we will know.

Massacre Man and his supporters: Bihar leader hailing Ranvir Sena chief Brahmeshwar Singh and the shocking support for slain 'Mukhia'

Massacre Man: Mukhia, lest we forget...

I hope you don't mistook the term 'Massacre Man' for some other person. Here I have used it for Ranvir Sena leader Brahmeshwar Singh, a man who rightly deserves to be remembered by this term.

It is a dark chapter in Indian history and not in a distant past but it has almost been forgotten. That there was a man who led a militia which held massacres at will.

Innumerable women and children were brutally killed by this feudal casteist organisation, at the helm of which was Brahmeshwar Singh alias Mukhia.

This private army supported by landlords didn't spare even girls and infants, who were slaughtered, because they felt 'saa.npole bhi saa.np bante hain' as progeny of snakes shouldn't be allowed to grow because they would also one day become your enemy and exact revenge.

The group that committed such atrocities on Dalits, Recently, when he was shot dead, there was the realisation and recollection of that period. Social tensions haven't gone but the violent phase of caste wars between the landed upper castes and the poor lower castes in Bihar, is over.

But is it really over? It is not on the ground but still exists. The fact that a lawmaker--minister in Bihar government Giriraj Singh termed him a Gandhian, should probably unsettle us. But was there any outrage in media, except a few statements from opposition parties in Bihar.

Giriraj Singh also said that Mukhiya 'ji' had dedicated his life for the farmers, poor and in order to bring peace and harmony in the society. Unimaginable words. Aren't they? Singh is cabinet minister in Nitish Kumar's JDU-BJP government.

Ranvir Sena was involved in mindless killings of Scheduled Castes. For example, they killed 50 people in 1995. In Bathanitola [Bhojpur], Patna and Ekwari, they killed 22, 10 and 10 Dalits respectively in the next couple of years.

Mukhia was Gandhian: Giriraj Singh

Then came the massacres in Jehanabad like Laxmanpur Bathe killings and the murders in Aurangabad, Nawada and Gaya. Such violence should have prompted Centre & state governments to immediately take action.

It is true that it came as reaction to Naxalism but the Sena couldn't have grown without support from section of politicians. It had become a monstrous force for years.

Such was their brutality that girls' faced were disfigured in attacks and kids' necks hacked. Sadly, even today, we see his supporters among politicians and society.

Brahmeshwar Singh was finally arrested but the man who faced charge of causing massacres managed to come out of jail in 2011. He was recently killed and his supporters in Ara went on ransacking shops and houses, burning government property after the incident.

But Giriraj Singh was not alone in his admiration for the slain Ranvir Sena head. There were others also. The last rites showed that he had wide support among certain sections. Thousands were present in the funeral procession and even thereafter.

Clearly, the violence is not on the streets but it remains in the mind. Incidentally, the BJP minister Giriraj Singh is the same person who recently took on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, when he said that JDU won't accept Narendra Modi as NDA's prime ministerial candidate.

Singh, who is minister for Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, made a sharp attack on JDU and even dared the CM to sack him from his cabinet. This post has been written as there is need to remember history, quite recent events, which we must not forget.

Nitish wins Bihar: Trend of Muslims voting for BJP or NDA alliance

Yeh kya ho gaya bhai!

The resounding victory of Nitish Kumar's JD(U) led coalition in Bihar has surprised even the most sympathetic psephologists. Most exit polls had indicated that the NDA was poised to win Bihar but this sort of thumping majority was not predicted.

It was clear that a section of Muslims would vote for JD(U). The reasons were simple. Nitish Kumar looked sincere, he kept the state riot-free, his decision to reopen the Bhagalpur riot cases closed by Lalu Yadav, and remaining steadfast on his commitment to let the AMU campus open in Bihar despite the open opposition of BJP's youth wing BJYM, earned him respect among the community.

Muslims fear nothing more than a communal riot. During Congress regimes in North India, large-scale riots used to occur in cities with substantial Muslim percentage. In each communal riot, tens of thousands would not only be snatched of their means for livelihood but also lost whatever little they had and took them at least twenty years back.

First Congress exploited this fear of riots. In fact, BJP had begun to get a fraction of Muslim vote and its vote share among Muslims would have risen long ago, had the massacre in Gujarat not taken place. Besides, the BJP-led Centre's inaction and the party's refusal to regret the events in Gujarat, turned Muslims even more wary.

