Caste-based discrimination in higher education among Muslims: an intra-community perspective

Much of the discourse on discrimination in Indian higher education has been centered on the discrimination against the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes. Social scientists and academicians have overlooked the discriminatory practices among Muslims in higher education institutions. This study attempts to understand and map the discrimination among Muslims from an intra-community perspective. While analyzing so, it tries to comprehend the discriminatory practices at three levels. First, during the teaching-learning process; second, discrimination on the residential life or college campus; and third, marginalization of backward and Dalit Muslim students in the students’ union. The present study argues that there is a lack of covert or manifested discrimination against the backward and Dalit Muslims by the Ashraf Muslim students and teachers in their respective higher education institutions. The Pasmanda (backward and Dalit Muslims) Muslims argue that the upper caste Muslim students have a sense of superiority of their respective castes. The research also finds that the superiority complex is not limited to the Ashraf students; rather, it is also rampant among the backward Muslim students compared to other lower castes and Dalit Muslim students. This suggests that Dalit Muslim students are facing a latent form of discrimination as compared to their fellow counterpart, the backward Muslims. This study also asserts that the dominance of upper caste Muslim students can be observed at the students’ union. This situation replicates the national and state level scenario; wherein, upper caste Muslims dominate the state and national level politics.