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PM Modi in Time Magazine: From Person Of the Year to ‘Divider in Chief’

May 10, 2019

Time magazine has featured a story on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the cover of its May 20 edition with a controversial headline. The magazine has called PM Modi ‘Divider in Chief’. This headline can stir up controversy across India, where the seven-phased 2019 Lok Sabha elections are going on and voting for last 2 phases is remaining. It is worth mentioning that just two years ago Time magazine has termed Modi as “the Person Of the Year”.

The magazine has published the article of Aatish Taseer, who is a British journalist. He is the son of Indian journalist Tavleen Singh and late Pakistani businessman and Salmaan Taseer. Therefore, Aatish Taseer’s anti-Modi approach can be comprehended. According to the article India is “more divided than ever. Aatish Taseer has also mentioned Gujarat riots in 2002 when Modi was CM of the state. The article also covers mob lynchings in different parts of the country, the appointment of Yogi Adityanath as Uttar Pradesh’s chief minister, the inclusion of Pro-Hindu Swaminathan Gurumurthy in RBI Board, and the BJP’s recent decision to field Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur in Bhopal Parliamentary constituency. It mentions demonetization, too. It claims that it was Swaminathan Gurumurthy, who advised Modi for demonetization to fight black money. Aatish Taseer accused Modi of taking a whimsical decision in every field.

He has compared the former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s idea of secularism with the prevailing social stress under the rule of PM Modi. Aatish Taseer has said that PM Modi has demonstrated no desire to foster brotherly feelings between Hindus and Muslims. This article is based on the Hindu-Muslim relations and blames Modi for being pro-Hindu. He has raised the question that can the world’s largest democracy endure another five years of a Modi Government? It is remarkable that there is a possibility of coming back of Narendra Modi at the centre in ongoing general elections. Therefore, Aatish Taseer warns people of India to be prepared for consequences of PM Modi’s second tenure.

It is not the first time when the magazine has come with a critical article about Modi. In an article in 2012, the magazine described him as a controversial, ambitious and shrewd politician. Indian Prime Minister Modi had won the online reader’s poll for TIME Person of the Year in 2016, beating out other world leaders, artists and politicians as the most influential figure among people who voted. Every year, TIME selects the most influential person of the year, noting, for better or for worse, the person or group of people who have had the largest global impact over the past 12 months.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of AFTERNOON VOICE and AFTERNOON VOICE does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)

New Silk Road and expansionist agenda of China!

Rajesh Choudhary

May 10, 2019

In the ancient time, China was connected to the rest of the world through the Silk route which got its name from its biggest export silk. Today, China is looking to rebuild a route that will connect Asia, Africa, and Europe as New Silk Road. Under this plan “The One Belt One Road” was announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013. After this many projects have been launched in various countries like Pakistan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Kenya and Vietnam and these are financed by Chinese loans.

The One Belt One Road (OBOR) will include roads, railways, and ports to connect various countries in Asia, Africa and Europe. Its aim is to promote economic activities among member countries. China believes that one day every nation will have to join OBOR because it will be the largest business group in the world. However, countries like India, Japan, South Korea oppose it. India believes that in the name of the business and economic activity China will try to push its political agenda. China may interfere in Kashmir. China has already built a highway in disputed Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). India has lodged its objection in this regard.

On the other hand, China says that it has never wished to control any other country. Chinese say, “We feel in contacts between countries, we need to talk about studying benefits, studying mutual profit.” The expansionist agenda of China cannot be ruled out. Some Western diplomats, too, have been wary in their response to the proposed trade corridor, seeing it as a land grab designed to promote China’s influence globally.

China had held a conference centred around OBOR in Beijing. The representatives from 29 countries and international organisations were present in the conference, including the US, Russia and the IMF. India stayed away from it.

Opposing the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which runs through a part of Kashmir, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called the route a colonial enterprise” that threatens to strew debt and broken communities in its wake. He even boycotted the recent One Belt One Road summit in Beijing. No officials from Japan, South Korea or North Korea attended it.

