85-90% of Muslims are Pasmanda Muslims. They are native converts from Shudra, Dalit, and Adivasi social backgrounds. Most of them are highly marginalized and work as artisans, peasants, and the informal labor force. (1/n)
Due to their socioeconomic location, the Pasmanda Muslims have been exploited during the Delhi Sultanate, Mughal Sultanate, British Raj, and Independent India. In Fanon's terms, they can be characterized as the "wretched of the earth." (2/n)
The mainstream Muslim-Minority politics, dominated by the HC Ashraf castes, has no place for the concerns of Pasmanda Muslims. (3/n)
All the coordinates that trigger hatred for the Muslims--Babri Masjid, Urdu, Personal Laws, AMU, etc.--are elite machinations in which Pasmanda Muslims have no role. They have no locus standi in the deliberative process of Muslim politics. (4/n)
Yet, the brunt of anti-Muslim violence is most often borne by the Pasmanda Muslims, whether during the riots, pogroms, or lynchings. (5/n)
The Hindu-Muslim binary and graded inequality have proved to be successful elite instruments to arrest the assertions of the pan-religion subjugated castes/classes and reproduce servitude. (6/n)
The Pasmanda Movement has been tirelessly striving to seek legitimacy for its narratives. It tries to delink from mainstream Muslim politics and present alternative and grounded articulations on identity, solidarity, reform, security, and equity. (7/n)
The left/liberal/bahujan spaces must review their position on Muslim politics and listen to Pasmanda voices more seriously. That is the only hope to counter the Hindu-Muslim binary and bring some sanity in contemporary politics. (8/8)
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
