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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Educated Muslims being hounded: Owaisi

Mumbai: AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi has flayed what he termed as a ‘media trial’ in the alleged TCS Nashik conversion case and claimed that educated Muslims youth are being deliberately targeted as part of planned ‘hate campaign’, here on Saturday. Reiterating full faith in the judicial process, Owaisi said that justice cannot be handed out through media narratives or television debates and the law must be allowed to take its own course. “We are seeing a very dangerous trend… Now,...

Educated Muslims being hounded: Owaisi

Mumbai: AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi has flayed what he termed as a ‘media trial’ in the alleged TCS Nashik conversion case and claimed that educated Muslims youth are being deliberately targeted as part of planned ‘hate campaign’, here on Saturday. Reiterating full faith in the judicial process, Owaisi said that justice cannot be handed out through media narratives or television debates and the law must be allowed to take its own course. “We are seeing a very dangerous trend… Now, educated Muslims are being picked out for orchestrated allegations and media campaigns. This doesn’t augur well for society and justice itself with the media playing the role of the judge and jury,” said Owaisi sharply. Flanked by the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen state President Imtiaz Jaleel, Owaisi also emphatically said that it was wrong to link his party with the TCS case prime accused Nida Khan, “who will be ultimately proven innocent in the courts”. He expressed concerns over the slur campaign driven by malice and political motives against his party as well as Nida Khan in some sections of the media even before the investigations were completed or a judicial scrutiny. “Merely because some allegations have been hurled at a young woman professional, attempts are being made to paint her ‘guilty’ through media trials, even before judicial scrutiny. But, we have complete faith in the judiciary and are confident that the court will eventually exonerate her,” asserted Owaisi. Public Discourse Raising questions on the probe and accompanying public discourse with stress on the alleged recovery of certain ‘evidence’ from Nida Khan’s home, he sharply questioned: “Since when have a burqa, a niqab or religious literature become objectionable… Is wearing a hijab now regarded as evidence of a crime?” He said that these details along with baseless allegations are sensationalism in the media to create further prejudice against the minority community and reflected a deep-rooted hostility aimed at harassing educated Muslim men and women. Owaisi pointed out that a complaint in the TCS Nashik case was filed by a leader linked with the ruling party, and as per the software giant’s statement, Nida Khan was not with its HR Department and transferred even before the controversy erupted, contradicting several media reports. Of the nine cases lodged in the matter till date, in one case, she was accused of hurting religious sentiments, but nobody can comment on it before the court pronounces its verdict, he pointed out. Court Fight Dismissing attempts to drag and link the AIMIM into the row, he referred to a party Municipal Corporator Matin Patel who was booked merely on the basis of certain allegations and vowed to contest the matter in the court. Here Owaisi cited multiple examples of educated Muslims being scrutinised – including in Delhi when some educated youths were arrested for possessing a book by the legendary Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib and they were later released. There was another one from Allahabad where some Muslim boys were targeted for writing an Urdu ‘sher’ (couplet) prompting judicial intervention, and predicted that even in the Nashik TCS case, the truth will ultimately prevail as no criminal charges against Nida Khan may stand. AIMIM to set up voter help-desks AIMIM President and Hyderabad MP, Asaduddin Owaisi said his party is developing a digital application containing electoral records of all 288 Assembly constituencies in Maharashtra for 2002-2024, to help voters in the SIR process. For this, the AIMIM will set up help desk centers in its strongholds to facilitate the process and ensure proper utilisation of voter data. Alleging discrepancies in electoral records, he said such errors create huge problems for the voters, especially the poor or illiterates. Owaisi mentioned how of the nearly 27 lakh names placed in the adjudication list in West Bengal, “90 pc were poor Muslims.” These centers would be open for all Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, Dalits, Adivasis and the general public needing assistance with the electoral records.

A Compass for Social Reform

Mahatma Basweshwar, the 12th century philosopher and social reformer, articulated a vision of society grounded in equality, dignity of labor, rational devotion and service to humanity. He was the prime minister who preferred pavement; he was the voice of the voiceless. His timeless wisdom is needed today to reshape the modern India. His principles of Kayaka (work as worship) and Dasoha (sharing and service) remain profoundly relevant in addressing contemporary challenges such as economic inequality, social discrimination, technological disruption, environmental crises and mental health concerns. This study examines the applicability of Basweshwar’s thoughts to present-day problems, situating his philosophy within global discourses on ethics, sustainability and artificial intelligence (AI). His Vachanas are verses of revolution and we should go beyond mere statue and should live the legacy of his rich thought to tackle modern evils and problems.


