|
 INTRODUCTION
'It is when calamity seems to be incomprehensible that it kills the soul.
As soon as we have a glimmer of understanding - either deductive or
intuitive - of why it happened, we are able to deal with our despair and
we are no longer paralysed' (EPW, Sept. 21, 2002, p.3921). Of late many
research studies have been conducted in order to understand communal
violence in India. One important finding of such studies is that regional
factors play important roles in our understanding of the position of
Muslims in Indian society.
Subsequently, two years ago a historical study was started sponsored by
SEPHIS that tried to understand the position of Muslims in the new State
of Jharkhand. It was found that Muslims in Jharkhand have a unique history
characterised by communal harmony. National, international and State level
developments have however cast a shadow over these kind of local
histories.
It was resolved therefore to organise an essay and debate competition in
which young people in Ranchi were requested to provide their opinion on
the present position of Muslims in Jharkhand. We asked them to write on
the influence of national happenings such as those in Gujarat and on
international happenings such September 11, 2001 on the lives of Muslims
living in Jharkhand. We also requested them to comment on State policies
such as the Domicile Policy and the general position of Muslims two years
after the creation of the new State. Lastly, we also wanted them to write
on the position of Muslim women in Jharkhand.
We received almost forty essays discussing one or more of the above
topics. The general arguments of the essays do correspond to the overall
findings of the research study. Almost all essays argue that though
Jharkhand had its own versions of communal disharmony, generally the State
is an example of communal compatibility. Historically, Muslims have in
general been living peacefully together with other groups in particular
with the adivasis.
This history of peaceful co-existence is an important weapon that makes it
seem unlikely that in Jharkhand communal problems will disturb day to day
life. Yet, the essays also bear witness of certain tendencies that might
threaten the peaceful status quo. Besides, the essays agree that most
Muslims in Jharkhand live in very poor conditions similar to other less
privileged communities in the State. Some feel that it is the Government
policies that are insufficient to uplift the Muslims but others argue that
there are internal problems in the Muslim community that contribute to
their backward position in the society.
TOPIC DEBATE:
Proposition I: The problems of Muslims in Jharkhand are caused by the fact
that Muslims are discriminated against by the Government and other
religious groups in Jharkhand
AGAINST THIS
Proposition II: The problems of Muslims in Jharkhand are related to
shortcomings within the Muslim community itself.
PROGRAMME
MUSLIMS IN JHARKHAND
Essay and Debate Competition
Date: 12 October
Time: 12:00 to 4:00 P.M.
Place: Satya Bharti
12:00-12:30 Registration and Coffee
12:30-13:00 Introduction to the topic of the day:
Dr. K.R. Sinha-Kerkhoff
Mr. Tanweer Ahmed
13:00-13:20 Topic discussion by: Dr. Abdul Qayum Abdali
13:20-13:40 Topic discussion by: Prof. Abuzar Usmani
13:40-14:00 Topic discussion by: Prof. Ahmed Sajjad
14:00-15:00 Presentation of nominated essays
15:00-15:30 Debate competition
15:30-15:40 Evaluation by:
Mr. Md. Khurshid Perwez Siddiqui
Dr. Abdul Qayum Abdali
Mr. Samrul Haque
15:40-16:00 Certificate and Prize distribution
Organisers: Dr. K.R. Sinha-Kerkhoff; Mr. Tanweer Ahmed and Mr. Masoom
Conductor: Mr. Ejaj Anwar
Organised by Student Club Ranchi
Funded by SEPHIS
OUR SPEAKERS, ORGANIZERS, JUDGES AND CHIEF GUEST
- Dr. Ahmad Sajjad is Professor and Head Post-Graduate and Research
Department of Urdu, Ranchi University, Ranchi Jharkhand. He is also
founder and chairman of Markaz-E-Adab-O-Science (Charitable Educational
Registered Trust) and Vice Chairman of the Board of Islamic Education,
Jharkhand. He is member of several other organisations and former
President of Idara-e-Adab-e-Islami Hind. He has widely published and
carried out extensive research on the position and history of Ansaris in
India in general and in Jharkhand in particular. Contact address: Tarique
Manzil, Bariatu Housing Colony Ranchi 834009 Jharkhand (India). Phone:
0091651 540543 or 543838. Email: rch_anas@sancharnet.in Web site:
www.markazadab.org
- Dr. Abdul Qayum Abdali B/II/II A.R. Apartment Gudri Chowk, Ranchi
834001. Phone: 202465. Dr. Abdali is Lecturer Dept. of Urdu, Doranda
College Ranchi. He regularly writes articles for Prabhat Khabar on the
topic of Muslims in Jharkhand.
