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Indias Muslim Spring : Why is Nobody Talking about It?
There is a new generation of Muslims who want to rid the community of its insular and sectarian approach by concentrating on things that affect their everyday lives. This book focuses on the current Muslim mood in India, particularly that of the youth who are trying to move the community into a new-more positive-direction. Despite a marked increase in religiosity and an assertion of Muslim identity, young Muslims are more secular and forward looking than the older generation. They also have a strong sense of belonging to India and see no contradiction between being proud Indians and proud Muslims at the same time. Keen to draw a line under the past, they are harbingers of Indias equivalent of Muslim spring.
Interesting Facts:
A study of Muslim identity in contemporary India.
This book is an attempt to provide a corrective to the often deliberately peddled negative perceptions of Muslims and to highlight the profound change in Muslim thinking.
A narrative on the younger generation Muslims in India as more cosmopolitan and inclusive and Indian.
Talks of the quiet but historic shift taking place in the Muslim mood.
About the Author
Hasan Suroor is a London-based journalist and has written extensively on identity politics, communalism and Muslim issues. In 1993, he won the prestigious Ford Foundation Press Fellowship at Wolfson College, Cambridge University, to study the British experience of multiculturalism. He returned to Wolfson College in 1998 as a Visiting Fellow. A Delhi University graduate, Suroor started his career with The Statesman, Delhi, in the early 1970s when-as the joke goes-it was still a newspaper. Later, he moved to The Hindu and was its UK correspondent for well over a decade.
Interesting Facts:
A study of Muslim identity in contemporary India.
This book is an attempt to provide a corrective to the often deliberately peddled negative perceptions of Muslims and to highlight the profound change in Muslim thinking.
A narrative on the younger generation Muslims in India as more cosmopolitan and inclusive and Indian.
Talks of the quiet but historic shift taking place in the Muslim mood.
About the Author
Hasan Suroor is a London-based journalist and has written extensively on identity politics, communalism and Muslim issues. In 1993, he won the prestigious Ford Foundation Press Fellowship at Wolfson College, Cambridge University, to study the British experience of multiculturalism. He returned to Wolfson College in 1998 as a Visiting Fellow. A Delhi University graduate, Suroor started his career with The Statesman, Delhi, in the early 1970s when-as the joke goes-it was still a newspaper. Later, he moved to The Hindu and was its UK correspondent for well over a decade.
- GenresIndiaNonfiction
217 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 2, 2014
Suroor's book is a dispassionate but incisive analyses of the Indian-Muslim psyche. The objective is clear: The book is not to "reopen the wounds" but "about looking ahead rather than raking up the past". And how well does he accomplish this. More such books need to be written, read and discussed. The author apportions the blame to all the stake holders but with a view to looking ahead as he discerns and illustrates the green shoots of hope that need to be nurtured and leveraged. The seminal statement is made in the beginning itself: "For the past 60 years Muslims have faced criticism (and rightly so) for refusing to change. Now that they are trying to do so, we owe it to them to acknowledge it and encourage them." Not only is his diagnosis absolutely on the mark, his prescription for course correction is eminently do-able.
A must read for all the Indians
A must read for all the Indians
October 17, 2015
I am familiar with Hassan Suroor’s essays and articles in ‘The Hindu’ on subjects related to secularism in India, Indian Muslims and Muslims in the UK. He has always been a credible journalist on these issues. However, the title of this book came as a surprise to me because I had not come across him write on this subject in the columns of ‘The Hindu’ so far. Naturally, I had to read it straight away, because secular Indians cannot have enough of the good news that the title promised - especially in today’s atmosphere of distrust and suspicion towards muslims wherever they are in a minority.
