Muslim leader from Bengal and former Member of Parliament, Badrudduja, his life and times

Shams Ur Rehman Alavi

Freedom fighter and prominent leader late Badrudduja is recalled for his politics as well as his firm stand on issues and oratory.

He was active during freedom struggle and participated in almost all the movements.

Even in pre-partition era, he was Mayor of Calcutta.

After 1947, his role in West Bengal politics became important. 

Badrudduja was never hesitant to speak on Muslim issues and took up the issue of injustice and atrocities with Muslims. Blitz and other newspapers termed him a 'reactionary'. However, he was unmoved and undeterred. He fearless intervened and took up the causes of the citizens. 

When he was targeted by the then State law minister Siddhartha Shankar Ray, he responded to the personal attack in a manner that the former had to apologize. Badrudduja said, 'If my loyalty to my religion and culture is used to brand me, then I'm proud of it'.

In 1967, he was elected MP as IDP candidate. In Assembly & Parliament, he was vocal & hence faced consequences. Also, with Krishak Praja Party (KPP) and then IDP.  In his political life, he remained a man firm on principles and never compromised.

For example, he refused to accept that just Muslim lawmakers will have to sign a document on Kashmir. Objecting, he said that it was wrong to just ask Muslim members to sign it. Often in conflict with governments, he was imprisoned time and again.

Syed Badrudduja was born in Murshidabad, Bengal in 1900. He studied law and was Mayor of Kolkata in 1943-44. He had participated in movements during freedom struggle. later, he went on to become the  member of legislative council of West Bengal after independence.

He was elected MLA several times. Besides, he contested and won in Lok Sabha elections too. One must remember than Bengal and Punjab were most affected by partition. West Bengal was left with few influential politicians from the Muslim community, after 1947.

Both these states were cut from the middle and divided among separate countries. Badrudduja didn't move and remained in India. It was a time when Muslims of Bengal and even North India, needed political voice. 

He showed that politics was possible without joining INC or Communists, took an independent line. He fearlessly spoke and raised the issues concerning Muslims. Either it is about lack of institutions or education, he was actively taking them up in Assembly as well as Parliament. 

As far as eloquence is concerned, Tagore was fulsome in praise when he saw him speak in 1938 and termed it a 'Gift of God'. When Badrudduja was moved by the complement, Tagore said that he was a writer and oratory was a totally different skill. His English speech had cast a spell on none other than CV Raman. Similarly, he could keep audience spellbound with his Urdu speeches.

Link and Link.

Mulla Jan Mohammad: Prominent Muslim leader who played important role in post-independent era

 

Shams Ur Rehman Alavi

Mulla Jan Mohammad was among the leaders who played a vital role in post-partition era in India.

He was a known personality earlier too. But post-independence, it was a critical period.

Muslim masses who were looking for leaders, as top brass had left them and migrated across the border, found in him a man who was able to pick up pieces, help community pass through the troubled times. 

Calcutta was not just the former capital of British Empire in India, but also, it was a prominent centre of Muslims. Though the top leaders had migrated, shifted to Dhaka, millions of Muslims remained in West Bengal.

The city had been rocked by riots before partition. After partition too, there were riots and killings. In this situation, leadership was needed. There was communalism apart from anxiety, apprehensions, institutions were facing several serious issues. 

Among prominent leaders, Badrudduja Sb decided to remain in India. It was only until 1955 that the situation improved, well. So either the 1950 situation, that had once again heightened fears of Muslims in Kolkata, or the later disturbances in 1960s, Calcutta had the figure of Mulla Jan Mohammad, who became a symbol of hope and reassurance for Muslims. 

Mulla Jan Mohammad had seen Ali brothers, the rise of Muslim politics and its fall, the consequences. He was a strong man, known for principles, steadfast, honest and self-less. Hence, he was termed Khadim-e-Qaum.

In 1961, Jabalpur riots shook the nation. The series of riots in cities in Eastern India, Kolkata, Rourkela, Jamshedpur, again hit the region. In these circumstances, just like in 1950, he remained active and also  oversaw relief and rehab measures.

Either the 1963 and 1965 riots in Kolkata or the Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Rourkela incidents, that were clearly planned riots, horrific killings and large-scale destruction took place. He was instrumental in taking the politicians head on over the riots.

