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From: raj@umcp-cs.UUCP (Raj Bhatnagar)
Newsgroups: net.nlang.india
Subject: Re: Supreme Court Judgement
Message-ID: <2573@umcp-cs.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 15-Dec-85 17:32:44 EST
Article-I.D.: umcp-cs.2573
Posted: Sun Dec 15 17:32:44 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 17-Dec-85 04:48:30 EST
References: <2599@sunybcs.UUCP> <1031@cvl.UUCP> <2522@umcp-cs.UUCP> <4271@topaz.RUTGERS.EDU> <1046@cvl.UUCP>
Reply-To: raj@maryland.UUCP (Raj Bhatnagar)
Organization: U of Maryland, Computer Science Dept., College Park, MD
Lines: 52

In article <1046@cvl.UUCP> rao@cvl.UUCP (Kambhampati Subbarao) writes:

>	I always felt a uneasy about the special status the Indian judicial
>system gives the Muslim minority.. the foremost among those being allowing 
>such things as polyandry, divorces which put the male partner at tremendous
>advantage etc...................


>                    ...................... (An interesting example
>i came across is the case of a chrisitian fundamentalist group some where
>in midwest usa who believe that any type of medical help is against god. 
>I believe the members of the group try to 'faith heal' their ailing children
>and this has caused high 'infant mortality rates' among the group.  Now 
>should or should'nt US prosecute the group members?!)


>Thus I think it is time indian penal code was changed to make such special
>previleges accorded to muslims void.. any comments?
>-rao

    The state of relations and the amount of trust that exists between 
Muslim minority and Hindu majority is such that any attempt to modify
constitution or I.P.C. will draw strong opposition from Muslims. The
reaction against the supreme court judgement is a good indication. The
educated section of Muslims is opposed to the practices that you call
'special privileges'. It is the fundamentalist leadership of Muslims in
present day India that seems to have a vested interest in not accepting
any changes even though they may be for the benefit of their community.
At the slightest mention, the bogey of 'danger to religious identity of
Muslims' is raised. I don't think they have reasons to feel so insecure.
May be, Hindus should come forward, reach out to Muslim community and
reduce their fears!! Until the leadership of Muslims goes into the hands
of educated class and the demand for change comes from within the
community, it will be very diffcult to make any changes and above all,
any such impositions will be undemocratic.
    Looking at the ways of Islam in rest of the world in general, it
seems that their jurisprudence may never fit in with that of Hindus in
India!! Look at the way Pakistan is going. How many Indians will accept
an interest free banking system? Once again, it will take an educated
and reality oriented Muslim community to accept any changes and breaks
from the past.
    If that does not happen, then what...........
       What solution do you have for those in US who believe in 
       'faith healing' and will not go to doctors even if their
       children may die. Should they be granted 'religious freedom' ?
       What if the size of this minority is as sizable as that of 
       Muslims in India?