The author’s thesis in the book is briefly as follows:
There is a pleasant spring breeze blowing in the world of India’s muslims today in so far as their outlook and mood are concerned. They are no longer mired in self- pity and victimhood. Instead, young Indian Muslims are introspective and are vigorously engaging in debates on the challenges facing their 177-million strong community. They are looking for ways to pull themselves up by their own efforts instead of blaming others for their problems. The Mullahs have been gradually pushed aside in representing their community; instead, education, jobs and economic advance have taken more centre-stage in their consciousness, just as it is with Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Jains and Parsis. As a result, the younger generation does not feel the identity crisis that their parents felt and hence feel more comfortable in asserting their ‘Muslim-ness’ by wearing the hijab or being more religious than their parents or even doing the Haj even as they are young. In this endeavour, the author calls for more support from the majority community for the flowering of this spring by not harping on muslims to answer provocative questions like, ‘are you Indian first or Muslim first?’ or accuse them as ‘Babur ki aulad’. He asks the police not to immediately pounce on young muslims and take them into custody the moment a terror attack takes place. He wants the media to give more space to these ‘modern younger muslims’ in their TV and written forms, instead of always asking a regressive mullah or an avowed political polemicist to represent the muslim viewpoint, as it happens now. Some of the young muslims whom Suroor interviewed for research on this book said to him that ‘ India is the safest and best place for Muslims to live’ and that they have never faced discrimination in India. One young man even said that the muslim leadership could have shown grace and offered to relocate the Babri mosque in order for the Hindu community to build a temple for Ram on a spot they have revered for centuries.
It is indeed heart-warming for me to read such inclusive sentiments in today’s BJP-inspired vitiated atmosphere of communal relations where I see Muslims being displaced from their homes due to the engineered riots in Muzaffarnagar and Gujarat. At the same time, I feel that the book is quite short on empirical evidence to accept that such a spring is upon us and that it is only because of the negativity of the media that we don’t experience it. For example, having come from Tamilnadu, I see empirical evidence everyday around me for the claim that the ‘reservation’ policy has made a huge difference to the Backward Castes in the state, irrespective of the media. One doesn’t see such pervasive evidence of the muslim spring yet in India. Most of the interviewees in the book are urban young muslims from Aligarh, Lucknow or Delhi. It does not include the different denominations among muslims and even the author himself says elsewhere that Indian muslims are not a single monolithic block, all thinking the same at any given time. There are no interviews with rural muslims or muslims from southern India. I would make bold to say that if northern Indian muslims feel so positive of their future, then it must be even better in the less communal and more development-focused south. But, even in Tamilnadu or Kerala, one does not easily experience such a spring in public life in the cities.
There are other points as well in the book that I have a beef with. The author, while very critical of the mullahs and Deobandi clerics, rates the demolition of the Bari Masjid as a defining moment in alienating Indian muslims. There is no doubt it is so but it is also mainly due to the mullahs raising this issue to such a life and death question, aided by well-meaning secular Hindus. Looking at it dispassionately, surely, the Gujarat 2002 pogrom or the recent riots in Muzaffarnagar are more devastating blows to the muslims than the demolition of a mosque which was not even in use. By raising the masjid demolition to such a high level, I think the author has played into the hands of the clerics he criticises. Elsewhere, the author says that today’s young muslims are pragmatic by even voting for BJP in Gujarat after 2002. The truth may be is that they are so intimidated by the thuggery of what they experienced in 2002 rather than pragmatism. The author is extremely critical of the Congress party in the way it played the muslim ‘vote bank’ under the disguise of secularism. I agree with the author on this fully. Still, when it comes to the safety and security of muslims in India, it is more likely that they will always be safer under the Congress and other secular regional parties like the DMK, AIADMK, JD(U), TMC etc instead of the BJP and its parivar. At times in the book, I felt that the message is confusing and less hopeful. On the one hand, it is about the resurgence of young muslims and the retreat of the regressive forces among Indian muslims. On the other hand, there is a contradictory message of doubt about the larger Indian polity - the people, the state, the police, the media etc - on whether they will support this spring to flourish. I believe Mr. Suroor should be more hopeful because even in the big 2014 victory of Narendra Modi, only 30% of the people voted for the BJP and even all this 30% cannot have done so for sectarian reasons. It would be impossible for any minority in India to prosper if the Hindu majority is not secular and inclusive. The fact that all Indian minorities having prospered ahead of the Hindus in living standards gives us hope for the Muslims too, however tortuous the path may be, due to the legacy of partition.
