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Author: Balraj Puri Discourse on
Indian Muslim identity (Mar 25, 2008, The Hindu) The book does
offer solid evidence of such a varied life experience of having witnessed
perhaps the most tumultuous years of the subcontinent's politics and its uneasy
relationship with history and religion in determining its political trajectory.
There are eight essays that had appeared in the Economic and Political Weekly
at different points of time, and the book addresses a wide variety of themes
dealing with Muslim politics like ethnic violence, identity formation, and
other concerns of community such as the rise of Hindu fundamentalism. The
essays on Meerut, Ayodhya, and Gujarat are particularly well written. He also
addresses other major issues such as the impact of Iqbal and Azad, and their
thoughts on the community's political views, and the chapter comparing Iqbal
and Maulana Azad raises some interesting concerns with regard to Indian
Muslims' contemporary perception about history. The book's
primary concern is the predicament of Indian Muslims after Partition. On this
theme, he argues that the three issues, Aligarh Muslim University, Urdu
language, and Muslim personal law were considered as the major symbols of
Muslim identity. While the Indian Muslims are very touchy about each one of
these issues, it is the threat from the Hindu fundamentalists, especially with
regard to Muslim personal law and Urdu language that has forced the community
to be on the defensive. What also finds appreciation here is the growing voice
of Muslim liberals, often muzzled by nearly all political parties, who choose
to deny them as being representative of Indian Muslims, and their vision as the
community's vision. This concerted denial has been the enduring source for the
growing grip of Muslim fundamentalists over the community's fate. The essays on
secularism and communalism offer interesting insights on the challenges that
Indian society faces. But the author seems to be optimistic about the future of
Indian Islam whose distinct character makes it particularly a privileged one as
opposed to Islam in Pakistan or Bangladesh.... Had the author updated few
chapters such as the one on Ayodhya or Gujarat, the book would have been more
relevant. These developments have taken new turns raising new concerns for
Indian democracy as well as for Indian Muslims. Nonetheless, considering the
fresh insights it offers on the various concerns of Muslims, the book
definitely deserves to be read by all those who care for India's democracy and
its growing struggle with multiculturalism. http://www.hindu.com/br/2008/03/25/stories/2008032550021500.htm
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