Book Reviews

A Socio-Economic Sur-vey of Muslims in Kerala and India Published by: Forum for Faith and Fraternity

P. B No. 4239-Vanchinad Resi-dency, Kaloor, Cochin-17.
102 pages. Price not mentioned

Appearances may often be deceptive.

High visibility of Kerala Muslims on airports in the Gulf often deludes us. But few of us realise that this high-flying life obscures the dark underside of their existence in the State which has constantly occupied the top in the social development index among the Indian states. Despite making up nearly 25 per cent of the State’s population, which has resulted in their considerable political empowerment, Kerala’s Muslims still occupy the lowest rung on the socio-economic ladder. Here is a sampling from the data collected by a panel of people who made a representation to the High Level Committee appointed by the Prime Minister to assess the socio-economic and educational status of Muslims: 37 per cent Muslims are landless, nearly 40 per cent own less than half an acre of land, 23 per cent between half and one acre and only two per cent own above one acre; Muslim share in government jobs is only 9.88 per cent despite a 12 per cent reservation (Ezhavas who constitute 20 per cent of the population, occupy 21.32 per cent Govt jobs, and SC/ST making up 10.95 per cent have carved out 13.13 per cent jobs); only 2 Muslims among 29 High Court judges, no Muslim in top judicial posts, 6.58 per cent among Class II gazetted posts such as munsif magistrates ; only 7 Muslims in 414 IAS, IPS and IFS officers (SC/ST have 59, Christians and forward Hindu castes occupy 155 posts); only around 3 per cent among 36,000 employees of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited in Kerala Telecom circle; only 2.81 per cent Muslims among 6510 employees of the Federal Bank in the State; 10.18 per cent Muslims among 1,051 employees of the Kerala State Electricity Board; 9.51 per cent Muslims among 5,548 medical specialists in the State; only three per cent Muslims among 3,000 employees of the public sector banks in the State.


These statistics speak for themselves. Kerala Muslims have enjoyed certain advantages. For instance, 99 per cent speak and use local Malayalam language. This has enabled universal literacy and allows them to integrate them with the State’s life and development. Surprisingly the Government has even declared the Muslim dominated Malappuram district totally computer literate. But late dawn of consciousness has not allowed this literacy to translate into socio-economic empower-ment on par with other communities. Muslims are not even able to claim their 12 per cent reserved quota in the State Government jobs.


One sector where the community is better represented is jobs in the Gulf. Nearly 1.5 million Keralites work there, nearly one fourth of them being Muslims from the state. Gulf jobs are said to have averted a communist revolution in the State as they took out the unemployed youth and extinguished frustration. If each community is given 100 households, 36 per cent Brahmin households, 69.5 per cent Marthoma Christian households, 54.75 per cent Muslim households, 20.7 per cent Nair households and 16.2 per cent Ezhava households had emigrants. The report says even when the foreign remittances are taken into account, the per capita income was the lowest in Malappuram, a district with almost 70 per cent Muslims. This is owing to the fact that most Muslims are employed as menial workers, peons, masons, drivers and gardeners. Profile of the Gulf jobs is changing with the construction boom over, and knowledge workers in much demand. This is affecting the Kerala Muslim adversely as the average educational attainment is low. The report says that ‘Muslims of the less educated districts like Malappuram have very little part in this knowledge migration.’


The reports holds a mirror to the community which is far from taking even its due share in the state’s economy and power structure. Read together with the Justice Narendran Commission Report, it makes it imperative for the Muslims to address the problem of quality and productive education immediately.

Muslim Artisans, Crafts-men and Traders
Issues in Entrepreneurship
Edited by: Abdul Waheed
Icon Publications, 4331-32/2-Ansari Road,
Daryaganj, New Delhi-110002
iconpub@eth.net Rs. 595. 266 pages


Muslims in the Gangetic basin were a ruling class for over six centuries, yet they remain poor, under-privileged and share all the indices that point to their low position on human social index. They barely fit into the new economy that is computer-savvy and fast globalizing. Mired in the traditional social mould and holding on to economic shibboleths, they see no immediate remedy from their current situation. A clear disconnect has occurred between the education they receive and the economy that is shaping around them.


Nearly 55 per cent of India’s Muslims live in the Gangetic basin state of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. They were left orphaned due to the exit of leadership material in the wake of Partition. Even as they were coming out of the demoralisation set in by the Partition, Hindutva campaign pushed them back into the ghettoes. Urban Muslim population in these states had been engaged in artisanship. Almost all cities in Uttar Pradesh have been associated with some kind of craftsmanship. If Benaras is famous for its Zari, Mirzapur and Bhadohi are known as carpet making centres. Aligarh has lock and hardware making units. Gorakhpur is a weaving centre. Sambhal has expertise in use of horns. Saharanpur and Bijnore churn out masterpieces furniture in woodcarving. Kannauj and Jaunpur produce perfumes. Kanpur has leather tanneries and luggage making units.


Even elsewhere, Muslims have been engaged in artisanship. Mysore, deep down south has woodcarving industry for artifacts. Channapatna has lacquerware toys. Bidar is famous for Bidriware. North Arcot has tanneries. Hyderabad has bangle and pearl units.