One other issue is with the question of reservations and quotas for muslims as recommended by the Ranganath Mishra Commission. Even though some of the young muslims interviewed in the book have spoken against ‘reservations and quotas’ for muslims, I wish the author had thrown in his support on this key issue. Surely, there is no doubt that muslims must be considered an economically backward community as they are the only minority group which has a lower standard of living in India than the Hindus but still not covered by affirmative action. It is important to stress that reservations will help to improve their lot just as it has done for OBCs, SCs and STs in India. All the four Southern states have reservations for muslims ( as much as 12% in Kerala) and it has gone a long way in their upliftment, whereas UP, which has a large muslim population, has no quota for muslims.
In some total, it is a ‘feel good’ book about Indian muslims. However, the author needs to write more on the subject to convince even his admirers like me!
The author’s thesis in the book is briefly as follows:
There is a pleasant spring breeze blowing in the world of India’s muslims today in so far as their outlook and mood are concerned. They are no longer mired in self- pity and victimhood. Instead, young Indian Muslims are introspective and are vigorously engaging in debates on the challenges facing their 177-million strong community. They are looking for ways to pull themselves up by their own efforts instead of blaming others for their problems. The Mullahs have been gradually pushed aside in representing their community; instead, education, jobs and economic advance have taken more centre-stage in their consciousness, just as it is with Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Jains and Parsis. As a result, the younger generation does not feel the identity crisis that their parents felt and hence feel more comfortable in asserting their ‘Muslim-ness’ by wearing the hijab or being more religious than their parents or even doing the Haj even as they are young. In this endeavour, the author calls for more support from the majority community for the flowering of this spring by not harping on muslims to answer provocative questions like, ‘are you Indian first or Muslim first?’ or accuse them as ‘Babur ki aulad’. He asks the police not to immediately pounce on young muslims and take them into custody the moment a terror attack takes place. He wants the media to give more space to these ‘modern younger muslims’ in their TV and written forms, instead of always asking a regressive mullah or an avowed political polemicist to represent the muslim viewpoint, as it happens now. Some of the young muslims whom Suroor interviewed for research on this book said to him that ‘ India is the safest and best place for Muslims to live’ and that they have never faced discrimination in India. One young man even said that the muslim leadership could have shown grace and offered to relocate the Babri mosque in order for the Hindu community to build a temple for Ram on a spot they have revered for centuries.
It is indeed heart-warming for me to read such inclusive sentiments in today’s BJP-inspired vitiated atmosphere of communal relations where I see Muslims being displaced from their homes due to the engineered riots in Muzaffarnagar and Gujarat. At the same time, I feel that the book is quite short on empirical evidence to accept that such a spring is upon us and that it is only because of the negativity of the media that we don’t experience it. For example, having come from Tamilnadu, I see empirical evidence everyday around me for the claim that the ‘reservation’ policy has made a huge difference to the Backward Castes in the state, irrespective of the media. One doesn’t see such pervasive evidence of the muslim spring yet in India. Most of the interviewees in the book are urban young muslims from Aligarh, Lucknow or Delhi. It does not include the different denominations among muslims and even the author himself says elsewhere that Indian muslims are not a single monolithic block, all thinking the same at any given time. There are no interviews with rural muslims or muslims from southern India. I would make bold to say that if northern Indian muslims feel so positive of their future, then it must be even better in the less communal and more development-focused south. But, even in Tamilnadu or Kerala, one does not easily experience such a spring in public life in the cities.
