Sheri Nashist, on the occasion of 26 January, 2015 at AMU
Thursday, 16 June 2016
A War Against God
Indeed, the penalty for those who wage war against God and His Messenger and strive upon earth (to cause) corruption, is none but that they be killed or crucified or that their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides or that they be exiled from the land (Quran, 5:33).
Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) is indeed the only man in the history of mankind who for maintaining peace accepted, seemingly the most unacceptable conditions. Peace treaty of Hudaibiya is the finest example of the prophetic version of Islam. The only version of Islam. Incident of digging a trench to avoid war is another such fine example. (Quran: 33)
He indeed always opted for the easier path. As narrated by Aisha (his wife), “Whenever the prophet had to choose between two courses, he would always opt for the easier one”. The most important aspect of Prophet’s mission was that it was the most peaceful where there was a place for everyone belonging to any faith. His conduct with Jews and Christians of his times bears the testimony to this fact. The very aim of the peaceful mission was to maintain peace. Peace was not only a means but also an end. And herein lies the success of his mission. “It is this unparalleled combination of secular and religious influence which I feel entitles Muhammad (S.A.W) to be considered the most influential single figure in human history” says Michael Hart. Quran truly says, “You have indeed the Prophet of God a good example” (Quran, 33:31). So those who claim to be a Muslim must abide by him alone. They must understand that mission of Muhammad (S.A.W) was apolitical in the true sense of the term. They must also understand that violence and war are indeed never easy paths. Fighting is always tougher than negotiation. Bloodshed is always stiffer than nonviolence.
It is pertinent for all of us, Muslims or Non-Muslims, to note that, Quran instead of Victory of Makkah, calls the ‘Peace Treaty of Hudaibiya’ an “Open Victory” that is Fateh Mubeen (Quran: 2).
One of the terms of the treaty of Hudaibiya was that if a Quraishite comes without the permission of his guardian to Muhammad (S.A.W), he shall be delivered back to the Quraish; but if, on the other hand, one of Muhammad’s (S.A.W) people comes to the Quraish, he shall not be returned to Muhammad (S.A.W). Another term of the treaty was that Muhammad (S.A.W), with his companions, must withdraw from Makkah for Pilgrimage this time, but next year, he may come along with his companions to Makkah and remain for three days, yet without their weapons except those of a traveller, the swords remaining in their sheaths. (Muslim: 44014405). Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) despite facing disagreements with his core companions agreed to these terms unilaterally. The sole purpose was to uphold peace.
Let us now try to understand what Quran means by saying kill those who fight against God and the Prophet. It cannot be restricted to any particular incident of prophetic life alone. Fighting God can never be taken literally. Similarly fighting prophet does not necessarily mean fighting against him in some battle field alone. Fighting God includes fighting Prophet too and fighting Prophet means attributing wrong to him too. It also means defaming him and his teachings as well as taking a satanic discourse and calling it a Prophetic one. This applies to the heinous crimes carried out by ISIS, Tehreek-e-Taliban and Bokoharam. Killing of innocent human beings belonging to different faiths, forcing them to flee their homes, kidnapping of girls, and random bombing in the social space is all a satanic discourse which can lead to a satanic destination only. Creating chaos in the land, killing women and children, destroying sacred places, etc., is indeed a satanic discourse. And if it is done in the name of God, then it is indeed a war against God. A war against Prophet. A war against all
.
Associating any such killings be it in Afghanistan, Kashmir, Pakistan, Iraq or anywhere in the world with any religion will be a great error. All this has nothing to do with any version of religion. Any version of Islam. It may be a war for land or power but not for religion. It can be called racism, nationalism, tribalism, barbarianism, rascal-ism or anything else but not religion. Not the one Muhammad (S.A.W) taught. Not the one Muhammad practiced.