Calcutta Khilafat Committee (CKC) is one the most well-known institutions of Muslims. Mulla Jan Mohammad was its president. Also, his association with Islamia Hospital and serving the institution must be written with golden letters. 

Following any riot in Kolkata, he would hit the street, take the lead, go out in the city, meet authorities, would also ensure rehab and relief. Disturbed by the series of major communal riots, Syed Mahmud took the lead and meetings of Muslim leaders, scholars, clerics were held.

Once again Mulla Jan Mohammad played a key role in formation of the All India Muslim Majlis Mashawrat. Apart from Syed Mahmud, Maulana Abulhasan Nadvi alias Ali Miyan, Mufti Atiqur Rahman Usmani, Ebrahim Suleiman Sait, Maulana Manzoor Nomani and veteran leaders were present.

The need for social, intellectual, community leadership is always needed. More so, in desperate times. Later too,Mulla Jan Mohammad mooted idea that there must be tours to riot-affected cities and areas.This was accepted and hence leading Ulema planned the tour. 

The visit to Ranchi was a major success. Individuals who can unite, bring others on one platform, have community's trust, show way, keep others motivated and can act, are required in every society. Interestingly, the Peshawar-born Mulla Jan Muhammad, became 'Mulla' because Maulana Azad a regular visitor used to call him 'Mulla' lovingly.

"Ever since I can remember, from the time I was a student, I saw Mulla Jan Mohammad was always involved in community issues, redressing them and doing social leadership. He dedicated himself to serving the community", writes Abdul Aziz, in a column in Halaat-E-Bengal. 

"The relationship was mutual, as top Muslim leaders of the country too kept him close. Despite his relations, he never let politics and politicians enter the institutions and damage them, and this is true for all these institutions viz. Islamia Hospital, Calcutta Khilafat Committee and Mohammedan Sporting Club", he further writes. 

"The Calcutta Khilafat Committee came into existence around 1919. The Islamia Hospital was built a few years later. All his life, he remained attached to the hospital and rendered yeoman's service", writes Maulana Talha Bin Abu Salma Nadwi, in an article.

"In 1967, Mulla Jan Mohammed went for Haj. When he returned and came to know that hospital authorities had fixed 'aath annah' fee for outdoor patients, he was so angry, sat at the gate of the hospital, with this stick and returned the amount to each person who had come to the hospital and paid it", he mentions in the article. 

[There was another person Khan Bahadur Sheikh Mohammad Jan, who was a different person though he also lived in the same period. He was a businessman, Congress leader and owned two newspapers. Some people get confused and a separate post would be written about him, later]

Yasin Pathan's drive to save ancient temples in India: Communal Harmony Project-35

For over four decades, a Muslim man has been trying to save the ancient temples in India.

These temples, many of them are centuries old, lacked upkeep and as a result they were falling apart.

Pathan's initiative has resulted in 34 major temples taken over by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and hence they became protected monuments, reports journalist Koushik Dutta in Hindustan Times.

He had begun the campaign in 1970s when he saw the condition of ancient Siva and Vishnu temples in Pathra town in West Bengal. The 'Save the Temples' campaign began, since then.

There was no effort on part of government to conserve the old temples. “These temples form a part of our heritage, and I am just doing my small bit to protect them for the next generation,” says Pathan.

At a time when instances of religious intolerance are reported from different parts of the country, a 66-year-old Muslim is championing the cause of communal harmony by leading a movement to preserve temples.

Retired school peon Yasin Pathan started the ‘Save the Temples’ initiative in the 1970s with an aim to protect the 18 th century Shiva and Vishnu temples in West Bengal’s Pathra village.

"The 66-year-old man kept writing to officials concerned in an attempt to draw their attention towards the temple’s depleting condition.

The ASI eventually carried out `4-crore worth of preservation work on few of the temples in 2013", the report further says. The complete report is available at this LINK.

Photo Courtesy: Samir Mondal

[Harmony exists all around us but is often ignored. Instead, stories of hate, discord and communalism get spread easily.

There are a million examples in our daily lives across India but they don't get promoted, hence, news of hate and discord gets heard more. Let's change it, now.

This is a small attempt to change it through Communal Harmony Project]

For reading similar reports on this blog, Click the link HERE and also find out more about Communal Harmony Project]

#Communalharmony #Communalharmonyproject #India

120 Muslim lawmakers elected in five state Assemblies in India: Can't elected Muslims exhibit leadership qualities, become leaders in true sense?

