*Ayodhya dispute: youth perspective * ** *By Mahtab Alam, TwoCircles.net,* ** http://www.twocircles.net/?q=2010oct05/ayodhya_dispute_what_educated_youths_have_say.html
While a survey by a leading English daily claims “Mandir, Masjid: Young Don’t care”, there are youths who do not look at the dispute as a matter of Mandir-Masjid or Hindu vs. Muslim, rather a question of justice, democracy and future of secularism in a plural society like India. Ask Sumati Pakkinar, a young Delhiite in her mid twenties, what she thinks of the dispute? “Taking a realistic position in the view of the social situation of the country, one will have to consider that this is not just a case of a conflict between two religious communities. It is rather a question of majoritarianism and the rights and freedoms of a religious minority,” she asserts. Akhlaq Ahmad, a student of Bachelor of Education (B. Ed) at Noida Institute of Education at Noida (UP) echoes her concern and considers it, “the issue is of protection of constitutional religious freedom and fundamental rights.” When asked, what she has to say on the verdict? “The recent judgment which has come on the issue is shameful to say the least,” says Sumati. “Though I, like most people, have not read the entire text of the judgment yet, but the main points of it are known now to everybody. It is indeed a shameful example for any citizen of this country, because here justice is completely trampled upon in the name of faith and belief of majority community”, she was quick to mention. “Faith and belief might have place in the society and each community has its own set of beliefs, myths based on their religious outlooks. But when that begins to dictate the process of law, delivery of justice and functioning of the institutions of the country, it is really appalling,” she clarifies. Like Sumati, Rehab Hafeez Siddiqui, a student of Business administration originally belonging to the district of Kishanganj of Bihar, is disappointed by the verdict. “For the first time Indian law takes a decision that goes against the spirit of its secular constitution probably due to fear of public welfare in case riots occur,” says Rehab. She smells a big message in it: “If you are creators of riots, we have to surrender justice for your pleasure.” Devasees Prasoon, a research student of gender studies at Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University, Vardha, Maharashtra says, “I do not have any respect either for Ram Janma Bhoomi or Babari Masjid, but the contested property belongs to the Babari Masjid is an unchallenged fact. The Indian state is trying to misappropriate with this fact. This is shameful for a so-called secular state”. Ashish Gupta, a student in his early twenties at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Chennai says, “Some aspects of the judgments are obviously appalling”. “I don’t understand what business has a court of law to do with Ram Lalla. It also seems to be a judgement devised to avoid any repercussions, such as mob violence. What that means is that in future, an organisation will be able to hold the court to ransom by the threat of violence,” he asks. Tafheem Rahman, who studied medieval history at Jamia Millia Islamia points, “If, I accept this judgment then I need to acknowledge that the beginning of Mughal period is actually the end of religious tolerance, which is untrue with ample example available irrespective of different school of history”. However, he is in favour of land distribution formula. “I am in favour of dividing land formula but the basis on which it has been done is unfortunate,” he adds. Yasir Ahmad, a young Mechincal Engineer in his late twenties from Jamshedpur, Jharkhad has an important point to make about the verdict, “It (the verdict) will never strengthen the democracy but will also widen the gap between the two communities.” “With such judgments Muslims will lose faith in Indian judiciary and will also get the feeling of being a second class citizen,” he worries. Yasir’s worries are shared by Sadiq Naqvi, a student of Development studies at Ambedker University, Delhi. “As far as faith in judiciary is concerned, there is a sense of feeling that Minorities are being considered second class citizens even by the judiciary,” he asserts while considering the verdict a blot on democracy. “The way whole issue has unfolded over a period spanning several decades is in itself a blot on democracy”, he adds. One can dismiss these concerns saying this represents only a small section of youth not the ‘popular’ and ‘mainstream’ sentiments of Indian youth. But the fact of the matter is that, the youth are disappointed by the verdict and consider it a ‘victory’ of faith over rationality. As Seema Duhan, a youth from Hisar of Haryana put it like this— “When faith triumphs over logic and rationality, it should be understood clearly that the dooms day has rolled in and it will sway you away.” One can only hope and wish, Seema will not have to say something like this after the verdict by the Supreme Court of India. - <http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=250&winname=addthis&pub=&source=tbx-250&lng=en&s=facebook&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.twocircles.net%2F%3Fq%3D2010oct05%2Fayodhya_dispute_what_educated_youths_have_say.html&title=Ayodhya%20dispute%3A%20What%20educated%20youths%20have%20to%20say%3F&ate=AT-/-/-/4cab1c5edbbef1d1/1&sms_ss=1&at_xt=1&ui_header_color=%23000000&ui_header_background=%23FFFFFF&CXNID=2000001.5215456080540439074NXC&pre=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.twocircles.net&tt=0><http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=250&winname=addthis&pub=&source=tbx-250&lng=en&s=googlebuzz&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.twocircles.net%2F%3Fq%3D2010oct05%2Fayodhya_dispute_what_educated_youths_have_say.html&title=Ayodhya%20dispute%3A%20What%20educated%20youths%20have%20to%20say%3F&ate=AT-/-/-/4cab1c5edbbef1d1/2&sms_ss=1&at_xt=1&ui_header_color=%23000000&ui_header_background=%23FFFFFF&CXNID=2000001.5215456080540439074NXC&pre=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.twocircles.net&tt=0><http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=250&winname=addthis&pub=&source=tbx-250&lng=en&s=digg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.twocircles.net%2F%3Fq%3D2010oct05%2Fayodhya_dispute_what_educated_youths_have_say.html&title=Ayodhya%20dispute%3A%20What%20educated%20youths%20have%20to%20say%3F&ate=AT-/-/-/4cab1c5edbbef1d1/3&sms_ss=1&at_xt=1&ui_header_color=%23000000&ui_header_background=%23FFFFFF&CXNID=2000001.5215456080540439074NXC&pre=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.twocircles.net&tt=0><http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=250&winname=addthis&pub=&source=tbx-250&lng=en&s=addthis&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.twocircles.net%2F%3Fq%3D2010oct05%2Fayodhya_dispute_what_educated_youths_have_say.html&title=Ayodhya%20dispute%3A%20What%20educated%20youths%20have%20to%20say%3F&ate=AT-/-/-/4cab1c5edbbef1d1/4&sms_ss=1&at_xt=1&ui_header_color=%23000000&ui_header_background=%23FFFFFF&CXNID=2000001.5215456080540439074NXC&pre=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.twocircles.net&tt=0> Post new comment -- MD. MAHTAB ALAM [email protected] Phone:+ 91-9811209345 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB.