Quran goes thus, “Whosoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption (done) in the land, it is as if he had slain mankind entirely, and whosoever saves one – it is as if he had saved mankind entirely.” (Quran 5:32) Peshawar incident that shook the whole humanity calls all Muslims, no matter what school of thought they belong to, for an action against all these mischievous attacks on humanity. Against all this mischief in the name of God and Prophet. These are the people who actually give a chance to the mischievous people for creating blasphemous cartoons and movies. This is indeed an incident which is more blasphemous than blasphemy itself.
Published in Pakistan Observer, Kashmir Dispatch, Kashmir Reader etc
Ek Khat aur uska Jawab
Ek Khat aur Uska Jawab
ایک خط اور اس کا جواب
مری جاناں، میں کوشش کر چکا لیکن
یہ مجھ سے ہو نہیں پایا
کہ دیرینہ محبت کو بھلا دینا نہیں ممکن
تمہیں معلوم ہے
جب تم نہیں تھیں
تب بھی تم ہی تھیں
تمہیں پانے کی حسرت تھی
تمہارے ہی خیالوں میں
کٹا کرتے تھے دن اپنے
تمہارا عکس تھا محفوظ آنکھوں میں
تو شب بھر خواب سارے چومتے تھے میری پلکوں کو
تمنا لمس کی میرے بدن کو اس طرح مہکایا کرتی تھی
کہ جیسے باغ تھا میں کوئی
تم رات کی رانی
تمہارا نام لیتا تھا
لبوں سے پھول جھڑتے تھے
تمہارا ذکر سنتا تھا
تو کانوں میں عجب سا شہد گھلتا تھا
جو تم سے بات کرتا تھا
تو من ہلکا سا لگتا تھا
جو پاس ائی تھیں تم میرے
لگا تھا مجھ کو ایسا بھی
کہ محور میں ہی تھا اک ساری دنیا کا
مرے ہی واسطے شمس و قمر سب رقص کرتے تھے
مرے ہی واسطے شام و سحر میں
موسموں میں
رونما تبدیلیاں سب تھیں
مرے ہی واسطے برگ و شجر سب سانس لیتے تھے
مری ہی منتظر رہتی تھیں کلیاں باغ کی سب جو
مرے ہونے سے کھلتی تھیں
مرے ہی واسطے گویا
ہر اک شئے وہ تھی ، جو وہ ہے، جہاں وہ ہے
تمہیں بھی یاد تو ہوگا
وہ شامیں کس طرح اپنی سی لگتی تھیں
وہ دن کتنے سہانے تھے
تھکن اور الجھنیں میری
مرے اوہام سارے
ختم کر دیتے تھے وہ لمحے
گزرتے تھے جو پہلو میں تمہارے۔
تمہارے گیسوں کی ٹھنڈی چھاوں میں
تپش میں زندگی کی بھول جاتا تھا
تمہارا لمس وہ زنبیل تھی جس میں
مرے ہر زخم کا مرہم نہاں تھا
اور اب تم بھول کر سب کچھ
بسی ہو دور جاکر مجھ سے کتنا ہی
مگر اب تک
تمہیں ہو سوچ میں میری
تمہیں ہو کھوج میں میری
تمہیں ہی ڈھونڈتا ہوں میں
میرے ہر ایک غم میں بھی
مری خشیاں تمہارے بن
تو بالکل ہی ادھوری ہیں
وہ دیرینہ محبت آج تک
اندر ہی ہے میرے
کبھی بس اک کسک بن کر
کبھی اک آس بن کر تم
کبھی سہما ہوا سا خواب بن کر تم
کبھی اجلی ہوئی اک یاد بن کر تم
کبھی بھولی ہوئی اک بات بن کر تم
میرے اندر ہی رہتی ہو۔
مجھے اقرار ہے اس کا
مجھے اب بھی
تمہیں سے بس محبت ہے
تمہاری بات ہر اک یاد آتی ہے
کمی محسوس ہوتی ہے تمہاری
ہر گھڑی، ہر ایک لمحے میں
تمہارا لمس تڑپاتا ہے مجھ کو اب
بدن میرا تو جیسے ایک ایندھن ہے
فقط جلتا ہے بجھتا ہے
مگر اب کوئی بھی خوشبو نہیں آتی۔
تمہارے بن مرا جینا
بہت مشکل ہوا جاتا ہے جانا
تمہاری ظلف کے سائے کی مجھ کو
اب بھی حاجت ہے
کہ اب بھی زندگی میری
جھلستی ہے، سلگتی ہے
سنورتی ہی نہیں لیکن
مگر میرا وہ تم سے گفتگو کرنا
تمہارا نام سن کر مسکرانا، اور
تمہاری الجھی ظلفوں میں
سرے وہ ڈھونڈنا سب زندگی کے
پھر اکیلے میں
معطر ذہن کر لینا
تمہارے ہی خیالوں سے
جو تم تھیں تو مری ہر راہ آساں تھی
تمہیں سے زندگی پھولوں کا بن بھی تھی
مگر کچھ بھی نہیں اب۔
اگر ممکن ہو پھر آکر
مری اس زیست کو گلزار کر دو۔
v
تمہارا خط ملا پڑھ کر
تعجب سا ہوا مجھ کو
کہ تم بھولے نہیں مجھ کو ؟
تمہیں اب بھی
مجھی سے اک محبت ہے؟
مگر میں سوچتی ہوں
کیا محبت بس یہی ہے؟
اگر یہ ہی محبت ہے تو اس میں
میں کہاں تھی؟
کہانی یہ تمہارے ہی سکوں کی تھی
تمہارے ہی جنوں کی تھی
تمہارے ہی فسوں کی تھی
تمہاری راحتیں بھی تھیں
تمہاری چاہتیں بھی تھیں
تمہارے غم ہی تھے اس میں
سبھی خو شیاں تمہاری تھیں۔
نہ ہوتی جب کبھی میں تو
فقط میرے خیالوں سے
کبھی بہلاتے تھے دل کو
کبھی سرمست ہوتے تھے۔
جو میں تھی تو
تمہیں آسان لگتی تھی
تمہاری زندگی بھی اور
تمہاری مشکلوں کا حل بھی میں ہی تھی
اور اب جو میں نہیں ہوں تو
تمہیں میری ضرورت ہے
تمہاری زندگی کی تلخیوں کو دور کرنے کو
انہیں گلزار کرنے کو۔
سنو جاناں۔
اگر یہ ہی محبت ہے تو پھر تم کو
فقط تم سے محبت تھی
مگر میں سوچتی ہوں کہ
محبت یہ نہیں ہے گر
تو پھر کیا شئے محبت ہے؟
محبت کو ضرورت سے الگ کیسے کیا جائے؟
تو کیا ممکن ہے دنیا میں
سبھی کو اصل میں اک دوسرے کی بس ضرورت ہو
سبھی روتے ہوں اپنا غم
فقط اپنا ہی غم
اور نام اس کو پھر محبت کا ہی دیتے ہوں؟
تو کیا ممکن ہے ایسا بھی
کہ بیٹا باپ کے مرنے پہ روتا ہو
فقط اس واسطے کہ اب وہ تنہا ہے
اور اس کے سر پہ اب سایا نہیں ہوگا
اسے اب بانہوں میں کوئی نہیں لے گا
نہ باندھے گا کوئی بھی اس کی ڈھارس اب
محافظ اب کوئی اس کا نہیں ہوگا
وہ بس فردا کی تنہائی کو لاچاری کو روتا ہو
وہ اپنی آنے والی مشکلوں کو
سوچ کر گھبرا رہا ہو اور
اسے اپنا ہی دکھ ہو بس
اسی کو رو رہا ہو وہ
پدر سے اس کو بھی ایسی محبت ہو
کہ جیسی تم کو مجھ سے ہے
مگر میں سوچتی ہوں کہ
اگر یہ ہی محبت ہے تو پھر اس کو
ضرورت سے الگ کیسے کیا جائے؟
محبت گر نہیں جب یہ
تو پھر کیا شئے محبت ہے؟
اگر معلوم ہو جائے
تو پھر لکھنا مجھے واپس۔
مجاہد مغل۔
Tuesday, 14 June 2016
Extravagant Weddings
Weddings are no more a mere union of souls and a private affair. They have rather become a symbol of wealth exhibition and showiness. In Indian subcontinent the expenditure on weddings have grown from 25% to 30% according to some recent studies. Extravagance, Show off, lavishness, luxury, and superfluity can be used as synonyms for the weddings now.
