Spiritually Relevant

By Marya Shakil, "Security, the big poll issue for Delhi Muslims" - CNN-IBN - New Delhi, India
Monday, November 24, 2008

New Delhi: As Delhi prepares to elect a new Assembly, the big issue is going to be economy and security.

Muslims make up over 10 per cent of Delhi's population and some are amongst the oldest inhabitants of the city and during elections most political parties don secular colours to woe Muslim votes.

The last five years have seen the release of Justice (retired) Rajindar Sachar committee report on the state of Indian Muslims, blast in a Delhi mosque and a police encounter in a Muslim colony. And Muslims in Delhi are increasingly feeling targetted. With security on everyone's mind, what will Delhi's Muslims vote for this election?

Old Delhi, dominated by Muslims, has big havelis and has about markets where people still sell itr (home made perfume).

The 300-year old Anglo Arabic School, is the first proper school to be built in North India and it stands as a symbol of where many of the Muslims of Delhi have been left behind. Feroz Bakht, a school teacher and a well known heritage writer in the capital, is concerned about the rising rate of illiteracy in the community. There is lack of good and proper education among the Muslims. They go to Urdu medium schools and these schools have no playgrounds. Even the classrooms are like dungeons," says Bakht.

That's not the only issue prominent Muslims of Delhi hope will be addressed during the elections.

Writer Sadia Dehlvi, comes from one of the Capital's oldest families - the Dehlvis. Sadia lives in the upmarket Nizamuddin East. Though not predominantly Muslim, the colony lies close to sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin's Shrine.

Sadia visits the tomb often and every time she crosses Nizamuddin basti, she is appalled by the lack of civic amenities.

"There are open gutters and sewage lines right at the entrance of something that is so spiritually relevant even today (sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin's Shrine). People come for prayer and they should not be neglected," says Sadia.

Their bylanes and colonies may be neglected, but people living there have never felt more targetted.

Experts say after the Batla House encounter Delhi has been divided like never before.
Most students of Jamia Millia University located in Jamia Nagar which has a population of over 5 lakh say they feel insecure. "I feel scared thinking about the encounter. Security is certainly a big issue," says Israr, a student of Jamia.

Be it security, which seems to be the number one issue, or education and amenities, Delhi Muslims this time hope to take their ballot beyond the basic issue of identity.