From: sudarshan madabushi <mksudarshan2002@yahoo.co.in>
Date: 9 May 2022 at 9:58:55 AM GMT+5:30
To: ziya.salam@thehindu.co.in
Subject: Turning down the volume of loudspeaker calls for Azaan
Dear Ziya Salam,
Assalaam aalaikkum!
I read with great interest your lead Op-Ed in today’s THe HINDU below .
THE HINDU dt May 9 2022
I am a Hindu by faith and conviction.
As a retired corporate professional (Chartered Accountant) who has worked for several years in Riyadh and the GCC countries as well as the greater Middle East — including Egypt, Sudan, Turkey and Morocco — and having lived and worked amongst faithful Muslim believers for two decades and more in those lands and climes , I would like to say to you that your observation that “the winds of change … embracing Indian Islam” could certainly do with a small but very significant modification.
The “winds of change” which you have eloquently described need not necessarily be regarded as blowing in from Saudi Arabia …
I believe the average Indian Muslim as a citizen of modern India is enlightened and progressive enough to realise quite well what he must embrace and what he ought not to embrace in his country.
The Indian Muslim has a historical template of his very own within which he knows he can practice his faith in his country without having to seek exemplars or inspiration from outside India . That is the greatness, I believe, of India’s 150 million Muslim brethren.
Your analysis of the “loudspeaker menace” being slowly weaponised politically over the past few decades in our country is fair, magisterial and absolutely correct . I applaud you Sir for it.
If only we had more sane and wise minds like yours amidst our brothers and sisters in the many communities of religious minorities in India, as a nation at large I am sure we would all then indeed be able to enjoy politics-free life and livelihoods across our vast land in one united fraternity. Jai Hind!
As a school boy I remember having learnt the famous poem of Abu Ben Adhem (Leigh Hunt) which I was reminded of soon after I finished reading your article in the Hindu today. I quote it below :
Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!)
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
And saw, within the moonlight in his room,
Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,
An angel writing in a book of gold:—
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold,
And to the presence in the room he said,
“What writest thou?”—The vision raised its head,
And with a look made of all sweet accord,
Answered, “The names of those who love the Lord.”
“And is mine one?” said Abou. “Nay, not so,”
Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low,
But cheerly still; and said, “I pray thee, then,
Write me as one that loves his fellow men.”
The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night
It came again with a great wakening light,
And showed the names whom love of God had blest,
And lo! Ben Adhem’s name led all the rest.
Sir, may your God Allah …. Bismillah ur Rahman ur Raheem … bless you and may all of your tribe in our Indian family who think , feel and behave like you …. may they increase increase !
Maa salaama!
Best regards ,
Sudarshan Madabushi
Sent from my iPhone