he expressed his astonishment at how peaceful a country India was
and how great the progress Indian Muslims were making. For the
Pakistani scholar this was totally unexpected, because through the
Pakistani media, he had come to regard Indian Muslims as suffering
in every respect, having neither freedom nor any opportunity to
make any progress, etc.
The truth is that progress is not related to carving out a
separate block for the Muslims, or being highly vocal in launching
movements in the name of Nizam-e- Mustafa. Such movements
are totally irrelevant to progress. Only two things are required for
progress—peace and freedom, both of which exist in India. These
are the things that have given the opportunity to Indian Muslims to
make progress.
Progress is possible only in normal circumstances, and such
circumstances are called peace. The secret of securing peace, in one
word, is “status quoism”. Those who want to make progress should
never adopt the way of so-called revolutionary movements. They
should accept the status quo for whatever it is. They should make
peaceful use of the available opportunities, and leave all other things
for the future.
Another name for this constructive method is wise planning.
Any result-oriented goal can be achieved in this world through
wise planning, and not through movements driven by emotion.
Emotional politics only exacerbates the situation; it is not going
to yield any positive result. The observations of the Pakistani
visitor to India should be taken seriously by the people of
Kashmir.
The Double Standard of the Leaders
Osama bin Laden, who was killed in Abbottabad in Pakistan on
May 3, 2011, had always figured as a dire enemy of theWest, and the
greatest champion of violent activities directed against the West
in the name of jihad. Such was his character as a leader. But his
character as a father was totally different.
Zakaria al- Sadah, brother-in-law of Osama bin Laden, stated in
an interview with the
Sunday Times
(London) which was reproduced
in the
Times of India
, New Delhi, February 14, 2012, p.20, that he
(Osama bin Laden) had told his own children and grandchildren, ‘Go
to Europe and America and get a good education, and live a good
Not Committing Another Mistake
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