Over 120 Muslims have been elected as MLAs in the recent Assembly elections.

The five states that went to polls included Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

It was an election to elect 822 members of legislative assemblies [MLAs] in these states.

India has around 14-15% Muslim population. However, three of these states that went to poll had a much higher percent.

Assam has around 37% Muslims, West Bengal has 29% and Kerala has 27%. Tamil Nadu and Puducherry have nearly 6% each.

Even in this backdrop, the figure of Muslims elected is not too less, though it should have been higher. Two of these states have 'Muslim parties' too.

Kerala has Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Assam has Badruddin Ajmal's AUDF. Also, SDPI, AIMIM, INL and IUML had contested in Tamil Nadu and other places.

There are 56 Muslims elected to WB Assembly [294 member house] on this occasion. In West Bengal, Muslims supported Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress. Also, they voted for Congress and Communists [Left] at a few places.

In Assam, 29 Muslims have been elected [out of a total 126 members in the house]. Muslim MLAs from Congress and AUDF have won. Also, one Muslim candidate of the BJP has also been elected in the State, this time.

30 Muslim MLAs have been elected in Kerala. In Kerala, Muslim vote was divided between Left and UDF. Though UDF lost, there are Congress and Indian Union Muslim League MLAs apart from LDF.

IUML sent 18 MLAs to Assembly including 16 Muslims and two non-Muslims. The strength of Kerala Assembly is 140.

Muslim candidates have won in Tamil Nadu and also Puducherry. In Tamil Nadu, winners include from DMK, AIADMK and IUML. Strength of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Assemblies is 232 and 30 respectively.

The number of elected Muslim MLAs isn't too low

Frankly, the figure is not bad, specially, when it was felt that Muslim representation may have gone down even more. The fact is that if an MLA works hard, takes interest in area's problems, raises the voice about constituency, he/she can do a lot.

The legislator has ample powers to make a lot of difference. Through his leadership, funds, voice in house and on the streets, the legislator can get popular and bring positive change in lives. Can't some of the MLAs do it?

Did 70 Muslims MLAs in UP Assembly make any difference?

Once again 'numbers' alone don't make a big difference. In UP, Samajwadi Party's 65-odd MLAs have made little difference in the lives of ordinary Muslims.

Most of them have remained silent, didn't take up issues of education and health, or even the points in the SP's manifesto. Clearly, Muslims need good leadership.

MLAs ought to be leaders, on the ground, they must act as social leaders. And not just MLAs of Muslims but command respect from people of all sections because of their work, to become true leader.

Else, this talk of numbers is just useless.

Rise in women political power in India: Women politicians Mahbooba Mufti, Mamata Banerjee, Jaya, Anandiben chief ministers in four corners of country

As Mahbooba Mufti took oath as chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, she made history.

She is the first woman chief minister of the State. Now India has women chief ministers in important states located in all directions of the country.

Just when I was about to write this post, a friend [journalist, blogger] tweeted the same line which I was about to write.

That, 'Women leaders now rule four corners of the country'. That's quite interesting and the first such occasion when we see woman CMs in these states.

In the North, it is Mahbooba Mufti, in the South J Jayalalitha in Tamil Nadu, Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal (in the Eastern part of India) and Anandi Ben Patel in the West [Gujarat].

Mamata Banerjee and J Jayalalitha have to face state elections soon. But for the time being, it is women power in states in the North, the South, the West and the East. Clearly, an important moment in history. The FIFTH is Vasundhara Raje, who rules another big state, Rajasthan.

Three are supremely powerful: Their decision is final in their parties

Another important factor is that three of these four women leaders have complete control over their parties. While Mahbooba leads PDP, a party that is in alliance with BJP, despite having a slight pro-separatist tilt, Jayalalitha heads AIADMK.

Mamata Banerjee is credited for fighting against the Left in WB for long, and for making TMC emerge as a major party and for snatching power from Communists. Anandiben Patel is BJP leader who was given charge of Gujarat after Narendra Modi became Prime Minister.

Tough challenge for Mahbooba Mufti

Anandiben Patel has faced Patel agitation and there is resentment against her within the BJP too. Jaya and Mamata are going to face elections, very soon. But for Mahbooba, it is going to be a challenge as to how she runs the government.

