Thread by @OmairTAhmad

1. Since @IndiasMuslims asked, here is my wishlist of what privileged Indian Muslims can do to make a better country for themselves, and for others.

I would dearly love an organisation set up around the idea of Article 15 - on non-discrimination.

2. I say this because of the following reasons: we have a significant section of the political spectrum which is committed to the idea of discrimination.

Muslims as the most widely spread, and most visible minority, get it in the neck, but they aren't the only ones.

3. Political parties, whether committed to discrimination or not, will pander to this.

The ones most affected are the poor, and most marginalised. But we have no real data of the state of things.

Without that data most "solutions" are either ad-hoc, or bad ones.

4. Given the size and diversity of India, the problems of one area cannot be taken as the problems of another.

These are different from state to state, and even in some cases, district to district.

There is no simple remedy, there is only the long haul of making democracy work.

5. Privileged Muslims have largely avoided this issue (though there are those that have done good work in their particular areas) because they do not want to be hammered for highlighting their Muslim identity.

Guess what? It doesn't matter, you'll still get hit.

6. Nevertheless the approach to the problem has to be secular and open. You cannot defend an open society under threat by closing in on yourself.

So, what would be my dream, is a set of linked institutions, based in each state, that monitors state bias - housing, policing, etc.

7. An institution that documents the precise problems, and the precise culprits (institutions, or individuals) so that there is a database, so we know the nature of the problem(s) and can come up with appropriate solutions.

Neither the state or political parties will do this.

8. But without this database we will be left with the situation we are in now, where the opportunistic use of discrimination will lead to a minor scandal now and then, but will not be addressed.

Facts matter. Collecting them and presenting them matters.

9. This is the way that social organisations are able to effectively tell their stories in the media, and maintain sustained pressure for change on political parties, and state machinery.

This is a way to protect yourself by protecting the Constitutional Rights of everybody.

10. While we have legal networks, and some institutions, they are rarely linked up, and the outcome is sporadic.

The Muslim community has it in their interest to do this. Will the privileged amongst them actually do so?

If not now, when?

PS To be clear, such an organisation would deal with discrimination at all levels, including issues within the Muslim community, and certainly those affecting other communities. It will require courage, honesty and communication to do this properly.