What is the contribution of Indian Muslims in nation building?

Question

We are not talking about individual achievements. Tell something which the community has given to the nation.

Answer 1

This is a loaded question already assuming Muslims to be something different. Why? What is the contribution of Hindus for that matter? you can not single out a community or race like this. Their contribution is as much or as less than any other.

It is better than the social contribution is a community which have created a section of society which is considered equivalent of swine or dogs and thus found comfortable in converting to Muslim faith anyway !!

Answer 2

Why talk about a specific community ?? If India is what it is today it is because of contributions from all communities.And like in all communities, there are the good and the bad. To name some good Muslims that I can think of straight , Frontier Gandhi, Maulan Abdul Kalam Azad, APJ Abdul Kalam, Premji, Dilip Kumar etc

Answer 3

One should not divide the contribution castwise, religionwise. Each Indian contributed for independance.That time there was no muslim or Hindu. Only Indian fought for independance.

Answer 4

Many Muslims fought for freedom. They contributed for India's development. But a majority of them was kept in darkness by illiterate Mullahs and clerics for their selfish interest. Most of the Muslim children go to Madrassas and learn hatred towards other religions. Mullahs misinterpret Quaran and keep them backward.

Answer 5

In my view no need the contribution by the races or religions. every one must think we are an indian. this is enough for their contribution to the nation. there is no such % in their contribution. honest and sincere to the nation enough. jus think about our solidiers who suffers in himalaya snows. hindu muslim or christians don be a religion.. be an INDIAN its ok for our nation.

Answer 6

Trouble, Higher taxes ? a pile of rubble in lower Manhatten ?

Answer 7

good and bad. some of them ghan abdul gafar khan . and others give good efforts in freedom strugle. but muhammadali jinna help british impierialism and split the nation

Answer 8

Read this u will get the answer


The history of Muslims in India is co-terminus with the history of

Islam in the world. Every chapter of the history of last fifteen centuries bears witness to their remarkable contribution to the economic, cultural and political life of the country. The advent of Islam in India dates back to the period of the Prophet. Arab traders frequenting the coastal regions of this country brought his message. As their business acumen and fair trade practices had earned them a high reputation in Indian society, the message of Islam was received with respect among all classes. The rulers found the military prowess of the Arabs useful for the territorial expansion of their empires. The earliest Muslim communities of Malabar and Gujarat built trade relations with Europe, thereby adding to their economic prosperity. Their impact o­n religious thought is acknowledged by scholars who perceive the idea of tawheed as a possible catalyst to the revival of Vedanta philosophy by the legendary Shankaracharya. The Sultanate period has left behind legacies such as the Qutb Minar, the Grand Trunk Road and the network of serais which remind o­ne of the efforts to promote inter-regional trade and integration. The codification of law, institutionalised administration and regulation of food supply are also traced to this period. The dargahs of Moniuddin Chisti, Nizamuddin Aulia and Baba Farid are some of the reminders of how Muslim sufis spread the message of human equality and fraternity and won the hearts of all, cutting across religious boundaries.

The Moghuls carried forward the process of integration initiated and promoted by their predecessors to greater heights. After Ashoka and the great Guptas, they established a vast empire, which became the envy of the world in terms of power, prestige and prosperity. Shahjahan left behind world-renowned architectural wonders such as the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort and the Jama Masjid, which vie with the beauty of temple architecture of the earlier periods. Adding order to the beauty of nature is associated with Shahjahans predecessor Jahangir and later, the nawabs of Awadh. Akbar the Great Moghul not o­nly built a vast empire but also consecrated the noble tradition of tolerance with his policy of Sulh-e-Kul. The philosopher-prince Dara Shikoh enriched the tradition of eclecticism, which had its popular counterpart in the messages of the venerable sufis.

No less significant is the role played by Muslims in the freedom struggle and in evolving the ethos and concept of composite nationalism. The writings and efforts of personalities like Shah Waliullah, Maulana Mohd. Qasirn Nanotvi and Shah Ismail Shaheed represent the beginnings of the anti-colonial movement. Their spirit found glorious manifestation in Abul Kalam Azad, Mohmoodul Hasan, Ali Brothers, Hakim Ajmal Khan, Dr. M.A. Ansari and Maulana Abdul Bari of Firangi Mahal who provided vital support to Gandhis movement for building national unity o­n the principles of non-discrimination and social justice.

In this context, the contribution of Maulana Hussain Ahmad Madni is worthy of special note. His was the first effort at articulating the thesis that modern nationhood is determined by territory and not by religious faith. The idea was spelt out more clearly and precisely by Abul Kalaam Azad when he reconciled his duties as part of the Indian nation and a legatee of universal Islamic heritage. His approach has been a major factor in building a nationalism which seeks to advance human welfare.