It is a tightrope walk for her party, as there is nothing common between BJP and PDP when it comes to their political ideology. The PDP supremo has become CM after a long period of deadlock between her party and the BJP, after her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's death.

But, for now, let's celebrate the women politicians' rise, their growing power, in India. 

Opinion poll suggests Mamata Banerjee's TMC to win in West Bengal again, LDF comeback in Kerala, Jayalalitha victory in Tamil Nadu but setback for Congress

Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced schedule for the forthcoming assembly elections in four states.

With dates announced, already opinion polls are being commissioned to gauge the public mood in these states.

So who will win the election? That's a matter of speculation, however, C Voter is the first to come with a survey. It suggests that Congress may face setback, as it is likely to lose two states viz. Assam and Kerala, where it is in power.

The four states that are going to polls include West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Kerala. BJP is not very strong in these states.

However, it has a significant vote in Assam, and its alliance with the BJP may bring it to power in the State. It is not a power to reckon with in West Bengal even now, but party leaders are hopeful of a good show.

In WB, the main fight is between Trinamool Congress and CPI (M) in West Bengal. In Assam, the contest is between Congress and BJP-AGP alliance though Badruddin Ajmal's AIUDF may corner enough seats to emerge as kingmaker after the election.

In Tamil Nadu, it is the traditional AIADMK against DMK fight. In Kerala, the Communist front--Left Democratic Front (LDF) is likely to make a comeback.


OPINION POLL [INDIA TV-C VOTER]

WEST BENGAL: Mamata seems set to form government, Communists may improve their tally but Congress to lose more seats compared to last election, unless there is a tie-up between Congress and Left.

TMC 156 
CPI-M 114
Congress 13
BJP 4
Others 7

KERALA: The Communists could return to power again. Congress-led UDF may lose. BJP is not going to do very well and the state remains polarised between Congress and Left coalitions.

LDF 89 
UDF 49
NDA 1
Others 1

ASSAM: In Assam, BJP-AGP alliance is doing better as per the opinion poll. Tarun Gogoi-led Congress may get less number of seats. However, Badruddin Ajmal's AIUDF can have a tie-up with Congress, post-polls. Congress looks down but is not out of the race.

BJP alliance 57 
Congress 44
AIUDF 19
Others 6

TAMIL NADU: Tamil Nadu has always been a tough state for pollsters and predictions have gone horribly wrong here in the past. However, it seems despite anti-incumbency, J Jayalalitha's AIADMK is performing better than DMK. But a slight vote swing can change the results dramatically.

AIADMK 116 
DMK 101
Others 17

Manufactured rage: From Burdwan to Malda, right-wing's 'Project West Bengal'

A protest turned violent in Malda leading to arson and injuries to some persons including policemen.

Fortunately, there was not a single death. Any sane person would condemn the violence.

However, Malda violence has been blown up as a big security challenge for the nation--by section of media and BJP leaders.

In a country where people taking to streets and resorting to violence is a such a common practice, it was clear that rage was being manufactured on social media, as well as on the ground.

The mob targeted the police station but it DID NOT EVEN TOUCH THE TEMPLE on the premises of the police station, reports BBC correspondent Ravi Prakash who went to Maldah to cover it, later.
READ IT HERE

It was not a Hindu-Muslim issue. In fact, media kept reporting, wrongly, that there were 2.5 lakh protesters. It was nothing but hyperbole, lies and exaggeration. Where did this figure come from and how could lakhs gather in this small town for such a protest?

Lies, exaggerations, misinformation campaigns

Malda city has barely 20,000 odd Muslim males and even if all of them came to protest, just imagine the extreme exaggeration, how they floated a figure of 2.5 lakh.

Malda is a Muslim majority district but the city has Hindu majority, with nearly 1.5 lakh population and around 45,000 being Muslims--half of them males. Assuming all males, except kids, reached, it would barely make 20,000. The number of people who were part of the protest was barely a few thousand.

Editorials were written, TV channels were discussing Malda in prime time and BJP sent its delegation there. The scale of violence was nothing at all, compared to recent Patel agitation in Gujarat, where property worth hundreds of crores was burnt.

Remember, scale of violence in Patel agitation in Gujarat

In Gujarat, nearly six persons died, and there was lawlessness in entire state. Gurjar agitation is not something of distant past. In fact, it is unfortunate but people setting up vehicles and even police stations afire, is not uncommon in this country.