According to the Belt and Road Action Plan, the initiative will encompass land routes (the “Belt”) and maritime routes (the “Road”) with the goal of improving trade relationships in the region primarily through infrastructure investments.

Beijing says that it will ultimately lend as much as $8 trillion for infrastructure in 68 countries. That adds up to as much as 65 per cent of the global population and a third of global GDP. Sixty-two countries could see investments of up to US$500 billion over the next five years. China’s vast industrial overcapacity – mainly in the creation of steel and heavy equipment – could find lucrative outlets along the New Silk Road, and this could allow Chinese manufacturing to swing towards higher-end industrial goods. There’s no doubt that China is growing into a geopolitical heavyweight. As some Western countries move backwards by erecting walls, China is contriving to build bridges, both literal and metaphorical.

Pakistan is one of the New Silk Road’s foremost supporters. Then Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif had said the trade route marked the dawn of a truly new era of intercontinental cooperation. Pakistan is poised to be benefited from $46 billion in new roads, bridges, wind farms, and other China-backed infrastructure projects. CPEC involves power plants, roads, and railways that will span the length of Pakistan and link China’s western region of Xinjiang to the Gwadar port.

Encouragement goes a long way

Moumita Mukherjee

May 10, 2019

Recently a viral wave caught my eyes and that is a Delhi mom praising her son for securing 60 per cent marks in CBSE Class 10 exams. Her social post attracted many likes and was massively shared; netizens were surprised and happy to see a mother who understands her son so well. While I was genuinely admiring the women, a parallel thought struck my mind and that is so many people being surprised and happy with her post suggests that those people are surrounded by so many parents who are poles opposite. That further brings a thought around those millions of students who are pressurised for higher exam marks beyond their comfort zones.

The past week was and the entire month of May will be all about board exam results. As per reports available, of the 17.6 lakh students who appeared in the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) Class 10 examinations, 91.1 per cent have passed. This is 4.4 percentage points higher than last year’s pass percentage of 86.7 per cent. Moreover, the news that caught the attention was that 13 students sharing the first rank, all scoring 499 marks out of 500, with eight of them from Uttar Pradesh schools.

Moreover, 12.05 lakh students appeared for the CBSE Class 12 examination, out of which 10.05 lakh have passed. The overall pass percentage is 83.4, compared to last year’s 83.01. Hansika Shukla and Karishma Arora, both from Uttar Pradesh, have topped the exam with 499 marks each and the trail continues.

New Delhi based Vandana Sufia Katoch is the virally applauded parent who has proudly shared the news of her son securing an average 60 per cent marks in his 10^th Board exam. The usual trend of parents sharing and showing off high scores made Vandana’s post an unusual and thus, a noticeable one. Her post was all about her son, Aamer’s struggle ‘with certain subjects almost to the point of giving up’. The post that was liked by 12,000 and was shared more than 6,000 times was filled with inspiring words. The mother addressed her son and others like him as the fishes who are asked to climb trees which against the course of nature. The proud mother has inspirited Aamer to follow his own course in the ‘big, wide ocean’ keeping his goodness, curiosity, and wisdom alive.

Has she been successful to teach us anything? My question is for every parent out there who found Vandana a ‘careless’ and ‘aimless’ mother and believed that ‘her easy-going attitude will lead her son to be a failure’!!!

Yes, all the quoted verses are from another parent, a father in my neighbourhood, with whom I had a casual chat on the results and the viral post of Vandana. I want to tell Mr. whatsoever, encouragement indeed goes a long way, and when it’s from your most near ones, parents, the ones with whom you feel the comfort, there’s no substitute. While it’s a proven reality that your child’s academic scores are not an indication of their potential, capability, and strengths, inflexible and harsh parenting won’t lend a hand to them either.

While education is considered the most critical responsibility to groom someone, educational institutions that impart knowledge to the students, stresses on their physical well-being, and prepare them for social challenges, fail to interpret the mental health issues.

The complicated emotion eco-systems of the children and young adults are fragile and easily troubled by depression, anxiety, insecurity, behavioural abnormality, and academic pressure holds a major part leading to these. Racial, sexual or religious discrimination, body-shaming, hormonal changes, family or financial problems too play a significant part in influencing the mental health of young adults.

