‘Discourse of Muslimness inextricably linked to identity’: Hilal Ahmed on new India | NL Interview

In his latest book ‘A Brief History of the Present’, scholar Hilal Ahmed has tried to reimagine the space for minorities, especially Muslims, in the “new India”. But what led him to write the book?

In this conversation with Manisha Pande, Hilal says he wants to study Indian democracy from the vantage point of the Muslim community. His research is driven by two things inextricably linked to Muslim identity in India – the discourse of Muslimness and substantive Muslimness.

Hilal says that the 20 crore Muslims in India are divided along caste, class, and language. He also talks about the labels imposed on Indian Muslims, Hindutva politics, a true Indian Muslim, and how they can negotiate their space in the new India.

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[themarksman]

"Demolishing any temple is not permitted in Islam"
NL anchor 🤡

[gangadharhiremath]

"Muslimness is liked to identity" is this a matter of discussion? It is simply a basic fact.Needs no elaboration.It is as simple as a tree is a tree, a hill is a hill, Sun is Sun and Moon is a moon.

[aritrikghosh]

Is your Muslim identity superseding your Indian identity ?

[vikasanand]

Nalla News laundary ko abtak kolkata nhi on you....