Rediff On The NeT: Transcript of the Najma Heptulla Chat


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The Najma Heptulla Chat

(Sat May 10 20:46:55 1997 IST):

Dr Najma Heptulla: (My Old School mate) Are you shy of identifying yourself. I'm sure you are not a boy because in our school boys never did needle work, they only needled the hardworking girls , but now you have taken the job of the boys by needling me :-)

(Sat May 10 20:47:00 1997 IST):

A N Lakhotia: The BJP has spoken of amending the Constitution? They believe it has outlived its utility in its present form, and perhaps think it is time to move to a Presidential system. Would you agree?

(Sat May 10 20:47:15 1997 IST):

This is yr school mate again: I guess my memory is far worse than I thought! Well, well, how age catches up with all of us!

(Sat May 10 20:49:52 1997 IST):

Old School Mate: *LoL* well, well... then I was always good at needlework! And at needling people too, Najma!

(Sat May 10 20:50:17 1997 IST):

What difference will Sonia Gandhi make to the Congress? Can she take over the leadership? (Lakhotia)

(Sat May 10 20:51:36 1997 IST):

Dr Najma Heptulla: (Aziz) No one raised this charge of pulliong people down against me. I'm a positive person I feel if all of us work together for the unity and integrity of the country then only there would be any progress, In any case being deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha my job is to carry everybody together. There is no substitute for hard work if Muslims and other do their jobs to the best of their abilities without bothering about other people's jobs. Life would be worth living.

(Sat May 10 20:51:52 1997 IST):

James: It is getting late in Cairns. Just a couple of questions before I log out. Do you see India becoming a major power? The politically correct answer is yes. You know as I do is no. India has no future. Unlike the Chinese there is something flawed in our character. Do you agree?

(Sat May 10 20:53:02 1997 IST):

Sam Bagchi: Someone asked about amending the Constitution. Do you believe the President should be elected directly by the people?

(Sat May 10 20:53:09 1997 IST):

(Sat May 10 20:54:33 1997 IST):

How can the quality of our MPs improve?

(Sat May 10 20:55:17 1997 IST):

Thank you, Madam. So you are saying the quality of Muslim leadership is fine. Why then do we turn to the likes of the Bukharis?

(Sat May 10 20:56:55 1997 IST):

James again from Cairns. One final question before I log out. I want to know from your your agenda for India. If youare going to be vice-president of my country, I must know your agenda for change.

(Sat May 10 20:57:45 1997 IST):

Do you think the Indians have expanded in their minds to accept K R Narayan as the President? (Savitha)

(Sat May 10 20:57:46 1997 IST):

Dr Najma Heptulla: (A N Lakhotia) : From time to time the Constitution of India has been amended almost 80 times, as and when the need was felt according to the changed situation in the past 50 years. There is a debate that to achieve stability of a government the President or the Executive head should be elected directly by the people. But in a diverse country like India it will not be possible to have one person emerge as a representative of the entire nation. While the diversity is so much that an Indian from Nagaland is unable to communicate to another Indian from Gujarat , Karnataka or any other state and vice versa. If that is our diversity then only the parliamentary system of democracy can bring unity .

(Sat May 10 21:00:40 1997 IST):

Dr Najma Heptulla: (Savitha) Yes he is the vice-president of the country they only have to drop the 'vice' , if they are wise:-)

Muslims may turn to Bukhari for leading the prayers for which he is capable.

(Sat May 10 21:02:26 1997 IST):

I'Ll check out your responses (if any later). Good night, Ma'am. All the very best for your election as vice-president. May you take India to greater glory!

(Sat May 10 21:02:37 1997 IST):

That's James...

(Sat May 10 21:03:26 1997 IST):

Do you believe the President should be elected directly by the people?

(Sat May 10 21:05:21 1997 IST):

Has Dr Heptullah left? It must be late out there.

(Sat May 10 21:05:27 1997 IST):

Dr Najma Heptulla: (Dear James) Neither do I put my cart before the horse nor do I count my chickens before they are hatched*LOL* India has shown its maturity of political leadership in the world not from now but from the time of Nehru and the non aligned movement, we have to become an economic power for which we have taken positive steps and I'm quite confident we will achieve our objectives. In spite of all the difficulties the problems which a developing country has to face.

(Sat May 10 21:06:55 1997 IST):

Dr Heptullah: Are you still a fan of the Arabs? I remember you were a fervent supporter of the Palestinian cause when you were her in Bombay. Do you believe the Gujral doctrine has tilted towards Israel? is that not sad?

(Sat May 10 21:08:10 1997 IST):

One last question before you leave: This is Aziz here. What future lies for Indian Muslims in a BJP-ruled India? I have folks there, and I am keen to know whether they should migrate to Pakistan or to the US. Will they be safe in Advani's Hundu Rashtra?

(Sat May 10 21:11:04 1997 IST):

Dr Najma Heptulla: (Arab fan) I supported the just cause of the Palestinian people as I support the cause of all oppressed and suppressed people. Today they have signed a peace treaty in our lifetime and hope they will have a lasting peace which is good for both Palestinians and Israelis. I don't think the Gujral doctrine is against anybody or tilted towards anybody , as I understand it is for friendship and peaceful co-existence with the neighbours for future co-operation.

(Sat May 10 21:11:35 1997 IST):

Sorry, that should read Hindu rashtra...

(Sat May 10 21:12:22 1997 IST):

Quadeer:Ms. Najma Heptullah, Where would you like to see yourself in eight years from now?

(Sat May 10 21:20:04 1997 IST):

A N Lakhotia: Goodbye, Dr Heptullah. All the best for your campaign!

(Sat May 10 21:20:06 1997 IST):

Dr Najma Heptulla: (Aziz) I will give a quote from Maulana Azad's speech " I'M A MUSLIM AND I'M PROUD TO HAVE ISLAM'S BEST HERITAGE, I'M ALSO AN INDIAN AND I'M PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS GREAT EDIFICE WHICH IS INDIA AND I'M NOT WILLING TO RELINQUISH THIS RIGHT OF MINE." If you believe that India is my country as Maulana Azad believed you would not have any doubts about your right to live in India and be an Indian as much as any other Indian. As Maulanasahab believed that religion is not the only cause to unite or divide people this is proved so true in the case of Bangladesh and the war between Iraq and Iran or Iraq and Kuwait, they all are Muslim states. While in India we have people of diverse religions, castes, langauges, cultures and ethnic groups yet we have lived here for centuries. Is there any country which does not have conflicts and problems, however unified or homogenous it is. Conflicts are a part of living and we have to learn to overcome the difficulties. And draw the strength from within .

(Sat May 10 21:21:20 1997 IST):

Thank you, Madam. Khuda Hafiz.

(Sat May 10 21:27:05 1997 IST):

Dr Najma Heptulla: (Quadeer) In India, my beautiful country.

To all of you who spared your time either early morning, late evening, mid-day or mid-night to have this interaction on Rediff On The NeT we really sometime differed but I did try to dissimate my views in different directions sitting here in my own country. This is called global village or global neighbourhood or Vasuudev Kutumbakam, meaning the whole world is One family. Thanks.