Within Islam, dress cod
Within Islam, dress cod
Mapping the route to minority success
There are columns that get you into trouble, and this might just be one of them. However, some things must be said simply because too many hypocrites have run the minorities agenda for too long. The results are there for all to see.
While many individual success stories exist, Muslims, the largest minority, are still well below the national average in terms of income, education and levels of influence in society. It isn't easy for Muslims to live in a society that discriminates against them. However, even many so-called 'keepers' of Muslim causes (the same ones who will attack me on this column) have done little for the community other than suggestions such as: "Never vote BJP, always vote Congress" .
Such over-simplification and politicization has done more harm than good. It pains me to see a talented community being represented by regressive, parochial and divisive leaders who frankly do not care about India or its youth, and therefore, don't care about the Muslim youth either. With the intent to get through to some positive thinking, open-minded people, I give some suggestions.
Take a leaf out of the book of other successful communities. The Jews in America, and the Parsis and Sikhs in India are examples of minorities that have done extremely well in their respective countries. Jews form less than 2% of American population, but dominate lists of Forbes billionaires, Nobel laureates, media moguls and Hollywood bigwigs. How did this happen? Several theories abound. However, some factors seem firmly in place.
Learning pays:
The greater the emphasis on education, the greater the likelihood that members of a community will be successful.
Assimilating with the majority community :
Assimilation does not mean abandoning one's culture, or bending to the majority. It simply means finding as much common ground as possible. It also means not heeding leaders who are encouraging people to vote along communal lines. Even if one ignores the right and wrong of communal voting, it's also not a productive strategy. Instead, Muslims need to put forth a checklist - a set of conditions - on what it would take for them to trust the BJP again. They mustn't only oppose the BJP. They must also entice them with support if their conditions are met. Keeping all political parties on their toes, and lobbying for your own cause is perfectly acceptable and even necessary. However, taking permanent sides is not. Please note, this doesn't mean Muslims should vote for the BJP. It just means they engage with it rather than shun it completely. There is another important point about assimilation. It can't happen without trust, and assuming the best in people. It is understandably difficult to trust when that trust has been broken in the past. However, successful minority communities have been able to do that and allowed the wounds to heal.
Politicians often scare minorities, making them believe the worst in people. It isn't a great way to live. Hope for, and spread as much goodness as possible in your lifetime.
Accepting liberal values and personal liberties:
Most minority communities that have done well have also represented the liberal cause. This helps increase influence in society for a simple reason: most intellectuals are liberal. The youth, too, is attracted to liberal values. If you have intellectuals and youth by your side, you already have a disproportionate influence compared to your actual population. Thus, the ultraconservative and orthodox interpretation of religion will not find as much traction as a modern, open-minded approach. Indian Muslims are more liberal than Muslims in many other Islamic countries . Such voices should be encouraged.
Encouraging merit:
As a shortcut to appease Muslims, too many politicians have been suggesting quotas and waivers for the community. What makes communities rise is their own internal talent and merit, not handouts. Reservations on offer are minuscule. However, it tags the community as in need of grace marks and antagonizes the majority. It isn't worth it. Rise with education, hard work, creativity and business acumen. There really is no other way.
Our minorities are not minor; they are an important part of India. In their success lies India's success. About time we focus on what would enable them to do so.
While many individual success stories exist, Muslims, the largest minority, are still well below the national average in terms of income, education and levels of influence in society. It isn't easy for Muslims to live in a society that discriminates against them. However, even many so-called 'keepers' of Muslim causes (the same ones who will attack me on this column) have done little for the community other than suggestions such as: "Never vote BJP, always vote Congress" .
Such over-simplification and politicization has done more harm than good. It pains me to see a talented community being represented by regressive, parochial and divisive leaders who frankly do not care about India or its youth, and therefore, don't care about the Muslim youth either. With the intent to get through to some positive thinking, open-minded people, I give some suggestions.
Take a leaf out of the book of other successful communities. The Jews in America, and the Parsis and Sikhs in India are examples of minorities that have done extremely well in their respective countries. Jews form less than 2% of American population, but dominate lists of Forbes billionaires, Nobel laureates, media moguls and Hollywood bigwigs. How did this happen? Several theories abound. However, some factors seem firmly in place.
Learning pays:
The greater the emphasis on education, the greater the likelihood that members of a community will be successful.
