Wednesday, September 13, 2006
27 December, 1996
The Editor
The Times of India FAX:262 0144 / 0401
Mumbai PHONE:2620271
Sir,
Apropos M. Yusuf Khan’s article: ‘Muslims must aim for higher than Quota’ (TOI, 27/12). Muslims should certainly aim for higher goals than reservations in few govt. jobs; but in these competitive times, more than ever, a bird in hand is hundred times better than two in the bushes. Muslims may do well to follow Israel’s strategies vis-à-vis Arabs. While Arabs wasted 5 decades fighting to regain Palestine, on all or nothing basis, Israel was grateful for even crumbs and gradually worked towards more and more, till today it has several times more land than it was granted in 1948. This, however, should not preclude them to scientifically plan for the future. In these modern times, as community survival and prosperity depends on more than one single factor, Muslims could work out a social budget, where weightage could be apportioned to various human endeavors ( say Education 40%, business and industry 40%, political struggle 20%) and resources should be marshaled and utilised in conformity with the national budget worked out by a national consensus. A national survey of communities, best suited culturally and/or temperamentally for different vocations, may be used to invite groups with special skills and experience to lead in their respective field of specialisation. Mr. Yusuf has correctly said, Muslims are too obsessed with the past. Their concern should be the future. Unfortunately, there is some substance to the conjecture that they are not allowed to forget their past, lest they monopolise the future.
#171
The Editor
The Times of India FAX:262 0144 / 0401
Mumbai PHONE:2620271
Sir,
Apropos M. Yusuf Khan’s article: ‘Muslims must aim for higher than Quota’ (TOI, 27/12). Muslims should certainly aim for higher goals than reservations in few govt. jobs; but in these competitive times, more than ever, a bird in hand is hundred times better than two in the bushes. Muslims may do well to follow Israel’s strategies vis-à-vis Arabs. While Arabs wasted 5 decades fighting to regain Palestine, on all or nothing basis, Israel was grateful for even crumbs and gradually worked towards more and more, till today it has several times more land than it was granted in 1948. This, however, should not preclude them to scientifically plan for the future. In these modern times, as community survival and prosperity depends on more than one single factor, Muslims could work out a social budget, where weightage could be apportioned to various human endeavors ( say Education 40%, business and industry 40%, political struggle 20%) and resources should be marshaled and utilised in conformity with the national budget worked out by a national consensus. A national survey of communities, best suited culturally and/or temperamentally for different vocations, may be used to invite groups with special skills and experience to lead in their respective field of specialisation. Mr. Yusuf has correctly said, Muslims are too obsessed with the past. Their concern should be the future. Unfortunately, there is some substance to the conjecture that they are not allowed to forget their past, lest they monopolise the future.
#171
