By: Dr. Mohammad Aleem, Editor-ICN Group
NEW DELHI: Since the advent of the human civilization, we have confronted two kinds of trends, one, the inherent feelings of peaceful coexistence, and another, sadly, the violent reprisal. In both cases, we have gained and lost equally.
As the human lives progressed, this discussion took a centre stage. Some people argue that the advent of religions harmed more than benefiting. But, my take is, it benefited more than harmed. Religion came on Earth purely to guide misguided people and show a right path where love for the humanity would prevail above all other things. But sad part of it was always that people misused it for their own narrow material gains and benefits.
Islam also came when mischief among the Arabs was high and had forgotten all human values. To restore a peaceful order on Earth, God always sent Prophets and Messengers. Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was the last among chosen one.
Sadly, as he passed, Muslim history got reddened with the blood of its own people due to internal strife, sectarian violence and power struggle among its rulers, who mostly ruled not on the basis of the teachings of Islam, but on their own whims and wishes. When such situation ever comes, the violence and resentment among people raise its ugly head.
On 6th & 7th December, Policy Perspective Foundation, a Delhi based think tank, organised a two days seminar on the very burning and the most deliberated topic these days, radicalisation and terrorism. The topic of the seminar was “Cooperation Against Radicalization and Terrorism, Addressing Root Causes and Providing Security”, under the India-UAE cooperation program.
There was a galaxy of speakers who enlightened the august audience in a very intellectually stimulating way.
The inaugural session was addressed by four distinguished speakers, Prof. Gautam Sen, Prof. Ebtesam Al-Ketbi from UAE, former high commissioner to Pakistan and other countries, Amb. G. Parthasarathy and Anwar Alam.
The other day’s session was equally stimulating. The learned speakers were Sayid Asif Ibrahim, Sophia Pandaya, Dr Shanthie D’Souza, Dr Bibul Prasad Routry, Dr Adil Rasheed, Shajahan Madampat, Dr Sanjay Baru, K. P Nayar, Dr Ali Khan Mamudabad, Rajiv Dogra, IFS, Maya Mirchandani, Dr Sayed Tanveer Nasreen and Sanjay Kumar Tripathi.
The crux of the whole debate was to what extent, the radicalization and terrorism is harming to India and the UAE. This seminar was organized with joint efforts of India and UAE. So, the discussion mostly centred around these two countries, though strife torn regions and America also came into the debate often. We can’t discuss radicalisation and terrorism until we talk about America’s dual policy. At one time, it raised the forces like Al Qaida and Taliban to fight against the USSR during the Cold War days, but, the same forces fought against America and bit her bitterly later on. Today, it is fighting on the global label under the banner, War on Terrorism.
Islamic state of Iraq and Syria is another grave example of the mishandling of the delicate and very complicated issues of the Middle East. Now, whole Gulf is facing an existential crisis, whether, it will survive or perish under its own weight of the strife.
In the Indian context, though, the situation is not much grave. But, if we did not act prudently and allowed our narrow minded politicians to run the country as they wished, then, I fear, we might one day face the same grave situation as our Middle Eastern people are facing.
The whole effort behind this wonderful seminar was put by K M Singh, retired IPS and the former DG, CISF, A P Bhatnagar, former, DG Punjab Police and PC Haldar, retired IPS.
The Policy Perspective Foundation was founded in 2005 as a non-profit and apolitical think tank on matters of national interest. The organisation’s activities focus on complex and internal challenges to internal peace, stability and development in India.
I congratulate the entire team for organising this two days seminar and I hope they will keep doing so.