Barring a few exceptions, the trade and craft are practised in its traditional form. New financial practices and marketing norms have remained alien to them.


The book under review compiles 21 essays presented at a seminar on the issue held under the aegis of Centre for Promotion of Education and Cultural Advancement of Indian Muslims (CEPECAMI) at the Aligarh Muslim University in February 2005.


Prof. M. S. Kitchlu paints a bleak picture of the declining tanneries of Dindigul. This reviewer however gives a positive picture of leather industry in Ambur and attributes it to constant modernisation in education and business practices. He even recounts the rise of Modassa Muslims in Gujarat in transport sector through a cooperative effort of the Modassa Road Transport Cooperative Society. He pointed out that modernisation has to proceed in brand building as no shoe industry in Ambur has yet come out with its own brand. He however saw construction of effluent treatment plants in three towns as a distinct advance in bringing about timely reforms. Nita Kumar develops a gendered profile of the entrepreneurship among Ansaris of Benares. She says Ansari women are characterised by invisibility of women. They have no share in cultural, political and entrepreneurial returns from their profession. Though it is men who sit on the looms, but women do all the preparatory work. M. Shoeb talks of how various aspects of life of Julahas i.e., weavers of Benares, is embedded within Islamic ethos. No motifs other than geometrical pattern are woven. No interest based transactions. Establishment of secondary schools and hospitals point to considerable modernisation of the thinking of the community. A lot of emphasis is on identity of the community. Goutam Saha suggests clusterisation as a panacea for the Aligarh lock-making industry for its woes owing to globalization. Mohd. Asim Sidiqui etches to relief unholy nexus between political power and bureaucracy. Desi capitalist exploit the ordinary weavers by giving them a pittance.


Handloom houses and cooperatives are unhelpful and serve the interest of elite in the sector. Sekh Raheem Mondal and Rokiya Mondal discuss the Muslim artisans in coir works in a village in West Bengal. Rahila Rais has highlighted the various government schemes for the minorities. Editor Dr. Abdul Waheed has summarized the current economic scenario of the Indian Muslim elaborately.


The book is a useful compendium on socio-economic situation of Indian Muslims. However, editing and production leave scope for much improvement.

Directory of Muslim NGOs in India
Edited by S. Ubaidur Rahman
Global Media Publications, J-51-A Ist floor, Abul Fazal Enclave,
Jamia Nagar, New Delhi-110025,
Ph. 011-55666830, e-mail: info@gmpublications.
Price: Rs. 495. 192 pages


It is a handy compendium of Muslim organisations working in the field of education, health, rehabilitation and social welfare. Editor, Ubaidur Rahman must have realised the enormity of the assignment when he undertook the task of compiling of Muslim NGOs in a large country like India with diverse social and linguistic profile of Muslims. And naturally no work can claim to encompass the entire gamut of organisations and social work being done by the community. However, the editor and the publication must be credited with undertaking a pioneering task where shortcomings are not unlikely. Viewed from our own limited knowledge, the Directory has left out a vast number of organisations in the southern states and in several cases carries incomplete or inaccurate particulars. Pitfalls are not unaccepted. There are both possibilities, Organisations doing considerable work may not be registered as formal NGOs and registered NGOs may not be doing anything worthwhile. Similarly, it is difficult to ensure the constancy of addresses and phone numbers. Perhaps the situation calls for a website or CD based information. It would have been helpful, if the compiler had taken pains to include the areas in which these NGOs are working. It is also difficult to designate NGOs as Muslim as several of them work with secular objectives, yet have lot of Muslims on the board and among beneficiaries. It is not difficult to identify such bodies in sectors such as beedi making, poultry and housing, but may be a bit difficult to tag them with the community.

The Quran
With a phrase-by-phrase English Translation, Tr. by Ali Quli Qara’i Islamic College for Advanced Studies, 133-High Road, Willesden, London. 944 pages, Hadiya Rs. 490


The holy Quran lends itself to multiple approaches in translation as well as comprehension. The Quran : With a phrase-by-phrase English Translation is the latest of the translations to join the burgeoning literature on Quran. Shia scholar Ali Quli Qara’i has gone through several translations of the holy scripture and has tried to approach the meanings on a phrase-by-phrase basis. The author feels that inter-linear (translation for each word) approach hinders comprehension. Such translations are more in the nature of producing a dictionary of the Quran rather than providing access to the reader to the inner message of the scripture. They lack in intelligibility, clarity and naturalness. Moreover, the inter-linear approach was more common with Urdu and Persian which are written from right to left, as does the Arabic text. But such an approach in English is problematic as English is written from left to right while Quranic text runs from right to left. So even the word to word rendering is not possible.


Ali Quli Qara’i has adopted a phrase-to-phrase route. The method seems to work as the author has chosen a cluster of words that produce a cogent set of meanings or a short sentence.