Dear Parents, your love for your children is irreplaceable but don’t get me wrong, that’s not enough. Trust and mutual respect too are utmost necessary. Recognise your children’s individuality and let them free to use their intellect and practice their critical thinking capabilities. Guide them but don’t command your decisions in their every step. Let them run, let them fall, help them stand up and strong, and boost them to run again.

Another thought that I have heard much time from many parents — “We are investing so much for your education, and look at your performance! Waste of money!” Why is giving education being named as a favour? Let’s just be fair to both the sides now. In today’s costly market, a child’s education indeed requires a parent’s hard work and a big amount of money. However, that’s also the basic right of your children!

Educate your smaller ones and teach them to face life being independent, firm, smart, and strong. Putting the fire to only get a job and earn more money doesn’t seem to be fruitful. Wash off the idea of considering your children as a wealthy return scheme of your lifelong investment. Be proud of your children when they perform well in their life but in case if they fail to match your idea of performing well, remember there are many other ways to show your little ones how proud you are to have them.

It is survival of fittest in job market-Part I

C K Subramaniam

May 10, 2019

Foreign job market is on a tricky wicket as tighter norms in Western nations and slowdown in oil felled Gulf economies hit India and the job market shrinks for Indians internationally and it is a bad news. Job seekers from India are the highest as we see the huge queue in front of passport office and visa centres. Present day Indian Engineering graduates are looking for better prospects in US by doing MS to increase their career prospects.

The recent check on H-1B Visa and other restrictions put the job opportunities under constant threat and people already in job overseas are struggling a bit and they try for alternative in vain. Getting back to India with that much of high pay pack is a distant reality. Vanishing foreign jobs is a worry for the youngsters and Indians face a shrinking job market abroad. It is indeed tough time and it is the survival of the fittest in the job market. Competition is so fierce and it is a matter of time that the Indian shore will be full of seeking job locally in India. Cut throat competition is there in job market and the seniors will vie for top honours with juniors in a do or die approach.

Take for example sports of any form, art, culture, business and the office job all work for excellence and thereby wish to achieve laurels in one way or the other. The lesson is: It is important to stay ahead of other, even by just a couple of steps. As we have such a huge and naturally well endowed country. We wish to remember and curtail our production expenditure and give the best quality always and we will be miles ahead as compared to so many others in this world.

Times have changed and today High School students are getting internships. The truth is that even High school students today are racking up real-life work experience more aggressively than most college goers did at their age. Management education prepares students to work in teams, collaborate across cultures and increase efficiency with effectiveness. In the current economic slowdown, management institutes must offer value added courses beyond the normal management curriculum.

To work in a global market, students need to learn a foreign language at least. In the present economic scenario, organisations prefer hiring employees who can contribute to the business without having to spend much time on training them.

(This is the first part of the article and remaining portion will continue on Sunday)

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)

Letters to the Editor: May 10, 2019

Web Team

May 10, 2019

Wrong to turn Burqa controversy into a political debate!

India is a cosmopolitan country and religious sentiments of every section of society must be respected by all. A burqa is a traditional dress for Muslim women and nobody including the law should have any objections to it. However, today we are living in the world where security has become a threat and some portion of the face should be visible for identification purpose as many anti-social elements take advantage by getting dressed in the garb of a burqa to carry out blasts which need to be taken care of by the law.

The Muslim community is a part of our nationality and they should rather take the lead themselves by asking women from their fraternity to stitch burqas in a manner where the veil that covers the face is of a transparent material where the face is clearly visible for identification purpose. It is for their own safety and security of the country of which they are themselves a part of. Hope better sense prevails and controversy related to burqa is not turned into a political debate!

