'Reservation is the right of Muslims'

says M.J. Akbar, urged the Muslims to stop begging the Government

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 09:01:05 PM, ummid.com Special Correspondent

Hyderabad: "Reservation is the right of Muslims. When other backward and under privileged sections of the society are being offered the Reservations, why not the Muslims?", M.J. Akbar Prominent Journalist & Columnist asked while delivering an extension lecture at Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) on February 15. The event was organised by University's Dept. of Mass Communication and Journalism.

Appreciating the west Bengal Government for declaring 10% Reservations for the Muslims he said, "Marxist Government has done its homework quite well on this front."

"If your logic & justification for Reservation is wrong then Judiciary will never allow it to be implemented. West Bengal Government has clearly defined the backwardness and removed the creamy layer from the purview of Reservations. If the Government is sincere and has strong will then only Reservations could be implemented", he said.

Stating that Muslims nowadays are not willing to accept the so called 'Soft Secularism' and urging them to come out of the fear psychology, he said, "The Muslims should fight for their rights and should stop begging for each and everything. If you vote out of fear then in return you will get fear only. You cannot expect development in return."

"India is perhaps the only country in the whole world were Muslims despite being in minority, can profoundly claim that they have reaped the fruits of Democracy uninterruptedly for the last 60 years", he said.

Speaking on the topic Urdu Media in 21^st Century: Challenges & Opportunities, he advised the young journalists to become the voice of downtrodden and the poor, he dwelled at length on different aspects of status of Urdu and Muslims in India, he advised the Muslims to stop begging the Government.

Describing Urdu as a sweet language which has the unique ability of mixing with any other language, he said Urdu was never an official language throughout its history. Yet it enjoys the popularity and the patronage of the masses even today.

In this regard he referred the Hindi Movies. Most of the popular songs and dialogues are written in Urdu only.

"Development and revival of the Indian Muslims will start only from the institutions like Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU)", he said, adding, "No political leader can ever usher a change which a professor or teacher could bring."

Meanwhile, while releasing the Lab Journal “IZHAR” M.J. Akbar heaped lavish praise about it. He was very much appreciative of the efforts of the M.A. MCJ students.

He said Journalism is just not about writing, it is in fact a process of communication where self-ego has to be set aside.

Akbar also responded to the questions raised by the audience at the end of the lecture.

Earlier, Ehtesham Ahmed Khan HoD welcomed the gathering. Prof. S.A. Wahab I/c Registrar proposed vote of thanks.

On the occasion Prof. Iqbal Ahmed amidst the applause of the audience, announced that MJ Akbar has agreed to become a visiting Professor for the MCJ Department.

It"will be an honour for the University and will benefit the students immensely", said Prof. Iqbal.

Later in the afternoon MJ Akbar interacted exclusively with the students of MCJ.  

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