Indian Muslims not a homogeneous entity: Ansari

Indian Muslims are not a homogeneous entity and any generalization about them is "hazardous" as they have performed differently at different sections of society, Vice President Hamid Ansari said here today.

Highlighting the Sachar Committee report as a "landmark" step to evaluate the socio- conomic condition of minorities, Ansari said for several decades the community remained largely unstudied or understudied.

Ansari was addressing a gathering during the release of a book "Muslims in Indian Cities: Trajectories of Marginalisation" edited by Laurent Gayer and Christophe Jaffrelot.

Contesting the editors' view that Muslims here are losing grounds, Ansari said "this conclusion may be contested on two grounds. Firstly, any generalisation for so large a number spread over a vast area is hazardous."

Secondly, he added, "as the editors themselves have pointed out, Muslims of India are not a homogeneous entity."

Observing that different stratas of the Muslim community have performed differently, he said "the elite of the feudal past have lost ground but some amongst them have adapted themselves well."

"New elites have sprung up amongst those who in the past were under socially privileged and are now doing well in terms of educational levels and economic well being."

He also said the community has realised that they can make their weight felt in the political decision-making process.

"The realisation is donning that as equal partners in a democratic polity, governed by the ideal of social-economic and political justice, they can make the weight of numbers felt in political decision-making," Ansari said.

Ansari said government had in 2005 formed the Sachar Committee to collect authentic information on social, economic and educational status of the Muslim community so that it could be used in formulation of specific policies and programmes to address its socio-economic backwardness.

"The Sachar Committee report has become a landmark and has been used by government for affirmative action in different areas. The extent to which it has succeeded is subject of a lively debate," he added.

... contd.

ALSO READ

Railway bribery case shocking: Nitish Kumar

Job-for-cash scam: Role of Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal under CBI scanner

India shoots down 'deal' talk over China incursion, mum on status quo

Delhi gangrape victim's horror ordeal included many bites: Witness