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A talk on “Political Journey of Indian Democracy: Towards Inclusive Development” Arif Moh. Khan on 31 August 2019 at India International Centre Main, New Delhi (IIC). The title above represents the reiterative theme of a talk by Shri Arif Mohd. Khan, a noted Politician, Scholar and a former Union Minister.

Key points of this event are given below:

“Yunan-o-Misr-o-Roma Sab Mit Gaye Jahan Se,

Ab Tak Magar Hai Baki Naam-o-Nishan Hamara,

Kuchh Baat Hai Ke Hasti Mit’ti Nahin Hamari,

Sadiyon Raha Hai Dushman Daur-e-Zamana Hamara”

Commencing with this quote from Allama Muhammad Iqbal, Khan proceeded to amplify and interpret what constitutes this “kuchh baat” about the great Indian Civilization, that has withstood thousands of years of vicissitudes. Quoting the Rigveda, “एकम् सत् विप्रा बहुधा वदन्ति” he said that the term ‘बहुधा’ implying ‘inclusiveness’ is the civilizational ethos of the land of India. Elaborating that this was not and is not a culture of uniformity but instead a culture of all-inclusiveness he said that India is the land of ‘spiritual Democracy’. He frequently drew attention of his audience to interesting historical episodes to reinforce his central theme. He made a point that Khilafat Movement which has been idealized as an anti-colonial movement, had, in fact, propelled a section of Indian Muslims towards a flawed understanding of politics to a perception that tended to be more religious and communal rather than a truly political one. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan had argued emphatically against the notion of a Universal Caliphate. Even Hamza Alvi believed that the Khilafat Movement introduced the religious idiom in the politics of Indian Muslims. He expressed the view that a reading of ancient Indian scriptures which state that ‘Bharat’ is the land that lies north of the ocean and south of the snowy mountains and all those who dwell in this land are its children, gives a better understanding of the essence of being an Indian.

Event Speakers