A Pulsating Rainbow of Million Dreams

Indian Muslims are not alone. They never were. They have to become an integral part of the creative chorus of the secular and progressive ethos, and keep the flame of optimism alive and high. After a long phase of darkness, depression and despair, a new India is rising from the ravages of the old. In this new India, especially of the young, there is a dream. Indeed, there is a vibrant kaleidoscope of a million dreams 

By Shujaat Ali Quadri

Democracy in India is a thriving enterprise. Indeed, even with its flaws, it remains vibrant and pulsating. 

Like a race horse, it seems untiring and relentless. Often, it takes a momentary, introspective pause, and, then, resumes its usual pace. 

This democracy, called the largest in the world, has a legitimate place for all its citizens, regardless of their caste, creed and colour. This is its core guiding principle. For Muslims, especially, it is much more special since it is only in India that they have enjoyed 75 years of uninterrupted democracy.

As democracies have either faltered or struggled to stay on course in neigbouring countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Myanmar, India is marching ahead as a triumphant tusker.

However, the Muslim experience of democracy is riddled with incessant and unpleasant setbacks. And yet, they are the most aspirational votaries of democracy in India. 

In fact, recent years have seen Muslims claiming their rights purely through constitutional means in a collective and articulate voice, and in a hitherto unseen, assertive manner. Their peaceful and protracted struggle against the polarizing and anti-constitutional Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), often led by mothers and sisters, as in Shaheen Bagh in Delhi, and across the country, was joined by thousands of Indians, young and old. 

Unfortunately, this ‘long march’ had to be stopped midway, due to the deadly onslaught of the pandemic. However, it left its indelible mark on popular consciousness, especially when it came to legislative issues in India. Besides, the powers that be, seemed to have buried CAA in the face of massive and consistent nation-wide protests.

Later, when elections were held for the provincial legislatures, Muslims took part with full fervour. Certainly, they were one of the talked about social groups whose votes counted so much that most political parties vied to woo them. 

In North India, their votes always remain crucial because of their electoral value. Their voting pattern is noted by both pollsters and research scholars.

In a curious case of political assimilation, two ‘Muslim-oriented’ political parties – Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and All India Majlise Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) – not only exist, they are taking active part in politics. There are four MPs belonging to these two parties. Asaduddin Owaisi of AIMIM is one of the most vocal politicians in contemporary India. He speaks with full freedom from the platform of Indian Parliament. He is a positive symbol of participatory politics practiced by Indian Muslims.

Owaisi often raises issues of Muslim discomfiture that is palpably true. That is why, perhaps, his voice is heard with attention by certain sections of the political class. 

Besides, a number of other politicians belonging to parties across the ideological spectrum echo similar concerns because they feel that Muslims, as a social group, are lagging behind, and that they are even persecuted at certain times, in certain places, and often with consistent periodicity. This is, indeed, deeply disturbing, not only for the minorities, but for all peace-loving and secular citizens in India.

If anything, it reminds us that Muslim citizens of India have also felt forsaken and forlorn in recent times in our secular democracy. They have felt betrayed by the very polity of which they have been so proud of since the freedom movement and Independence. 

However, they are fully aware that the remedy also lies within — in the same democracy which all Indians cherish. There is no doubt that they have to keep fighting, peacefully, for their constitutional and fundamental rights, as they have been doing for years. Their indefatigable spirit will only strengthen the democratic and progressive forces in the country, and will show to the world that Indians are  stepping into a future by building a capability to sort their discords only through democratic means.

While we are discussing the inherent trust and dreams of Muslims in Indian democracy, a Muslim-majority state (now, sadly, a Union Territory tentatively), Jammu and Kashmir, is holding its first assembly election in 10 years. Kashmiris in the Valley are enthusiastically taking part in this democratic exercise. 

They are putting across all their grievances to the media, but they are willfully stepping into a future that promises peace, progress and prosperity. They know too well that there is an inherent triumph in the very act of voting, as was witnessed in the last parliamentary polls of 2024, and the consequent results.

The people of Kashmir serve as a reminder to every Indian Muslim that the only route to solutions of recurrent problems in a democracy is to ascend to the podium of dialogue and make their leaders listen to your voice. If they disappoint, punish them, and search for alternatives. There is no other way. 

There were some, apparent, diabolical designs of certain evil master-minds, and they yielded universal misfortune for everyone in the state, from Jammu to the Valley, Ladakh and Kargil. Kashmir is still nursing its simmering wounds inflicted by these evil forces. 

However, the people have understood the sinister strategy behind these diabolical designs. Democracy, hopefully, will become their balm and heal such long-standing traumas.

Similarly, this is a stark reminder for Indian Muslims that if they choose malignant ways to retaliate to injustices meted out to them, they will only invite doom for themselves. As India’s neighbourhood is undergoing a churning, foreign forces may entice some misguided Muslim youngsters to turn against the Indian State, as has been the pattern. 

This would turn out to be a dreadful scenario. Even sordid memories of yester-years’ misadventures by some resulted in their lives being ruined and the whole community was demonized because of them.

The contemporary era is actually ripe for Indian Muslims to take the lead in every democratic activity in the country. They should be active in every branch of a political party which they are part of, or, which they support. They must come up with innovative ideas of social service and other constructive activities. They must mingle with their fellow countrymen by taking part in their festivities and invite them to their own festivals.

It may sound clichéd but the tragically historical theme of the 1970s classic, Garm Hawa, directed by MS Sathyu, still rings true. Indian Muslims are not alone. They never were. 

They have no option but to join hands with all other  Indians, across religion, caste and identity. They have to become an integral part of the creative chorus of the secular and progressive ethos, and keep the flame of optimism alive and high. 

After a long phase of darkness, depression and despair, a new India is rising from the ravages of the old. In this new India, especially of the young and aspirational, there is a dream. Indeed, there is a pulsating and vibrant kaleidoscope of a million dreams. 

The great and glorious vision, to make our country as beautiful as the one which drove our freedom fighters and revolutionaries, who sacrificed their lives, many of them so young, to bring freedom and happiness to this imprisoned country. If anything, its time that we make their dreams come true.

Dr Shujaat Ali Quadri is Editor, Digital Forensics Research and Analytics Centre, DFRAC, a fact-checking media organization based in Delhi.