DV Muslim writers must meet to plan future action
Congratulations to Yoginder Sikand on his brilliant and scholarly article on Muslim writings in Dalit Voice. (DV Nov. 1, 2002 p.8: “DV’s new Islamic liberation theology gets revolutionary Muslim support).
I have been reading DV from cover to cover for the past 14 years. I had also subscribed to several other Muslim journals. The writings in those journals were so nauseating that I stopped my subscription. One such journal was discussing in the aftermath of Babri Masjid demolition about the frequency of removal of pubic hair. Some other journals were busy according prophethood on Hindu gods Rama, Krishna etc. The writers in those journals went to the extent of quoting the Koran to defend their half-baked theories.
None of those journals talked of the burning issues confronting the Muslims. There were moments when the community felt absolutely deserted by the political parties, the state, the media and even the judiciary. When Muslims in India suffer from substantially greater economic deprivation than others, these journals and organizations have been busy preaching Muslim masses about pubic hair and toilet-training. Dalit Voice readers and writers can’t waste time on such trivialities.
Though DV is not a Muslim journal, it has surpassed every other Muslim journal attracting enlightened sections from the Muslim masses. This is because of its commitment to Truth and historical Justice.
These Muslim writings in DV represent a form of revolt against the elite and status-quoist Muslim leadership of all shades religious, political and intellectual.
Though it is a fact that the traditional Muslim leadership has led the masses into a morass of despair, we can’t afford to brood over its betrayal. We can’t expect someone to come and deliver us from our miseries. Every cloud has a silver lining.
Dalit Voice with its indomitable struggle has been able to discover hundreds of revolutionary lay Muslim thinkers throughout the country. Will it be possible fo the Muslim writers in DV to come together for a day or two so that they can chalk out a concrete plan of action to get the community out of the rut? Such a meeting must be under the leadership of our Editor and in a centrally located place. If it is not possible due to distance they can think of having three or four regional meetings. History beckons the DV Muslim writers to give an intellectual lead to their beleaguered community.
The Editor is ready
Brother Chand Peer is one of our brilliant intellectuals in the DV family and his suggestion has to be taken seriously by every Muslim writer. The elite section within Muslims corrupted and co-opted by the Brahminical ruling class, hat killed the revolutionary “Spirit of Islam” The Muslim masses are Impatient and are ready to follow anybody who is honest and committed to the “Spirit of Islam Muslim writers inside India may comment on Chand Peer’s suggestion. We are ready to convene such a meeting which may be held in Hyderabad EDITOR.
