Struggle for Babari Masjid and Establishment of Indian National League
The year 1992 brought twin tragedy for Ebrahim Sulaiman Sait. His wife,Mariam Bai passed away at Bangalore on 6 July 1992.
Later that year, the arch communal and fascist forces of the Sangh Parivar demolished the Babari Masjid. The then Prime Minister of India, Late Mr. P. V. Narashima Rao, also the President of Indian National Congress, failed to protect the monument as promised by him.
This demolition of Babri Masid took place in December 6, 1992. This was a national catastrophe that shook the entire nation and the Muslim community. The event coincided with large scale massacre of Muslims in Faizabad, the city where the Babari Masjid stood, and in ten major cities of India simultaneously.
Even before, the Sangh Parivar was preaching Hindutva philosophy and planning for the construction of the Ram Mandir over the Babari masjid, while the case was still pending in the Allahabad High Court.
At this time, the Kerala unit of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) was running a coalition government with Indian National Congress. Sait sahib asked the Kerala unit of IUML to part ways with the Congress and resign from the ministry. This however did not take place, as there was no ill-will among the the state leadership of the Congress and the IUML. Matters however came to head when P V Narashima Rao sought a vote of confidence in the Parliament. Sait sahib voted against P. V. Narashima Rao, and this triggered a series of events that led to Sait sahib being removed from leadership by the national executive of the party.
In the general elections of 1997 Sait sahib worked for forging a common front of Muslims and backward classes, and the defeat of the Congress under Narashima Rao, who was widely perceived to be responsible for the demolition of the Babari Masjid. He achieved this mission with the support of some secular parties, and more importantly, prevented the BJP from forming a government at the center. However, the lack of unity among secular parties and many of them attracted by material positions offered by the BJP diluted their principles and joined a BJP led front to form a government at the center in 1999.
Sait sahib quotes “I was then under the guidance of Janab Maulana Qazi Mujahidul Islam Saheb and Dr. Manzoor Alam Saheb, and all of us met all the regional Muslim parties and pleaded them to come together. Keeping up their identity and cooperate in consolidating Muslim votes, and avoid contesting against each other. All such parties agreed in principle, but because IUML backed out, the efforts failed."
Later that year, the arch communal and fascist forces of the Sangh Parivar demolished the Babari Masjid. The then Prime Minister of India, Late Mr. P. V. Narashima Rao, also the President of Indian National Congress, failed to protect the monument as promised by him.
This demolition of Babri Masid took place in December 6, 1992. This was a national catastrophe that shook the entire nation and the Muslim community. The event coincided with large scale massacre of Muslims in Faizabad, the city where the Babari Masjid stood, and in ten major cities of India simultaneously.
Even before, the Sangh Parivar was preaching Hindutva philosophy and planning for the construction of the Ram Mandir over the Babari masjid, while the case was still pending in the Allahabad High Court.
At this time, the Kerala unit of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) was running a coalition government with Indian National Congress. Sait sahib asked the Kerala unit of IUML to part ways with the Congress and resign from the ministry. This however did not take place, as there was no ill-will among the the state leadership of the Congress and the IUML. Matters however came to head when P V Narashima Rao sought a vote of confidence in the Parliament. Sait sahib voted against P. V. Narashima Rao, and this triggered a series of events that led to Sait sahib being removed from leadership by the national executive of the party.
In the general elections of 1997 Sait sahib worked for forging a common front of Muslims and backward classes, and the defeat of the Congress under Narashima Rao, who was widely perceived to be responsible for the demolition of the Babari Masjid. He achieved this mission with the support of some secular parties, and more importantly, prevented the BJP from forming a government at the center. However, the lack of unity among secular parties and many of them attracted by material positions offered by the BJP diluted their principles and joined a BJP led front to form a government at the center in 1999.
Sait sahib quotes “I was then under the guidance of Janab Maulana Qazi Mujahidul Islam Saheb and Dr. Manzoor Alam Saheb, and all of us met all the regional Muslim parties and pleaded them to come together. Keeping up their identity and cooperate in consolidating Muslim votes, and avoid contesting against each other. All such parties agreed in principle, but because IUML backed out, the efforts failed."
Formation of Indian National League
Sait sahib undertook a tour of the important cities across the length and breath of India, to assess the feelings of the masses, and to consult with prominent scholars. He held many talks with the state level leaders of the IUML, but he failed to impress them about the need to split ways with the Congress, who was indirectly responsible for the demolition of the Babari masjid. Because of the difference of opinion with the leaders of IUML regarding the alliance with the Congress, sait sahib decided, with a heavy heart, to break ranks with IUML.
An All India Muslim Political Convention at Delhi on 23rd April 1994 resolved to form the Indian National League. Sait sahib became the founder President.
Emerson’s famous quote "to be great is to be misunderstood," was true about Ebrahim Sulaiman Sait also. May be because of his uncompromising stance in favour of his community, though every time justifiable if measured with any scale, many people misunderstood him as a Muslim communalist. The media painted him as an extremist. In actuality, he was fulfilling his responsibility towards the people whom he represented. He deeply knew that the Muslim community in India didn’t have an alternative voice to speak for them. He entered that space, filled the vacuum and fought for the underprivileged and the tortured. He was the sole political figure in India who understood the range of insecurity among Muslims in India. But he never cashed in on them, nor did he let it turn out to extremist terrorism. In speeches, he used to quote Quranic verses abundantly. He educated people, reminded the educated ones about the responsibility of being enlightened.
In his last days, he had in his mind an honourable settlement with his parent organization for the sake of unity, but death took over him before he could make any concrete effort in this direction.
Sait sahib undertook a tour of the important cities across the length and breath of India, to assess the feelings of the masses, and to consult with prominent scholars. He held many talks with the state level leaders of the IUML, but he failed to impress them about the need to split ways with the Congress, who was indirectly responsible for the demolition of the Babari masjid. Because of the difference of opinion with the leaders of IUML regarding the alliance with the Congress, sait sahib decided, with a heavy heart, to break ranks with IUML.
An All India Muslim Political Convention at Delhi on 23rd April 1994 resolved to form the Indian National League. Sait sahib became the founder President.
Emerson’s famous quote "to be great is to be misunderstood," was true about Ebrahim Sulaiman Sait also. May be because of his uncompromising stance in favour of his community, though every time justifiable if measured with any scale, many people misunderstood him as a Muslim communalist. The media painted him as an extremist. In actuality, he was fulfilling his responsibility towards the people whom he represented. He deeply knew that the Muslim community in India didn’t have an alternative voice to speak for them. He entered that space, filled the vacuum and fought for the underprivileged and the tortured. He was the sole political figure in India who understood the range of insecurity among Muslims in India. But he never cashed in on them, nor did he let it turn out to extremist terrorism. In speeches, he used to quote Quranic verses abundantly. He educated people, reminded the educated ones about the responsibility of being enlightened.
In his last days, he had in his mind an honourable settlement with his parent organization for the sake of unity, but death took over him before he could make any concrete effort in this direction.
