http://www.radianceweekly.com/index.php?issue_id=253&issue-date=2011-05-01&Topic=WELFARE-PARTY-OF-INDIAAn-Essay-in-Character-based-Statecraft
The first piece of authentic information that has to be divulged is that the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has neither floated a political party nor set up any political wing to evince support to its policies at national level.
The second foremost point, meant to remove the thick cobwebs of misunderstandings and prejudices, is that about 100 intellectuals rather feeling members of our plural society, drawn from various castes, communities and regions, have decided to launch, and have launched, a countrywide movement to ultimately put a dead stop to what is ignoble, what is impolitic, what is immoral and which is inhuman and inhumane.
It goes without saying that the constitution of the Welfare Party of India (WPI) is totally different from that of the Jamaat. So is the case with finances. The WPI has a flag also.
VALUE-BASED
The party aims at realising a value-based welfare state governed by the principles of justice, freedom and equality. The party shall strive for promotion of ethical values and high moral standards in the political system and other avenues of public life. Stimulation, advancement and fortification of democracy is one of its basic objectives. The party has decided to work towards the establishment of a welfare state by recognising the right to livelihood and other fundamental human rights. Growth and development, focussing on the equitable distribution of development benefits is its objective. Rights of minorities as recognised by the Constitution and international covenants are its sheet-anchor. It does not ignore women, and has decided to develop opportunities, ensuring their feminity is properly respected and protected. Empowerment of the weak and the oppressed has been awarded a prime position. Protection of cultural diversity and full opportunities to different cultures constitutes the party concept of cultural federalism. Protection of environment occupies its due position in the order of priorities. Accountability and transparency are supposed to be the life-blood of the party. The WPI shall strive for a just global order within the framework of integrity and sovereignty of nations.
BROAD-BASED
For the appreciation of how broad-based is the Welfare Party can be understood from a brief reference to its office bearers. Mr. Mujtaba Farooque is the president while the vice presidents are Mr. Ilyas Azmi, Fr. Abraham Joseph, Maulana A.W. Khilji, Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan and Mrs Lalitha Naik. The general secretaries are Dr. S.Q.R. Ilyas, Prof. Suhail Ahmad Khan, Prof. Rama Panchal, Mrs. Khalida Parveen and Dr. P.C. Hamza. The responsibility of treasurer has fallen upon the shoulders of Mr. Abdus Salam M. The secretaries are Prof. Rama Surya Rao, Akhtar Husain Akhtar, Adv. Mr. Amir Rashid and Mr. Subramani.
The task is stupendous, time-consuming and nerve-wrecking. What the activists of the WPI shall have to inevitably possess and practise is patience coupled with perseverance. Their bonafides will be suspected and motives attributed; they will have to cross a river of fire. There should be no illusion to that effect.
What is significant about this movement is that it is grounded in morality and character. That is why we have used the word movement. For all practical purposes, we feel, this party shall not be a party in the normal sense. The WPI is a sincere essay in moral rearmament, a term that has lost its shine and value.
A person who attaches due importance to moral values does so at his own risk these days. He is lampooned at. Jokes are circulated about him, about his dress and what not. Dud and idiot are the adjectives used for him by his critics. He can be anything but not a smart persona by all the clevers-by-half. Think of the volume of derision and disdain when such a person confidently speaks about the much-needed reconstruction of our society.
Cast a glance at the various ideologies that claim to provide panacea for the various ills afflicting the society. Also keep in view the individual character of the so-called divines, saints and savants. Do the said ideologies and the ideologues answer your basic questions regarding the statecraft? These questions shall be responded to effectively by the new party.
THE QUESTION
In the given situation, the question of the questions is how to tame the shrew, how to de-animalise the animal or how to domesticate the beast? Man is neither a male shrew nor an animal nor a beast. He is the Vicegerent of God upon earth. But this Vicegerent is bound to go astray in the planned absence of ethical values and moral dos and donts as we see today.
With a view to driving home the basic postulates of the new party, it is necessary to deal with its vision and values. The party has decided to promote alternative politics in the country. It attaches utmost importance to higher standards of morality, ethical values and a society free from crimes, corruption, selfishness and narrow-minded prejudices. Accountability and transparency constitute hallmarks of the WPI.
MODAL STATE
The focus of the Welfare Party is upon the creation of a modal welfare state. It thinks it necessary to reiterate that the citizens of a welfare state deserve provision of sufficient nutritious food, decent clothing, proper shelter and essential health care. It attaches pronounced importance to education.
Along with development, the WPI puts justice and equality. It envisages steady growth in industry, trade, commerce and national economy which the party calls for reform. It opposes concentration of wealth in a few hands. That development is not development which does not uplift the backward and the downtrodden.
Pluralism and inclusiveness constitutes the backbone of the party’s thought process. It disagrees with that concept of democracy which believes in majorityism. It encourages inclusiveness and plurality.
The WPI believes in cultural federalism. It envisages a society where all cultures shall enjoy full opportunities to thrive and develop. The party believes in the concept of federalism that covers the cultural federalism along with geographic and linguistic federalisms.
How to bring change in the setup is the question the concept paper of the party does not ignore. It says how the much-needed political change can be accomplished is important to understand. It does not believe in the change of hands. The entry of some new leaders is also inadequate. Any superficial or mechanical change too will not suffice. “Whatever body politic needs is a paradigm shift, a kind of metamorphosis, a change from the deep roots. It requires massive social awakening. It demands alternate political culture.”
Blessed are those who strive for reformation and correction. Strength to their elbows.