Weddings, now a days, are certainly considered incomplete without a range of immoderate cuisines from across the world. Vegetarian food,non-vegetarian food, Continental food, Chinese food, Japanese food, Pakistani food, Mexican food and what not is displayed in the food corners inside the marriage halls. The wastage of food in this mindless show off becomes inevitable. Apart from it,exchange of Jewelry and expensive gifts and over the top lightening in the luxurious marriage halls has indeed taken the form of a social obligation. The flamboyance goes well beyond expensive food, grand marriage halls, five star hotels and Jewelry. One new development to this profligate is the expenditure on well festooned vehicles and even helicopters for the ceremony.
The magnetism of simplicity and quiet is no more visible in the weddings.Personal invitations have been swapped by costly invitation cards. Water has been substituted by innumerable artificial drinks (wine, bear, soft drink, hot drink and what not). Similarly folk traditions, folk songs and dances have been replaced by DJ’s and other lavish musical instruments. Horse and Doli have been replaced by high cost decorated vehicles and helicopters. Temples and Mosques too have been abandoned for luxurious marriage halls and five star hotels. It would not be wrong to say that simplicity and modesty has been trafficked for immodesty and pretentiousness. Undoubtedly, weddings are celebrated more lavishly than any other festivals.
Let me call this extravagance an evil. Possibly as evil as dowry. This evil of extravagance, indeed has completely trapped all sections of the society. Mindless imitation of each other in extravagance and superficial glamour has indeed ruined the great institution of marriage completely.
These weddings might be a mere exhibition of wealth for the elite and the rich. They might be doing it out of choice. But there are many others who spend out of social compulsion and social pressure. Many have to spend even being indebted. And that is why marriage has become a trouble for many.
The antagonists might take refuge in saying that, one may use the money according to their will. They might also take refuge in saying that this leads to the growth in other industries creating employment and revenue. But how can we allow the growth of any such lavish industry when millions don’t get enough food to go around. Antagonist also need to know that the same arguments can also be used for dowry. As it’s their money, let them spend the way they want to. And if dowry
can’t be justified on any grounds. Similarly the evil of extravagant marriages too can’t be justified on any grounds.
However, to deal withthe crime of dowry, we have certain laws. But extravagance still is out of the grip of the law till date.It is high time that we restrict wedding expenditures through law. It is high time to ban this extravagance socially and morally
and above all legally.
Mujahid Mughal
Published in Daily Excelsior
Reminder: An Open letter to the Kashmir Resistance leaders
Respected Gentlemen, I am writing to you for the second time, without knowing whether you paid heed to my first letter or not. This reminds me of a story of a saint who was once making an ablution at a pond. While doing so, he saw a scorpion who was strugglingwith life in the water. He therefore, tried to take it out of water in order to save its life. When he did so for the first time, he was stung by the scorpion. Nevertheless he tried to save it again. He repeated this process three times. His disciple, who stood nearby, was amazed at the behaviour of his master. Surprized, he asked the saint, the reason for doing so, despite knowing the fact that the scorpion would bite him every time. The saint replied to his disciple, “stinging makes it a scorpion and saving its life makes me a human being”. The lesson I learnt from this story is that we all should do our duty, no matter whether it is being acknowledged or not. Hence my duty is to write, no matter whether I am heard or not. However, if you could not read me earlier ( Kashmir Dispatch, December 28, 2014& Daily excelsior, January 02, 2015), then better late than never.
Sirs, while I am writing this to you, there are a number of questions that pop up in my mind regarding pre-election and post-election events and the stand of pro-freedom organisations in the state. But there are some more important issues which I feel my duty to apprise you with. Gentlemen, the incident that took place in Pakistan wherein a Church was blown in a suicide attack killing some fifteen innocent people and leaving tens of people injured must have shocked you too in a similar fashion as it shocked me. For me the attack was similar to the one on Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, although the lives lost here were more than in the Church blast. It was no less than an attack on a Shia mosque by Sunnis or on a Sunni mosque by Shias. There is no doubt, that these are anti-Islamic misguided people who see a martyr’s paradise in killing and in getting killed for just any reason. Conversely, Quran says, “We have certainly honored the children of Adam (17:70). When Quran, honours all the human beings, is it not obligatory for those who claim to be Muslims to respect every human being regardless of their belief or non-belief? Is it not mandatory for every Muslim to protect the life and property of every human being irrespective of his/her belief in Islam or some other religion or his non-belief in any religion?Is it not compulsory for all those who claim to be the vicegerents of God on earth to respect every woman, man and even a eunuch?
Respected grandees, religious persecution of minorities in India and Pakistan is a reminder to the people and leadership of Jammu and Kashmir who dream of an Independent, unified, prosperous, and peaceful Jammu and Kashmir. The same forces that operate today in India and Pakistan are very much present in our own state. The forces of fundamentalism, extremism, communalism, casteism,regionalism, sub-regionalism, hatred, animosity, bigotry and evil are fairly prevalent in the state. Hindu extremism in India and Muslim extremism in Pakistan have a lot to teach us. Both India and Pakistan are the finest examples for us to shape the present and future of the state.
Gentlemen, whenever I think of freedom, a number of questions come into my mind. The most important being, freedom from whom and freedom of whom? In my view, freedom is “Freedom of all” and“Freedom from all”. Freedom for all implies,freedom of those in Jammu and Ladakh, freedom of those in Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal and freedom of those in Kashmir valley. It also implies freedom of Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Hindus.Freedom from all includes, freedom from racism, regionalism, communalism, casteism and the like. It not only implies freedom from oppression of one state over the other, but also means freedom from dominance of one race or ethnic group on the other. Worthy sirs, it also means freedom from dominance of one religion over the other.
If it’s Azadi (freedom), it’s Azadi for all irrespective of caste, creed, colour or community. If it is Azadi, it must therefore take into its ambit every religion, every ethnic group and every region. To do this the most important thing is ‘to separate Politics from Religion’. Only then it would be Azadi for all. Let us assume the present movement aims at Azadi for all. If it is so, then I fail to understand why Muslims are fighting for it, by and large. Whydo our slogans reflect the aspirations of just one religion and one community?Is that going to bring into the political arena the people of other faiths? Do you really believe that a theocratic-exclusive-freedom would be desired by all, if it is freedom for all?
