By: Anwarulhaq Baig
New Delhi: The Institute of Study and Research Delhi (ISRD) has organized a thought-provoking symposium on “The Idea of India and the Current Scenario” at the headquarters of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH). The event brought together experts, media professionals, scholars, civil society leaders, and citizens to discuss the challenges facing national unity, pluralism, and constitutional values.
Prof. Salim Engineer Highlights India’s Diversity and Shared Struggle
Presiding over the event, JIH Vice President Professor Salim Engineer emphasized that India’s strength has always come from its diversity. “For two hundred years, we fought the British colonial rulers together despite differences in religion, language, ethnicity, and culture. We made sacrifices in the freedom struggle without compromising our beliefs and faiths, and achieved independence. This is the true essence of the ‘Idea of India.’’” he remarked.
Warning about current threats, Prof.Salim said, “The danger today is no less than during the colonial era. The only difference is that today, those attempting to subjugate us are from within, with a vision contrary to the spirit of the Constitution.”
Without naming the RSS, he pointed out that the organization is nearing its centenary and its ideology runs against the principles of equality and fraternity enshrined in the Constitution.
Constitution Under Attack: Equality, Liberty, Justice, and Fraternity at Risk
Prof.Salim underlined that India’s Constitution promotes inclusion and diversity, where no one is superior or inferior, and all citizens, regardless of religion, caste, or ethnicity, are equal. He lamented, “the core values of equality, liberty, justice, and fraternity have faced sustained attacks in the last decade. Earlier governments too challenged these values, but today the attacks are far more intense.”
He traced the pattern of attacks on constitutional values, starting from the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, followed by communal riots, the imposition of the Emergency, atrocities against Sikhs, the demolition of the Babri Masjid, and the Gujarat riots targeting minorities. “These are not attacks on individuals or buildings, they are attacks on the Idea of India itself,” he said, while adding, “Fortunately, the people have stood united and will continue to resist.”
Prof.Salim called upon the public to create unity, especially among marginalized groups, women, and youth, by raising awareness about their rights and political power. “When people know their strength, they can question the government, demand accountability, and bring about change,” he said.
He also criticized the government’s communal policies that “divide people along religious, caste, and ethnic lines,” and urged citizens to respond with solidarity. Calling for administrative reform, he stressed that agencies and officials must act independently and according to law rather than serve political interests.
Regarding the media, he said, “Our media’s condition is evident, but it must be revived. Small media outlets, digital platforms, and social media need to be strengthened so journalists can speak the truth without fear.”
On the judiciary, he called for reforms, “We need a fearless and justice-oriented judiciary where judges decide cases without political pressure or fear.”
Finally, addressing educational institutions and intellectuals, Professor Salim urged them to “create a culture of discourse in universities and research centers so that the public recognizes its strength and counters misinformation effectively.”
Dr. SQR Ilyas on Constitutional Principles and Their Decline
Dr. SQR Ilyas, spokesperson for the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, questioned how far India has realized its founding principles in the last 70 years. He stressed the importance of studying the debates of the Constituent Assembly and the drafting committees to understand the vision of India presented in the Constitution and how best to achieve it.
Dr. Ilyas stressed that at the time of independence, India’s Constitution envisioned a free and sovereign nation where no external interference is allowed, and every citizen is guaranteed equal rights, irrespective of religion, caste, language, or culture. “Every individual should be able to participate in governance through their vote, and there is no place for monarchy or rule by any specific family,” he stated.
Dr. Ilyas referred to the three pillars of the Constitution, saying, “The Preamble, Part III (Fundamental Rights), and Part IV (Directive Principles) collectively reflect the kind of India we want to build.” He emphasized that “this country belongs not to one religion, language, or culture, but to a diverse heritage where coexistence has always been part of our culture.”