S.N. Kabra

Ban on ‘Burka’ and India

Sri Lankan President took a decision of imposing a ban on ‘Burka’ and ‘Niqab’ after a week of bomb blasts carried out in that country. The decision taken for the security of the country is welcomed. It is worth to mention that such a decision was taken just a week after the blasts; learning a lesson from the same. It is the duty of every citizen to calmly extend support to a decision taken by the government for national security. Such a decision should be taken even in India. It is difficult for our existing security agencies to check who is going where and for what purpose in this country with a population of more than 130 crores as the manpower is comparatively less for such population. It, therefore, becomes difficult to find out who is actually walking behind such ‘Burka’ or ‘Niqab’ and its purpose, despite police patrolling at public places. Indian government like Sri its Sri Lankan counterpart should take a similar decision so as to reduce tension on police machinery. Taking such a decision is necessary for India though no government has thought about the same, so far. India is facing problems like terrorists’ and Naxalite attacks, infiltration by Bangladeshi citizens etc; therefore, India should learn from a small country like Sri Lanka and take firm steps.

Shakuntala Baddi

Pakistan should handover Masood Azhar to India

It refers to grand diplomatic victory for India when ultimately it was successful in getting Masood Azhar declared global terrorist by UNO with now even China supporting the motion at UNO. India has a solid claim to ask Pakistan to hand over Masood Azhar not only because of so many proofs given by our country against Masood Azhar.

A renewed claim can now be made on the ground that he was forcibly released from India through hijack of IC-814 plane by making innocent passengers of flight as hostages for a bargain of the release of terror-machine Masood Azhar. Pakistan has no ground to reject such a demand from India because no one can deny his release from India under pressure of plane hijacking.

Subhash Chandra Agrawal

Clunkers cleared

It is notable that the scrapyard is cleared 322 clunkers got away in the first auction. It is a right step in the right direction to clear the vehicle debris piled near police stations. Old scooters and cars are parked on the main parking lot and occupy the slot as well as create a ruckus that may lead to pollution and spread the virus. Now it is high time society secretaries issue notices to the owners of the vehicles and remove them within a reasonable time and space is to be cleared of all debris. It is the right time to throw the old vehicles in the automobile market for a throwaway price as a scrap.

M.R. Jayanthy

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

Ayodhya case: SC extends time till August 15 for mediation process

Web Team

May 10, 2019

The Supreme Court on Friday extended till August 15 the time for a panel of mediators, headed by former apex court judge Justice F M I Kalifulla, to explore an amicable solution to the politically sensitive Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute at Ayodhya.

A five judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said that they have received the report from Justice Kalifulla in which the panel has sought extension of time till August 15 to complete mediation proceedings.

“If the mediators are optimistic about the result and are seeking time till August 15, what is the harm in granting time? This issue has been pending for years and years. Why should we not grant time,” the bench also comprising Justices S A Bobde, D Y Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S Abdul Nazeer told the counsel appearing for the parties. The counsel appearing for both the Hindu and Muslim parties expressed confidence over the ongoing mediation proceedings and said they are fully cooperating with the process.

Timeline of Ayodhya dispute:

*1528: Babri Masjid built by Mir Baqi, commander of Mughal emperor Babur.

*1885: Mahant Raghubir Das files plea in Faizabad district court seeking permission to build a canopy outside the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid structure. Court rejects plea.

*1949: Idols of Ram Lalla placed under a central dome outside the disputed structure.

*1950: Gopal Simla Visharad files suit in Faizabad district court for rights to worship the idols of Ram Lalla.

*1950: Paramahansa Ramachandra Das files suit for continuation of worship and keeping the idols.

*1959: Nirmohi Akhara files suit seeking possession of the site.

*1981: UP Sunni Central Waqf Board files suit for possession of the site.

*February 1, 1986: Local court orders the government to open the site for Hindu worshippers.

*August 14, 1989: Allahabad HC ordered maintenance of status quo in respect of the disputed structure.

*December 6, 1992: Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid structure demolished.

1993

*April 3: ‘Acquisition of Certain Area at Ayodhya Act’ passed for acquisition of land by Centre in the disputed area.

*1993: Various writ petitions, including one by Ismail Faruqui, filed at Allahabad HC challenging various aspects of the Act.

*October 24, 1994: SC says in the historic Ismail Faruqui case that a mosque was not integral to Islam.