Another Important question is that, if it is the freedom of all then why couldn’t it cross thegeographical barriers uptil? Why is the movement restricted,by and large, to the Kashmir Valley? Have the people of other regions ever been approached by you? Do they understand your version of Azadi? Do the people of Pir Panjal, Chenab valley and other parts of Jammu province agree to your version of Azadi? Do Pandits, Sikhs, Paharis, and Gujjars agree to your version of Azadi? Have you ever tried to know their aspirations? Have you ever tried to reach out to them? Have you ever tried to know their version of Azadi?Sometimes I wonder, do you have any version of Azadi? Any blueprint, wherein an egalitarian society could be built for perpetual peace and prosperity?
Sirs,we ought to understand that the creation of another Pakistan like state is no solution to an ever suffering population of J&K. A Pakistan where Shias and Sunnis bomb each other in the mosques. A Pakistan where sectarian clashes and extremism has gone beyond zenith. A Pakistan where war of succession is going on since its inception. A Pakistan which is run by military every then and now. A Pakistan where minorities are persecuted by extremists. Where even the school going children are not spared.
I at times think, what could have happened to us if the tribal raid could have succeeded? May be Jamia Masjid of Srinagar could have been bombed by the extremists of one sect and Imam Bargahs by the extremists of the other sect. May be Dargahs (Shrines) of the state too couldhave been demolished by the extremists.
Dear leaders, the youth of the state is yelling to know the future of Jammu and Kashmir, an “Independent Unified Jammu and Kashmir” as many dream of. Where there is a place for everyone regardless of their belief, religion, caste, creed or colour. A Jammu and Kashmir where no sacred places of any religion are demolished as it ishappening in India.We need to ask ourselves will an Independent Jammu and Kashmir be any different from India and Pakistan? If not, then what is the point in laying priceless lives? Did Khalid and many others laid their lives for a state that would turn into communal India or a sectarian Pakistan?Aren’t we lacking a vision? An economic vision, a social vison and a political vision?
Gentlemen, I dream of a Jammu and Kashmir wherein no one is allowed to say that a temple can be demolished as it is not a religious place (as said recently by an MP of India for Mosques). I dream of a society wherein no community is persecuted in the name of Love Jihad and Ghar Wapasi. I dream of a state wherein no one could even dare to talk about curtailing the voting rights of minorities (Pandits, Sikhs, and Buddhists). A society wherein the right to life, liberty, equality and dignity exists for every individual.A society where the state is not allowed to decide for the marriage and eating habits of an Individual as it is happening in India now.I dream of a Jammu and Kashmir which is free from religious extremism (Unlike theocratic-autocratic Dogra regime) and sectarian extremism. And the only way to build such a society is the separation of Religion from Politics.
Taking a look into the Indian freedom movement, we come to know that bringing religion into the politics even in the moderate form (as done by Mr. Gandhi) ends in fanaticism and extremism. The communalism in the present day India owes a lot to the communalisation of Indian struggle for Independence from Britain. Same will be the fate of futureJammu and Kashmir if we don’t undermine the religious dimension of the freedom movement. That is the only way for the state to move forward toward an everlasting peace and stability.
Written in May, 2015.
Published by Muslim Voice Magazine
A night that never passed
It was a cold evening. The only thing that warmed me up was the thought that my father would bring the sweets and other stuff served at the fatiha-khaani for me, as usual. He loved his children as every father does. He was strict too. My brother often narrates a story that once he was even hung upside down by him when he found my brother reluctant to study. However, being the youngest in the family and a toddler, I had a privilege to be free from all sorts of such punishments, to sleep with him and to be the core of his attention, no matter what. I still remember, he would forget his Identity card sometimes at home or elsewhere but he would never forget to keep anti-spasmodic in his pocket for me, as I used to suffer from the occasional abdominal pain. That night too, when people checked his pocket there was a pain killer for me.
He was late today. It was autumn. Mountains were silent like anything. No chirping of birds could be heard. Perhaps they too had migrated to other places as men and women did. Perhaps they too were scared of the gun-shots, the crackdowns and the fear that haunted everyone. Although most of the time, he used to come a little late, but he never came this late. Everyone was worried. I wasn’t worried at all. And if at all, I was worried, I was worried only about his being good to the other children of village. What if he already has distributed all the sweets to the children who would meet him on his way? I was worried about his generosity which I felt, only I was entitled to.
Night fell. My sisters started shouting paapaa, paapaa, paapaa to know, if he was nearby. This was a normal practice in those days as there were no phones. They kept calling him for almost half an hour. Then suddenly his voice echoed from the nearby forest that comes on the way to our home. I was more than happy. No sooner did I hear him shouting back, I went to the kitchen side of our house and brought a bowl to collect the sweets and other eatables.
He took another fifteen minutes to reach the nearby house that was situated at around a hundred terraces down our home. I smiled. To be clearer from my other siblings, I made a distance from them, so that he did not forget to put a large proportion of those eatables he has, in my bowl.
In a few minutes he was just in front of every one of us. I ran mid-way and without saying anything passed my bowl to him. He smiled, as he lifted me up and kissed. He filled that bowl and asked me to give some to my siblings just to listen that I won’t.
My elder sister, then only around sixteen, was mad at him for being so irresponsible and coming so late. She had become a little more mature than her age group. Perhaps this happens to most of the girls living in conflict zones. At an age when their age mates outside, watch cartoons, play, and listen to the fairy tales, they are acquainted with the terms like molestation, rape and the like. War perhaps makes everyone mature before age.
Night was spreading its wings on the mountains, making them more vulnerable and more fearful. Nobody would dare to go outside, after this time, except me and Papa. I would often ask him to accompany me for the loo as there was no toilet inside the house. I actually would feel good to keep him busy whenever he is with me. So going out at night was also fun as he always would accompany me. He had become my best friend. The only friend perhaps, till then.Kids usually are more close to their mothers than their fathers. In our family reverse has been the case for almost all of us-the siblings.
On asking the reason for being late at the dining–mat, the only explanation he gave was a very similar and familiar one to all of us- He was stopped by some villager on the way to pray for his ailing wife. Owing to his nature, he was dear to the most of villagers. Perhaps he never said a “no” to anyone, for any possible thing he could do. And that is why he would always come a little late in the evening.
