Only one out of every six Muslim children entering an Indian school stays till his matriculation. I use “his” deliberately; the figures are worse for girls—only two out of five Muslim girls enter schools, and fewer than one-tenth complete secondary education.

These stark dropout rates explain the malaise affecting Indian Muslims, and unless that’s addressed, all other solutions are ineffective.

Such low enrolment figures and high dropout rates mean that only one of 25 undergraduate students, and barely one out of 50 postgraduate students in Indian universities, is a Muslim. India defines literacy rather generously, and yet Muslim literacy rate is only 59.1%. According to the Rajinder Sachar committee’s report in 2006, Muslim enrolment at the Indian Institutes of Management was 1.3%, and at the Indian Institutes of Technology, out of 27,161 students, only 894, or some 3.3%, were Muslim.

The consequence? Inevitably restricted professional opportunities. Just about 5% of applicants for the civil service examinations are Muslim, and of the elite bureaucracy, only 3% of Indian Administrative Services, 1.8% of the Indian Foreign Service, and 4% of the Indian Police Service, are Muslim. The figures improve marginally in other government departments, but only just. Muslims form 4.5% of employees in the railways, and an astonishing 98.7% of them are employed at lower levels. In other departments, such as education, health, and transport, representation varies between 4% and 7% of the total number of employees.

Lacking education and skills, many Muslim men and women find it hard to get jobs, and many end up being self-employed. While 44% of Muslim women are economically active (in itself a low figure) only 25% work outside their homes. Many men work in small businesses. Such jobs typically have minimal protection—no unions, poor work conditions, limited probability of training or advancement and low wages.

Even if they become entrepreneurs, credit may be hard to access without paper qualifications. Figures bear that out: the loans that average Muslim borrowers get are smaller than the loans others get. Furthermore, between 2000 and 2006, of the Rs. 266 billion that the Small Industries Development Bank of India disbursed, Muslims received only Rs. 1.24 billion…

And what does the government do? It “promises” to keep madrassas outside the purview of the RTE Act, thus making sure that there is no move to reform and formalise madrassa education . As the report (in the link notes):

Almost 90% of underprivileged Muslim children attend madrassas. However, devoid of a modern curriculum, madrassas are unable to equip these students for the contemporary job market.  This in turn limits their economic opportunities. By bringing madrassas under the provisions of the RTE Act, the Islamic seminaries will be forced to submit to universal standards and modernise.

..and goes on to promise them additional money from the coffers. Sometimes I wonder, where is the enlightened Muslim leadership? Why does it remain silent? Do Muslims not realize that these moves are leading to further ghettoization, further alienation and widening of the chasm between a rapidly modernizing society and the Muslim community? and worse – fueling further resentment among non-Muslims?

P.S. Some of you may have noticed I put “backwardness” with quotes in the title. The reason is that there is scant data to support such “backwardness” – although it is increasingly taken as a “given” in any discourse on development. The reason for my doubt/scepticism is here.  Comment and thoughts welcome, as always..

Related Post: Literacy rates and “first claims”… UPDATED

More on Sachar, OBCs, reservations etc… and Communal Reservations via the back door?

I don’t know how this man Narayana Murthy gets the audacity to lecture to others about doing something.

For nine years now I have been trying to get him (or Nandan Nilikani) interested in CITIZENSHIP – namely, in the process of active participation in the affairs of their nation. Numerous email communications I’ve had with both of them ..I even met both of them. They pretend to be “supportive” of the ideas I advocate but then do nothing.

One of them even asked me to consider joining an existing party to which I responded that I have something valuable: self-respect. Something they don’t seem to either have or understand. Their “honesty” means nothing if it doesn’t translate into self-respect.

…Unfortunately (for India and for their own reputation), they don’t seem to notice any discrepancy in LECTURING others even as they sit on the sideline as smug observers.

…During the lecture Murthy gave a few days ago he is reported to have said that the biggest malady of the country at present was the apathy to social problems. “We feel that problems surrounding us belong to somebody else. We do not take action or rather postpone the decision”.

Nicely said, Mr Murthy, but SINCE WHEN HAVE YOU DONE ANYTHING ABOUT INDIA’S PROBLEMS? Only complain endlessly (or bribe the corrupt?).

The ONLY thing I’ve seen from you in the last nine years are lectures. I’m sorry to be publicly saying this but I’ve formed the view that you are a TIGHT FISTED STINGY MAN WHO IS EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY SUPPORTING INDIA’S CORRUPT SOCIALIST PARTIES.

Why is it that you fear to build or support a political opposition that wants to fix India’s governance? Why not be a citizen instead of being a carping, stingy old man? Why is it that NOT A SINGLE PAISA has been spent by you in supporting the right cause?

Prior to you I met many Indian origin CEOs of IT companies in the Silicon Valley. Same result. TOTAL APATHY.

These are not Indians. They are BLOOD SUCKERS OF INDIA – who will exploit India for all they can but give back nothing in return. They will leave behind a WORSE INDIA than when they were born. That will be their legacy – of DO NOTHINGS.

In THIRTEEN years (fourteen in February 2012) since I’ve been fighting to establish a classical liberal political party in India not ONE so-called “honest” CEO has bothered to even inquire in some detail about how we can transform India.

And not ONE paisa spent. Not one. All hot air and mindless talk.

If you want your reputation to go down well in India’s history, please do something. Or BE QUIET, now. I’m getting a bit sick of all this.

