JEDDAH, 25 June 2005 — “Muslims have missed a whole century and have no game plan for the 21st century. They talk a lot but have no idea to cope with the situation being faced by the community the world over. It is time for them to come up with an elaborate strategy to fight for their rights,” said veteran journalist Zafar Agha.
Speaking at a function dedicated to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad at the Indian consulate on Thursday, Agha said: “Muslims should come out of minority psychosis and regain their confidence to reclaim their lost glory.”
He said Indian political history is witness that whenever Muslims vote, they vote en bloc, they make or break the government. “They are not in minority but are the political majority which makes or breaks the government,” Agha said.
Agha praised the Muslim community for booting out the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government through their judicious and calculated voting throughout the country in 2004 parliamentary elections. “The 2004 elections have provided us with a great opportunity to build on a future game plan.”
Agha appealed to the community to do its best to educate the masses. “Remember, those who are educated, they can defend themselves,” he said. “Abul Kalam Azad believed in educating people, perhaps that was the reason he opted for the Education Ministry in Jawaharlal Nehru’s Cabinet.”
Another speaker of the evening, Qurban Ali, a consultant in India’s Doordarshan TV, talked about the importance of Urdu language and praised the organizer of the program, Urdu Academy, for its efforts in promoting and protecting the language.
Qurban Ali, who shot to fame with his long stint at the BBC, said Urdu was perhaps the first and biggest casualty of the partition in 1947. “Urdu was having an official status before partition but it lost its status and charm after the partition.”
Perhaps, that was one of the many reasons why Abul Kalam Azad opposed the division of the country, Qurban Ali said.
“This is a unique language and those who know Urdu are in a better position to learn and correctly pronounce other languages. That’s why, in today’s India when TV channels are mushrooming, people with Urdu background have a better chance of grabbing top jobs. They are a preferred lot,” Qurban Ali said.
Professor Shamim Hanafi of Delhi’s Jamia Millia highlighted Abul Kalam Azad’s farsightedness and political vision.
A great grandson of Abul Kalam, Arif Tahir Khan, shared a few anecdotes of the great leader with the audience and said Abul Kalam Azad derived strength and inspiration from the Holy Qur’an.
In his presidential address, Consul General Ausaf Sayeed said the need of the hour is to provide better education to our children.
Earlier, Urdu Academy President Syed Jamalullah Quadri welcomed the guests and Vice President Nayeemullah Shareef listed the academy’s projects and achievements.