Dinner was served. I ate in his plate, as usual. It was a one-hall Kacha-house. I kept the bowl with me till the time I went to bed, with him. We had a a little chat as per routine. Most of the times, he would ask me to spell names, places, things etc. I don’t remember what exactly did he talk that night, but for almost everything I just uttered umm…umm, for everything he asked. I was more interested in finishing with the sweets in the bowl. I ate them as soon as possible so that nothing is left, for anyone else. I laid on his left arm. He always kept me on the left side (the wall-side), so that I don’t fall from the Khat in sleep.
He still was talking about something, and I fell asleep. It was midnight, when I woke up, as usual. I asked him to take me out for the loo. He moaned and murmured that he can’t. I was still half-slept. I repeated, “Get up, and take me out for a loo”. He again moaned and said, “I can’t”.
I came to my senses out of an unknown and unpredictable fear, only to hear him saying “lift my head” bache (son). It was all pitch-dark inside the house. The only Chimni (kerosene burner) we had was kept on the other side of the house, where my sister and brother (an year or two elder than me) were sleeping. I was thrilled this time. I went weak in my knees and back. How can any child see his hero moaning in pain and helpless? Although his voice was not clear, but I could somehow understand that “he can’t” means “he is unable to do it”. He is sick. Then he again moaned and asked me to lift his arm- the left arm. I tried to lift his head as well as the left arm, thrice, but I couldn’t. I cried and shouted at the top of my voice “Pape ki kuj hoi ghya” (something has happened to papa).
The sister woke up and lit the Chimni. They both started crying. Sister ran to the neighbourhood to call someone for help, all alone. She perhaps was no more scared of the gun-yielding men or anything else.
She came back in a few minutes with some neighbours- few ladies who made a little noise, some men and their children too. I was stunned, stopped crying for sometimes. I developed the notion that, it all happened because of me. I thought, as I sleep daily on his left arm, so he is not able to move his left arm. I even wowed to myself and to the God, I feared more than I loved, not to sleep on his arms ever, if he gets well soon. Without letting anyone know, I lived with this guilt for many years after him. “Falaj hoi ghaas” (He has been paralysed) murmured the man standing beside the Khat.
Everyone waited till morning to take him to the hospital in Surankote which was at a distance of around 3 to 4 hours from the village. Travelling at night was both difficult and dangerous, as there was no electricity in those days and more than that, it were the curfew hours.
after a while they carried him on the same Khat, we were sleeping on, to the hospital. I and my siblings were left at home, perhaps for two reasons. First, it was difficult for us to travel that far on foot. the second reason perhaps, was the extra-expenditure.
As soon they left, the night was over. But for me night had just begun. I was crying continuously and was feeling ashamed and guilty as well. Guilty of all the trouble. I still was immersed in the night that had passed for everyone. The night that never passed for me.
The century-long day passed. We saw many more people coming towards our home in the evening. They were reciting Kalima. My sister started yelling as soon as she heard them. In a while my elder brother tore his shirt into parts, screaming at the top his voice, in-front of just everyone. when I saw him screaming and shouting said “marhya-paapa, mrhya paapa” (my papa, my papa). I was stunned. I disliked him doing it. I still didn’t want to believe that their yelling has some meaning at all. I consoled my brother, who was lying on the ground with his torn shirt and flowing-eyes. I said the words, I believe even today, and the words I myself wanted someone else to say that night-“paapa zinda ya” (Papa is alive).
An Open Letter to the Prime Minister of India
I am a Ph.D student from Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. Although I have qualified UGC-NET,
SET and BSR but due to loopholes in our education system, I have been receiving only the non-NET fellowship (like many others) so far i.e. Rs.8000 per month. An amount which is far less than the amount a daily wager or labourer earns in India.
Sir, it is only the educational development which can put India on the path of progress and affluence. Education is the key to solve all the problems India is going through. Education is the summon bonum of all our progress. Education is both the means and the end of our existence. If we go by the census definition of education, we come to know that around 75% of India is educated. But that is not true. The definition of census about literacy is as misleading as the official definition of poverty in India. Keeping in mind the flaws in these definitions we come to know that India still has one of the largest groups of hungry and illiterate people on earth.
There is no doubt that the modern scientific education and research will greatly accelerate the rate of growth and development in the country. In current times, no country can develop in the true sense of the term if education and research is being put on the back seat. However, it is very disappointing that since BJP has come to power, it seems that development in the education sector is getting far less priority than it needs. The first set back was the cuts in education sector in the annual budget of India.
India is already a military might and a nuclear power now. Thus it is the time to focus more and more on becoming a food power, a health power and an education cum research power. Illiteracy, hunger and disease are far more dangerous enemies of India than any other
perceived threat.
Sir, the recent decision of University Grants Commission (UGC) to discontinue non-NET fellowships was another set back to the higher education in India. This undoubtedly will discourage many potential bright research aspirants to pursue research in different fields which will indeed be very dangerous for the whole system of higher education in India.
Having said that, I must now, apprise you with another fact that qualifying NET or SET (as it is pretended by UGC) is not enough good a criteria for quality research. Although I can quote you tens of examples to prove my point, but I am sure that you will understand it by just one. The mathematics department of Aligarh Muslim University is among top 70 departments (of mathematics) in the world. And that has been made possible due to the quality research carried out here since decades. You will be amazed (happily) to know that among these finest researchers of Aligarh Muslim University, there is a conspicuous absence of NET/JRF qualified researchers. The decision to discontinue the non-NET fellowship definitely will discourage many such researchers to go for Ph.D.
Personally speaking, although I have qualified UGC-NET thrice apart from SET and BSR tests conducted by UGC, but the fact is that there are so many people in my field whom I take advice from and who haven’t qualified NET. It is now quite clear that qualifying NET has nothing to do with the quality research. Quality research needs proper environment which includes proper guidance, proper training, laboratories, instruments and working space. And the prerequisite for all this is “funding”. Funding in research is directly proportional to the quality in research. But on the contrary, the highest educational body (governing) of India, ignoring all these facts is putting education (particularly higher education) on the back seat in the name of quality education.
