वंदे बनाम गंदा नहीं अभिनंदनीय आत्मनिर्भर भारत

MODI’S MESSAGE FROM MOSQUE

………Ashish K.S. Massey, Ph.D.

There is a great hue and cry in India over Modi’s visit to Sheikh Zayed grand mosque in United Arab Emirate (UAE). Geographically, UAE is co-federation of seven states viz. Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Fujairah, Sharjah, Dubai, Ras al-Khaimah and Umm al-Qaiwain. Each of the states has its own Ameer (Ruler) but as co-federation they together form federal government which looks after finance, foreign policy, defense etc. Till 1971 all these 07 states were part of British dominion. The British Empire was responsible for the defense but the shattering economy of Britain compelled them not to keep them under British dominion. 

Hence, Prime Minister Harold Wilson initiated the withdrawal process of British Empire. Later on the liberal Labour Party leader Edward Heath completed the process of decolonization. Thus in seventies began new era of development the Ameers of Abu dhabi and Dubai, who were educated abroad gave comparatively liberal developmental vision to their respective states followed by other five states beginning with Sharjah, Fujairah etc. 

It is a known fact that UAE is the second biggest business partner of India and the balance of trade is in India’s favour, because of the contribution of service sector of Indians who are contributing significantly in the infrastructure development of UAE. There hard earned money amounts to 30000 Crore comes each year to India. 

The Modi’s message from mosque if we can see in totality reconfirms his government’s vision of genuine secularism respecting all citizens irrespective of cast and creed and total Indian population of 125 Crores forms his indomitable team.  

Furthermore, the basic business stint of Gujarat born Narendra Modi specially salutes the revenue generating partners working in Arab countries. These Indians are mostly from Bihar, Eastern U.P. and Kerala. Religiously 60% of them are Muslim, around 20% are Christians and rests are Hindus including Sikhs and Buddhists.

These hard working Indians deserves special salute and recognition. Nobody ever thought of them it is Narendra Modi who remembered them is in official visit and patted their back with affection conveying silently you have done India proud. 

This is very significant because if we compare the monitory contribution to India from Silicon Valley of USA. The monthly and annual money send by these hard working Indians is much more than their comparatively affluent counterpart elite professional work force in USA and Europe. It is more patriotic, when India faced financial sanctions after atomic testing in Atal regime. Then Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Bajpai appealed to all Indians to contribute and fill the coffers. The hard working blue collar workers of Indian origin working in UAE become the champions.     

The message of the mosque also clarifies the Modi’s vision of saluting the contemporary reasonable Islam. This Islam is much different from the perception of Islam which prevails in the mindset of Indian subcontinent where the history has witnessed the spread of Islam by sword erasing temples and building mosques on their debris as symbols of Islamic victory.

The UAE Islam is changing and it is giving land for the construction of temples and burial grounds for other faiths. Thanks to the liberal outlook of Sheikh Zayed. Who has build world’s 3rd largest mosque in the Abu Dhabi. He was first to offer burial ground to Hindus. Now his successor Crown Prince has allotted land for Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi.

Though Abu Dhabi temple is not the first Hindu temple in Arab land earlier in Duabi and Sharjah etc. there are huge Hindu temples erected with the permission of the state. This shows the changing perception of Islam which is reasonable liberal and its doors and windows are open for reason and thoughts. 

The openness of Islam is also an eye opener for Hindu population in India who were becoming narrow and parochial in their outlook which is against the principle of basic Hinduism which is liberal and flexible and elastic from its beginning. In Ayodhya 1992 the Hindu reacted against the action of Islamic rulers of past. 

The mosque of Abu Dhabi speaks volumes of modern day reasoning based Islam. People of all faiths, cast and creeds are not only welcomed but they are recognized on the basis of their merit and contribution. The Muslims and Christians can learn from this example.

If Modi’s government hangs Yakub Menon at the same time it recognizes the patriotic leaders of Islamic community like Bharat Ratna Missile Man APJ Abdul Kalam. The message from mosque also clarifies that Islam of 21st century is much more advanced and modernized then practiced in India. The reason being they are in the mainstream of education and development they have tasted the taste of developed nation. This makes Modi’s medicine of development can cure all ills of India. 

Furthermore, the message from this Arabic mosque also makes it clear that the era of Pakistan centric Islamic diplomacy is over and new era of Arab centric pan Islam diplomacy has began. In this terror in the name of religion is not tolerated and the fund flow of development through Hawala will not be a major contributor in Indian economy and the major chunk of investment will be from the Arabian world.

Ashish K.S. Massey, Ph.D.
Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India
Ex-Chairman, U.P. State Minority Commission, 
Government of Uttar Pradesh