- Prof. Abuzar Usmani is Former Head of the Dept. of Urdu Vinoba Bhawe
University, Hazaribagh. He is a well-known scholar of Urdu and has tried
hard for the development of Urdu and its preservation. Address: Sattar
Colony, Bariatu, Ranchi 834009. Phone: 541647.
- Md. Khurshid Perwez Siddiqui at present is Working Editor with Farooqui
Tanzeem Urdu Daily. He passed out in Urdu from Magadh University in Bodh
Gaya. Since the last forty-two years he has published over fifty research
related articles and also poetry, book reviews and short stories. He has
widely published in Urdu on issues related to Muslims and their history in
Jharkhand He also is author of many unpublished articles in Urdu, Hindi
and English on adivasis in Bihar/Jharkhand. Address: Farooqui Tanzeem, 4/E
Nalni Palace, Purulia Road, Ranchi 834001. Phone: 304117 (o) 475426 (R)
Fax: 209166. Email: ftanzeem@yahoo.co.in
- Samrul Haque passed out from St. Xaviers College and worked as a
journalist, editor and sub-editor for Ranchi Times, Ranchi Express Weekly
and Muslim India. He founded the Chotanagpur Mail, the first Urdu magazine
of Ranchi in 1949. Between 1954 and 1995, he worked as a journalist with
Aljamiat, a daily from Delhi. Address: 14 Church Road, Ranchi.
- Dr. Kathinka Sinha-Kerkhoff is a senior research fellow with the Asian
Development Research Institute (ADRI) and affiliated to the International
Institute of Social History (IISH). She has widely published in
international academic journals. Presently she is involved in research on
the Indian diaspora as well as in research supported by SEPHIS, which
compares the Muslim minority after 1947 in Bihar/Jharkhand with the Hindu
minority in several districts of Bangladesh. Email: Kathinka@inranchi.com
- Mr. Masoom received his M.A in anthropology from Ranchi University. At
present he is working as research asst. for SEPHIS. Address: D' Capery
Hostel, Joratalab Road, Ranchi 834009. Email: masoomhere@yahoo.co.in
- Mr. Md. Ejaj Anwar is working as a Computer Registration officer in
C.C.L. He did M.A. in Urdu and is a good Urdu writer. He has published
several of his articles in newspapers and has a good knowledge of Gazal
and Urdu literature. Address: Bariatu Basti, Bariatu, Ranchi 834009.
- Md. Tanweer Ahmad, has completed is M.SC in Zoology and is on the verge
of completing his PhD in Zoology. He has published research papers and
also completed his B. Journalism. Md. Tanweer mad is President of the
Student Club Ranchi and is involved in a great many of extra curricular
activities. Address: S/o Md. Mustaque Ahmad, Bariatu Madarsa, Bariatu
Basti, Bariatu, Ranchi 834009. Phone: 540633/540955.
- Dr. Sayeed Akhtar did his MBBS from Rajendra Medical College, Ranchi. He
joined the Central Institute of Psychiatry in Kanke as Medical Officer and
subsequently did MD in Dermatology and DNB in Psychiatry. Currently, he is
working as Chief Medical Officer in C.I.P. He has great interest in
development activities among the less privileged groups. Dr. Akhtar lives
in Bariatu.
(Kathinka Sinha-Kerkhoff, kathinka@inranchi.com)
(Nov. 7, 2002) q |