It is an undeniable fact that whatever progress India has made today is only because of the research in different fields. Also, whatever India could not become, is due the lack of focus on improving education and research in those fields. Research alone has made India a growing economy and a military giant. We also know that there are huge interpersonal, inter-regional, inter-caste and inter-religious economic inequalities existing in India in terms of education (apart from economy). Around 80% of India’s wealth is in the hands of around 20% people. The rich therefore will have no problem in receiving education at all. It won’t affect them even if education is made a hundred times costlier. Cuts in fellowships and discontinuing them will therefore affect only Dalits, members of OBCs, Muslims and other weaker sections of India.
Ignoring this fact, however UGC has also reduced the scope of Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) a scholarship for meritorious scholars from minority communities. Taking into consideration the reports of Sachar committee or even census of India or any reliable data on education, it is quite clear that all this is going to hit minorities very hard.
I must also apprise you with another fact that, the non NET fellowship is given only to the researchers in the central universities and the researchers in the state universities don’t receive any such fellowship. This indeed is one important factor that hinders the quality research at state universities. Thus the scholarships are required to be extended to the other public institutions as well.
The tweet of Ms. Smriti Irani (MHRD) for not discontinuing non NET fellowship on 25th of October was indeed a diversion from the real issue, i.e. “hike in fellowships”. It sounded like jeering at the future of India (Students/Scholars) who is on the road from more than three weeks.
Sir, on behalf of the whole student community of India, I request you to look into the matter
and solve the crisis. Researchers are meant for the fields, laboratories and libraries and not for
the roads.
Sincerely Yours
Mujahid Mughal
Proclamation of Independence
An Open letter to Kashmir Resistance Leaders
Published in Kashmir Dispatch and Daily Excelsior
I am writing this to you as I believe that you constitute the most popular leadership of Jammu and Kashmir; more popular than the leaders and parties that make local governments in the disputed region. I, like many others, also believe that people participation in the recent elections made no difference to your popularity. Being the most popular also makes you the most responsible. And being the most responsible, unfortunately you could not carry the responsibilities which you have been shouldered upon; which you were required to.
Your struggle for political Independence might be a success. But you have failed in building an
egalitarian, unified, and morally sound society. Possibly you have never tried to make one.
I was born in a small village Mahra, in Poonch district. Possibly, the most backward village in the
most backward district of the state. I am the ninth orphaned child of my underprivileged parents. I
opened my eyes in a family which suffered acute destitution. When I came to my senses, I saw
poverty and destitution hovering over the family. The struggle for survival was further threatened
by the conflict of ninety’s all around. The memories still haunt me. Haunt me to the extent that, I
avoid visiting my place that frequently. My story, if not a little more haunting, is as haunting as that of many other Kashmiri boys and girls. I too, witnessed the bloodshed, fear, insecurity, and
violence of all sorts. I too started keeping my identity card with me since the time when I didn’t
know what an Identity Card is. I too am in favour of a peaceful resolution of the long pending
conflict. But, I differ with you in vision. I differ in methods too.
Having said that I must now draw your attention first to the vice, evil and immorality that has
engulfed the state since long. You must be aware of the fact that, we are the most corrupt society
in the Indian subcontinent.
Jammu and Kashmir is now among the leading corrupt states of India according to the recent statistics. We can’t put the blame on India or Pakistan for making our people corrupt. This is totally an indigenous phenomena like the freedom movement of Kashmir. It is also unwise to say that the present system of government is responsible for this moral degradation. Under the same political and economic system, noblemen, many other societies are dwelling, growing and flourishing. The fact is that people are corrupt. Political and economic systems are never corrupt in themselves. So, we are required to reform the people. In this way we will also be reforming the system. To reform any system, we need to make change in the units.
Also, to cure a disease we are required to accept the prevalence of disease first. So let us accept
first ours is among the most corrupt societies of the subcontinent. Let us then work towards it. Apart from corruption, communalism, casteism, racism, regionalism and subregionalism has further torn apart the state. You must be aware of the riots that took place in Kishtwar. Similar clashes erupted in 2008. Another incident which took place in Poonch city, in 2013, which you must not be aware of (as the region has been neglected so far by your visionary selves) where two school boys fought with each other was about to take the form of a MuslimSikh riot. We have become so intolerant that we see everything from the lenses of religion. We have the potential to communalise just any issue. Be it a discussion on the abrogation of Article 370 or elections. Apart from interreligious intolerance, we have collapses exits even within the religious communities. The differences are not merely ideological incompatibilities but have rather taken the form of an evil. Ethnicity too has become a deadly weapon to further collapse the society. We have GujjarPahari conflict, Kashmiri-Gujjar-Pahari-Jaat conflict and DograKashmiri conflict to mention a few. The people belonging to the Pir Panjal region and some of the other parts of the Jammu region are always looked down upon. Not only them, but those dwelling in the fringe areas of the Kashmir valley meet the same fate. They are all called Gujjars. No matter what religion and community they belong to. The irony is that these Gujjars (all the above mentioned communities) are looked down upon. We are also divided on the basis of geographical location and direction within the Kashmir valley. For instance, several incidents have taken place in our universities, where the students of Kashmir valley fought in the name of North Kashmir and South Kashmir. Casteism, is another devil which has been devouring the whole state. People belonging to almost all the communities became a victim of it. One example of this evil is the polarization of people in the name of cast in the recent assembly elections. Pir Panjal region, for instance, became the hub of castist politics. There are Kashmiris, Syeds, Khans Gujjars and Paharis in the Muslims. There are Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishya, Sudras and Dalits in the Hindus. However, in the recent assembly elections the Hindu community of the state overcame the old age Casteism and were united to vote collectively, even though the very basic structure of Hinduism is caste based. But this should also not be appreciated. As on the one hand, the state overcame Casteism in a particular community but on the other hand it was indeed heart breaking that people voted on the
communal lines. Meagre cases of intercaste marriages in the state is another example of flourishing casteism.
Beside casteism our society is also disintegrated in the name of sectarianism. Let us take one example from the Muslim community of the state. Each Muslim sect believes that only they are the Muslims. We have Shias, Sunnis. Barelvi, Deobandis, Ahle Hadiths and so on. All these sects boycott each other in social milieu. In marriages and in daily life. On funerals. There has been rooted indeed intolerance to any kind of tolerance in the state.
Gender inequality is another major problem of the state. Women in the state suffer at each juncture. Be it literacy rate, sex ratio, employment, female foeticide, domestic violence, child marriage, recent and growing incidence of acid attacks, rapes and murders.