Assimilating with the majority community :
Assimilation does not mean abandoning one's culture, or bending to the majority. It simply means finding as much common ground as possible. It also means not heeding leaders who are encouraging people to vote along communal lines. Even if one ignores the right and wrong of communal voting, it's also not a productive strategy. Instead, Muslims need to put forth a checklist - a set of conditions - on what it would take for them to trust the BJP again. They mustn't only oppose the BJP. They must also entice them with support if their conditions are met. Keeping all political parties on their toes, and lobbying for your own cause is perfectly acceptable and even necessary. However, taking permanent sides is not. Please note, this doesn't mean Muslims should vote for the BJP. It just means they engage with it rather than shun it completely. There is another important point about assimilation. It can't happen without trust, and assuming the best in people. It is understandably difficult to trust when that trust has been broken in the past. However, successful minority communities have been able to do that and allowed the wounds to heal.
Politicians often scare minorities, making them believe the worst in people. It isn't a great way to live. Hope for, and spread as much goodness as possible in your lifetime.
Accepting liberal values and personal liberties:
Most minority communities that have done well have also represented the liberal cause. This helps increase influence in society for a simple reason: most intellectuals are liberal. The youth, too, is attracted to liberal values. If you have intellectuals and youth by your side, you already have a disproportionate influence compared to your actual population. Thus, the ultraconservative and orthodox interpretation of religion will not find as much traction as a modern, open-minded approach. Indian Muslims are more liberal than Muslims in many other Islamic countries . Such voices should be encouraged.
Encouraging merit:
As a shortcut to appease Muslims, too many politicians have been suggesting quotas and waivers for the community. What makes communities rise is their own internal talent and merit, not handouts. Reservations on offer are minuscule. However, it tags the community as in need of grace marks and antagonizes the majority. It isn't worth it. Rise with education, hard work, creativity and business acumen. There really is no other way.
Our minorities are not minor; they are an important part of India. In their success lies India's success. About time we focus on what would enable them to do so.
कतरनें अखबारों की
मोदी से सिरदर्द! इलाज है 'नमो बाम'
अहमदाबाद
बीजेपी के पीएम कैंडिडेट नरेंद्र मोदी की लोकप्रियता दूसरे दलों के नेताओं के लिए सिरदर्द की सबसे बड़ी वजह बन गई है। शायद यही वजह है कि मोदी ब्रैंड को भुनाने के लिए बनाए गए 'नमो बाम' की बिक्री की रफ्तार काफी तेज हो गई है।
'नमो बाम', नमो स्टोर के उन 20 नमो प्रॉडक्ट्स में से एक है, जिसकी बिक्री इतनी ज्यादा है कि वह आउट ऑफ स्टॉक हो गया है। 'नमो बाम' अदरक से बना एक आयुर्वेदिक बाम है, जिसे सिर और शरीद दर्द में राहत देने के लिए बनाया गया है।
नमो स्टोर के एक वॉलनटिअर प्रगनेंद्र ने बताया कि एक महीने के अंदर 'नमो बाम' की 10 हजार यूनिट बेची जा चुकी हैं। अभी भी 35 हजार यूनिट का ऑर्डर पेंडिंग पड़ा हुआ है। प्रगनेंद्र ने बताया कि 'नमो बाम' को 12 राज्यों में लॉन्च किया गया है।