Also read: Narayana Murthy – the most apathetic of them all (by Sanjeev)

and … On Politics, Corruption and FTI, Why bother with politics? and FTI comes of age on this blog

I will be joined on this chat by three panelists: Amit Malviya, Rajesh Kamireddy and Dipinder Sekhon. All three are passionate about India and active in politics in their own different ways – and they are truly in the “youth” age-bracket (unlike some other “Youth Icons”!). We will have a slightly different format this time. We will start by asking panelists to respond to 3-4 specific questions on “Youth, Politics and “What can we do to bring about change?”.  This will be followed by a moderated Q&A from the audience.

The Role of Youth in Today’s Politics and What can You and I do to bring about Systemic Change?”

Time: 8pm IST
Date: 26th Jan ’12 (Thursday)

Please do leave a note below (via comments) if you have a specific question or wish me to address a specific point.

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A few links by way of background and suggested readings are below. If you plan to join, please note the time and make sure you are online a few minutes before we initiate the chat.

You should be able to set a reminder in the box by entering your email. Here are some related posts on this topic..

On Raju Narayan Swamy, Systemic Change and the Long War

Open Thread to discuss “Youth and Politics”

Rs 1,7,60,00,00,00,000 and What can You and I do about it?

Mystery surrounds an American agency carrying out a survey in different parts of India to know the Muslim opinion on some sensitive issues like placing Sharia over the Indian laws, Islam’s role in mainstram Indian politics, and whether Islam is under any serious threat.

…Kerala Police chief Jacob Punnose says the survey had communal overtones and hence a case has been filed against TNS India for asking communally sensitive questions.

“We have decided to file a case of 153(a) under Indian Penal Code (IPC) which relates to the charge of promoting enmity between groups on grounds of religion and race”

No points for guessing why…You can now add asking “communally sensitive” questions to the list of things in India that can get you into trouble…

As a quick reminder, other similar things that can land you in jail include writing scandalous information about “high-profile” people, attempts to tear the secular fabric of the nation , what you post on “social media“, offensive and objectionable material on your blog etc etc..

Not surprisingly, none of these terms have been defined anywhere - to the best of my knowledge. Not surprisingly because by not defining these things, one can always use one’s own “judgement” in such matters…

The signs are ominous. Slowly but surely, the government seems to be determined to muzzle our freedoms...freedom to criticise, to express, to articulate and to defend…

If all this was not so dangerous (and damaging in the long term), it would be very funny…Be worried, very worried…and please register your protest – wherever and whenever you can.

Related Posts:  On Artistic Freedom, Censorship and Responsibility, Losing sleep over communal violence and hate propaganda,  On scandalous information and “high profile” people etc etc…

Also read: On Blogs, Comments, Liability and Being Sued…

P.S. More than 2 years ago, the Supreme Court made the following observation while dismissing a case against the late MF Husain: ”a painter has..own perspective of looking @ things & diff in perspective can’t be basis of criminal proceedings”. Can any lawyers or those with a background in law please comment whether the same “protection” is available to bloggers? Thanks.

Image courtesy: Wikipedia

The note accompanying the photograph mentions, among other things how…

After a decade of meritorious service in IAS, today, Narayanaswamy is being forced out of the IAS profession.

Leaving aside the fact that it is practically impossible to force anyone out of IAS, let us continue with the note (emphasis added)..

…Mr. Narayanaswamy is on the verge of leaving IAS to go to Paris to take up a well paid United Nations assignment. The politicians can laugh thinking another obstacle has been removed. But it is the helpless people of this country who will lose – not Narayanaswamy. But you have the power to support capable and honest bureaucrats

…You have even the power to replace such politicians with these kind of people dedicated to the country. The question is will you do the little you can do NOW? At least a vote or word in support of such personalities?

The bit about the “helpless people” got me going.  I have often lamented the loss in confidence and fatalist attitude resulting from six decades of pathetic leadership and governance. This was the latest manifestation of that..This is what I wrote in response:

1. Raju Narayan Swamy continues to be in the IAS*. This year, he will complete his 20th year in the service (he is from the same batch as me). If I am not mistaken he is currently a Secretary in Dept. of Youth Affairs in Kerala.
2. In a democracy, the “power” lies with elected representatives – as it should be.
3. It is up to us – the voters – to make them do our bidding and up to us to stand up to them as citizens and make them accountable.
4. “Helpless” people of the country lose because most are unwilling to participate in public life, in civic discourse, in political affairs.
5. “Politics” – the noblest of all professions has today become a dirty word. And most people have zero interest in any discussion on “politics”
6. We – You and Me – are responsible for this state of affairs – not the politicians. We elected them – they have not descended from heaven.
7. My final point: If you – and your colleagues, friends and supporters in IAC are serious about political reform and systemic change, we will have to do more and go deep…beyond facebook, twitter, fasts and marches..We will have to prepare for a political career…

Here is a an invitation to all of you…Join me at 8pm on 26th Jan for an online discussion on “What can You and I do to bring about Systemic Change?”. Are you ready for it? Do you have the fire in you to prepare for the long war? If yes, join us in this fight…Jai Hind, Jai Bharat! – Shantanu

P.S. There have been a few other notables from my batch. Pl google for “Marie Lou Fernandes” and you will know what I mean. * I know at least half a dozen colleagues from IAS from my batch who left the services..Marie Lou left too..and I did as well.

A day after I left this comment  on IAC Indore’s wall, I saw this on IAC’s wall (apparently posted around 10pm on Sunday):

There is..need for political movements tht can change national consciousness

Finally, wisdom appears to have dawned on IAC. Better late than never, I think.

Related Post: Now, not just worried but also angry with IAC and Anna

P.S. Stay tuned for more details of the chat on 26th Jan. It is very likely to be in the evening, most probably from 8pm – 930pm IST.