Message From AFMI President
Mr. Iqbal Ahmed MD, FACG
As you know, India is the largest secular democracy in the world with a population of 1.2 billion people, of which Muslims constitute 13% or 150 million. Under a true secular democracy, every segment of the society is supposed to progress equally. Somehow Muslims in Indian democracy did not flourish like their fellow citizens. Majority of them, unfortunately, live below the poverty line. Since independence, their condition has fallen lower than the lowest in all aspects of life, socially, economically, politically and educationally.
National average literacy rate in India is 65% and literacy rate for Muslims is 59%,. Literacy in India is defined as
ability to read and write one’s name, but that does not empower a community. It is the number of bachelor and master’s degree holders that strengthens a community. Shockingly, among the Indian Muslims, there are 3.1% Bachelor’s and only 1.3% Master’s degree holders. It is not because of lack of desire for education among the Indian Muslims; it is because of lack of affordability due to poverty, accessibility of the schools, and poor infrastructure at the schools, teacher absenteeism, and high drop out rate. 25% of Indian Muslim children have never seen a school.
The picture in the Government jobs for Muslims is not rosy; they are grossly under represented compared to their population of 13.4%. In the states where Muslim population is at least 15%, they hold 5.7% government jobs. In states with higher Muslim population such as UP, Bihar, Bengal the ratio is less than 1/3rd of their population. In Maharashtra it is less than 1/5th . In West Bengal situation is deplorable, Muslims hold only 4.2% government jobs, while their population in the state is 24% in the state. No data is available in private sector.
Muslims in Indian Elite services such as Indian Police Services (IPS) are 3%, Indian Administrative Services (IAS)
2.2%, Indian Foreign Services (IFS) only 1.6% jobs are held by the Muslims. Indian Army 2% and in the Intelligence agencies, Indian Space Research Services, they do not exist. There is one place where they are over represented and that is the jails, for example in Maharashtra, Muslims are 10% of the population and their population in the jails is 40%.
Similarly in politics they are under represented, 4.3% to 6.6% of the parliament is Muslim, less than ½ of their expected number.
Main reason for under representation in politics is the reluctance on the part of parties to nominate them for MP position even if the candidates are strong enough to win the election. In state assemblies situation is even worse than in Parliament.
Indian Muslims are extremely poor, 43% of them live below the poverty line, which means their income is 45 cents per person per day. They live in the gutters, mud houses without electricity and only 19% have piped water. This is undignified subhuman existence. These people were given the dream that independence from British will bring them prosperity and they participated in the struggle for independence. Secular pluralistic inclusive of all democracy came and went by without touching their lives. Their condition, instead of improving has actually deteriorated.
I think Muslims of India have hit the rock bottom and can not go lower than this. Only thing below them is the grave, the only way out is upward and they have no choice but to work for their upliftment. It is a do or die situation.
This is the national situation of Muslims, a word about the international situation. There are 57 Muslim countries, sitting on 75% of the oil reserves, combined GDP of 2 trillion. Overall literacy rate is just above 50%, only 2% Muslims go for higher education. Number of universities in all the Muslim countries combined is only 500, while US alone has 5758 universities and India has over 8407 universities.
No further comment, you draw the conclusion.
Message from AFMI Trustee
Dr. A.S. Nakadar
Congratulations to Mrs. Rizwana Khan, chairperson of the convention and Mr. Ashfaq Quraishi, president-elect, and their entire team for working so hard in making the 20th Annual Convention a historic moment.
Most of the convention team members have been associated with AFMI for a long time. They are the ones who have nurtured it, sustained it, endured the struggles and have been the guiding light for what AFMI is today. They all deserve our appreciation for their perseverance, their visionary approach, and for their firm belief in AFMI’s vision.
The team’s theme selection deserves special mention: Pluralism: Path to Peace and Progress.
Society is the nucleus of any country. When a society experiences discrimination or becomes a target of bigotry it starts feeling hapless. Major section of the society may show resilience and try to overcome it, but some section of the society may become despondent and start to manifest their response in a reactionary manner. This degenerated and dispirited reaction of certain sections of the society will hamper the country’s peace and progress.
AFMI started with the main focus of uplifting the Muslim community in India, especially in the field of education, so
that they may march shoulder to shoulder with their compatriots in the progress of India.
After 20 years of its relentless efforts in the field of education, either through its motivational medal programs or supportive scholarship programs, or building new schools or adopting existing schools, AFMI has helped in fulfilling the dreams of hundreds of thousands of families.
In the last ten years we have frequently seen Muslim students topping the list. This was a rarity a couple of decades ago. In the last five years Muslim students have scored above 99% in different states and in the last three years 4 Muslim students have scored 99.99%.
AFMI is the only NRI Muslim organization that is working at all Indian levels with such a vast network and infrastructure. We are convinced about achieving our set goal of 100% literacy amongst Muslims in India in due course. We are confident that this grass roots educational movement is now unstoppable and we will, Insha Allah, tastes its fruits soon.
AFMI’s social empowerment program has built bridges of understanding among various sections of the society. Towards this goal AFMI has helped build hospitals, conducted medical camps, improved water supplies, provided relief and rehabilitation to victims of either man made calamities or natural disasters. AFMI strongly believes in providing temporary relief, because longer relief work makes the victims dependent on their relief. We believe more in rehabilitation where the society itself participates in building their own future.
Our political education initiative has paid rich dividends. Some are tangible and some are not, but over all we feel satisfied with our approach. For example, last year AFMI delegates met with the President of India and discussed women’s health and educational issues and how NRI’s and government officials could coordinate the efforts for better results.
Thanks to AFMI’s dynamic and successive leaderships of Dr Syed Samee, Dr. Aslam Abdullah, Dr. Shakir Mukhi, Mr.