*April 2002: HC begins hearing on determining who owns the disputed site.

2003

*March 13: SC says, in the Aslam alias Bhure case, no religious activity of any nature be allowed at the acquired land.

*March 14: SC says interim order passed should be operative till disposal of the civil suits in Allahabad HC to maintain communal harmony.

*September 30, 2010: HC, in a 2:1 majority, rules three-way division of disputed area between Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla.

*May 9, 2011: SC stays HC verdict on Ayodhya land dispute.

*February 26, 2016: Subramanian Swamy files plea in SC seeking construction of Ram Temple at the disputed site

2017

*March 21: CJI JS Khehar suggests out-of-court settlement among rival parties.

*August 7: SC constitutes three-judge bench to hear pleas challenging the 1994 verdict of the Allahabad HC.

*August 8: UP Shia Central Waqf Board tells SC mosque could be built in a Muslim-dominated area at a reasonable distance from the disputed site.

*September 11: SC directs Chief Justice of the Allahabad HC to nominate two additional district judges within ten days as observers to deal with the upkeep of the disputed site.

*November 20: UP Shia Central Waqf Board tells SC temple can be built in Ayodhya and mosque in Lucknow.

*December 1: Thirty-two civil rights activists file plea challenging the 2010 verdict of the Allahabad HC.

*December 5: The final hearings in the Ayodhya appeals begin before a Bench of Chief Justice of India (now retired) Dipak Misra, Justices Ashok Bhushan and S. Abdul Nazeer.

2018

*February 8, 2018: SC starts hearing the civil appeals.

*March 14: SC rejects all interim pleas, including Swamy’s, seeking to intervene as parties in the case.

*April 6: Rajeev Dhavan files plea in SC to refer the issue of reconsideration of the observations in its 1994 judgement to a larger bench.

*July 6: UP government tells SC some Muslim groups were trying to delay the hearing by seeking reconsideration of an observation in the 1994 verdict.

*July 20: SC reserves verdict.

*September 27: SC declines to refer the case to a five-judge Constitution bench. Case to be heard by a newly constituted three-judge bench on October 29.

*October 29: A three-judge Bench led by CJI Ranjan Gogoi order the dispute appeals will be listed in January 2019 before an appropriate Bench to fix a date for hearing.

2019

*January 4: A Two-judge CJI Bench again says an “appropriate Bench” will take up the appeals on January 10.

*January 8: SC notifies that a five-judge Bench led by the CJI and the next four future Chief Justices of India in line of seniority – Justices S.A. Bobde, N.V. Ramana, U.U. Lalit and D.Y. Chandrachud – will hear the Ayodhya title dispute appeals on January 10.

*January 10: The hearing remains a non-starter as Justice U.U. Lalit recuses himself from the Bench.

*January 29: Hearing deferred as Justice Bobde was on medical leave. Justices Ashok Bhushan and S. Abdul Nazeer are replaced with Justices N.V. Ramana and U.U. Lalit.

*February 20: A Supreme Court circular informs that the Ayodhya Bench will assemble on February 26.

*February 26: The Supreme Court proposes a court-monitored mediation process between the Hindu and Muslim parties litigating the Ayodhya dispute. Gives eight weeks for the Muslim appellants to examine the official translation of Ayodhya case records.

*March 8: The Bench sends the Ayodhya dispute for mediation. The mediators are former apex court judge, Justice F.M.I. Kalifulla, as Chairman, spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravishankar and senior advocate Sriram Panchu.

*May 10: SC extends time till August 15 for mediation process in Ayodhya dispute

Zakat — Life changing initiative by Muslims

Web Team

May 9, 2019

If you are doing a charity, make sure it reaches the proper destination. If it does not reach the proper destination, it may get misused. With the motto of making charity reach households, many organisations are making efforts in Mumbai and around the state. Instead of providing money directly, the organisations provide ration kit, household equipment, medical or educational assistance that can lead the beneficiary to do hard work and establish himself.

