Indian Muslims: Between Secularism & Majoritarianism | In Conversation with Prof. Mujibur Rehman

In this insightful episode of the Nous Network Podcast, we sit down with Prof. Mujibur Rehman to discuss the challenges, identity, and future of Indian Muslims as discussed in his book Shikwa-e-Hind. He examines their engagement in pre-partition politics, the debate around their role in the demand for partition, and how their identity was shaped under the secularism project. The conversation delves into the delegitimisation of secularism as Muslim appeasement under Hindutva and secularism's broader failure in global politics in protecting minority rights.

Prof. Rehman also unpacks the complexities of Muslims as a minority in India, analysing the "Muslim Question" within the Hindu-Muslim framework and its intersections with caste. He discusses the role of upper castes in shaping secularism and whether their support for it was conditional. The conversation further explores the question of equality in the context of caste and Hindutva, as well as the indifference of dominant castes toward the question of Indian Muslims. Finally, he reflects on why Indian Muslims have struggled to secure political space and what this means for their political future in India's democracy.

Join us for this deep dive into history, identity, and politics with Prof. Mujibur Rehman.

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#IndianMuslims #MuslimPolitics #MuslimIdentity #Hindutva #secularisminindia



00:00 - Teaser
01:52 - Introduction of the host
03:07 - Pre-Partition Politics: Indian Muslims' Engagement
11:30 - Did Indian Muslims Support Partition?
19:14 - Identity Construction Under Secularism
22:15 - Secularism as Muslim Appeasement
32:21 - Global Manifestations of Secularism & its Failure
40:27 - Muslims as a Minority: A Deeper Understanding
46:41 - The Muslim Question & Hindu-Muslim Framework
48:30 - Upper Castes & Muslim Minorities
52:49 - The Muslim Question in the Dominant Caste Framework
01:02:10 - Hindu Dominant Castes & Conditional Support for Secularism
01:05:36 - Are Upper Castes Indifferent to Indian Muslims?
01:15:11 - Why Did Indian Muslims Struggle for Political Space?
01:20:02 - Hindu Dominant Castes Must Revive Secular Politics
01:23:58 - Why Indian Muslims Must Engage with Evolving Politics
01:32:01 - The De-Islamisation Project of Hindutva
01:34:25 - Rethinking Minority Rights: A Nuanced Approach to Othering of Muslim in India