Najmuddin A Farooqi.
Today, the Indian Muslim finds himself caught in a complex and often puzzling dilemma. Although the word dilemma already implies confusion, the current situation is so peculiar and multilayered that the term “unexplained dilemma” becomes almost necessary. This uncertainty is both self-generated and externally stimulated fed by forces across the political spectrum, whether aligned with Prime Minister Modi or opposed to him.
On one side, anti-Modi voices, especially on social media, have built an entire ecosystem around political content, much of which attracts minority audiences. On the other side, mainstream media driven largely by pro establishment narratives projects a dominant perspective aligned with the government. For the Indian Muslim, this dynamic resembles the old Hindi proverb: “Whether the knife falls on the melon or the melon falls on the knife, the melon is the one that suffers.” In other words, no matter which narrative wins, the final product for the Indian Muslim is the same: fear.
The Many Faces of Fear
Fear today revolves overwhelmingly around the Indian Muslim, yet it would be unfair to hold any single community or political ideology wholly responsible for the current socio-political climate. Neither the entire Hindu majority, nor the Muslim minority, nor even the BJP or the larger Hindutva movement alone can be isolated as the sole cause. All of these forces, in varying degrees, contribute to the ecosystem in which this fear thrives.
Fear itself is intrinsic to human nature. It can be objective based on real threats or perceived, rooted in assumptions and narratives. In the present context, a large part of the fear affecting the Indian Muslim is perceived, although often reinforced by real incidents and political rhetoric.
A Century-Old Continuum
The fear surrounding the Indian Muslim is not new. It has evolved over generations, shaped by what can be described as a tripartite structure of fear, which today functions like a four-sided tension: historical, cultural, political and media driven.
- By the Muslim:
This fear draws some of its imagined foundations from the era of medieval Muslim rule in India. For many, the shadows of history whether accurate or exaggerated continue to evoke suspicion and defensiveness. - For the Muslim:
Emerging strongly in the late 19th century, this fear arose from competing nationalisms Hindu and Muslim each attempting to define its own identity in the waning days of colonial rule. - Of the Muslim:
The most recent layer has intensified under contemporary politics. Rhetoric from sections of the ruling establishment, amplified by a powerful mainstream media, has sharpened the perception that the Muslim is an “outsider” or a “suspect,” feeding the narrative of fear about Muslims.
The rapid spread of information often misinformation across digital platforms has become both a blessing and a curse. It empowers voices but also exaggerates anxieties.
The Double Standards of Expectation
A striking contradiction lies in the expectations placed upon the Indian Muslim. He is often expected to display exceptional patriotism, moral purity, unwavering love for Bharat Mata and an almost ritualistic hatred for Pakistan even when many Indian Muslims have family ties across the border. Meanwhile, Hindu communities abroad enjoy cordial relations with Pakistani diaspora groups and global diplomatic engagements by the Indian government including with Muslim majority nations are celebrated as pragmatic statesmanship.
The Road Ahead: Reform and Responsibility
Despite the biases they face, Indian Muslims are not without areas that require introspection. They must strive for socio-cultural reform within their own communities without compromising Islamic belief and practice, but aligning more deeply with constitutional responsibilities. Rights and duties must be understood as complementary, not competitive.
Greater cultural integration, openness and confidence in their Indian identity can reduce the constant urge to “prove loyalty.” Equally important is a commitment to reject all forms of violence physical or verbal and to embrace compassion towards all, especially towards fellow citizens in the majority community.
The path forward lies not in fear, but in courage, self-reflection and mutual respect values shared by every tradition that shapes India. To Indian Muslims: please set aside the fear of ever losing your Indian citizenship. Neither through SIR nor without it does the Modi government have any such plan or intention. Please do not be swayed by political statements, whether from the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister or the Home Minister of India, on this matter.