There are other points as well in the book that I have a beef with. The author, while very critical of the mullahs and Deobandi clerics, rates the demolition of the Bari Masjid as a defining moment in alienating Indian muslims. There is no doubt it is so but it is also mainly due to the mullahs raising this issue to such a life and death question, aided by well-meaning secular Hindus. Looking at it dispassionately, surely, the Gujarat 2002 pogrom or the recent riots in Muzaffarnagar are more devastating blows to the muslims than the demolition of a mosque which was not even in use. By raising the masjid demolition to such a high level, I think the author has played into the hands of the clerics he criticises. Elsewhere, the author says that today’s young muslims are pragmatic by even voting for BJP in Gujarat after 2002. The truth may be is that they are so intimidated by the thuggery of what they experienced in 2002 rather than pragmatism. The author is extremely critical of the Congress party in the way it played the muslim ‘vote bank’ under the disguise of secularism. I agree with the author on this fully. Still, when it comes to the safety and security of muslims in India, it is more likely that they will always be safer under the Congress and other secular regional parties like the DMK, AIADMK, JD(U), TMC etc instead of the BJP and its parivar. At times in the book, I felt that the message is confusing and less hopeful. On the one hand, it is about the resurgence of young muslims and the retreat of the regressive forces among Indian muslims. On the other hand, there is a contradictory message of doubt about the larger Indian polity - the people, the state, the police, the media etc - on whether they will support this spring to flourish. I believe Mr. Suroor should be more hopeful because even in the big 2014 victory of Narendra Modi, only 30% of the people voted for the BJP and even all this 30% cannot have done so for sectarian reasons. It would be impossible for any minority in India to prosper if the Hindu majority is not secular and inclusive. The fact that all Indian minorities having prospered ahead of the Hindus in living standards gives us hope for the Muslims too, however tortuous the path may be, due to the legacy of partition.
One other issue is with the question of reservations and quotas for muslims as recommended by the Ranganath Mishra Commission. Even though some of the young muslims interviewed in the book have spoken against ‘reservations and quotas’ for muslims, I wish the author had thrown in his support on this key issue. Surely, there is no doubt that muslims must be considered an economically backward community as they are the only minority group which has a lower standard of living in India than the Hindus but still not covered by affirmative action. It is important to stress that reservations will help to improve their lot just as it has done for OBCs, SCs and STs in India. All the four Southern states have reservations for muslims ( as much as 12% in Kerala) and it has gone a long way in their upliftment, whereas UP, which has a large muslim population, has no quota for muslims.
In some total, it is a ‘feel good’ book about Indian muslims. However, the author needs to write more on the subject to convince even his admirers like me!
November 24, 2018
While I think the 'Muslim Spring' as the author terms it, has a very wide theatre, the book provides evidence for a very north Indian Muslim Spring. Mr Suroor himself acknowledges that Indian community across the country varies significantly and there is a pronounced north-south divide. But for me, he hasn't explored this divide and it's standing today. While perceptions regarding discrimination, display of religious identity are discussed at some length, one would have loved to hear the author explore how migration to the gulf countries is affecting the socio cultural fabric of the community.
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August 3, 2020It is a good read indeed. Right now nobody is talking about it is because this is a low time for Indian moslem & the community is going through a sense of LEADERLESSNESS & thus all are patient.
May 21, 2014
I have been interested in learning more about Islam , its principles and the muslims after i learnt the greatness of the religion and people from my teachers . Inspired by the thought i set out my journey by reading many books and articles on Islam . But a fundamental question always remind in my mind ” Inspite of the greatness of the religions and many great contribution of Islam in the realm of science and technology,mathematics ,astronomy, philosophy etc , why are the Muslims so intolerant & aggressive ? ” , “Inspite of having a great history why are they so underdeveloped with respect to the other minority communities in india ? ” .
With these thoughts in mind i encountered this book called ” India’s Muslim Spring : Why is nobody talking about it ” , the title immediately caught my eyes and i realized my be i am incorrect in judging the Muslim Community , and i set out to read the book to understand the dynamics in the community that is occurring at present.
