Ali Anwar’s Urdu book, Maswat ki Jung (Crusade for equality) (2001 pp.263, Vani Prakashan, New Delhi) has sent a shiver down the spines of Muslim elites as it dwells at length on the plight of Dalit Muslims derided and treated as pariahs by their upper caste brethren and ulemas. This goes against the tenets of Islam which does not sanction inequality based on caste and birth. Former Prime Minister V.P. Singh recently released the book at the Patna book fair.
Imarate Shariah criticised: The upper caste Muslims constitute just 15% of India’s total Muslim population -enjoying control over the religious, political and social institutions of the country for centuries.
The author strongly advocates job reservation for the Dalit Muslims. The Dalit and Backward Muslims, who constitute over 75% of the total Muslim population in the country, are now awakened to the reality that the Muslim political and religious leadership dominated by the upper castes will not raise their cause.
The book cites the example of the headquarters of the Imarate Shariah (Bihar and Orissa) at Phulwari Sharief, Patna. Close to it there is a huge settlement of halalkhors (Muslim Dalits). Cholera broke out in this locality a few years ago killing six poor people. Not to speak of providing any material assistance, the Imarate-Shariah’s people did not even prefer to meet the affected families and inquire about their welfare, the book says.