Apart from gender inequality, let us also focus on the increasing drug abuse. The youth of the state has become a victim to drugs as it has been a prey to the violence. Recent deaths due to drug abuse should be taken very seriously. Besides, I don’t think, I need to explain what happens in Allama Iqbal Park and Botanical garden. We must also not undermine it.
Mere circulation of power among elites makes no difference to the society. What difference will it make to the common people of the state if the powers are transferred from the elite Indians to the elite Kashmiris? It makes no difference to me at least. As the power circulation after 1947, among the British and Indian elites could make no difference. The dream of an egalitarian India and Pakistan could not be fulfilled even after seven decades. India and Pakistan although got the political freedom from Britain. But there is conspicuous inter personal, inter regional, inter community, and inter caste differences, which has indeed upset the whole socio political system ofm these two countries. They have become a hub of political upheavals, communal clashes, violence and have rather set a stage for a civil war.
Keeping this in mind, I urge you people humbly to work towards building an egalitarian society with
utmost priority. Free the state from the clutches of corruption, communalism, casteism, regionalism, sub regionalism, gender inequality and racism. Otherwise even if the powers are transferred from Indian elites to the Kashmiri elites the state will never attain the perpetual stability.
So let us liberate ourselves from all sorts of evils prevalent in our society side by side if not first. I
don’t think, mere political independence from India and Pakistan can lead our state towards affluence and prosperity. Mere implementing some age old laws cannot sort out the problems. Imposing laws forcefully is not fruitful at all. History bears the testimony to it. To abide by law we also need to make a law abiding society first. A beard always grows from inside. It can’t be pasted on the face with compulsion. Morality in the similar fashion cannot be imposed. It has to come from inside. It is high time that we make our mind to achieve the moral independence at the earliest. It is high time to work collectively towards this goal. As you worked for political independence, you are ought to dedicate yourselves for moral independence too and that too meaningfully. Let us declare the Moral Independence today itself. Moral independence, if not more important, is as important as political independence. Without Moral Independence, Political Independence is meaningless.
Yours Sincerely
Mujahid Mughal
Published in Kashmir Dispatch and Daily Excelsior
I am writing this to you as I believe that you constitute the most popular leadership of Jammu and Kashmir; more popular than the leaders and parties that make local governments in the disputed region. I, like many others, also believe that people participation in the recent elections made no difference to your popularity. Being the most popular also makes you the most responsible. And being the most responsible, unfortunately you could not carry the responsibilities which you have been shouldered upon; which you were required to.
Your struggle for political Independence might be a success. But you have failed in building an
egalitarian, unified, and morally sound society. Possibly you have never tried to make one.
I was born in a small village Mahra, in Poonch district. Possibly, the most backward village in the
most backward district of the state. I am the ninth orphaned child of my underprivileged parents. I
opened my eyes in a family which suffered acute destitution. When I came to my senses, I saw
poverty and destitution hovering over the family. The struggle for survival was further threatened
by the conflict of ninety’s all around. The memories still haunt me. Haunt me to the extent that, I
avoid visiting my place that frequently. My story, if not a little more haunting, is as haunting as that of many other Kashmiri boys and girls. I too, witnessed the bloodshed, fear, insecurity, and
violence of all sorts. I too started keeping my identity card with me since the time when I didn’t
know what an Identity Card is. I too am in favour of a peaceful resolution of the long pending
conflict. But, I differ with you in vision. I differ in methods too.
Having said that I must now draw your attention first to the vice, evil and immorality that has
engulfed the state since long. You must be aware of the fact that, we are the most corrupt society
in the Indian subcontinent.
Jammu and Kashmir is now among the leading corrupt states of India according to the recent statistics. We can’t put the blame on India or Pakistan for making our people corrupt. This is totally an indigenous phenomena like the freedom movement of Kashmir. It is also unwise to say that the present system of government is responsible for this moral degradation. Under the same political and economic system, noblemen, many other societies are dwelling, growing and flourishing. The fact is that people are corrupt. Political and economic systems are never corrupt in themselves. So, we are required to reform the people. In this way we will also be reforming the system. To reform any system, we need to make change in the units.
Also, to cure a disease we are required to accept the prevalence of disease first. So let us accept
first ours is among the most corrupt societies of the subcontinent. Let us then work towards it. Apart from corruption, communalism, casteism, racism, regionalism and subregionalism has further torn apart the state. You must be aware of the riots that took place in Kishtwar. Similar clashes erupted in 2008. Another incident which took place in Poonch city, in 2013, which you must not be aware of (as the region has been neglected so far by your visionary selves) where two school boys fought with each other was about to take the form of a MuslimSikh riot. We have become so intolerant that we see everything from the lenses of religion. We have the potential to communalise just any issue. Be it a discussion on the abrogation of Article 370 or elections. Apart from interreligious intolerance, we have collapses exits even within the religious communities. The differences are not merely ideological incompatibilities but have rather taken the form of an evil. Ethnicity too has become a deadly weapon to further collapse the society. We have GujjarPahari conflict, Kashmiri-Gujjar-Pahari-Jaat conflict and DograKashmiri conflict to mention a few. The people belonging to the Pir Panjal region and some of the other parts of the Jammu region are always looked down upon. Not only them, but those dwelling in the fringe areas of the Kashmir valley meet the same fate. They are all called Gujjars. No matter what religion and community they belong to. The irony is that these Gujjars (all the above mentioned communities) are looked down upon. We are also divided on the basis of geographical location and direction within the Kashmir valley. For instance, several incidents have taken place in our universities, where the students of Kashmir valley fought in the name of North Kashmir and South Kashmir. Casteism, is another devil which has been devouring the whole state. People belonging to almost all the communities became a victim of it. One example of this evil is the polarization of people in the name of cast in the recent assembly elections. Pir Panjal region, for instance, became the hub of castist politics. There are Kashmiris, Syeds, Khans Gujjars and Paharis in the Muslims. There are Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishya, Sudras and Dalits in the Hindus. However, in the recent assembly elections the Hindu community of the state overcame the old age Casteism and were united to vote collectively, even though the very basic structure of Hinduism is caste based. But this should also not be appreciated. As on the one hand, the state overcame Casteism in a particular community but on the other hand it was indeed heart breaking that people voted on the
communal lines. Meagre cases of intercaste marriages in the state is another example of flourishing casteism.