After Malda, right-wing groups organised 'Shaurya Diwas' in Madhya Pradesh, and there was arson, attacks, burning of shops, but THERE IS NO RAGE now. Why? There are reasons why there won't be rage in any other such incident.

Aim is to defame Mamata government!

For almost two years, there is a systematic attempt to DEFAME Mamata government, to paint Bangladesh as a land where 'Jihadis' [read Muslims] are flexing muscles, to somehow create communal tension--ahead of elections.

The manner in which Malda was made the single most important issue in the country, shows how the right-wing lobby is targeting TMC [Mamata Bannerji-ruled WB]. It is not very difficult in this era, when channels are crazy and going to any extent for TRPs, even turning a few thousands into LAKHS.

How rage is manufactured, cyber army is in place

How rage is manufactured! It needs organised people to run campaigns. There is a huge machinery in place doing it. Tens of thousands of ideologically like-minded people on Twitter and Facebook, began talking about Malda.

You tag the journalists, make Malda 'trend' on Twitter, and force everyone to take notice. Then, there are 'bigwigs' in media--planted for the purpose, 'the bhakts' who can go to any extent to push up such stories that lead to hysteria. [Don't you know the names!]

This huge cyber army is now capable of making any non-issue into an issue. Not just the 'paid cyber army' but also the right-wing supporters, who number in thousands (may be even more), are suddenly in action, when there is any such incident.

Remember Burdwan case!

And, who bothers about facts and figures, when there is hysteria. This is exactly how Burdwan case was blown up for months, it was made the single most important issue in India. Remember, NSA's visit to Burdwan, and how it was used to tarnish Mamta Banerji government!

Of course, once BJP fails to win the election, Project Bengal will be over. There won't be focus on incidents in Bengal. The next state would be targeted. Perhaps, UP or some other state. That's the harsh reality.

Burdwan: Media & National Security LINK
Violent protests in India: Mohammad Anas' article HERE

Of Kolkata visits, Muslims and Bengali Bhadralok: Difference between Leftist government and Trinamool's rule in West Bengal

By Ather Farooqui

My first visit to West Bengal was in the year 1989. This was followed by subsequent tours in 2010 and 2014. Kolkata [Calcutta] was quite an intimidating town then.

The infrastructure had crumbled and there was a sense of  fear in the metropolis. It was tough to walk on the streets as there was no place on footpaths.

My visit was about collecting statistics about Urdu education. Hence, I met CPM
leader Salik Lakhnawi.

When I contested his opinion and said that CPM hasn't done anything for Urdu and told him that the class conflict between Bengali and non-Bengali was similar to the situation in Maharashtra, he told me that if someone else would have said it he would have been in jail for such a statement.

That was the end of the conversation as I left the tea in the middle and left the place. The visit in 2010 was short but travelling on the streets and passing by mohallas, one could see the poor condition of Muslims who were living in the Communist ruled state.

West Bengal hadn't moved ahead a bit and seemed to be stuck in time. But when in March 2014, I again went to West Bengal, it was an altogether different state. I was surprised to see that there was no sense of fear in the air.

Left leadership is not used to learning from its past mistakes. Anjuman Taraqqi Urdu Hind's branch is active here.

I found that there were issues about Urdu education but there was no unhappiness with regard to the State government.

Bengal's middle-class or the Bhadralok lives in a world of its own. The Telegraph is their favourite newspaper.

Comparatively, it gives much more prominence to international stories than local reports. This class still lives in the world in which Upper Class society of North India lived in till 1970s.

There is tremendous greenery in rural West Bengal. I travelled from Kolkata to Darjeeling via New Jalpaiguri, for ten days. No where I could see sign that CPM is a force here. There were party flags on very few houses.

In Darjeeling, GJM is the strong party that had supported Jaswant Singh in the last election, with the
hope that BJP would come to power. Unlike North India, in West  Bengal, one has to pass through extremely bad roads to reach the hill stations here.

There is huge tourism revenue generated but the money is not spent on infrastructure. As a result, there is a strong support for creating Gorkhaland state in West Bengal.

[This is a guest article. It was originally published in Roznama Sahara, a multi-edition Urdu newspaper. Ather Farooqui is secretary general of Anjuman Taraqqi-i-Urdu Hind]