Hindutva and the Muslim Subject

Dismayed by the increasing violence and socioeconomic exclusion affecting the Muslim community in India, the Muslim leadership decided to hold a gathering (in the city of Lucknow) of Muslim leaders and community representatives from the political, religious and cultural spheres to address the issues at hand.The purpose of this convention was to address the frustration, demoralization and pessimism affecting Indian Muslims and the apprehensions regarding the safety and security of their lives, property and social footing.The Times' report of that meeting ran with the headline "Plight of Muslims in India Discussed -Results of Increased Hindu Nationalism".According to the article, this meeting was held to discuss the "manifold injustices and prejudices" that Muslims in India have been suffering and the "outbreaks of murderous violence against Muslims".The article cites that in the wake of spiralling violence, the leadership of the Muslim community found themselves in a state of "confusion, helplessness, and despair".The Muslim leadership agreed among themselves that the chief cause for this deteriorating position of Muslims in India is Hindu nationalism.They cited five major grievances plaguing the community: Firstly, the absence of government will in curtailing violence or bringing to justice the perpetrators of violence.Secondly, the open and increasing association of Muslims in India with Pakistan and the subsequent suspicion of being in bed with the enemy.Thirdly, the caste consciousness of Hindu society dominating trade and commerce, leading to Muslim exclusion from the economic sphere.Fourthly, the discrimination shown in the employment market towards Muslims.And, fifthly, the growing belief in the public sphere that a Muslim cannot be a proper Indian.Given the contemporary plight of Muslims in India, one would not be wrong to assume that this meeting of Muslim leaders took place quite recently.However, this meeting in which the above-mentioned grievances were aired was held on 9 August 1964 (The Times, 1964).The fact that this puts to the test the commonsensical history and nature of Islamophobia in India is what constitutes the rationale