The Waqf Land Issue: A Call for Historical Justice and Equitable Understanding

President Nila
Apr 19, 2025
3 min read

Many among our fellow citizens still lack a clear understanding of what Waqf truly represents. It is crucial that this clarity be offered — not just for academic purposes but for national and social consciousness.

Let us go back to the heart of the matter.

Dear people of Bharat,

It was only in the latter half of the 15th century that the Delhi Sultanates began to gain a more solid and aggressive foothold over the Indian subcontinent. Their reigns, however, were often fragmented, contested, and short-lived. These rulers were neither deeply rooted in the region nor in complete control of its vast and diverse territories.

In the early 16th century, the Portuguese arrived — not as allies of the locals, but as aggressive colonizers. Historically, we must remember: the Portuguese were staunch Christians who not only opposed Islamic rule but were also responsible for heinous atrocities against both Hindus and Muslims. Forced conversions to Christianity, mass killings, and the destruction of temples and mosques marked this era.

If this is the case, how did such vast tracts of Indian land later become classified as “Waqf”? Can a group that ruled erratically for fewer than 100 years, under chaotic transportation and weak administrative infrastructure, truly claim to have established such a lasting institutional presence across the country?

Those advocating for such land holdings should also ask themselves: where is justice? Where is fairness? The lands that became Waqf are often not connected to enduring governance or even authentic spiritual significance in many regions — especially in the South.

Take, for example, the Tamil South — rich in Saivite heritage and deeply rooted in thousands of years of uninterrupted civilization. How can anyone reasonably claim Waqf authority over land that was never under sustained Islamic rule? Is it not a form of comedy — or tragedy — to see claims of Waqf lands across Tamil Nadu, particularly in lands historically dedicated to Lord Shiva?

In theory, one might argue that Waqf holdings in some northern regions — such as Bengal, Punjab, or certain parts of Delhi — could be traced to historically established endowments. However, extending this to the South, where Islamic empires had little administrative control, stretches the boundaries of both reason and justice.

As an Eelam Tamil, I find it deeply painful. When we see powerful institutions or individuals holding Waqf lands — often with government backing — it reminds us of our trauma under the genocidal regime in Sri Lanka. It evokes the image of how political systems, under the guise of legality, erased ancestral heritage and stole lands with no space for justice.

In this context, I raise a simple but vital question: is it morally or historically justifiable for one religious institution to claim ownership over vast stretches of land, decades after colonial and Islamic empires have fallen? Is this what we understand by secularism, equity, and social harmony?

Justice must be rooted in truth. Land, heritage, and identity are sacred to all — not to be monopolized through colonial leftovers or legal manipulations. It is time we begin an open, fair, and fact-based national conversation on the Waqf system.

Let our voice be one of unity, clarity, and above all — justice.