Muslims of India Since Partition

by Balraj Puri

After 1947, Muslims of India acquired a different form, in terms of their role, status, problems, challenges and opportunities. The partition of the country divided them in two and later three parts and led their political, bureaucratic and intellectual elite to migrate to Pakistan.

The expert opinion was divided about their very future. W.C. Smith, a renowned scholar of Islam, for instance, believed that Islam in India would emerge as more progressive, dynamic, liberal and creative than Pakistani Islam. The fact that Muslims in India bear the same proportion in Indian Population as those in the world bear to the world population, make their experience of universal value.

Religion has two components. One is set of theological beliefs and practices. Two is a basis of a social identity. Even those who do not follow its beliefs and practices and are agnostics or atheists are an integral part of a religious community.

This book is primarily a study of Muslim community since partition. But some references to pre-partition lessons and Islam, based on its acknowledged authorities, were inevitable for the study of contemporary problems of the community.

This study of micro problems of Indian Muslims is a humble contribution to the vastly grown scholarly work on macro Islam.