Reaffirming hackneyed stereotypes

When I read the very first story of this series, I wrote to the editor saying that this story and the proposed series seem to reaffirm the most hackneyed stereotypes about Indian Muslims, and one doesn’t see what’s new in it. Then I visited their feedback section on the website, and was quite shocked to see the letters written by readers. Almost 90 per cent readers (with Muslim names) have congratulated HT for this new initiative.

My biggest problem is the "objectification" of a community, and that too by featuring the most clichéd characters. Most Muslim readers are overjoyed by the fact that this is the first time a national daily such as HT is not calling them terrorists and instead presenting "positive" stories about them.

But no one is realizing that what the New Muslim series actually says is that "look, not all Muslims are terrorists (or no longer are), they are now finding peaceful meanings of jihad, they want to progress in life, make money and be happy, but continue to wear caps and veil". I am amazed that nobody else (among the so-called Muslim intelligentsia or any other kind of gentsia) is recognizing what such objectification leads to.
Yousuf

Heart warming

It’s is heartwarming to see a national daily showing us the side of Islam that no one is willing to talk about these days when every Muslim is considered a terrorist and he has to prove his "Indianness" time and again. I am a Muslim and I am proud of my faith and community, but I am even more proud of being an Indian. I also agree that the biggest problem in Muslim society is the lack of quality education. So my fervent plea to those who sit back and blame the system is, come forward and improve the community's profile by promoting education at all levels.
Mohammad Waris

Series was an eye-opener

The series was an eye-opener for people who have a distorted picture of the Muslim community. We are often associated with burqa, meat eating and terrorism. Nobody has ever tried to know the progressive side of the community. It is indeed a joy to know, through these articles, about the good work the Indian Muslim is doing for his/her country.
Rafia Ziauddin

The two types of Muslims

In India, there are two types of Muslims, Good and Bad. Good ones are those who look like Amir Khan and Salman Khan etc. and bad ones are those who are followers of Osama. The fact is none of these kinds represent 99 per cent of Indians who are regular Indians following their faith and struggling for their livelihood. Unfortunately media and politicians are always concerned about the 1 percent of the muslim population mis-representing Indian Muslim History. Thanks.
Syed Anwar

Breaking stereotypes

We know lots of Muslims who have made India proud, but getting to know ordinary Muslims helps break many sterotypes.
Anil Sindhwani

Nothing new

There is nothing new about "Indian" Muslim. A President, a Chief Justice, a vice- president, a home minister, several chief ministers, the brilliant Sania Mirza, former cricket captain Mohd Azharuddin, the brothers Irfan and Yusuf Pathan, Zaheer Khan, Syed Kirmani, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Shabana Azmi, Tabu, and countless other stars exist in India. But, on the other hand, there are millions that are suppressed, illiterate, poor and jobless. You wrote about Ijlal Shamshi, a US-educated businessman from Moradabad. It only shows why education is the only real solution to backwardness.
Helal MA Ghazali

Series will encourage others

The success stories written about in the series will encourage a few more to build on whatever meager resources they have instead of whining about bad luck and adverse circumstances. Only those who are motivated by "We can do it, and we will do it" reach the pinnacle of glory.
Omar Khan

Giving birth to the new Muslim

Thank you for giving birth to the New Muslim. Let us hope 'he' (or she) grows and emerges above the victim mentality and rises above the morass of sops, quotas and reservations in which the present leadership has kept them wallowing.
Dr Mookhi Amir Ali

This is real Journalism

This is real journalism. When people call Hindus communal, I only tell them that the number of secular Hindus in this country is larger than the communal ones. That's the reason why any communal political party cannot come to power. Similarly, the number of secular Muslim is even more than the communal ones. It's just a misrepresentation that has brought them a bad name.
Riyaz Nazish