The questions which have been hunting me since a long time have been well addressed in this book . The author gives an account of the muslim community in india from the day of partition to present day . Through out the journey of these 60 years , the community have made enormous changes and has set out its path on to progress and tolerance .
Hasan Surror , author of the book has brought into light many facts and arguments which are not given due importance in mainstream media . Muslim community in india is generally stereotypes as one who are intolerant , insular , under developed , illiterate , who are not at all progressive and forward looking etc . And media and politicians also attribute a lot in further cementing these ideas into the minds of people , thereby creating a space where they would be further discriminated .
The author has done a commendable job by writing this book and projecting the aspirations , priorities of the young muslim communities . According Mr. Hasan the young muslim community is more progressive in thinking , tolerant and has set out there priorities which are education , employment , standard living etc .. although they are religious but they have understood religion alone cannot make there living . According to author the young muslim have given a back seat to there emotion about partition , Ayodhya issue , Gujarat riot etc and are looking forward towards setting there community on the track prosperity . And now i consider its the duty of government , police , bureaucrats ,politicians and fellow citizens to accommodate them in our lives and give them all the facilities to enhance there living standards .
Its a great delight in reading the book , i am happy to see the changes taking place in the community . Because the idea of developed India would not be possible by progress of a majority community but its the equitable progress of all the communities present in india i.e Hindu , Muslim ,Sikh , christian , parsi , Jains , Buddhists .
I suggest this book to everyone who is interested in understanding the indian muslim and the changing trends in muslim community
With these thoughts in mind i encountered this book called ” India’s Muslim Spring : Why is nobody talking about it ” , the title immediately caught my eyes and i realized my be i am incorrect in judging the Muslim Community , and i set out to read the book to understand the dynamics in the community that is occurring at present.
The questions which have been hunting me since a long time have been well addressed in this book . The author gives an account of the muslim community in india from the day of partition to present day . Through out the journey of these 60 years , the community have made enormous changes and has set out its path on to progress and tolerance .
Hasan Surror , author of the book has brought into light many facts and arguments which are not given due importance in mainstream media . Muslim community in india is generally stereotypes as one who are intolerant , insular , under developed , illiterate , who are not at all progressive and forward looking etc . And media and politicians also attribute a lot in further cementing these ideas into the minds of people , thereby creating a space where they would be further discriminated .
The author has done a commendable job by writing this book and projecting the aspirations , priorities of the young muslim communities . According Mr. Hasan the young muslim community is more progressive in thinking , tolerant and has set out there priorities which are education , employment , standard living etc .. although they are religious but they have understood religion alone cannot make there living . According to author the young muslim have given a back seat to there emotion about partition , Ayodhya issue , Gujarat riot etc and are looking forward towards setting there community on the track prosperity . And now i consider its the duty of government , police , bureaucrats ,politicians and fellow citizens to accommodate them in our lives and give them all the facilities to enhance there living standards .
Its a great delight in reading the book , i am happy to see the changes taking place in the community . Because the idea of developed India would not be possible by progress of a majority community but its the equitable progress of all the communities present in india i.e Hindu , Muslim ,Sikh , christian , parsi , Jains , Buddhists .
I suggest this book to everyone who is interested in understanding the indian muslim and the changing trends in muslim community
May 28, 2014
A dispassionate look at the evolving community....although personally, am not believing in all the insights fully. Substantially yes, but, calling it a "Spring" seemed to me a bit of an overstatement of facts.
November 23, 2016
This book explains how creamy layer of Muslim community in India has left to Pakistan during the time of partition and how people who chosen to stay back in India suffered a lot to make livelihood in the Hindu majority country.
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June 4, 2014Nice book but author was factually incorrect at few places which may have led to biased writings on few issues. But over and all nice balanced view was presented in the book.
March 26, 2017
I believe it is a must read for every Indian. It talk about the elephant in the room, doesn't shy away from the problem, but most importantly has a positive outlook about the country.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews