Roses Among Thorns

At a time when India is facing extremist pressures, both from outside and inside, Indian Muslims should continue their legacy of standing firm against radicalism through quiet strength and civic wisdom

- SHUJAAT ALI QUADRI

The writer is the National Chairman of Muslim Students Organisation of India MSO, he writes on a wide range of issues, including, Sufism, Public Policy, Geopolitics and Information Warfare.

An estimable fact about Indian Muslims is that even when the whole world has been in the grip of "Islamist radicalism", most notably in West Asia, the community has been untainted of taking active part in transnational fanaticism. Barring a few fanatics, no one from India crossed borders to fight wars on the side of extremists, despite a regular online campaign to entice youth.

Similarly, a jihad was waged in Afghanistan, our neighbourhood, in the 1980s against the Soviet Union, and hordes of faith fighters had assembled there, and later fanned out to spread the venom in the vulnerable geography of the world. But none from 180 million Muslims in India had joined the ranks of the "holy war".

When Al Qaeda was recruiting from across the globe, Indian Muslims spurned its call and ideology vehemently. Later, when its most vicious variant — Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (ISIS), or Daesh — raised its head and ran a fervent media campaign to win over gullible youths, very few Muslim names appeared among its cadres and they were also coerced to join the group after being kidnapped from Gulf countries.

What has worked for Indian Muslims as a protective pivot against extremist radicalisation? It's India's deep-rooted syncretic ethos that are not only prevalent in Indian society, but are enshrined in the country's Constitution. Despite constant challenges, the country has been a robust democracy. Plus, Indian Islam has been built on the bedrock of Sufi traditions that believe in a tolerant view of other faiths and an all-encompassing living.