Expressing deep concern, Dr. Ilyas noted, “For the past 11 years, there have been systematic attempts to impose the identity of one religion, one culture, and one ideology on everyone—contrary to the spirit of the Constitution.” He pointed out that the expansion of governors’ powers is limiting state autonomy, with complaints now reaching the Supreme Court because bills are stalled and presidential approval withheld—a deliberate attempt to curtail state rights.
Referring to Bhagwat’s recent speech, he said, “People of all religions are allowed to live in the country, but there is an effort to impose a civilization that is thousands of years old on everyone, erasing cultural identities.”
On the topic of One Nation, One Election, Dr. Ilyas said, “This is an attempt to end state autonomy and impose a centralized system, clashing with India’s federal structure. Ideas like ‘One Country, One Language, One Culture, One Identity’ are being promoted, which go against the spirit of a plural India.”
He criticized religious indoctrination in educational institutions, saying, “In Uttarakhand, the Gita is being made compulsory in schools, and the state’s involvement in the Ram temple movement goes against the secular spirit of the Constitution.”
Speaking about attacks on minorities, he noted that “laws like the CAA exclude a particular religion, violating the constitutional principle of equal rights for all.”
Dr. Ilyas also condemned the misuse of stringent laws, stating, “In the past, laws like TADA and POTA, and now UAPA, are being used to curtail fundamental freedoms. People are jailed under false accusations, wasting precious years of their lives. Governments are rarely held accountable.”
He highlighted the need for awareness among citizens, saying, “People are unaware of the rights and values guaranteed by the Constitution. They must be educated and awakened, or else laws will be imposed on them through backdoor tactics.”
Referring to the demolition of the Babri Masjid, he recalled that “the Places of Worship Act was passed in 1991 to prevent new disputes, yet new controversies are being created today in cities like Varanasi and Mathura.”
Citing Bhagwat’s recent remarks, Dr. Ilyas added, “It is now being suggested that Muslims voluntarily hand over mosques to Hindus, pushing the country towards a particular religion.”
He also expressed disappointment that “political parties that claim to be secular are funding temples, even though the Constitution mandates equal distance from all religions.”
On education, Dr. Ilyas pointed out that despite the Right to Education Act being passed in 2009, “over one-third of the population still lacks access to education, and many live below the poverty line, even though the right to education is recognized under Article 21 of the Constitution.”
Asad Mirza on Media Manipulation and Political Exploitation
Senior journalist Asad Mirza has stated that harsh laws against minorities, such as POTA and UAPA, were enacted during the Congress era, and the current government has not created new laws but is merely exploiting them to its advantage. “If Prime Minister Modi says that his government has not made any new laws against minorities, he is absolutely correct,” he remarked.
Asad Mirza further said, “We were asleep. At that time, when five Muslim members sat in the cabinet, we assumed that the community’s representation was ensured. But we never asked what the government was doing for Muslim education, development, or improving their living standards.”
He pointed out that “the benefits Muslims received during the Congress era were only after economic reforms when liberalization opened doors for corporate India, which offered jobs purely on merit, without discrimination based on religion or caste.”
Warning about the current state of affairs, he said, “The anti-Muslim attitude of the police and the government that we see today has been cultivated over the past 60 years, and the present government is using it in the most effective way.”
On constitutional amendments, he stated, “The current government has perhaps not made a single amendment. All changes were made during the Congress or earlier governments. But they are working on a long-term plan to eventually overhaul the entire Constitution.”
Addressing educational policy, Asad Mirza said, “The preparation for the National Education Policy 2020 started long before this government came into power. As early as 1990, RSS had assigned Dinath Batra to rewrite school textbooks so that they could be immediately implemented once the government took office.”
Discussing the role of media in reshaping the concept of nationhood, he said, “The current government has maximized the use of digital tools, controlling every platform, and developed a specific media strategy to dominate social, electronic, and print media.”
He revealed, “In the last ten years, major print and electronic media channels have come under the control of just two corporate houses. Even social media has been controlled effectively by the government.”
