Politics of ‘Pasmanda’ Muslims

Abstract

Muslim politics in India has gone mainly through two phases in the postindependence era. The first phase (1947–91) is marked by increasing political ghettoisation of Muslim, subsequently leading to the rise of identity politics. This phase lend credence to the idea that Muslims are a homogenised community. The political demands, in this phase, formulated as a process of collective bargaining by community were such as protection and promotion of Urdu; Aligarh Muslim University; non-interference of government into the personal laws, etc. This came as a handy tool for right wing to fuel the majority communalism. The second phase (1991 onwards) marks the onset of democratisation era. With the implementation of Mandal Commission and inclusion of backward Muslim castes into it, the political agenda has shifted from secularism and communalism to social justice; from security to development and equity. This article has tried to contextualise theoretically the marked shift into the Muslim politics due to the democratisation process initiated by inclusion of backward Muslims into the fold of reservation. This article is an attempt to look at the wider implication on Indian political process in post-Mandal phase by taking case study of Bihar. In the process, this article has tried to provide a detailed analysis of the role that is being now played by the Pasmanda Muslim (OBCs and Dalits) in Bihar politics.