Muslims of India and Their Well-Being

Abstract

This chapter aims to provide an account and analysis of some of the issues that have impinged upon the Well-Being of Muslims in India since the Partition of 1947. Much of the discussion centres around such issues that lie at the heart of the economic, political and social vulnerabilities of the community: myth and reality of history, intellectual decline, ghettoisation, lack of inclusiveness, discrimination, short-termism of political calculations, influence of orthodoxy on personal law, lack of adaptability to modernity, and the rise of Hindu revivalism. All of these have resulted in generalised anti-Muslim prejudice and, on occasions, outright hostility ending in communal massacres. Additionally, successive Indian governments have failed to take effective measures to help the community to counter this trend or to alleviate their economic disadvantage and marginalisation. There are, however, throughout the chapter, hints of a safer and more secure environment for the Muslim community, made possible by the fact that India is a living democracy where everyone is expected to live under the rule of law, as enshrined in the Constitution. This constitution also protects both India and her Muslim population from the malaise of racist nationalism. Additionally, the spiritual tradition of Indian Islam adds to the sense of well being among Indian Muslims.

The author thanks Akhtar Hussain (in Manchester) and Muhammad Yassin Gadda (at Aligarh Muslim University, India) for reading this chapter and suggesting a number of improvements. I take full responsibility for any remaining errors in the chapter.