The holy Quran has categorised eight categories of people to give the Zakat. To be liable for Zakat, one’s wealth must amount to more than a threshold figure, termed the “Nisab”. Zakat can be given throughout the year, but Muslims generally donate it in Ramzan to get maximum reward for the hereafter.

Zakat is based on income and the value of all of one’s possessions. It is customarily 2.5 per cent (or 1/40) of a Muslim’s total savings and wealth above a minimum amount known as Nisab. If a Muslim pays Zakat separately, the amount may not be much. Whereas the organisations are making efforts to survey and get the families that are eligible to get the Zakat.

Shaikh Humayu, Secretary, Jamat-e-Islami Hind, Mumbai spoke to Afternoon Voice and described the process of providing Zakat to the needy. He said, “The Social Welfare Department of Muslim Organisation Jamat-E-Islami takes effort to do a survey and distribute the Zakat through proper channel. The survey takes place throughout the year and notes the names of families that require aid.”

The organisation Jamat-e-Islami conducts survey of all the poor households through volunteers. The volunteers do connect with the families that need assistance. They ask them to fill a form. The survey takes place throughout the year. They prepare a list. The list is being reviewed after almost every two to three years to update it. The awareness about donation is created through word of mouth publicity. Instead of giving funds, the Jamat try to offer them equipment or something that can play a key role in changing their lives. After collecting the funds, a meeting takes place and process of distribution of Zakat and donation starts through various channels.

Farooq Shaikh, transport businessman, who also handles Social Service department of Jamat-e-Islami Malwani said, “The work is purely for the upliftment of poor sections of the community. Shaikh said that he has been working for the cause since last many years and Jamat takes continuous effort to bring the poor families in light and help them to provide the aid.”

Shaikh Shabina, a beneficiary of Zakat and mother of three said that the aid has helped them get food. Shabina said, “My son is facing severe kidney issues. He is on dialysis. Earlier, my husband donated his one kidney and he is not working anywhere. My daughter is studying in tenth standard for which, the helping organisations pay a part of tuition fees. The ration kit and food being offered are of immense help.”

Some Insights

Organisations have been performing charity activities since last 20 years.

In Mumbai, the organisations have established centres in which hundreds of volunteers are working for charity.

The donation gets utilized for Community development, monthly ration distribution, special nutrition, ration and medical care for Tuberculosis patients and their families, blood donation camps, medical help and guidance, counselling centre to resolve family issues.

Proper records and bank accounts are being maintained and audit of donation and utilisation is undertaken every year.

The Jamat distributes pamphlets with the information of money being used.

By Nooruddin Inamdar

Proper utilisation of Zakat can bring change to Muslim community

Vaidehi Taman

May 9, 2019

In the era of greed and corruption, its custodians misuse even the religious funds, practices and beliefs. As one of the Five Pillars of Islam, Zakat is a religious obligation for all Muslims who meet the necessary criteria of wealth. It is a mandatory charitable contribution, often considered to be a tax. The payment and disputes on Zakat have played a major role in the history of Islam, notably during the Ridda wars. Zakat is the compulsory giving of a set proportion of one’s wealth to charity. It is regarded as a type of worship and of self-purification. Though Zakat is the third Pillar of Islam, some have gone to every extent of misusing the funds for various reasons by not only betraying the faith they follow but also disobey the rules of Islam. Zakat does not refer to charitable gifts given out of kindness or generosity, but to the systematic giving of 2.5 per cent of one’s wealth each year to benefit the poor. Helping a person acknowledge that everything comes from God on loan and that we do not really own anything ourselves, and since we cannot take anything with us when we die, we need not cling to it. Acknowledging that whether we are rich or poor is God’s choice and we should help those he has chosen to make poor. Maybe this is one way of learning self-discipline, freeing oneself from the love of possessions and greed. The 2.5 per cent rate only applies to cash, gold and silver, and commercial items. There are other rates for farm and mining produce, and for animals.

