Speaking on the `Challenge before the Indian Muslim in the next millennium', writer Dr Rafiq Zakaria said in these changing times, if the Indian Muslims want to survive, then they have to take help from all quarters.

They have to stop wallowing in their misery and have to give priority to education and upliftment of their community.

Describing Mohammad Ali Jinnah as the `villain of the Independence movement', he said Jinnah had done more damage to India and Indian Muslims than any other medieval ruler and generations of Muslims would curse him.``Jinnah divided the Muslims into three categories -- Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and Indian Muslims.

The Biharis in Bangladesh are persecuted and there are frequent reports of massacres of those who migrated to Pakistan and their leader lives in London. The Indian Muslimsare not much better off since the Hindus think that their loyalties lie with Pakistan. In fact, the Indian Muslims hate Pakistan more than the Hindus because they have suffered a lot because of it,'' he pointed out.

He added that a perusal of history showed that the two communities were very close and it was only in the past 150 years that relations between the two communities soured. To restore harmony between the two communities, the Muslim community should reassure the Hindus that they are an integral part of India, who have played an important role in the development of the country and are as proud, as they are, of being Indians.