No wonder almost everywhere Muslims made it a mission to vote for the candidate who appeared in the strongest position and capable of defeating the BJP. In Orissa, Navin Patnaik failed to keep a check on BJP and the latter's sister organisations.

The anti-Christian violence perpetrated by VHP and Bajrang Dal, later forced him to dump the party. However, in Bihar, the BJP cleverly played second fiddle. The Saffron think-tank was aware that Bihar has one of the highest Muslim concentration (17%) and has regions where Muslim population goes up to 50% or even more so it was prudent to use Nitish's charisma.

While Nitish Kumar succeeded in keeping his secular image intact, perhaps the Sangh Parivar also kept a measured stance as successive failures to form government in the Centre made them review their strategy. The lumpens were kept in check and Hindu remained on the backburner.

The decision to open Bhagalpur riot cases earned Nitish Kumar goodwill. But it was his tough stand of not allowing Narendra Modi for campaigning in Bihar, that proved crucial. Indian Express' editor-in-chief Shekhar Gupta mentioned how a Urdu teacher at a rally told him that Nitish is 'sher ka bachcha' as no one else could do it elsewhere.

The tag of lion for not letting Modi into the state, is not unusual. Apparently this had caused enough strain in the coalition but Nitish stuck to his stand. Gujarat carnage is etched in collective Muslim consciousness as it was first large-scale riot shown on live television.

Meanwhile, the other Modi, Sushil Kumar Modi, as Deputy Chief Minister has all along maintained the image of a moderate. It is this sort of moderation which is expected from a right-of-centre party that aims to govern a nation of 110 crore.

The lack of development and the poor governance had dented the image of the state. In fact, the word 'Bihari' had turned into a derogatory term. This affected all Biharis irrespective of caste and creed as it hurt their pride. But during Nitish Kumar's regime, crime was controlled and law-and-order restored. Things were looking up and as a result he has received unexpected support from all quarters.

Right now the BJP is buoyed with its success. But the truth is that the NDA coalition has won Bihar over the plank of development. Any responsible government has to be inclusive and must ensure that all segments of population are looked upon as equal partners in shaping the destiny of nation or the state.

Despite having several polished and mature leaders at the national level ranging from Sushma Swaraj to Arun Jaitley, there is no dearth of communal and lumpen elements in the party who have an open communal agenda.

In Bihar, Nitish Kumar could rein them in. The BJP and the Bajrang Dal-VHP cadre also remained subdued as victor was in sight because of the alliance. But the million dollar question is whether the BJP change the course at the national level and emerge as a right-of-centre but moderate political party?

Let's see.

Similar posts on this blog in the past:
1. BJP and Muslims.
2. 'Pro-Muslim RSS' had irked radicals

Tough choice for Muslims of Bihar: Will they vote for Lalu Prasad Yadav's RJD once again?

It is again going to be a tough choice for Muslims in Bihar, the state which is home to 25 million Muslims, as it goes to polls.

For the last 15 years Lalu Prasad Yadav has ruled the state as his personal fiefdom. On one hand he allied himself with Muslims, put an end to anti-Muslim riots that had become a regular feature and gave Urdu the status of official language.

Under the RJD rule, the state has been free from sectarian clashes and Muslims have enjoyed an unprecedented era of peace.

In the past, riots in Bihar were the norm every year. The Bhagalpur riots under Congress government had continued for six months and though the official figure of death was 4,000 [majority of the victims were Muslims[, the actual number was far more.

But the last fifteen years have also seen the state plunge into darkness with no development. People are migrating and Muslims households continue to be the poorest. Even the studies have shown the Dalits enjoing better financial status than the Muslims.

Muslims account for 18-19% of population in Bihar. Muslims have the power to tilt scales in favour of any party and are in a majority in Kishanganj. Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party [LJP] is an option but in the last election it had proved a spoiler.

Time for Muslims to bargain hard with Laloo. The Yadavas have for long enjoyed the power which they got with the help of Muslims. The Muslim leaders must stand up and ask Laloo Yadav to not take their support for granted.

Concrete plans for uplifting minorities should be part of manifesto and in return Muslims should throw their full weight behind Laloo and vote in higher numbers. Else, Bihar might as well go to the BJP. Nitish Kumar's JDU and BJP can together upset RJD's calculations.