Malnad Mehaboob, journalist and a writer, has brought out a booklet to create awareness among the Muslim community on incidents that lead to communal tension and ways to handle such situations, instead of getting carried away by negative influences.
The booklet, titled Komu Galabhegala Mayajala — andu handi indu antarjala, was released at a function organised by the Wakf Advisory Committee here on Saturday.
“A part of pig’s body thrown into a mosque is enough to create tension. Nowadays, communal elements use social media to disturb peace and trigger violence. There is a need to spread awareness among people not to pay attention to such issues,” said Mr. Mehaboob.
The booklet aims to convey to Muslim fraternity that they need not panic on seeing something objectionable lying on the mosque premises. “If you find something objectionable in the prayer hall, you should inform the police and help the police find the culprits behind such acts. The holy works of the religion say to clean the place, if desecrated, and offer prayers. There is no need to take the issue in any other way,” he said.
He wondered why a majority of Muslim men had limited the list of sinful (haram) things to just pigs. “Our holy books consider consumption of alcohol, having illicit relationship, amassing gold or developing attachment to money or wealth equally sinful. We are not bothered about other sinful acts professed by the religion,” he said.
In recent times, any objectionable photo or status on Facebook could create communal tension. Last year, in Pune, an IT employee was killed in a communal clash, which broke out following display of a photo opposing Shivaji and Bal Thackrey. “An innocent was killed in Pune following the facebook post. Whenever such instances happen, minorities suffer the most. Governments should deal sternly with people who create fake information with an ulterior motto to disturb social harmony,” he said.
Nawab Belur, poet, in his address after releasing the book, said that the greatest feature of India was its diversity. “Recent incidents are an assault on diversity. “I have no right to question the food habit of others nor anyone else has to right question my food habit. Incidents that are happening over food habit are disturbing. Several writers have returned their awards as a mark of protest against growing intolerance in society,” he said.
Wakf Advisory Committee chairman Pervez Pasha and others were present.