Mahatma Basweshwar’s philosophy, though rooted in medieval India, offers timeless guidance. His rejection of caste hierarchies, emphasis on rationality and devotion through action provide a framework for building inclusive, ethical and sustainable societies. This study explores how Basweshwar’s thoughts can serve as solutions to modern problems. Scholarly interpretations of Basweshwar highlight his pioneering role in social justice and rational spirituality. The Anubhava Mantapa, established under his leadership, is often described as the world’s first democratic forum, embodying ideals of participatory governance and egalitarian dialogue. In this context, this study seeks to bridge that gap between modern day problems with ancient wisdom. In fact, there is dire need of Mahatma Basweshwar’s Philosophy in Addressing Modern Challenges.


Thoughts and Problems

Basweshwar’s thoughts on education, war and peace emphasize equality, dignity and dialogue. He envisioned education as a tool for liberation, rejected violence and exploitation and promoted peace through spiritual democracy and collective discourse. These principles remain highly relevant in addressing modern conflicts and nation building.


Basweshwar on Education

Anubhava Mantapa: Established as the world’s first democratic academy, where men and women of all castes could freely discuss philosophy, ethics and social issues.

Education for All: He rejected caste-based restrictions, promoting universal access to knowledge.

Practical Learning: Emphasized vocational skills (Kayaka) alongside spiritual and moral education. He used Kannada Vachanas instead of Sanskrit, making education accessible to common people.

Modern Relevance:

Promotes inclusive classrooms, skill-based learning, and vernacular education.

Counters elitism in education by valuing practical knowledge and dignity of labor.

Basweshwara on War:-

Rejection of Violence: He opposed wars rooted in greed, caste supremacy, or ritual orthodoxy.

Critique of Exploitation: Saw war as a product of inequality and selfishness.

Spiritual Resistance: Advocated reform through dialogue, poetry and collective action rather than armed conflict.

Modern Relevance:

Encourages nonviolent resistance against oppression.

Provides ethical grounding for peace movements and critiques of militarism.

Basweshwara on Peace:-

Equality as Peace: True peace arises when caste, gender, and class barriers are dismantled.

Dasoha (Sharing & Service): Promotes social harmony through resource sharing and community welfare.

Dialogue & Democracy: The Anubhava Mantapa embodied peaceful resolution of disputes through open discussion.

Spiritual Democracy: Peace is sustained when all beings are treated with dignity and respect.

Basweshwara on Work (Kayaka):-

Work as Worship: He declared that honest labor is sacred, rejecting idleness and exploitation.

Dignity of All Professions: No work is inferior; every occupation contributes to society.

Self-Reliance: Encouraged individuals to earn through their own effort rather than dependence or exploitation.


Integration with Education: Practical skills and vocational training were seen as essential parts of learning.

 

Modern Relevance

Counters unemployment and underemployment by valuing skill-based education.

Inspires entrepreneurship and dignity for manual labor.

Provides ethical grounding for sustainable work practices in today’s economy.


His vision challenges modern inequalities in access to quality education. His rejection of violence resonates in an era of global conflicts and terrorism. His emphasis on equality and dialogue provides a timeless model for building harmonious societies. Basweshwar’s philosophy provides a moral compass for navigating modern challenges. By integrating his principles into policy, education and technology, societies can balance innovation with compassion ensuring that progress uplifts humanity rather than intensify inequality.


Mahatma Basweshwar’s thoughts are not relics of the past but living principles capable of solving present-day problems. His vision of dignity in labor, equality, rational devotion and service offers practical and ethical solutions to economic inequality, social discrimination, technological disruption, and environmental crises. In the era of AI, his philosophy reminds us that true progress lies not in technological advancement alone, but in ensuring that such progress is human-centered, inclusive and compassionate. Mahatma Basweshwar’s philosophy, centered on equality, dignity of labor and devotion through action offers profound relevance in the AI era, where ethical use of technology, inclusivity and human-centered values are critical. His principles of Kayaka (work as worship) and Dasoha (sharing and service) can guide AI development toward social justice and collective well-being. In brief, Mahatma Basweshwar’s thoughts provide a moral compass for the AI era - urging us to design technology that uplifts humanity, honors labor and fosters equality.


(The writer is Head & Assistant Professor in English at Mahatma Basweshwar College, Latur. Views personal.) 

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