On seeing the bearded Maulana's figure with head covered with a white topi, the child simply exclaimed: 'There goes bin-Laden.' But despite such perception, emotionally hurtful in the extreme, the Maulana said every time he came back from abroad, he felt from the core of his heart that India remains 'the best country for Muslims.' Discrimination and injustice is not merely against Muslims, but is so against other sections of the society too. And he recalled his interaction with former Pakistani president Musharraf, whom he told that the 'Indian Muslims do not need your help or advice. Clear your own house first.'

Madni Sahib advised a fellow Muslim from the floor who had suffered discrimination at the hands of a passport control officer at an airport on arrival in India not to lose sight of the fact that India remains 'the best country for Muslims' despite the odd provocation.

To a question about his identity whether he was a Muslim first or an Indian first, Madni Sahib replied: 'My Hindustani and Muslim identities are like my two eyes. Which eye can I destroy? I am just a Hindustani Muslim,' part of the Mushtarq or composite culture of India.

Bringing the European experience to the Indian subcontinent, Baroness Emma Nicholson of Britain recalled her report on Kashmir in the European Parliament which underlines the 'common heritage shared by India and Pakistan, exemplified in the ancient culture of Jammu and Kashmir; (which) recognises and values the pluralism, multiculturalism and multi-faith nature and secular traditions of the peoples of Jammu and Kashmir, which have been kept alive.'

'Those who think that they are the absolute owners of the truth are the founders of the heaviest block against dialogue,' she pointed out.

The emergence of a new Europe after the Second World War was made possible only through debate and dialogue. While each side in any conflict has the right to be different, it has also the duty to make it a 'whole and complete', said the Baroness.

Illustrating the Mushtarq or composite culture theme through the world of poetry from Amir Khusro to Wali Gujrat, Mirza Ghalib and Imam-i-Hind Allama Iqbal, Professor Ali Ahmed Fatmi of Allahabad University chose Firaq Gorakhpuri's words: Kafiley aatey gaye, Hindustan banta gaya (Hindustan flourished as travellers pour in).

Dr Ajai Sahni, the last speaker of the first session, gave his strategic view of India's place not just vis-à-vis its neighbours like Pakistan but in the global context. 'If India fails against terrorism, the whole world will fail.' He called for a credible and effective response to the barbarians who are threatening our society and civilisation and plainly questioned the wisdom of continuing the dialogue with Pakistan, the 'enabler of terrorism'.

Presiding over the pre-lunch session, Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Milia University, Mr. Najeeb Jung questioned the very term of 'Islamic terrorism' and held the West and CIA squarely responsible for finding an enemy in Afghans, who are not Taliban. The search for an 'enemy' has long existed in history from the time of the French revolutionaries to yesterday's Marxists and today's Naxals, he reminded.

Veteran journalist and Loksatta Editor Kumar Ketkar, who presided over the second half of the composite culture day at the Taj, feared that the message of peace in Indo-Pak affairs or the light at the end of the Indo-Pak tunnel looked more that of a fast train running towards a head-on collision rather than a signal of peace.

He saw terrorism not just an Indo-Pak problem but that of the wider world. He also saw it not just today's problem but one that has a large footprint from the past. Terrorism does not happen suddenly. There is always a conspiracy behind it. Political conspiracy is just one element of it; there is the narco-terrorism and mafia terrorism besides the distortions introduced by the media.

Shabana Azmi, film actor and victim of media distortions, gave a forceful answer to those who questioned her identity as a Muslim and an Indian. Answering a questioner who brought up the old controversy about her alleged remark on being unable to rent a house in Mumbai because of her being a Muslim, she once again clarified that the operative part of her remarks on discrimination had been edited out by the television channel and repeated by some newspapers. She had not said that she had been refused accommodation in a Hindu locality because of her religion. Her Muslim identity was only one part of her total identity which includes her identity as a woman, film actor, parliamentarian, social activist, and a Hindustani, she said.

Her anguished clarification drew fervent support from Editor Kumar Ketkar who branded parts of the media as a 'monster' colluding with certain political forces and mafia magnates against progressive personalities and ideas.
Islamic commentator and editor of New Age Islam website Sultan Shahin called for soul-searching and introspection by the Muslim community both in India and abroad to counter terrorism and notions of narrow Islamic superiority and separatism.

From the chair Kumar Ketkar once again intervened to add that not just Muslims, but Hindus and all of us including foreign powers like the U.S. and Israel, equally needed to introspect if a peaceful world is to be achieved.
The day-long event at the Taj also witnessed a touching remembrance of Mumbai's two heroes  Police chief Vijay Salaskar and Taj Hotel general manager Karam Bir Singh Kang, who lost his family in the line of duty during 26/11. Mementos were presented in their honour to Mrs. Sunita Salaskar for her husband's sacrifice and to a Taj representative on behalf of Mr. Kang.

. top