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The Rise and Demise of Indian Democracy: #WakeupIndia

India has become a nation where the mind of its denizens is in fear and the head is not held high. Sexual assaults, rape of minors, murders in the name of holy cows : is just the tip of the iceberg of oppression and tyranny against muslims under the present rule of BJP in the secular and democratic India. As if these heinous crimes were not enough to ignite communal tensions amongst Hindus and Muslims, the right wing RSS hindutva extremists had a Eureka moment when they eyed upon a lifeless potrait of Mohd. Ali Jinnah hanging in the Student Union building of Aligarh Muslim University-a national varsity which gave president and vice president to India in the past. One BJP MP's tweet (Who will teach AMU a lesson?) served as a propellant for RSS goons who barraged AMU campus protesting violently, demanding the removal of the potrait deemed as a threat to their nationalism and patriotism. The students sustained injuries from teargas and lathicharge by police as they tried to lodge complaints against these goons! I feel unfortunate to be a muslim born in India which is now governed by politicians controlling police, media, academic institutions and dividing the nation in the name of religion. I feel ashamed as a science researcher whose motherland boasts of leaders who claim that internet existed in primitive times, peacocks produce progeny through tears and youth unemployment can be overcome by milking cows! I am astounded at the silence of the media, celebrities and powerful people of India in this era of outspokenness. Their numb reactions and willful ignorance to atrocities/oppression against the muslim minority is deafening and shameful. I feel a stark difference in the way democracy can function in different parts of the world and how people can use power of pen (nowadays social media) to bring change. As an alumni of AMU, a citizen of India, I am grieved by the crimes and hostile actions against muslims and all other minorities oppressed by the BJP regime. However, I feel privileged to be residing in this part of the free world  where justice can prevail and revolutions spur with a single MeToo, Time'sUp,  EnoughisEnough and Blacklivesmatter  hastag! I am using the power of pen to strike a chord and urging alumnis of AMU and all other people who can voice the plight of Indian muslims. Thank you America for giving me the platform and zeal to speak up!

My feelings echo words of Ahmad Faraz's Muhaasra

Mera qalam to amanat hai mere logon ki
Mera qalam to adalaat mere zameer ki hai
Main kat girun ya salamat rahun yaqeen hai mujhe
Ki hisar-e-sitam koi to girayega
Ki eeza naseebo ke qasam, tamam umr
Mere qalam ka safar rayegaan na jaega

#Minorityspeaks
#IstandwithAMU
#Muslimsmatter
#WakeupIndia

Silent laments of a nightingale
Location: Gaithersburg, MD, USA

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