Fatima Baloch
India is a multi-cultural and multi-religious nation, renowned for its rich diversity and inclusive heritage. Muslims have long held a profound cultural and historical presence in the Indian subcontinent. Over the centuries, numerous distinguished Muslim scholars, scientists, patriots, and artists have significantly contributed to India’s growth. Icons such as Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the eminent freedom fighter and educationist; Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the celebrated scientist and former President of India; Ustad Bismillah Khan, the legendary musician; and Abdul Hameed, a Param Vir Chakra awardee, exemplify this enduring legacy.
Today, Indian Muslims actively and proudly serve in the military, media, cinema, sports, politics, and across all sectors of national life. To name only a few would understate the contribution of an entire community-one that forms an integral and respected part of India’s diverse fabric.
Historically, Muslims helped shape the Indian subcontinent through governance, the founding of educational and cultural institutions, and the creation of architectural wonders. Their legacy is reflected in the names of cities and towns like Allahabad, Aurangabad, Faizabad, Adampur, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Aligarh, Muzaffarnagar, and Agra-each a symbol of India’s rich and inclusive past.
These naming traditions uphold India’s secular and democratic values, where all communities are equally respected. They affirm the nation’s foundational principle of “unity in diversity.”
Yet, during a recent escalation between India and Pakistan, Pakistani forces reportedly attempted to strike military installations, including one near Adampur, a sub-tehsil in Punjab’s Jalandhar district. Fortunately, India’s defense systems effectively neutralized the threat.
What raises serious concern is Pakistan’s military PR wing (ISPR) and some media outlets misnaming “Adampur” as “Hudumpur.” Adampur , whose name is derived from Prophet Adam-a revered figure in Islam, Christianity, and Judaism-holds deep religious and cultural significance. This deliberate distortion seems to be a calculated attempt to mask the Muslim identity of the location, likely to evade criticism from the global Muslim community for targeting a place with Islamic heritage.
Such actions expose a troubling insincerity in Pakistan’s narrative. For a country that claims to be a guardian of Islamic values, manipulating sacred names for political convenience undermines both credibility and integrity. This is not merely an error-it is an affront to religious reverence and cultural respect.
India, in contrast, continues to honor all religious traditions and promote coexistence. Its secular democracy fosters peaceful living among Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, and others, despite attempts to divide them.
Misrepresenting a name like “Adam”-a prophetic and Qur’anic reference-can be seen as blasphemy in itself. Religious leaders and scholars in Pakistan and across the Muslim world must not ignore such manipulation. Using sacred names as tools for propaganda degrades the sanctity of religion and violates its very essence.
If Pakistan genuinely upheld Islamic principles, the genocide of Bengali Muslims in 1970-71 would not have occurred. Nor would it have played a role in the devastation of Afghanistan, where-while allied with NATO and the U.S. from 2001 to 2021-it facilitated military operations that led to widespread suffering and the betrayal of thousands of Afghan Muslims. Today, the Baloch and Pashtun people face similar state-sponsored violence and repression. These atrocities, carried out under the guise of nationalism and religion, betray the spirit of Islam.
This is a critical moment for Indian Muslims, Kashmiris in Pakistan-occupied territory, Baloch, Afghans, and Pashtuns to recognize these patterns and stand united against Pakistan’s oppressive designs. It is equally important to raise such issues on international platforms-especially within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and among Muslim-majority countries-so that truth is no longer obscured by propaganda.
In the face of such duplicity, the bond between India’s diverse communities continues to strengthen. Through mutual respect, shared history, and inclusive governance-not misinformation or manipulation-true unity is forged. And it is this unity that will always outlast the politics of division.
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