The Khaksars and its Perception of the Socio Cultural Regeneration of the Muslim Community of India

The British established their hegemony in different parts of India by defeating the local rulers who were in most cases Muslims. As a result, in the beginning, the Muslims had a very hostile relationship with the colonial government. However, after the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, the situation began to change. Particularly the publication of W.W. Hunter’s book entitled The Indian Muslmans (1871), which proposed to give special protection to the Muslims in education and job sectors. The colonial government accepted these proposals as a part of its ‘divide and rule’ policy. Under this circumstance, two different reactions took place in the Muslim community. A group of Muslim elites headed by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan (1817-1898) decided to accept Western education and became a supporter of the colonial masters. Another group headed by Deoband Seminary did not allow any change in the Muslim community. Against this backdrop, this article will examine how the socio-cultural ideas of the Khaksars, a para-military Muslim organization, introduced a third paradigm or it inclined towards traditionalism.