Published on web at: 2011-05-12 18:46:04 +05:30. .
Cover Story
By: DR. S. AUSAF SAIED VASFI
DR. S. AUSAF SAIED VASFI analyses the objectives of the new political party, Welfare Party of India, and finds that the task before it is stupendous, time-consuming and nerve-wrecking.
The second foremost point, meant to remove the thick cobwebs of misunderstandings and prejudices, is that about 100 intellectuals rather feeling members of our plural society, drawn from various castes, communities and regions, have decided to launch, and have launched, a countrywide movement to ultimately put a dead stop to what is ignoble, what is impolitic, what is immoral and which is inhuman and inhumane.
It goes without saying that the constitution of the Welfare Party of India (WPI) is totally different from that of the Jamaat. So is the case with finances. The WPI has a flag also.
VALUE-BASED
The party aims at realising a value-based welfare state governed by the principles of justice, freedom and equality. The party shall strive for promotion of ethical values and high moral standards in the political system and other avenues of public life. Stimulation, advancement and fortification of democracy is one of its basic objectives. The party has decided to work towards the establishment of a welfare state by recognising the right to livelihood and other fundamental human rights. Growth and development, focussing on the equitable distribution of development benefits is its objective. Rights of minorities as recognised by the Constitution and international covenants are its sheet-anchor. It does not ignore women, and has decided to develop opportunities, ensuring their feminity is properly respected and protected. Empowerment of the weak and the oppressed has been awarded a prime position. Protection of cultural diversity and full opportunities to different cultures constitutes the party concept of cultural federalism. Protection of environment occupies its due position in the order of priorities. Accountability and transparency are supposed to be the life-blood of the party. The WPI shall strive for a just global order within the framework of integrity and sovereignty of nations.
BROAD-BASED
For the appreciation of how broad-based is the Welfare Party can be understood from a brief reference to its office bearers. Mr. Mujtaba Farooque is the president while the vice presidents are Mr. Ilyas Azmi, Fr. Abraham Joseph, Maulana A.W. Khilji, Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan and Mrs Lalitha Naik. The general secretaries are Dr. S.Q.R. Ilyas, Prof. Suhail Ahmad Khan, Prof. Rama Panchal, Mrs. Khalida Parveen and Dr. P.C. Hamza. The responsibility of treasurer has fallen upon the shoulders of Mr. Abdus Salam M. The secretaries are Prof. Rama Surya Rao, Akhtar Husain Akhtar, Adv. Mr. Amir Rashid and Mr. Subramani.
The task is stupendous, time-consuming and nerve-wrecking. What the activists of the WPI shall have to inevitably possess and practise is patience coupled with perseverance. Their bonafides will be suspected and motives attributed; they will have to cross a river of fire. There should be no illusion to that effect.
What is significant about this movement is that it is grounded in morality and character. That is why we have used the word movement. For all practical purposes, we feel, this party shall not be a party in the normal sense. The WPI is a sincere essay in moral rearmament, a term that has lost its shine and value.
A person who attaches due importance to moral values does so at his own risk these days. He is lampooned at. Jokes are circulated about him, about his dress and what not. Dud and idiot are the adjectives used for him by his critics. He can be anything but not a smart persona by all the clevers-by-half. Think of the volume of derision and disdain when such a person confidently speaks about the much-needed reconstruction of our society.
Cast a glance at the various ideologies that claim to provide panacea for the various ills afflicting the society. Also keep in view the individual character of the so-called divines, saints and savants. Do the said ideologies and the ideologues answer your basic questions regarding the statecraft? These questions shall be responded to effectively by the new party.
THE QUESTION
In the given situation, the question of the questions is how to tame the shrew, how to de-animalise the animal or how to domesticate the beast? Man is neither a male shrew nor an animal nor a beast. He is the Vicegerent of God upon earth. But this Vicegerent is bound to go astray in the planned absence of ethical values and moral dos and donts as we see today.
With a view to driving home the basic postulates of the new party, it is necessary to deal with its vision and values. The party has decided to promote alternative politics in the country. It attaches utmost importance to higher standards of morality, ethical values and a society free from crimes, corruption, selfishness and narrow-minded prejudices. Accountability and transparency constitute hallmarks of the WPI.
MODAL STATE
The focus of the Welfare Party is upon the creation of a modal welfare state. It thinks it necessary to reiterate that the citizens of a welfare state deserve provision of sufficient nutritious food, decent clothing, proper shelter and essential health care. It attaches pronounced importance to education.
Along with development, the WPI puts justice and equality. It envisages steady growth in industry, trade, commerce and national economy which the party calls for reform. It opposes concentration of wealth in a few hands. That development is not development which does not uplift the backward and the downtrodden.
Pluralism and inclusiveness constitutes the backbone of the party’s thought process. It disagrees with that concept of democracy which believes in majorityism. It encourages inclusiveness and plurality.
The WPI believes in cultural federalism. It envisages a society where all cultures shall enjoy full opportunities to thrive and develop. The party believes in the concept of federalism that covers the cultural federalism along with geographic and linguistic federalisms.
How to bring change in the setup is the question the concept paper of the party does not ignore. It says how the much-needed political change can be accomplished is important to understand. It does not believe in the change of hands. The entry of some new leaders is also inadequate. Any superficial or mechanical change too will not suffice. “Whatever body politic needs is a paradigm shift, a kind of metamorphosis, a change from the deep roots. It requires massive social awakening. It demands alternate political culture.”
Blessed are those who strive for reformation and correction. Strength to their elbows.