Viewing page 15 of 21
This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.
[[image -- photo of the Taj Mahal]] PAN-AMERICAN WORLD AIRWAYS TAJ MAHAL, one of the world's greatest wonders in Agra, India. It was built as a masoleum by Shah Jahan, a Moslem emperor, for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. Four hundred years have passed since it was constructed, and it remains as beautiful and superb as ever. MOSLEMS IN INDIA India today has the third largest Moslem population in the world -- about 43 million. In other words, one out of every eight Indians is a Moslem. Moslems in India have always played a prominent role in the country's struggle for freedom from foreign rule. Not only have there been Moslem leaders in the Indian National Congress; but from the ranks there have been thousands of Moslems who fought and suffered for the cause of their Motherland. Maulana Abul-Kalam Azad, who was then the Congress President, led India in the final negotiations with the British for India's independence. The Moslems of free India today enjoy all the rights and privileges of a citizen. India is a secular state with constitutional guarantees providing for equality before the law, freedom from discrimination and freedom of religion, all enforceable by direct response to the Supreme Court. The Constitution of the Indian Republic, which came into force on January 26, 1950, gaurantees complete political free- 28 MOSLEM WORLD & THE U.S.A. [[end page]] [[start page]] dom to the Moslems. It secures equality of opportunity in matters of public employment. The Constituent Assembly of India which drew up the present Constitution had no less than 45 Moslems amongst its members and one of them was a member of the Constitution Drafting Committee even though he did not belong to the Congress Party. In the present Indian Parliament there are 46 members who are Moslems. There is also quite a large number of Moslem members in State Legislatures. The present Governmental structure in India is noteworthy. The Prime Minister is a Hindu. The Deputy Leader, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad who is also, the Education Minister, is a Moslem. Another Moslem, Mr. Rafi Ahmed Kidwai, was the Food Minister till his death recently. Dr. Syed Mahmud is a Minister in the External Affairs Ministry. Other minorities, of course, are also represented. For instance, there is Sikh, a Christian and a Scheduled Caste Minister at the Centre. There is one Moslem Deputy Minister and one Moslem Parliamentary Secretary. India has 29 States forming the Union. There are eleven Ministers in the State cabinets who are Moslems. Even among the State Governors Moslems have had representation. The late Mr. Asaf Ali, India's first Ambassador to the U.S.A. and then to Switzerland, was at one time the Governor of Orissa. Sir Akber Hydari was, until his death, the Governor of the frontier province of Assam. Another Moslem was the Governor of Orissa for some time. In the Diplomatic Service, Moslems have enjoyed a fair representation ever [[image -- photo of Maulana Azad]] MAULANA Azad, Education Minister of modern India, is one of the most learned men of the world of Islam. since India's independence in August 1947. There have been seven Moslem ambassadors in the last seven years, three of whom are still in service. These are Nawab Ali Yavar Jung in Cairo, Mr. B.F.H.B. Tyabji in Djakarta and Dr. M. A. Rauf in Ottawa. (Two ambassadors passed away.) There are Moslem officers in the Indian Foreign Service and some of them are holding very high posts in the External Affairs Ministry. Many Moslems have, in addition, represented India in the United Nations and its allied bodies. Maulana Azad, for instance, led the Indian Delegation to the Sixth Session of UNESCO in Paris. The Education Secretary and the Education Adviser to the Government of India are also Moslems. In the Judiciary too, the representation of Moslems is appreciable. The Supreme Court of India has a Moslem Judge. The Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court is a Moslem and there are four Moslem AUGUST-SEPT. 1956 29
