The Muslim Vision for a Peaceful, Prosperous and Inclusive India | Dr. Javed Jamil

It was in 2012 that my document, titled "Muslim Vision of Secular India: Destination Road Map," was released at the Islamic Culture Centre in Delhi in the presence of the then Minority Minister, Mr. Salman Khurshid, the then Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Mr. K. Rahman, and other prominent figures. This document had already generated considerable interest across the country. It received widespread attention from public figures across the country who were concerned about the issues of Muslims in India. Later, it was published as a book in 2016. It would be appropriate here to briefly introduce this document, which consists of over 450 pages. Let us first briefly understand what the Muslim Vision is. That is, what do Muslims think about this country and their community? We are not what others think we are. People often view us through the colored glasses of their own beliefs, ideological conceptions, and interests. But now, we Muslims need to start seeing ourselves through our own lens, with our own vision. The only condition is that this vision corrects both our near and far vision. We should not only see the near and not consider the far. Because whenever we have to create a program, it is essential to balance both the short and long term. The problem with Muslims has been that for a long time they have been judging themselves by the standards of others. That is, what do others think of us? We use that as our standard to judge ourselves. And we have been determining our priorities and values—what should our goals be? What should our preferences be—based on the decisions of others. We have forgotten that our strengths and weaknesses differ from those of others. We have our own perspectives, our own goals, and our own ways of reaching them. We have our own unique vision of the world, which we have unfortunately given up on publicizing and implementing. The result is that certain internal and external forces continually try to instill in Muslims a sense of inferiority, an inferiority complex. We are repeatedly instilled in us the idea that we are a so-called lost community, a defeated nation with no purpose of its own, no significant strength. And until then, our future is in the dark. That is, until we choose a specific path, and this specific path, of course , is one that others choose. We must completely dismantle this deception-based attitude. However, this doesn't mean we should completely ignore the opinions of others. Criticism often provides an opportunity to evaluate the impact of our own actions. Even if the criticism is unfounded, it can instill renewed enthusiasm within us. We must analyze what others say and face issues without succumbing to anger or apologizing. This means that a completely apolitical environment has developed within us, making us easily apologetic. Therefore, we must overcome this apologetic attitude. Let us now understand some realities of our status within the Indian population. By the beginning of 2026, India will become the world's most populous country, with a population estimated to be between 1.43 and 1.48 billion, representing approximately 18%of the global population. According to 2019 estimates , with approximately 204 million Muslims, India has the third-largest Muslim population in the world and also the world's largest Muslim minority population. This means that among all such countries, India is the country where Muslims, despite being in the minority, have the highest percentage. This means that compared to the rest of the world where Muslims are in the minority, approximately 10.9%of the world's Muslims live in India. By 2030, the number of Muslims in India is expected to reach 232.2 million. This proportion of Muslims is expected to increase from 14.6%in 2010 to 15.9%in 2030. Thus, India's Muslim population is larger than any other Muslim country except Indonesia and Pakistan. This status demands that Muslims be able to exert a visible influence on national and international policies, particularly in programs related to social and economic development. Muslims should strive to make positive contributions to programs related to social and economic issues. Similarly, they should receive a share in the country's resources commensurate with their population. They should participate in and benefit from the country's successes. However, the reality is that this is not happening, and in the current circumstances, the prospects for this future career appear very limited. This is the situation that urgently needs to change. Muslims are citizens of a country that is the world's largest democracy and most populous. India is also an emerging power in the global arena and has significant strategic potential. Muslims are a religious community because most Muslims in India, whether Hindu, Muslim, or from other communities, are religious believers. Unlike Western countries, where a significant number have become atheists , meaning they don't adhere to any religion. They are considered Christians, but they don't even believe in Christianity. Muslims are a religious community with a strong belief in their religion and are not satisfied with the so-called developmental activities that are underway, because the demands of development are closer to Islam. However, today's economic forces present them differently because they only care about their own interests. For them, alcohol is a wonderful thing. For them, illicit relationships are also a wonderful thing. And gambling is a great thing. They take advantage of it. But this is obviously against the religious teachings of Islam. Muslims often feel that the majority of Muslims do not respect their religious sentiments. This applies to India as well as the entire world. Their young population is disproportionately large. The number of working people and the poor is constantly increasing, which necessitates a dire need for education and social planning. But where did the mistake go? What was lacking? Why have Muslims lagged behind in various areas of progress? Who is responsible for this? Let's try to understand the reasons behind it. Some parties are openly considered anti-Muslim. But the reality is that no political party has ever considered the true needs of Muslims. What about Muslims? Even these general political parties pay very little attention to the interests of the general public. They focus primarily on their own political interests. Secular groups have used Muslims as a vote bank, while other groups seek to limit their rights. Muslim representation has been low, both in political parties and in other institutions, such as Parliament and the Legislative Assemblies. And even those representatives who do come are often subservient to their party's policies, rather than truly interpreting their community's issues. The few individuals within the BJP, of course, do not express their interests or demands within their own party, but instead try to explain their party's perspectives to Muslims. Similar is the situation with other parties. Furthermore, the Ulama focused mostly on religious matters and neglected the social and economic progress that was their duty, leading to a growing gap between the public and the Ulama. This means that while the gap may not be religious, the kind of communication that should have taken place in worldly matters, where the Ulama would have fully represented and guided them, did not occur to the extent it should have. Most scholars, i.e., intellectuals and educated people, limited themselves to criticism rather than practical work, failing to develop a wise, practical model. The issue of minority and majority should not be based solely on religion. The majority of India, i.e., the entire majority of India, is poor, and Muslims are also falling victim to the same issues. Therefore, they can lead that large majority. Among Muslims , there are rich, wealthy, and poor classes, and of course, the poor and the wealthy are much more numerous, facing problems and difficulties similar to those of other communities. Basic amenities like roads, water, electricity, health, banking, inflation , and high prices affect all urban residents. Similarly, issues like crime , corruption, drugs, and prostitution affect the entire society. Muslims should play a leading role in all these matters, taking the lead against these issues and trying to offer solutions based on their Islamic perspectives. India's economy has been growing at a rate of approximately 8%, but the economic progress of Muslims is considered much lower than that. How should Muslims plan for their own global progress? We need to consider this. They must unite on a national level and formulate a solid plan, which is essential for each sector. This means they must be fully organized. They must have multiple organs, and there must be coordination among them. This is crucial. No aspect should be left out, and there must be coordination among all the different groups working in different fields. Now let's examine Muslims 'vision for India . Number one: a secular India where religion is respected. No religion or its sacred figures are insulted, and everyone works together to build a better country. Number two: an India with high moral values. Where family and social values are fully protected, and strong action must be taken against evils such as drugs, gambling, prostitution, etc. Number three: a true equality in India, meaning there should be equality within society, where income inequality, or gross inequality, is minimal and should be continuously reduced. Number four: a secure India, meaning a safe and secure India, where crime, violence, corruption, and crimes against women are strictly controlled. Number five: a deep India of peace, meaning an India that becomes an example of peace for the entire world. An India that stands against the oppression of global powers and helps the weak. Number six: a prosperous India, meaning a country that is prosperous in every way, where everyone has equal access to the opportunities for progress. The economic role of Muslims is also very important. Muslims should participate in this progress and have the freedom to live their lives according to their religious and cultural principles. In short, the India of our dreams is a country that prioritizes peace, morality, and humanity over power and becomes a leader in the prosperity of all humanity. Thank you very much. Om Om