Liberals, stand up to be counted
By Shabana Azmi

The word Muslim was first hurled at me like an accusation after the
demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992. I grew up in a family where
there was an extremely cosmopolitan atmosphere where we celebrated
Holi, Diwali, Christmas, Id with equal enthusiasm.

Identity is many things to me. If you ask me who I am I will say
woman, actor, activist, Muslim, daughter, mother, wife, etc, etc. But
in India a concerted effort is being made deliberately to condense
the identity only into the confine of the religious faith one was
born into. But, the truth of India is its composite culture. Which is
why the Kashmiri Hindu and the Kashmiri Muslim has more in common
than a Muslim from Tamil Nadu despite the common faith they share.

What happened after the Babri Masjid demolition was accusations as if
it was a crime to be a Muslim.I dug my heels in and said yes I am a
Muslim what you want me to do. I am a Muslim whose parents chose to
stay back in India when partition occurred because they believed that
India was a secular and democratic country safeguarding the interests
of the minorities and pluralism was the strong point.

How can you then ask their daughter who was not even born to give
proof loyalty to the country.? If a hundred misguided Muslims cheer
when Pakistan wins a cricket match against India why should 15 crore
be taunted? When Ashok Singhal and the VHP indulge in the activities
they do are all Hindus hauled over the coals?

After partition the secular Muslims decided to keep away from the
affairs of the community in a great effort to prove their secular
credentials. They kept away even when Muslims were butchered in
Mooradabad, Bhiwandi, etc.

The Babri Masjid demolition and the riots that ensued were a wake up
call for Muslim liberals.who realised that until they came out in aid
of the community when they were in distress they would not listen to
them on other issues.

So for the first time you had the Muslim intelligensia actually out
on the streets providing relief and rehabilitation. But what happens
is that these groups come together whenever a crisis occurs and then
get fragmented because they cannot be in activist-mode always. Unlike
the RSS and VHP which has a hate campaign targeted against a
community with the long term goal.

Its time for both Hindus and Muslims to reject being used as cannon
fodder by politicians. Hats off to the Hindus in Uttar Pradesh in
spite every single bogey that was raised of war on border, ISI,
Madarsas and POTO, to create a fear psychosis.

The issues that concern average Muslims is the same that concerns the
average Hindus, Sikhs and Christians - roti, kapda aur makan. Why
should a Muslim look for a Muslim leader. In a functioning democracy
a Muslim should be confident of any leader.

I think the failure has also been in not countering false propoganda
systematically targetted at the Muslims. Because the liberal Muslims
felt there was no need. I think it's time to counter.

We should stop taking it as a fight between the Hindus and Muslims.
It's a fight between the liberals and fundamentalists. So you join
hands with secular and moderates irrespective of whether it is Hindu
or Muslim. And all of us must come together for a common cause. We
fear what we do not know.

Therefore, a conscious effort should be made to know the other.We
have to nail the lie that all Muslims are invaders. We have to see
the many rulers in history like Akbar have synthesized the diverse
culture of this country.

Hindus and Muslims have for years lived together peacefully. My uncle
tells me in Hyderabad when the Muslims take out the 'tazia' during
Moharram Hindus wash the tazia with milk. In Rajasthan wooden
(khadao) footwear worm by saints are made by Muslims.

The dyeing of 'odhni's and printing are done by Muslims.When the VHP
raised the cry for Kashi and Mathura along with Ayodhya temple, the
people of Benaras got up and said we don't want communal riots here.
Both Hindus and Muslims have to stand together.

(As told to Shubhangi Khapre)