O M A Salam is the Chairman of PFI. He is a social activist, societal interventionist and energetic change maker in the society who works with the under privileged and marginalised in the society. His activism is focused on empowering India’s weakest and fighting for their rights against discrimination and alienation. His philosophy is for eradication of hunger, fear, marginalisation of all communities and every Indian and believes in the need for meaningful integration of all sections into the national mainstream. 

1. Your movement seem to generate a lot of next generation leaders. What are the organizational strengths of PFI?

We are a Neo social movement. Popular Front members are mostly young. Once they join the organization, we give them all the necessary education required to become social activists so that they can lead the society and prepare them to face the challenges. The organization has contributed good number of leaders to the society. Sincerity and commitment of our members and ever-growing popular support our organizational strengths. One of the core value we inspire them is an idea of selfless service to the community and society. Our organisation too is built upon those selfless and soulful service of the members. The interesting result is that ‘more selflessly you work, the more benefits you get from such work’. 

2. What is your vision for India? Where do you see your movement’s activities leading in the next decade? 

We want to see where all equally enjoys constitutional rights, and no citizen is excluded or persecuted on account of faith, caste, or political views. We want to see an India where there is no fear, poverty, and hunger. PFI will be a decisive movement defending people’s rights and liberties across the country. We as a nation, many times are reluctant to realise that there are many ground realities that needs to be changed in India. Society at large is getting over touchy about criticism to its shortcomings. We as an organisation made a tough choice to point out mistakes along with positive aspects of our land. This is because we are deeply committed to the people of our land and constructive criticism is what helps every nation to grow further.   

3. Are you a community centric organization or do you believe in ‘all community inclusive vision’ ?

We work for all members from all communities. We are a community based organisation but that does not mean we are ‘Only Muslim Centric’. While we work for the marginalised Muslim community we respect the rights of every other community. We uphold the secular diverse framework of India. We understand and accept the diversity of this nation and work along with all groups to fight the discrimination and bias that everyone suffers. Tribals and Minorities are the most marginalised group of people in India. Various Government report, official data, Sachar Commission report, studies by national and international NGO’s prove this point. Working for one’s own community along with assisting every other community and for every other human is our mission and vision. Every community has its share of organisations speaking on its behalf. There is nothing wrong with that. The real issues starts when hate emerges between groups and becomes a problem only when some people are organising themselves to infringe on the rights of other communities enshrined and protected by Indian constitution. 

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4. What are the issues that you see as serious and their solutions? 

One of the major issues we as a nation face shift in our political discourse from addressing the fundamental problems like price hike, poverty, and illiteracy to hate politics and communally divisive topics. This has two deadly consequences. Firstly, fundamental developmental questions are ignored and secondly, people always forced to think and act along communal lines. How can a nation progress if it is not aware of the short comings of itself and always obsessed with their communal differences? Systemic discrimination, institutionalised marginalisation are all happening and either we a society is in denial mode or gets too touchy when someone points out. The poor, tribals, Dalits, other backward classes, minorities are side-lined from the so called mainstream. We work with everyone who realises this truth and cooperated with like-minded organizations, individuals, academicians, public intellectuals to correct the system. While serving the society, we do not discriminate on the basis of religion. Even  our worst critics were in appreciation of our efforts during the floods and the pandemic. In our recently reported services and rescue operations during floods and corona, human beings, not Muslims, were the beneficiaries. Our volunteers were in forefront in cremating those Hindu brothers who died due to Covid according to their religious rites.

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