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Reflections on South Asian Islam

Reflections on South Asian Islam. Carl Ernst, UNC-CH International Studies Schools Association “ Muslim Diasporas ” panel Durham NC, Feb. 17, 2006 . Significant historical dates (war and politics). 711: Arabs conquer Indus valley (Sind)

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Reflections on South Asian Islam

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  1. Reflections on South Asian Islam Carl Ernst, UNC-CH International Studies Schools Association “Muslim Diasporas” panel Durham NC, Feb. 17, 2006

  2. Significant historical dates (war and politics) • 711: Arabs conquer Indus valley (Sind) • Ca. 1000: Turkish empire based in Ghazna raids northern India • 1206: Delhi Sultanate established • 1526: Mughal Empire established • 1757: British victory at Plassey (Bengal) • 1857: Indian “Mutiny” against British • 1947: Partition of British India into India and Pakistan • 1971: Bangladesh independence from Pakistan • 1979: Soviet invasion of Afghanistan • 2001: US overthrow Taliban Akbar tames a wild elephant

  3. South Asian Muslims: 1/3+ of world’s Muslims • Pakistan 162 million (97%) • India 145 million (13.4%) • Bangladesh 120 million (83%) • Afghanistan 30 million (99%) • Sri Lanka 1.5 million (7.6%) • Nepal 1.2 million (4.2%) • Maldives 350,000 (100%)

  4. Some aspects of Islam in South Asia • Local languages (Urdu, Bengali, etc.) plus influence of Arabic and Persian • Sufi spirituality and saints’ shrines • Indian customs of marriage, food, art, clothing, and music • “Anglo-Mohammedan”legal system from colonialperiod • Modern Islamic religious schools (Deoband) • Debates over Islamic state Tomb of Burhan al-Din, Khuldabad

  5. Cool thing no. 1:Where did Adam fall to earth?

  6. Answer: Adam’s Peak – Sri Lanka Shrine visited by Moroccan traveler Ibn Battuta in 1347 Contains footprint of Adam* *or the Buddha, or Shiva

  7. Revisiting a symbol of Islam in South Asia (Cool thing no. 2) Tourist cliché of royal romance? Taj Mahal as Qur’anic text: quotations from 28 different suras are inscribed; mystical symbol of the Garden of Resurrection

  8. Further resources • South Asia Resource Access on the Internet (http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/indiv/southasia/cuvl/) • Islam in South Asia (Prof. Frances Pritchett) (http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00islamlinks/index.html) • Novels from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and other resources including this presentation (http://www.unc.edu/~cernst/) Shrine of Shahul Hamid, Nagore)

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