Asad Mirza referred to the Israeli company Appo Worldwide, saying, “This consultancy firm advises heads of 113 countries and trained Narendra Modi in Gujarat on how to manipulate public opinion through social media. The current government has set up a ‘war room’ from where narratives are crafted and spread across the country through social media platforms.”
Advocate Mohammad Aslam on Historical Context of the Constitution
Advocate Mohammad Aslam (AOR, Supreme Court) offered a historical perspective on the Idea of India, the Constitution, democracy, secularism, and federalism, emphasizing that the Indian Constitution is not confined to the period between 1935 and 1950 but is rooted in thousands of years of civilizations, cultures, and diverse traditions.
“As much as we celebrate the Constitution coming into force on 26 January 1950, it is a mistake to view it only in the context of Partition, independence, and the Constituent Assembly, which represents merely the events between 1935 and 1950,” Aslam explained. “The real journey of this nation’s civilization traverses eras of Ashoka, Gautama Buddha, the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Sufis, Akbar, Tipu Sultan, and more. The Constitution reflects the contribution of all these legacies.”
Referring to a Constitution-themed exhibition at the Delhi High Court, Aslam said, “Each chapter of the Constitution was accompanied by a page depicting images from India’s ancient past, beginning with Ashoka, Gautama Buddha, and the Ramayana, and including Jainism, the Mahabharata, Sufis, Akbar, Tipu Sultan, among others. The purpose was to highlight how the Constitution incorporated India’s rich and varied history, not just the events of 1935-1950.”
He warned against attempts to reduce India’s diverse heritage to a single culture. “Repeated references to Partition overshadow the journey of unity after 1947,” he said. “Regions like Kashmir, Hyderabad, Goa, Sikkim, and Kerala joined the Indian Union after independence, making Partition only about 10% of the truth.”
Using history as an example, he noted that “in the past 2,400 years, India has witnessed about over 24 divisions.
Aslam referred to the Government of India Act, explaining that the division was between British India (60%) and princely states (40%), many of which were reluctant to come under single ruling . “That is why the Act could not be fully implemented, and later these states became part of independent India. The question then arose, should the Constitution be unitary or federal? Hence, India was named the ‘Union of India.’”
He drew comparisons with the United States, stating, “Even though Donald Trump is the President of the US, governors in all 50 states hold residual powers. The US President cannot alter concurrent-list powers or suspend state governments. In the same way, Article 356 of the Indian Constitution turns India into a unitary state, even though it was meant to establish federalism.”
He referenced Dushyant Dubey’s observations, saying, “Leaders like Patel and Nehru wanted police forces to be under the central government, but provincial leaders disagreed, so it was placed in the concurrent list, else it would have been centralized like the army. Schedule 7 of the Constitution outlines which laws are made by the Centre, by the states, or jointly.”
Defining democracy, Aslam said, “Democracy means rulers are elected by the ‘ballot’ and not imposed by the ‘bullet.’ No one should become a leader by force or hereditary privilege; the people should choose their leaders freely.”
On secularism, he gave literal meaning , “Secularism means the separation of state and religion. It came from Europe and was interpreted in India as the state being neither hostile nor partial toward any religion. The word ‘secular’ was added in the 42nd amendment; initially, it wasn’t in the Constitution. The idea of ‘plural India’ better captures the essence—similar to examples like Malaysia or Indonesia.”
He expressed concern that “when secularism is explained, countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, or Bangladesh are cited. What response should we give then? Using ‘plural’ is more appropriate.”
Regarding the Uniform Civil Code, he pointed out, “It was recently introduced in Uttarakhand, but scheduled tribes were excluded. We don’t even have a uniform criminal code in the country yet—how can we suddenly enforce a uniform civil code?”
Aslam cited the Scheduled Castes Prevention of Atrocities Act (1989), explaining that “it was enacted to prevent discrimination against certain communities. While insulting a common citizen is covered under the IPC, insults against specific groups are addressed through separate laws—indicating that even today, India lacks a unified criminal code.”
