Activist Sharjeel Imam is contesting election from Bahadur Ganj seat in Bihar Assembly elections. He is most likely to be released before the elections as already the judicial system has wasted 6 precious years of his life. And if we suppose the delay and denial continues in cases against him as it has been the norm for the people of minority, still his election is getting momentum required to win a seat in Bihar. It seems his popularity is accelerating his political campaign to reach the threshold that is needed for a good win. However the point here is, what will be real impacts of him winning an election, will he be able to change anything for Muslim community all across India, or will he be able to become the political voice for key issues of Muslims on national level. At this moment, the question remains unanswered, about what are the benefits of him entering into electoral politics. Anyways the support and momentum continues to pour in for the activist.
Lack of diverse Muslim voices
Considering a large Muslim population in India, the leaders and activists that are needed to guide the community is so few or almost none. If we leave few people like Owasi Sahab and some activist from Kashmir then there is rarely a prominent Muslim voice in any assembly pan India. The masses from Muslims are looking for solid leadership and guidance for their everyday problems and also for their long standing issues which has not been resolved yet. So Sharjeel entering in the political space will make India’s politics more dynamic and diverse from political point of view. He might be contesting election from one seat, but definitely he will not represent the people of his assembly only after winning, but will represent all the Muslim community everywhere. He might become the sane voice that Muslims needed desperately in India’s parliament. As more and more political attacks are being normalized everyday against the community, the fear of being overshadowed in politics and social space is growing. Every front and every political party currently leaving no opportunity to humiliate Muslims on national level. If at this point, there is no solid political intervention happens, from Muslim side to stop these attacks, maybe it will be too late. This is why young Muslims are looking with hope towards Imam.
Playing on Muslim identity
Sharjeel Imam is the only activist at this moment in India who talks about his identity first as a Muslim then his politics. If you are not promoting your right intentions as a Muslim first then your presence in the politics will not benefit to community in the long term. Secular voices or liberal voices from Muslim sides solve the short term problems and then they vanish somewhere but when you carry your Muslim identity with your politics, you are most likely to solve many issues that are causing headache to our community since long. Politics without connecting to your religious identity serves no propose at all. Even the Hindus who were secular at some point are now embracing their identity when they ask for votes, so Muslims also should not shy away from propagating their culture or identity and their idea of political upliftment with their political agenda.
Pros and cons of participating in democracy
When we talk about your Muslim identity then the first questions that comes to our mind is why go into democratic politics in the first place when Islam talks about the system of Khilafat. The answer to this question is Khilafat is the best model to establish justice in any political landscape, but in a country like India where Muslims are in a minority, it is not possible to establish Khilafat. And the risk is if you wait for Khilafat system or anything of that sort in India, you are most likely to miss the opportunity to raise the key concerns of Muslims at present moment. one can not wait for Khilafat while all the rights from Muslim community are being scrapped one by one. Not having a voice, gives us major political setbacks as a community than having a voice in Assemblies who raises our immediate issues.
The biggest setbacks Muslim community got after the freedom and partition was that we had no political voice. Moulana Abul Kalam Azad being a prominent voice was side-lined by Congress and he himself chose to not participate or contest for President of Congress in the year before independence, him losing his voice in a authoritative position, gave Muslims setbacks after setbacks, there were riots going on everywhere in India but Azad was unable to stop it. And those who were in key positions like Nehru, Gandhi, Patel did not care if riots continues or not against Muslims. Later on Gandhi tried to do some damage control by visiting some riots affected areas but it did not help Muslims largely. So not participating in electoral politics, is not the solution at this moment. Being in a position to serve is directly helpful to your community if you are an honest activist.
Challenging the system
When an activist like Imam comes in the politics without any backing from established national and regional parties, also without taking any fund from big businesses to run an election, then you set an example and a milestone in the history of independent and free elections. An unapologetic way to fight an election campaign and try to win it. His political journey is a befitting reply to hate filled Media campaigns that showed him in negative light 5 years ago when he was taken into custody. He is also challenging political groups, whether in ruling party or opposition that Muslim masses are aware people and they don’t fall into a campaign or tricks that shows real Muslim activists in bad light. His cases are revealing the flaws and imperfections in the judiciary of the country as well, that when it comes to a minority person, you can’t even decide a bail in 6 years.
Symbol of resistance
To contest an election is not that important than to make a statement about resistance that you are here and fighting. When someone is truly are a leader then they know that an election is not a driving force for them, rather the leader represent hundreds of thousands of under-represented people of your community, who sees hope through you. people who look up for justice through their activists. In the history of independent India, after the freedom struggle, the ruling elites ensured no political party, or no political group ever arises from Muslim side. Because if that happened then many who exploits the Muslim minds and Muslim votes would not have survived this long. This is the reason why no journalist, no such scholar and no activist were allowed to have freedom of speech like Sharjeel Imam. This is why a call for road-block becomes the reason for sedition.
This is why when you hear Sharjeel Imam for the first time in 2020 then your heads starts spinning that how’s these Muslims are so opinionated and speaks freely in the fearless manner. Also jailing activists and genius people from Muslim society has been the norm in Indian politics, so Sharjeel being behind bars for 6 years is not really surprising. The behaviour of Indian Judiciary is also not that unexpected if they did not give him bail, even after 6 years they failed to decide the fate of the case, let alone starting the trial. The speed of justice and lack of interest when it comes to minority is so evident in Judiciary. The Afzal Guru case is a stark reminder in this regard, when judiciary said in it’s decision that there is no criminal evidence against Afzal Guru were found but because the majority’s conscience needs to be satisfied so we give him punishment. If that is the norm then no one should keep any hope from Judicial system in Imam’s case and in the case of any other Muslim prisoner for that matter.
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