Imperialist occupation of the country in the wake of the decline and fall of the Moghuls saw the Muslims standing shoulder to shoulder with their Hindu compatriots to regain freedom from alien rule. If Rani Laxmibais forces fought in Bundelkhand, Begum Hazrat Mahal led the uprising at Lucknow.

During the freedom struggle, if intellectuals like Abul Kalaam Azad and Hasrat Mohani set standards in intrepid patriotic journalism, poets like Josh Malihabadi and Qazi Nazrul Islam kindled and strengthened the spirit of patriotism.

The fortitude that the Indian Muslim community has shown in facing the blight of Partition is a great tribute to their patriotism. The Muslims of free India are here not just by accident of birth but by deliberate choice. They rightfully claim the inheritance of their contribution to the making of the Indian nation-state. No small is their contribution to the endeavours for national reconstruction in the wake of the unfortunate Partition. Today, they are in the forefront of political, social, economic and cultural life of the country.

The admirable performance of Rafi Ahmad Kidwai as Minister of Food and Supplies is a bright example of successful handling of the problem of food shortage. It was a staggering problem, persisting throughout the decade of forties which had witnessed the heart rending Bengal Famine. Kidwai made sure that no part of the country felt the pinch of shortage and prices remained within control. His other major contribution was gearing up the postal system. As Minister of Communications he upgraded the efficiency of the department to match world standards.

Educational and cultural institutions like the University Grants Commission, the Sahitya Academy, Lalit Kala Academy, Indian Council for Cultural Relations and National Book Trust are living witnesses to the contribution of Maulana Azad to the promotion of educational and cultural activities of the highest standard. In this, the Maulana appears not o­nly as a patriotic Indian but also as a true representative of Islam, which accords high priority to the acquisition of knowledge and wisdom.

The community has been in the forefront to make sacrifices of men and material whenever required to defend the country against foreign aggression. Brigadier Usman and Sergeant Abdul Hamid have inscribed their names among the heroes of defence forces and they are o­nly two among thousands of others. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalaam has distinguished himself by boosting self-reliance in defence research and production. He is among those few who have helped India emerge as a reckonable nuclear power.

Muslim contribution to governance of the country has been of a high order throughout. There have been two Presidents and three Vice Presidents of the Republic and three Chief Justices of the Supreme Court. While important central ministries like Home, Industry, Food & Agriculture, Railways, Communications and Education have been headed by members of the community, there have also been three state Chief Ministers. Important positions in the bureaucracy, like that of the Cabinet Secretary, Home Secretary, Finance Secretary and Foreign Secretary have also been held by Muslims. Special mention must be made of Muslim women in this field. Najma Heptullah has the distinction of being the longest serving chairperson of the Rajya Sabha and is currently heading the Inter Parliamentary Union. The first woman judge of the Supreme Court is also a Muslim lady, Fatima Bewee, while Anwara Taimur served as the Chief Minister of the state of Assam. No less distinguished services have been rendered in other fields. Dr. Zahur Qasims work in oceanography has extended the reach of India to the depths of oceans and planted its flag o­n the icy plains of the Arctic Ocean.

The contribution of Muslim players in sports is no less distinguished. To mention a few names, Nawab of Pataudi, Salim Durrani and Syed Kirmani have won honours in cricket whereas Zafar Iqbal, Inamur Rehman and Aslam Sher Khan have made their mark in hockey.

India is o­ne of the leading film-making countries in the world and there we have a whole lot of shining stars like Dilip Kumar, Shahrukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Salman Khan among the actors and K. Asif, Mehboob Khan and Feroze Khan among producers/directors. Among musicians, there are Naushad and A.R. Rehman while in classical music there are such distinguished Ustads as Alauddin Khan, Allah Rakha, Bismillah Khan and Amjad Ali Khan. Equally distinguished are the lyricists Sahir, Majrooh and Kaifi.

The outspokenness o­n political issues touching the community is a major reflection of the mood of the community which is steadily moving ahead to take its due place in national life. It has not o­nly updated its existing educational institutions but has also been able to launch a new o­ne, Jamia Hamdard, and an Urdu University which will not o­nly advance the cause of the Urdu language but also help the largely Urdu speaking Muslim community to equip itself with modern knowledge.

That the community is poised to take long strides in the field of modern technology is epitomized by the phenomenal success of Azeem Hashem Premji in the development of Indias Information Technology sector. Most significant is the improvement in the madarssa education which was thus far confined o­nly to traditional Islamic learning. Modern subjects of study, including information technology, are being introduced in the curriculum of these thus far tradition-bound institution

Answer 9

terror