Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is now the Head of the Democratic Progressive Azad party (DPAP), stoked controversy when he stated on Thursday, that majority of Muslims in India were converts, since they were originally all Hindus. In fact, Azad’s assertion was consistent with the thinking within the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh which has always considered India to be one Nation, One People. Azad is a pragmatic politician and by expressing his views at a public meeting at Doda, he has sent a clear message to fringe Hindu groups, that they should stop attacking Muslims, because they shared common roots as fellow citizens. His understanding is also based on civilization consciousness, which historically establishes, that the number of Muslims who were left behind as parts of the invading Armies, was negligible. Therefore, the focus should be on the rest of the Muslims, who were converts, and embraced the religion over a period of time. To substantiate his argument, Azad claimed that there were no Muslims in Kashmir 600 years ago, and those who practiced the religion there were originally Pandits who converted. The statement coming from a frontline national political leader, who did his apprenticeship in the Congress, assumes significance, since it is also aimed at both making the Muslims aware of their roots, and also to send a message to fringe Hindu groups to stop attacking them. The attack on the Muslims by the right wingers were out of ignorance, and they need to be also made aware that it is shared history that has resulted in the origin of Islam in this country. While other Kashmiri leaders like Mehbooba Mufti have criticized Azad for his remarks, he has spoken from his heart, keeping in mind historical facts. This is also well known that the Muslim elite in this country, which owes its origins to the invaders, has very less connect with their brethren, and likes to remain in its own small world. There are many scholars who make the mistake to comparing Islamists in India with those who are responsible for militant and terrorist activities in Europe and the West including America. The difference is that the majority of Indian Muslims have the same ethnic background as the Hindus unlike the West where they are of a different ethnic stock, and thus are unable to blend in and accept the values that exist there. Instead, they want to spread their own culture and beliefs which are completely unacceptable and at variance with the countries they have moved to. In this country, the Muslims and Indians have grown up together, and in many parts, they co-exist since they understand each other. Many observers refer to the Ganga Jamuna Tehzeeb which entails the understanding, where both the communities have appreciation of each other’s cultures and religious practices. However, it needs to be understood that the rise of Hindu fundamentalism has actually been at the cost of disturbing the communal harmony. The Muslims are targeted and many fringe leaders continue to spew venom thus adding to the insecurity of the minorities. Most of such persons are not aware of the shared background, and do so only to further their designs. Many of the activists who are striking a discordant note would have been sacked, had a leader like Atal Behari Vajpayee been at the helm of affairs. Coming back Azad, who virtually introduced the Father of the Nation to the people in the Kashmir Valley, his long experience in politics, has helped him to formulate his thinking. In one stroke, he has thrown a reality cover around his community thus distancing it from its followers elsewhere. Azad has been a believer in Gandhi’s philosophy but obviously he has disputed Bapu’s earlier thoughts which tried to focus on the Arabian roots of the community. In fact, this was never true and even Mohammad Ali Jinnah, who was himself a second or a third generation convert, rejected Gandhi’s opinion that the Indian Muslims had Arabian roots. Many political analysts may believe that Azad was doing this to strengthen his association and understanding with the Sangh Parivar, in order to further his own ambitions. This is an inaccurate way of analysing a leader who has a very deep awareness of how the political dynamics works and thus has the ability of translating his thoughts into action and words. For students of history and civilization, the borders from the Himalayas in the North to Kanyakumari in the South have virtually remained unchanged. However, whatever alterations took place were on our Western and Eastern borders and in any case, the invading armies looted, plundered and left. Very few of them stayed back and the majority of Muslims in India are those who converted. Thus, to describe them as aliens would be factually incorrect. For instance, in Muzaffarnagar and adjoining areas where communal riots took place some years ago, the Muslims and Hindus are from the same social background. It was only divisive politics that lit the fire there. Azad has tried to lower the rising temperature of discord that is evident by making his well thought through assertion. He needs to be supported for his correct observations which should not be necessarily viewed from the prism of politics alone.