Certain institutions come to be recognised for their learning and cosmopolitan character. This aspect is so ingrained in the minds of people that even a small deviation can spoil the image that might have been built through long traditions over the years. I am afraid that the Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) at Delhi may lose the halo of reverence it has enjoyed so far. It has been declared as a minority institution.
The very word Islamic gave it a special link with the Muslims. Nothing more should have been done to prove that it was an institution of minorities. There is already a quota for Muslim students. Those belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes (OBC) also enjoy reservations. The minority character of the institution will only pose difficulties to define quota within quota. The OBC among the Muslims will suffer because they may lose the mandatory quota.
That apart, the institutions non-denominational character had placed it above the general run of Muslim universities like the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). The Jamia, despite with an affix of Islamia, was considered a secular institution. My firm opinion is that the minority character goes against the very objective for which Dr Zakir Husain, who later became Indias President, had founded it in 1920. Had he wanted the JMI to be a minority institution, he would have declared it so from the beginning. There was nothing to stop him from doing that. But he purposely didnt because he never wanted the institution to be linked with one community alone. A staunch secularist as he was, Zakir Saheb was keen on bringing about Hindu-Muslim unity.
Zakir Saheb, an ardent follower of Mahatma Gandhi, must have discussed with him the character of the institution at length. In fact, the institution was meant to give a concrete shape to the concept of pluralism. Those were the days of the Khilafat Movement (1920). It was heavenly to live at that time because the movement was spearheaded by Maulana Shaukat Ali and Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar. They joined the non-cooperation movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi. It was a rare sight of Hindu-Muslim unity.
The British were worried but felt helpless. Zakir Saheb an apostle of secularism was a follower of Gandhiji and both were trying to eliminate parochial thinking in society. JMI was Zakir Sahebs small contribution. How can a court undo something which has been consecrated by the blood of both communities, Hindus and Muslim?
I believe that Minister for Minorities Salman Khurshid, Zakir Sahebs grandson, was in the forefront of the campaign for imparting minority character to the institution. Little has he realised that in terms of seats for Muslims, the institution may improve a bit over the reservation which Muslim students enjoy currently.
But the message about the change in the ethos of composite culture will bring down the JMI several notches in its reputation. This will give a handle to the Hindu chauvinists who are always looking for a point to criticise the Muslim community. Even some secular Muslims may come to challenge the parochial character of the institution.
I know that the controversy had become a tug of war between Human Resources Department Minister Kapil Sibal and Salman Khurshid. At times the quarrel between the two was reportedly unseemly and acquired a religious tinge. Being staunch Congressmen, the two could not allow the matter to go out of hands. Yet Salman Khurshid reportedly won because of the partys fear that the non-minority character would strengthen religious elements to raise the banner of Islam. I am glad that the dirty linen was not washed in public. Yet the fact remains that those who wanted the tag of minority to be attached to the JMI have had their way. And a secular institution has gone the way of dodos.
Now that the JMI has been declared a minority institution, something should be done to retain its character that Zakir Saheb had in mind. It all depends on the students and the faculty. They have to realise that despite its minority character, the institution has to safeguard the two founding principles of democracy secularism and social justice.
I wish I am wrong in my thinking that the minority character of JMI would encourage religiosity in the institution. Muslims should get preference over others, but among the Muslims the admission should be on merit. No seat should, however, remain unfilled if there are not enough Muslim candidates. The idea of social justice should get priority, but only within the precincts of secular concept.
I have heard that the OBC among the Muslims fear that their quota will go away in the new character of the institution. This is also against the grain of Islam which ensures equality.
The writer is a senior Indian journalist.