Beside casteism our society is also disintegrated in the name of sectarianism. Let us take one example from the Muslim community of the state. Each Muslim sect believes that only they are the Muslims. We have Shias, Sunnis. Barelvi, Deobandis, Ahle Hadiths and so on. All these sects boycott each other in social milieu. In marriages and in daily life. On funerals. There has been rooted indeed intolerance to any kind of tolerance in the state.
Gender inequality is another major problem of the state. Women in the state suffer at each juncture. Be it literacy rate, sex ratio, employment, female foeticide, domestic violence, child marriage, recent and growing incidence of acid attacks, rapes and murders.
Apart from gender inequality, let us also focus on the increasing drug abuse. The youth of the state has become a victim to drugs as it has been a prey to the violence. Recent deaths due to drug abuse should be taken very seriously. Besides, I don’t think, I need to explain what happens in Allama Iqbal Park and Botanical garden. We must also not undermine it.
Mere circulation of power among elites makes no difference to the society. What difference will it make to the common people of the state if the powers are transferred from the elite Indians to the elite Kashmiris? It makes no difference to me at least. As the power circulation after 1947, among the British and Indian elites could make no difference. The dream of an egalitarian India and Pakistan could not be fulfilled even after seven decades. India and Pakistan although got the political freedom from Britain. But there is conspicuous inter personal, inter regional, inter community, and inter caste differences, which has indeed upset the whole socio political system ofm these two countries. They have become a hub of political upheavals, communal clashes, violence and have rather set a stage for a civil war.
Keeping this in mind, I urge you people humbly to work towards building an egalitarian society with
utmost priority. Free the state from the clutches of corruption, communalism, casteism, regionalism, sub regionalism, gender inequality and racism. Otherwise even if the powers are transferred from Indian elites to the Kashmiri elites the state will never attain the perpetual stability.
So let us liberate ourselves from all sorts of evils prevalent in our society side by side if not first. I
don’t think, mere political independence from India and Pakistan can lead our state towards affluence and prosperity. Mere implementing some age old laws cannot sort out the problems. Imposing laws forcefully is not fruitful at all. History bears the testimony to it. To abide by law we also need to make a law abiding society first. A beard always grows from inside. It can’t be pasted on the face with compulsion. Morality in the similar fashion cannot be imposed. It has to come from inside. It is high time that we make our mind to achieve the moral independence at the earliest. It is high time to work collectively towards this goal. As you worked for political independence, you are ought to dedicate yourselves for moral independence too and that too meaningfully. Let us declare the Moral Independence today itself. Moral independence, if not more important, is as important as political independence. Without Moral Independence, Political Independence is meaningless.
Yours Sincerely
Mujahid Mughal
Cricket: It is all about auction, bid, sale, purchase
Published by Awaam, February 2016
Cricket in a few countries and over a few centuries has become very much like religion. Therefore, occasionally in some countries its manifestation too became extreme like ‘religion’. However, that happens only when you don’t understand sports or for that matter religion. Conspicuous symptoms of this disorder are very much present in the Indian sub-continent (more specifically in India and Pakistan). Protests, agitations, chaos, and clashes between various supporters of different teams and violence [after one of the two teams loses] have become common business day by day.
Previously in Haryana, for instance, Kashmiri boys were beaten to pulp by some people when they cheered for Pakistan Cricket Team. In Pakistan, violent-insane supporters of the team, have burnt effigies and resorted to violence many a times when Pakistan team lost a game. This also forced some cricketers to retire a little earlier. Inzmam-ul-Haq, after his retirement affirmed that one of the reasons behind his retirement was the public-reaction (uncivilized & emotional) after they lost a tournament. In Indian administered Poonch too, when Pakistan Cricket Team lost a T-20 world cup, the resultant chaos was handled with gun-fires by police.
\There are indeed innumerable examples of such insanity and madness about cricket in the Indian sub-continent. When I think about these and many other such incidents I recall G. B. Shaw. He perhaps rightly believed, “Cricket is a game played by 11 fools and watched by 11,000 fools”. The only thing that has changed since Shaw’s comment is the ‘numbers’ i.e. the number of players, formats, and spectators following cricket. Rest perhaps remains the truest about cricket.
In spite of my disliking for the game, I always tell my friends that a sport-match is always, either “between” two teams or it is a match of one team “with” the other. So it’s never A “against” B. It is rather “between” A and B or of A “with” B. That’s sports are all about.
The proverb ‘All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy’ seems less true about cricket. The proverb implies that a person becomes boring, dreary and mind numbing if they don’t play (sports). I don’t know of any other game (outdoor) where after five days, one comes to know that no team has won the match. Perhaps this was the reason that cricket was introduced with ‘cheerleaders’ in the 20-20 format. Cheerleaders are the girls who dance to amuse both spectators and the players. Is this the objectification of women or not, I leave it to my esteemed readers.
I wonder why there is so much madness about cricket when it is far costlier and less healthy game which involves less human factor to win or lose. A cricket kit, we all know, is much costlier than that of most of the other out-door games (for instance football). Apart from this, on field, we notice, there is far less exercise of human body while playing cricket. Moreover cricket is a game where a lot depends not on the sportspersons but the outside factors like hardness and surface of pitch, the amount of dew in the air, kind, colour and roughness of balls etc. Fortunately this doesn’t happen with most of the other out-door games. So I wonder what exactly makes cricket the more popular here in the Indian sub-continent. Lack of education seems one of the most important factors to me. With a few exceptions, most of the cricket playing nations belong to the developing realm of nations is quite good an evidence to support this dictum.
However, with time cricket too has been modified. New formats were introduced with new rules and regulation. Perhaps they knew it that how boring, dull, costly and less healthy cricket is. Perhaps they knew that modern fast life allows neither to watch or play result-less cricket for five regular days or for that matter even for one day. Thus, the new format called 20-20 was introduced. But if we keenly observe this format of cricket, it has hardly anything to do with “sports” in the true sense. It is all about noisy-music, dancing girls, auctions, bidding, selling and purchasing. From the above mentioned facts, all that can be said about cricket is that it is a game that takes extra money out of your pocket and extra time out of your life with least returns.
