The Sachar Committee, which was appointed in 2005 by the PM to report the real condition of Muslims in India, revealed the social, economic, and political backwardness of the community despite of uncountable measures adopted by the governments in more than past 30-35 years.

Though the coming in of a minority-favoring government enhances the feeling of security among Muslims, in real sense, the living conditions rarely advance. It is quite known to all that the so-called secular political groups make every attempt to make the minority community realize that they are backed by the government in all the wrongs they commit.

While on one hand, most of the Hindus prefer preserving acceptable detachment from Muslims; the political groups on the other hand talk of promoting the wellbeing of this community till the votes are in their favor. Indeed, the essence of the word 'secular' has been manipulated in the country that is home to almost every prevailing religion in the world.

None of the political leaders are worried about the countless tailbacks; rather 'Ponzi' schemes declaring extraordinary returns are announced every other day with a view to fascinate Muslim voters. According to a recent finding, Muslim women are far educationally backward than the SCs and STs.

Until the political groups and their so-called secular leaders discontinue considering Muslims as a mere vote bank, the circumstances can hardly progress. Plus, a vital role also needs to be played by the members of this community with respect to appreciating and favoring real development.

A K Antony, heading the committee probing the underlying reasons of Congress' disaster, has recently set the political arena on fire by claiming that too much appeasement of the minority was what caused the Congress to pack their bags. Again, no one seems to be worried of the facts revealed by the Sachar Committee, which begs for factual betterment of the minority.

Lastly, alike is the case with backward castes, which once were coddled for being key voters for particular political groups; however with time focus shifted more towards the minority voters.

Vital to note, the percentage of underprivileged from amongst the Hindu backward castes as well as the non-reserved castes is far more than the percentage of minority under the poverty line. 

And acknowledged by all is the fact that our senseless reservation system enhances the living standard of only the capable backward families, whereas the really economically deprived families, no matter from general or the reserved category, rarely fetch any paybacks. Time urgently calls for comprehensive reinvention of the definition of secularism and backwardness.