Qara’i has indeed made the rendering lucid and provides English equivalents for names of the prophets. He attempts coining new words like ‘maintainer of prayers’ and ‘Godwary’ for muttaqi in order to get closer to the essence of the Quranic terms even while conceding that his approximation still stops short of the full semantic scope and richness of the original term.


Production and paper quality add value to the work which appears handy and facile for eyes.

Islam
The Final Choice
Compiled by Badr Azimabadi
Published by: Adam Publishers & Distributors 1542,
Pataudi House, Darya Ganj, New Delhi-110002.
Ph: 23267510. Email: apd@bol.net.in
www.adambooks.com. Price: Rs 125


It is very difficult to renounce one’s ancestral religion, to embrace Islam. It is not easy to rebel against the parents, the family and the entire surrounding in search of truth. And hence, this is done by only those who have the courage of conviction to face all the hardships and hindrances coming in the way. So their sense of right and wrong, their will power, sacrificing quality, courage to face all round dangers and hazards and ambition to defeat the nefarious designs of antagonistic forces which are against their following the right path should be brought to light for others to see and act. Their ideals and noble examples, experiences and observations are such a treasure that should be shared by one and all. Keeping this in view, Badr Azimabadi has accomplished the painstaking task of collecting as much information as possible concerning those who have made the long journey to embrace Islam. This is one of those books which can change the lives of many, and set them along the Islamic path. Stories of over 51 personalities have been recorded into this book. It is probably the first of its kind in English so far, that brings to the reader the touching tales of those who recited the Shahadah after searching for the truth.

A Book of Islamic Prayers
(First Edition)
By Maulana Hafiz Mohammad Khursheed Ashrafi
Translated by: Arif Manzar, Samad House,
Main Road, Bhadohi-221401. Uttar Pradesh.
Email: arifmanzar@hotmail.com. Ph: 0091-5414-225930.
Published by: Dr. Ali Manzar Foundation,
Kolkata, Bhadohi, Email: dr alimanzar@yahoo. com
Price: Rs 65


The original book written by Hazrat Maulana Mufti Mohammad Khursheed Ashrafi is in Urdu and has been translated by Arif Manzar. “With the passage of time, English as a language has been gradually replacing Urdu and Arabic, even in the homes of Indian Muslims. Even in countries other than India, there is a large population of English-speaking Muslims who are unable to benefit from this book because of its text being in Urdu. Keeping this in view, I undertook the task to translate it into English,” says Arif Manzar. Just as it is important to know and accept that after Imaan (faith), Namaaz (prayer) is Farz (absolutely compulsory), it is also important to know the proper Islamic way to offer Namaaz-its rules and regulations. Arif Manzar has tried to translate this book in a simple way.

The Computer Universe
A Scientific Rendering of the Holy Quran
By Prof. P. A. Wahid
(Former Member Secretary, Kerala State Council for Science,
Technology and Environment. Dean, Faculty of Agriculture,
Kerala Agricltural University).
Published by: Adam Publishers & Distributors 1542, Pataudi House, Darya Ganj, New Delhi-110002. Ph: 23267510. Email: apd@bol.net.in.www.adambooks.com
Price: Rs 500


The author makes a brilliant attempt to explain the holy Quran in a scientific manner by treating the universe as a computer system designed and programmed by Allah. The book The Computer Universe- A Scientific Rendering of the Holy Quran is the first ever attempt to provide a scientific tafsir to the Quranic verses on the universe and human life, and a revol-utionary computer concept for characterizing the functioning of the universe. The author, Prof Wahid addresses the creation of the physical universe and biological species (excepting man) by proposing theories of programmed evolution. The Quranic revelations about the creation of man, testing of human beings by Allah, recording of human activities, satanic influence on man, the divine mechanism of creation, life-after, divine governance of the universe, etc are explained through the analogy of a computerized set-up. For the first time, the phenomena of life and death, genetic program and souls are scientifically defined. Life is an intangible entity that can be understood only in conjunction with the Quran.


Prof Wahid is a soil scientist, specialised in radioisotope-aided research with trees. He has held several high positions in Kerala Agricultural University and Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment. He has published over a 100 research papers in international journals of repute, besides four books. He also has two research papers to his credit in the religio-science area. A recipient of several awards, he is also an elected Fellow of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences.


The book is written with the conviction that the source of knowledge (both true science and the Quran) is Allah. The religio-scientific dialogue, thus leads to a stimulating intergration of true science with the Quran resulting in the evolution of a holistic knowledge of the universe including the divine purpose of human creation. The concepts, ideas and arguments put forward in this book provide a strong foundation on which Islamic Science can be built. The work is the proclamation that Islam is the rational, the divine and the universal religion.

Compiled, Edited and Published by: Hussain khan Chandkhan Pathan
17/143 Unnatnagar No 2,
Near Panvalkar Hospital,
Goregaon (W) Mumbai-400062.
Ph: 022-28754625.


Mr H. C Pathan, a retired government officer has spent six years to write, edit and publish this book. This book is a boon to those who wish to learn the Quranic Tajweed in Hindi. For copies, contact Mr Pathan directly by Ph: 022-28754625. Price: Rs 125.