THE PLIGHT OF MUSLIMS IN INDIA: “Jayen toh jayen kahan”

As I began writing this piece, Sahir Ludhianvi’s haunting words echoed in my mind:

“Jayen toh jayen kahan, samje-ga kaun yahan,

Dard bare dil ki zuban, jayen toh jayen kahan…”

“Where shall we go? Who will understand the cries of a heart heavy with pain?”

And that, in essence, is the plight of Indian Muslims today.

“Go to Pakistan!”—the tired, venomous refrain hurled at them by the ever-growing chorus of ultra-nationalist zealots. In the last few years, Hindu religious processions, once about devotion, now echo with anti-Muslim slogans. Mosques are stormed, homes burned, and lives upended—while much of the Hindu majority remains disturbingly silent.

So, where should Indian Muslims go?

This is their land. Has been for centuries. From the snow-capped Himalayas to the tip of Kanyakumari, they belong to every grain of this soil. Yet, 204 million Indian Muslims are the third-largest Muslim population in the world. They are being made to feel like outsiders in their own homes.

But can a nation deny the very blood that courses through its veins?

Indian Muslims are not just a demographic. They are India’s poetry and prose. They embody its melody and rhythm. They contribute to its cinema and sports. They represent its intellect and innovation.

Their voice echoes through Kabir, Ghalib, Iqbal, Sahir, and Javed Akhtar. Their music flows through Naushad, Khayyam, A.R. Rahman, and the soul-stirring shehnai of Bismillah Khan. Their artistry shines in Yusof Kahan alias Dilip Kumar, Mehboob Khan (producer-director Mother India), Shahrukh Khan, and Aamir Khan. Their grit is evident in the fierce forehand of Sania Mirza. It is also shown through the valour of Param Vir Chakra martyr Havildar Abdul Hamid. Their vision builds industries, as seen in philanthropist Azim Premji.

Their legacy stands in the Taj Mahal’s timeless beauty. It is in the sacred aura of Ajmer Sharif. It also exists in the towering splendour of Jama Masjid. It resides in the wisdom of India’s presidents—Zakir Husain, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, and A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

Muslims are an integral part of the Indian flag. They stand alongside Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, and others. This unity embodies the collective spirit of “Hum Hindustani.”

So, once again, jayen toh jayen kahan?

The answer is simple: they will go nowhere.

Because this is their home.

—Promod Puri