Well! For Muslims around the world, the month of Ramadan is a time of deep reflection, sacrifice, and joyous family gatherings. There are some striking commonalities between the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and Zakat. In the Islamic faith, five foundational goals – known as Maqasid al-Sharia – include the protection of faith, life, progeny, intellect and wealth. Much of the SDGs – goals to alleviate poverty and hunger, improve health, education and access to water and sanitation, reduce inequality and protect the environment – are reflected in these Islamic values. Every year affluent Muslims from across the world fulfill their duty of paying Zakat. Several Million Dollars are collected and send to various regions, but even then why there is no improvement in the lives of orphans, widows, suffering, needy, deprived, miserable and poor Muslims? Why are they not getting any relief? Only one reason, the majority of the organisations and most of clerics (Maulvis/Muftis) that are collecting Zakat-Fund are not dividing it into beneficiaries. Instead of hoarding funds for Masjids (Mosques) and Madarsas, they should first take care of needy poor and suffering. Zakat, Fitrah, Sadqah and Alms should only be distributed to orphans, widows, suffering, needy, deprived, miserable and poor Muslims. In India, Muslims are still under-privileged and jobless and that is the main reason they are getting attracted to crime? There are hundreds of incidents such as these done in the disguise of Islam. There should be transparency and mechanism to monitor and evaluate the Zakat funds of mosques and ensure it’s not a mere ritual but a dynamic act of worship in a complete way of life (deen) setting an example for other communities.

To control the corruption, elders of the Muslim community have proposed direct Zakat for the needy and those who are in need of higher education. The Young Reformers Forum, along with Reformers Front of India, has started the “Direct Zakat Movement”. They are holding sessions in masjids and community halls in the small colonies of Hyderabad. Senior family members are being counseled to directly help people rather than donating money to educational and charitable institutions. These institutions are spending that amount of the glorification and infrastructure of the organisation but now to needy students. In Mumbai too, the community is on high alert, they have set up a monitoring team who will make the institutions accountable for each spending of Zakat money. They are trying to tell people to identify those who are in need and help them directly. They can pay their school or college fees or buy books, clothes or other teaching material and hand those over to them. The direct connect is important as it gives surety that the money has been properly utilised. Otherwise, within a few months, an instance of misuse of money comes to the surface.

There has been no recent study to calculate the money that is collected as Zakat across the country. If you see the per capita income of Muslim families in the NSSO (National Sample Survey Office) data and do a calculation, the estimate of charity is too high. There is no transparency because most transactions are in cash. The problem was not only about transparency, but the way the charity is collected and distributed. The system is such that there is no organised way to calculate how much money is collected. In fact, there is a need for such a study; it is in the interest of Muslims. There is mismanagement and donors and the agencies that collect charity do not reveal the true figures because there is a lot of black money. There is also no agreement on how the donations are being spent. A large part of the charity goes to religious institutions. According to tradition, the first priority is the family; then the relatives. After these two categories, the donations go mostly to madrassas and mosques. However, these days, it’s happening otherwise. Earlier people gave Zakat unmindful of what it is used for. There is a change in the mindset now and people want to donate for education and healthcare. With this approach, one can bring change in the Muslim community.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)

81 % juices sold on roadsides unfit for consumption: BMC

Web Team

May 9, 2019

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has put a block on those who are opting any random option to quench their thirst during the scorching summer as the BMC has termed 81 per cent of roadside juices and drinks as ‘Unsafe for human consumption’. The health department had inspected samples from stalls selling lemonade, sugarcane juice and ice pops and found that the samples of over 750 samples are not drinkable and have warned the consumer of these drinks of waterborne disease.

The action is seen as the follow up of a ban on juice stalls by Indian Railways in its jurisdiction. The Indian Railways had taken the action after a video getting viral in March about the preparation of such juices in ‘Unhygienic Way’.

Stats and Figure

In April – The Health Department of BMC had conducted a survey throughout the city

Out of 968 samples, the BMC found 786 samples (81.1 per cent) were Unsafe for Drinking

The BMC has decided to take strict action against the vendors that are found with samples

The BMC has warned the consumers of such juices of getting affected by water-borne diseases

When asked what process BMC is following to take action against the same and is BMC maintaining any quality check sessions of food item to avoid ‘Putting the health of people in Danger,’ the officer of Department of Health maintained that, “The civic officials have been regularly inspecting roadside stalls and destroying such contaminated drinks. We don’t want to take any chance with people’s health.” The officer appealed to people not to consume such juices being sold on roadside stalls.

