OP has given it this topic some due thought and has managed to put across his argument in a coherent manner hence my thanks
@Kashmiri Pandit.
This is a very difficult topic for me to comment on and I am very conflicted on this as I am a minority but on some level I agree with OP partially. Still in the interest of balance I would like to raise a few questions:
1.
Issue of Polygamy and Women's rights - Govt understandably cannot take a firm decision on Uniform Civil Code in absence of national consensus among Muslims on this matter as this can sow the seeds of further communal disharmony . I and many others whom I know belong to Muslim community are firm proponents of Uniform Civil Code but it is important to realize the following facts
a. Deferment of Uniform Civil Code was a bargain made with some influential Muslim parties in return for their support to India and firm advocacy by Muslims Leaders to preserve their practices. With the benefit of hindsight we can say nothing good has come out of it but still this can be construed as a case of preserving individual rights of Muslims however antiquated and offensive to modern sensibilities they might be.
b. No govt, even the staunchest of right wing specially them would take the risk to legislate on this matter. Less i say about left and congress the better. Hence all hope lies with judiciary, who would only make firm ruling (
not observations) when the public opinion is unanimously favorable. I don't see it happening anytime soon hence it is perhaps better we devote our energies to other causes like social development, education, infra etc.
2.
RTE, Minority schools, Haj Pilgrimage Subsidy - There is no doubt this is a case of special privileges to minority community. The point is does that community need affirmative action? If yes, the question becomes much broader including the whole gamut of affirmative action present in India including reservations and quotas. Muslims as we all know don't get them to an extent others do. Muslims also are as left behind as SC/ST in many cases. Open quota for muslims and all hell would break loose. In that case the above can be considered as a sweetener. As for Christians and others - I believe we can do away with special privileges.
I know that many would say most troubles Muslims face like their backwardness and poor performance in social indicators is their own fault but
Please understand this from other side's perspective too - sometimes we get too carried away by our own narrative and fail to empathize with others. Think what a Muslim feels about these issues - try to understand his PoV. Understand his insecurities.
3.
Tolerance and Hindutva - This is a perception battle and a large part of this intolerance debate is politically motivated however that said there is no denying the fact that there is increased hostility towards Minority communities. It is my personal observation that fringe right groups are more assertive and in some cases downright malignant in it's intention towards Muslims mostly. The minority being a minority is more sensitive to such factors hence even the smallest of actions have an amplified effect on the. What is probably an isolated incident can seem like a pattern to the minority.
Now there are three options
a. One can assuage this fears by promoting and actively speaking about tolerance and brotherhood.
b. One can be silent or ambiguous about it - thus creating further insecurity
c. One can openly support anti minority acts - thus firming up the hostility and leading to downward spiral of fissures in our society
I believe we are seeing a combination of b and c with some among right opting for option c and some at the top opting for option b.
Regards
@Bang Galore @SarthakGanguly @Sky lord @Joe Shearer
