NEW DELHI, 24 April 2007 — Hailing Maulana Syed Asad Madani (1928-2006) as a “nation-builder” and a “true Muslim,” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday released a collection of Madani’s parliamentary speeches at the Fida-e-Millat seminar organized by Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind (JUH).
“Apart from being a true Muslim, Maulana was very secular and progressive. He was a great nation builder,” the prime minister said.
Speaking in Urdu, Manmohan praised Madani as “deeply religious and spiritual” with a “modern, secular and progressive outlook.” Describing Madani as a “staunch advocate of pluralism and secularism” who “dedicated his life to defend our common ethos and composite culture,” Manmohan said: “His speeches in Rajya Sabha (upper house) present to us a modern mind, a patriotic and nationalistic mind.”
Quoting Madani’s vision of India, Manmohan said: “In his farewell speech in Rajya Sabha in March 1994, he stated: ‘It is my earnest desire to see India as a developed country.’
His vision of India as a developed country went beyond GNP and other indicators of economic growth. It included in its scope the triumph of democratic ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity and substantial advancement of socio-economic conditions of all sections of society.”
Highlighting the significance of Madani’s words in India’s drive toward progress, Manmohan said: “His words that ‘true secularism in the country could only prevail, if every section of society is provided with an equal opportunity for progress’ assumes great significance in our combined quest for a life of dignity, peace and prosperity for all sections of our societies, including religious minorities.”
“Today when so much talk is going on to make India a developed country by 2020 we have to be mindful of the words of Maulana Madani,” he asserted.
