JEDDAH — “Muslims had been coexisting with Hindus peacefully in India for more than 1,300 years without any major clashes. Hindus under Muslim rule prospered for 800 years. Not a single Muslim emperor tried to erase their culture. All the Hindu scriptures and their cultural traditions remained intact under the Muslim rule, which had made India a hub for the international business and trade,” said Syed Farid Maharaj Gaddi Nasheen Darbar Khwaja Gharib Nawaz, Ajmer, in an interview with Saudi Gazette, while highlighting the need to uphold the secular fabric of the nation. “India, during that period, emerged as an important ancient country and gained all the necessary features that make a country and civilization great. The advent of the British muddied the pure waters. The European Orientalists and historians tried to create a gulf between Hindus and Muslims by creating suspicion between the two communities by their seditious writings. Indian society, that had taken part in enlightening and enriching world civilization in every respect, was diagnosed as sick and backward by the British,” he added. “The policy of divide and rule sapped the energies of the Indian people. In fact the modern religious hate-mongering has its roots in the East India Company's policy of divide and rule. The Fort William College in Calcutta was the headquarter that paved way to ensure British rule by producing a large army of British officers and their Indian assistants, who were well-versed in Indian languages. These trained hands and minds made the bitter pill of British rule acceptable to the Indian people. India should put a lid on the suspicions created by the British historians and meet the challenges of the 21st century by firmly holding its secular values (that are based on the policy of non-intervention in the religious affairs of the Indian people; this principle was in fact introduced by the Muslim rulers of India). The Hindus and Muslims should rewrite and reinvent Indian history with an united front,” said Syed Farid. Syed Farid, who was employed in Saudi Arabia since 1981 until 2013, belongs to the family of Sheikh Moinuddin Chishti of Ajmer. He, on his return to India, has been instrumental in eliminating the differences between followers of both religions by projecting Islam's message of tolerance and peace. Syed Farid, an economist, has a good knowledge of different South Asian religions and is fond of investigating the differences of the cultures and promoting interfaith dialogue. His knowledge of history along with the deep love of spirituality helps him a lot in this field. Syed Farid, who was in Gujarat for many years during his formative years, compares those days' of Gujarat to the Gujarat under Bharatiya Janata Party's rule. He refutes Chief Minister Narendra Modi's claim that Gujarat has progressed under his rule. “What modern infrastructure is seen today were present there when I was a student. There was no cut in electricity and water supply. Transport facilities were in good shape. Gujarat was a developed state even then,” he said. “The reason of Modi's popularity is that he is street-smart.” He hoped that the Indian voter would not be blinded with Modi's street-smartness and would decide his future by carefully voting for leaders who can save India from divisive forces. “Our democratic institutions are strong and we, Indians, believe in democracy. Muslims should not be the victim of fear psychosis. If they look back to 1950s they have progressed much. Nobody can take them back. India is India. Now the corporate culture is a blessing in disguise for the educated Muslim youth. The discrimination in the government services is now least affecting our youth,” he added. “Majority of the Hindus has always been secular and peace-loving. Hindus and Muslims had lived peacefully together for centuries. The communal harmony is the soul of India. Muslims are an integral part of Indian society. They would always remain a positive force to be reckoned with,” Syed Farid said. Aziz Ahmed, a famous Pakistani social activist (whose ancestors belonged to Mehrauli, Delhi), held a lavish dinner at Zahra Restaurant, in honor of Syed Farid.
