National Social Leadership Summit 

Day 1: 4th March 2016

India Islamic Cultural Centre, New Delhi 

National Social Leadership Summit was inaugurated at India Islamic Cultural Centre By Shri H D Deve Gowda, former Prime Minister of India.

Navaid Hamid, General Secretary, Moemin

while welcoming the delegates spoke the need for Social Leadership in the Muslim community. He emphasized the need for developing leadership at grassroots levels. 

Aamir Edresy, President Association of Muslim Professionals. 

spoke about how to maximize the output from such gatherings. He expressed the need to have a long term action plan and working groups where the progress can me monitored. He explained how he is working young people and why it is necessary for elders to provide mentorship to young leaders.

Shri Sultan Ahmed, member of Parliament from West Bengal.

Muslim should come forward with secular and democratic force to get their rights. He mentioned that Muslims have never differentiated on the basis of religion while selecting their leaders and have always supported Non-Muslims as their leaders for nation building. The political parties who are making false promises to the Muslim community and are cheating them, should be monitored and held accountable by Muslim social leaders. 

He criticised the central government on the front of nationalism saying nationalism is not the ideology of RSS. 

H D Deve Gowda, Former Prime Minister of India 

felt that the Parliamentary Democracy is at the cross roads and quality of debates inside the temple of democracy is not what it used to be and the whole system is will lapse if correct measures are not taken.. With reference to the demands of reservation of Muslim community he gave the example of Karnataka, how the correct legislation ensures the bill stands and people are able to reap the benefit of such provisions. 

He ended by saying that If one has to achieve anything from the summit, is you to be a leader. 

Sirajuddin Qureshi, President of the  India Islamic Cultural Centre and Syed Zafar Mahmood, President Zakat Foundation of India also addressed the gathering. 

(Session – I)

Idea of India and Indian Muslims

John Dayal, Civil Rights Activist

He said that Kanahiya has not been infected but its the larger society which has been infected. He spoke about the need for being inclusive in our institutions. He laid the emphasis on our strengthening our composite culture.  The threat from communal ism is not only for Muslims buts its equally threatening for Christians and other sections of society. He was also critical of the hyper-nationalist media, which is playing with the sentiments of people. 

Dr. Sugata Bose, Member of Parliament, 

He started by giving the example of how Gandhi, Nehru and Ali Brothers, all co-existed in the same sphere despite having differences. He said he is not a communist, but he supports the ideology of Kanahiya and people should learn from this young man. he also said that Muslims have played an important role in nation building even before the the Indian State got its independence. he asked Muslims to draw inspiration from their leaders who were equal stakeholders in India’s struggle. 

Apoorvananad Jha, Professor, Delhi University 

talked about the importance of gender equality among Muslims. Muslims should should not be afraid or apprehensive of their religious identity.

Responding to a question he said its time that Muslims while giving examples of Prophet Mohammad should also set examples in terms of character and conduct in their social life. 

(Session - II) 

Indian Muslims: Beyond Ballots

Manoj Jha Professor, Delhi School of Social Work and National Spokesperson RJD. 

He objected to compartmentalization of nationalism and how people disregard National Flag when they limit it to their own definition of patriotism. 

He said the Suicide note written by Rohit Vemula is a note of suicide on civilization.  Dr Jha said that the Idea of India is very flexible that ever discussion can held under its umbrella. They have mastered the art of creating fear. He also criticized the prevailing political system where political parties have become machines for fighting elections. He explained why it is important to work together and how people are working on the agenda of creating fear.

Shabnam Hashmi, ANHAD, Justice Kolse Patil and Dhruv Sangari, Classical Sufi ?Singer also addressed the gathering.