Alibhai Quraishi, Mr. Shaukat Khan, Dr. Iqbal Ahmed and now incoming president Mr. Ashfaq Quraishi, and of course the secretary Mr. Ayub Khan. Our regional VP and regional chapters have been very supportive of the leadership and have become the backbone of the organization.
I take this opportunity to thank our vast list of donors. AFMI’s more than 100 projects in India would not have been possible without their generosity and philanthropy.
May God Bless you all and accept your services in this world and in Akhira.
Message from Convention Chair
Rizwana Khan
It is an honor and a privilege for me to welcome you to the 20th annual convention of AFMI. Today, The American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin (AFMI) is celebrating 20 years of unparalleled dedication and service
to minorities in India. The leadership and members of AFMI have worked hard and generously donated their talent, time and money to address minority issues for the economic and social upliftment of minorities in India. Their efforts have borne fruit and some of their many achievements are presented in this souvenir and documented in newspaper reports over time and across India. In 2000 AFMI was recognized by the US Senate “for all of the wonderful work it has done to improve the living conditions of Indian Muslims” (Congressional Record-Senate, October 3, 2000, S9695).
AFMI is well known as a philanthropic, service based, and issue oriented organization formed by Muslim Americans of Indian Origin in 1989. That is the year we moved to Michigan and ten years later I had the honor to be part of the organizing committee of AFMI’s 10th Annual Convention in Southfield, MI, October 7-8, 2000. Under the Chairmanship of Mohammed Qamruzzaman and organizational leadership of Dr. Parvez Khan, the convention was a great success. I am confident this convention with your support will also be a great success.
The success of AFMI may be attributed to Dr. A.S Nakadar, one of the founding members of AFMI and currently it’s
Trustee who has advanced a great theme—Pluralism: a Path to Peace and Progress. In my humble opinion, recognition of pluralism, nay indeed, celebration of pluralism is the cornerstone of any successful secular society, whether it is India or the United States. Our organizing committee has put together a great program that I am sure you will enjoy. I am very thankful to all of my committee members and commend them for their dedication and hard work.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our chief guests, Arun Yadav, Minister of State for Heavy industries and Public Enterprises; Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar, who need no introduction; and Asaduddin Owaisi, MP from Hyderabad, and Maulana Mohd. Madni, MP and leader Jamiat-ul Ulema Hind. They have travelled from India to be with us at this convention to celebrate and share their words of wisdom and advice. Our thanks also to all of AFMI’s Officers, delegates and members for their support and guidance in making this program a great success.
At the end I would like to reiterate, that AFMI’s goals include the educational, economic and social welfare of Indian Muslims. We have made great progress. However, we also know, as documented in the Justice Rajinder Sachar report that Muslims continue to lag behind other religious communities. Lack of education and economic awareness has trapped Indian Muslims in a vicious circle of poverty. In other words, we still have a long way to go and we cannot do it without the support from each and every one of you. I am reminded of Robert Frost’s words “The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I (we) have promises to keep, and miles to go before I (we) sleep” (Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, poem by Robert Lee Frost).
Thank you all and Allah hafiz.
Message from Souvenir Committee Chair
Syed Aslam, Past Regional Vice President, AFMI Michigan Chapter
It is fitting that AFMI’s governing board has chosen Pluralism; ‘Path to Peace and Prosperity’ as its theme for the 20th annual convention. Pluralism is essence of Islam which is very obvious from this Surah of Qur’an; “If God had pleased He would surly have made you one people (professing one faith). But He wished to try and test you by that which He gave. So try to excel in good deeds. To him you will all return in the end. When He will tell you of what you were at variance”. (5,48) Another Surah is also consistent with the pluralistic view of Islam “O mankind! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. The noblest of you, in sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Allah Knows and is Aware.”(49,13)
Islam consistently emphasizes one’s individual responsibility towards the peace and security of the society at large. Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) described a good deed as an act which benefits others, such as planting a tree, knowing well that, when it grows to be a full fledged tree it will serve generations with fruit and shade. Islam encourages people to eliminate conflict and help create a blissful state of existence, where fear, arrogance, hate, and anger are overcome with love, compassion and mercy, live and let others live. Qur’an also says “ There is no compulsion in religion” that means if somebody is not following the path of Islam try to show him the right path, but in the end leave him alone, it is between him and his God.
All major religions of the world teach tolerance and compassion towards fellow human being. But I have noticed that people who claim to be ultra-religious are intolerant and are doing bad things all over the world. I do not believe that Hinduism caused the massacre of Muslims in Gujarat, India but ultra-right Hindu party, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Rashtriya Sevak Sangh (RSS) and similar groups were definitely responsible for the mass killing of Muslims of Gujarat in 2002. In the same way, Islam is not responsible for destruction of the statue of Buddha in Afghanistan or causing 9/11 in America. It is Taliban and similar group who claim to be more religious than ordinary Muslims are responsible for these acts of vandalism. These people are even killing their own Muslim brothers by suicide bombing which is a capital sin and totally against Islam. Look what is happening in this country. The Evangelical Christian pastors are spewing venom against Muslims from the pulpit in many churches of America. I don’t know any religion which calls name to other religion right at their place of worship. The Western society thinks that they are the most civilized nation on the face of this earth but display such a intolerant, uncivilized and anti pluralistic view while worshiping God. One church group was even threatening to burn the holy Qur’an in the church itself to protest 9/11.
We are living in a global village, time has come to exclude exclusivism from our thought and think pluralism or this
world of ours will turn into hell. With the help of good people of all faiths we can transform this world a much better place to live . We owe it to younger generations to leave the world a little better than we found it. This can only be achieved through pluralism.
