There is a widening gap between the elders and the youngsters among Muslims as the youth are not given space to contribute constructively in many Forums.

Poor Muslim students are facing double trouble. On one hand, the fee for the professional courses has gone beyond their reach and on the other hand even the social and welfare organisations have reduced their scholarship fund.

As of today, these poor students have no options, but to opt out of the education market. If the community does not accommodate its own youth where should they go? Day by day, it is becoming obvious that the existing community leadership is neglecting the Muslim youth, the consequence of which will be very grave.

What is the role of the Muslim youth in various community organisations and forums? A cursory look reveals that unfortunately Muslim youth are not given any space so that they can contribute constructively. This is leading to a widening gap between community elders and the youth.

Today’s Muslim youth feel neglected by the community. The community leadership is not willing to accommodate youth in various forums and activities. Today, there is not a single all India organisation for the Muslim youth, apart from Jamaat-e-Islami Hind’s students wing- Students Islamic Organisation (SIO).

Thousands of Muslim-managed educational, social and welfare Trusts exist in our country. But the Muslim youth have no space in them. The community must design a mechanism which will ensure the involvement of youth in the various community organisations and forums. Today’s youth are growing older soon. They are attaining maturity faster as they are better informed and technology-friendly. Hence any meaningful reform in the community cannot be launched without the active involvement of the youth.

Islamic Voice in collaboration with TRAC (Trends Research and Analysis Center) conducted a survey to find out what is going on in the minds of the current generation, aged between 15 to 29, both male and female. The sample size was 351 students spread across Mumbai. The research design was exploratory. The findings are as follows:

• 94% of the youth wants to play an active role in the community affairs at the local and regional level, but they do not know how to initiate it.

• 71% said that the current leadership controlling various community organisations and forums are incapable and not transparent in their functioning.

• 89 % believe that Muslim politicians are as bad as any other politician.

• 84 % said that they have faith in the Muslim religious leadership.

There is a huge generation gap between Muslims born between 1945-69 and post 1970 generation. These differences are reflected in the attitude of both generations. The fact is that the current generation has evolved in such a way that they are in a better position to understand the current challenges faced by the community and have knowledge and skill to contribute for its overall growth in a meaningful manner.

The Muslim youth now form the most active group in various religious activities. Even in the mosque, the attendance of the teenagers is reaching an all time high. There is general awareness amongst today’s Muslim youth about the Islamic identity. It is a fact that the current generation is more proud and loyal to the Islamic identity than the previous generation.

Unlike the previous generations who were influenced by the communist ideology and were defensive about their Islamic identity, today’s youth is proud of its religious identity. Unlike previous generations, who pretended to be secular in their approach, today’s youth proudly display their Islamic identity.

Unlike earlier generations, the current Muslim generation has a near-zero generation gap, and parent-child preferences are common. When you ask this generation who their heroes are, the majority say, their “parents”. Today’s youth is expected to retain close parental bonds even after marriage and they are more likely to consult their parents on major decisions concerning social and religious issues.

No community can progress without giving a pro-active role to its youth. With firm social bonding and a well-defined Islamic identity, today’s Muslim youth is staking their claim in managing the affairs of the community. The current leadership must recognise this trend or else face the music.

(The writer can be reached at mhl@rediffmail.com)

Muslim Perspectives