He further criticized UAPA, saying, “Its purpose was to sideline the IPC and diminish state powers while expanding the central government’s control, going against the federal principle of the Constitution.”
“As today’s problems trace back to mistakes made in 1950, we must acknowledge them,” he asserted.
Finally, he emphasized the need for electoral reforms: “If we truly want change, we must go beyond discussions on EVMs and also reform the criminal laws so that every citizen receives equal justice.
JIH Delhi President Salimullah Khan Calls for Shared National Vision
Opening the session, JIH Delhi state president Salimullah Khan, emphasized that in order to build a better nation, it is essential that the residents of India share a clear, harmonious, and coherent idea of the country. “The principles, rules, and values must recognize the freedom, rights, and identity of every individual and support their development,” he said. He highlighted the importance of teaching correct values to children, so that they grow into rational, compassionate, courageous, creative, and ethical human beings.
Referring to a line from the National Education Policy 2020, he said, “The aim is to create an educational system that promotes equality, inclusiveness, and multiculturalism, as stated in our Constitution. The values we want are already embedded in the system, and this should be the objective of every universal and human framework.”
He also referred to Nouh Hariri’s book Nexus, explaining, “If we learn the right lessons from our history, society can progress, but if we learn the wrong lessons, it will destroy itself.” Hariri’s example of the former USSR—where people spied on each other, even a mother could be jailed because of her child, or a brother could testify against his sibling—illustrated how fear-based societies cannot prosper. “The responsibility to improve society does not rest only with the government but also with citizens,” he said, urging the creation of a society based on empathy that benefits both ourselves and others.
He noted that the purpose of the program was to spread accurate historical knowledge. “A history conference was recently held at Hamdard University, and this programme is part of that effort to cultivate proper historical awareness across the country.”
Asif Iqbal on the Objectives of the Symposium
Asif Iqbal, Secretary of ISRD and convener of the symposium, elaborated on the objectives of the event. “The purpose is to explore India as a civilizational, cultural, and political idea, shaped over centuries through dialogue among diverse traditions,” he said. He highlighted the significant contributions of scholars, thinkers, and leaders, including Muslims, to India’s intellectual, cultural, social, and political heritage. “These ideas have enriched fields like pluralism, fine arts, literature, architecture, and governance.”
He added, “The program seeks to understand how this shared, multicultural idea of India is being reshaped today and how its democratic and constitutional assets can be preserved amidst current challenges.”
Naveen Kumar on Suppression of Constitutional Ideals
Prominent journalist Naveen Kumar expressed concern that the constitutional vision of India is being suppressed at every level. “The current threats to the ideals of India, the Constitution, citizens’ rights, and pluralism are evident,” he said. Pointing out recent injustices, he cited how students like Omar Khalid, who raised their voices against oppression, have been imprisoned for five years without any crime.
Kumar traced the dangers to the idea of India back to before the BJP government came into power. “As early as 1997, Sunil Khilnani wrote a book titled Idea of India, warning of threats looming over this vision,” he noted.
He stressed that “unity in diversity is the foundation of India’s idea, but some people’s ideas contradict it.” Referring to RSS and Mohan Bhagwat’s ideology, he said, “It promotes the supremacy of Hindus and their culture while disregarding other religions and cultures.”
Kumar raised questions about the nurturing of this idea in schools, colleges, universities, and institutions. “How can it thrive today when student unions are not allowed in such a prestigious institutions like Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University, 89,000 schools have been shut down in recent years, and education is rapidly being corporatized?”
Commenting on the current state of media, he ironically remarked, “There are now two types of media: social media and anti-social media. The ruling dispensation is using media as a tool to retain power, while schools and institutions are being used to spread a specific narrative that contradicts the constitutional vision of India.”
He concluded by holding citizens accountable. “The real responsibility for this situation lies with us. We have shown no interest in protecting the Idea of India, and now our own rights and freedoms are at risk.”