Significance of Ramadan

Vinod Dixit

May 9, 2019

Ramadan – for Muslims, the month-long celebration which commemorates Allah, the Arabic name for God, giving the first verses of the Quran, the Muslim holy book, to the Prophet Muhammad in the year 610 A.D. The date of Ramadan varies each year and is determined by the cycles of the moon. Ramadan is the ninth month of the lunar Islamic calendar, and it officially begins the morning after the crescent moon is visible to the naked eye. For the world’s 1.8 billion Muslims, including Britain’s 3.1 million-strong Muslim community, the annual event represents a time to fast and devote a particular focus to prayer, purification, and charitable acts. This year Ramadan has begun at sunset on Sunday, May 5 and will last through sundown on Tuesday, June 4. The Arabic greeting is “Ramadan Mubarak,” which means “Happy Ramadan,” or “Have a blessed Ramadan.” Another is “Ramadan Kareem,” which means “Have a generous Ramadan.” During the Fast of Ramadan strict restraints are placed on the daily lives of Muslims. They are not allowed to eat or drink during daylight hours. Smoking and sexual relations are also forbidden during fasting. At the end of the day, the fast is broken with prayer and a meal called the iftar. In the evening following the iftar, it is customary for Muslims to go out visiting family and friends. The fast is resumed the next morning.

It is said that the Five Pillars of Islam are the framework of Islamic life. First – Shahada, A Muslim must have faith in Allah and believe that there is only one Allah and Muhammad is his messenger. Next Salat- A Muslim has the duty to pray five times each day, which is considered to be a direct link between him and Allah. Third – Zakat, A Muslim must distribute alms and help the needy. Fourth, Sawan – A Muslim is responsible to keep the fast of Ramadan. Lastly Hajj, A Muslim is obligated to make a pilgrimage to Mecca in his lifetime.

The observance of Ramadan is very personal and individual and is a time for “sacrifice and renunciation as well as a period of reflection and spiritual growth. Fasting is a spiritual practice that makes you closer to God/Allah. Fasting is more than remaining hungry and thirsty for the sake of Allah. Keeping a fast is an integral part of Indian culture and tradition. It basically connotes willingly abstaining oneself from eating certain or any kind of food, drink or both. Fasting is an exercise in self-restraint. It’s seen as a way to physically and spiritually detoxify by kicking impulses like morning coffee, smoking and midday snacking. In Ramadan people are more generous and give from their pockets and hearts to those less fortunate. There is an aura of love and compassion surrounding every individual as the self-centeredness is refocused to those around them. Materialism is about getting rather than giving.

The motivation should be centred on God/Allah and a relationship with Him, not on our body or our relationship to others. The word ‘Ramzan’ is Persian, against ‘Ramadan’ which has Arab roots. It comes from ‘ramad’, denoting an object intensely heated by the sun. Linguistic scholars say this holy month was named Ramadan because it “burns the sins of the faithful”. Ramadan is a time to detach from worldly pleasures and focus on one’s prayers. The spiritual significance of fasting is being forgotten today as man is losing contact with his inner being. Nevertheless, the science of fasting, as preserved in the Vedas, Shastras, and Quran, is a method of purification which can aid man in his mundane and spiritual life. Prophet Muhammad said: “When one of you is fasting, he should abstain from indecent acts and unnecessary talk, and if someone begins an obscene conversation or tries to pick an argument, he should simply tell him, ‘I am fasting.” Fasting is a way to demonstrate to God/Allah and to ourselves that we are serious about our relationship with Him. At the same time, fasting without the right attitude does not touch the heart of God/Allah. There is no doubt that Ramadan allows all Muslims to gain Self Discipline, Concentrate on things that are most important in Life, worship Allah and become closer to Him, have a great change in their diet, and the most important is gain mindfulness.

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

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