हालांकि, 'नमो बाम' की तेजी से बढ़ती बिक्री के पीछे इसकी कीमत भी है। एक नमो बाम की कीमत 24 रुपए रखी गई, जबकि इसके जैसे दूसरे आयुर्वेदिक बाम की कीमत (करीब 30 से 35 रुपए) इससे ज्यादा है।
बाजार में हिट है मोदी ब्रैंड
बाजार में हिट है मोदी ब्रैंड
'नमो बाम' ही नहीं बल्कि मोदी ब्रैंड से जुड़े सारे प्रॉडक्ट्स बाजार में हिट हैं। 'नमो बाम' बनाने वाली कंपनी गोरान फ़ार्मासूटिकल है। स्टोर मैनेजर्स का कहना है कि चुनाव के बाद 'नमो बाम' को एक ब्रैंड के रूप में मेडिकल स्टोर के सहारे बेचने की तैयारी है।
इसके अलावा वडोदरा में एक हफ्ते पहले 'नमो टी' (नमो चाय) लॉन्च की गई है। मोदी ने अपने इलेक्शन कैंपेन में खुद को लगातार एक चाय वाला के तौर पर पेश किया है। ऐसे में कोई अचरज की बात नहीं होगी कि 'नमो टी' भी मार्केट में हिट हो जाए।
'नमो टी' के लिए चाय असम से मंगाई जा रही है और मोदी के समर्थक इसकी पैकिंग कर रहे हैं। नमो ब्रैंड के वॉलनटिअर्स का दावा है कि अबतक एक लाख किलो 'नमो टी' बेची जा चुकी है और 50 हजार किलो 'नमो टी' के ऑर्डर पेंडिंग हैं। अब 'नमो बाम' हो या 'नमो टी', भारत में दोनों ही सिर दर्द के मर्ज का इलाज माने जाते हैं।
नरेंद्र मोदी भारत के प्रधानमंत्री बनेंगे या नहीं, यह तो 16 मई को तय होगा, लेकिन यह जरूर है कि मोदी के नाम ने कई सारे ब्रैंड लॉन्च कर दिए हैं। इसकी एक और बानगी है हाफ-स्लीव वाला 'मोदी कुर्ता'। इसे भी एक लोकल गार्मेंट कंपनी ने लेबल ब्रैंड के रूप में रजिस्टर करा लिया है।
कतरनें अखबारों की
प्रियंकागांधी का अपने भाई की हिमायत में चुनावअभियान में उतारना भले हताश कांग्रेसियों में नै जान फूंक गया है लेकिन इससे उनके भाई राहुल गांधी को कुलमिलाकर कुछ फायदा भी हुआ है यह मान लेने से सहमत होना मुश्किल है। भले अपने नेहरू -गांधी परिवार को संसद भेजने वाले नगरों में कांग्रेस को कुछ फायदा हो जाए लेकिन अन्यत्र इसका बड़ा खामियाज़ा कांग्रेस को उठाना पड़ सकता है।
उनके चुनाव अभियान में उतरने से राहुल पहले से भी ज्यादा प्रभाहीन लगने लगे हैं। अभी हाल फिलाल उन्होंने अपनी एक चुनाव सभा में कहा था -यदि मोदी प्रधानमन्त्री बन गए तो बाईस हज़ार आदमी मारे जाएंगे। उनसे न सही उनका भाषण लिखने वाले से पूछा जाना चाहिए -२२ हज़ार ही क्यों कम या ज्यादा क्यों नहीं। कहाँ और क्यों मारे जाएंगे भैया राजा इस बारे में भी कुछ नहीं बतलाते। क्या ये आंकड़ा मुज़्ज़फरनगर में उनके द्वारा दिए गए उस वक्तव्य की तरह नहीं है कि वहां आईएसआई के एजेंट छिपे हुए हैं।
एक और मर्तबा ज़नाब ने बतलाया -गुजरात में २७ करोड़ नौजवान बे -रोज़गार हैं। उन्हें और उनके भाषण लिखने वाले को शायद नहीं मालूम इतनी आबादी तो देश के सबसे बड़े राज्य उत्तर प्रदेश और गुजरात की कुल मिलाकर भी नहीं हैं।ज़ाहिर है उनके भाषण लिखने वाले को ये भी शायद मालूम नहीं था कि गुजरात की कुल आबादी छ :करोड़ के आसपास है। राहुल गांधी ये बतलाएं कि वे २१ करोड़ की और आबादी कहाँ से ले आए ?और वह भी सारे युवा। वो अपनी गलती को बार बार दोहराते हैं इतना तो दूसरी कक्षा का बच्चा भी नहीं करता वह भी उत्तीर्ण होने पर पहली कक्षा के पाठ को भूल जाता।
बेहतर होता प्रियंका गांधी अपने भाई को थोड़ा सा इतिहास और भूगोल पढ़ा देतीं।
भारत की राजनीति को नेहरू -गांधी परिवार के प्रिज़्म से देखने की बजाय अभिव्यक्ति के कुछ सु -स्पस्ट आयाम रचतीं। फिलवक्त तो कांग्रेस का चुनावी अभियान बे -मेल ,अ -संगत और अ -सम्बद्ध है।
किस ब्रांड की मार्किटिंग की जाए इसे लेकर ही असमंजस है।
अप्रेल में चुनाव अभियान की शुरुआत में सवाल था -क्या मोदी प्रधानमन्त्री बन सकते हैं अब सवाल है मोदी को कैसे रोका जाए।
या तो आज आप मोदी के पक्ष में खड़े हैं या फिर असमंजस की स्थिति में हैं।
हाँ कांग्रेसियों को इतनी तसल्ली भाई बहन की ये जोड़ी ज़रूर दे सकती है नेहरू -गांधी की विरासत को ये जोड़ी कालशेष नहीं होने देगी।
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