07 September 2004	Tuesday	21 Rajab 1425

KARACHI, Sept 6: An eminent Indian scholar, Prof Mushirul Hasan, has stressed that living together in harmony was the only option left for us (Pakistanis and Indians).

While delivering his talk on "Interpreting Islam and modernism: Moulvi Nazir Ahmed" on Monday, he preferred to focus on the 19th century Delhi and the noted figures, Ghalib, Sir Syed, Nazir Ahmad, Moulvi Zakaullah, Allama Iqbal, Amir Ali and later Hakim Ajmal Khan and Mukhtar Ansari - makers of a vibrant secular culture.

He said that Nazeer Ahmad raised the polygamy, purdah and women related issues, and worked for a secular culture alongwith his illustrious contemporaries. Prof Hasan is the vice-chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, and author of many historical volumes -- from pluralism to separatism, inventing boundaries, image and representation, survival of secular India and many other books.

He observed that the Muslim and Hindus, despite their different faiths had common past and present, so they would have to understand each other and value their cultural heritage. The history of northern India, from Pakistan to Bangladesh, presented the very fabric of Islam, it should be protected and promoted, he added.

Prof Hasan said that the Delhi college in those days presented the values of "sazgari" and "sulhakari" and a multicultural society. He said that Deputy Nazeer Ahmed emphasized on the commonality of faith between Muslims and Christians and admired the Christian missionaries for their well doing according to their faith.

Prof Zoya Hasan, author of unequal citizens, associated with the political science department at the Jawaharlal Nehru University opened her discourse with a question as to how best the status of Muslim women be assessed.

Her study was based on the findings of 40 districts and case study of 10,000 women. She differed with the idea that Muslim women should be treated as minority community. The problem with them was that of poverty, lack of education, economic dependence and lack of mobility.

Referring to her study, she said that mostly women were married at the age of 15 and gave birth to many children, remained domesticated and victim of domestic violence. Around 59 per cent women had never been to school and drop out of girl students was double as compared to other communities.

The option of decision-making, economic autonomy and physical mobility and education would help improve their lot, she said. Earlier, Ameena Saiyid of the Oxford University Press introduced the guest speaker and spoke about her publications.