The Muslims in India - Outline

1. The Muslims in India - Outline • History of Islam in India • Religious Violence • Current issues: Discrimination • Education and Government • Employment and Lack of Equal Opportunities (Group 3: Emily Campbell, EveliinaKinnunen, IstvanGyongyossy, Cristina Ionita)

2. History of Islam in India • Arab traders in 7th century • Muhammad bin Qasim in 712 • The successive waves of Muslim armiesin 10th and 11th century-> spread to caste system • Islamicstates from 12th century on • Mughal Empire

3. History of Islam in India • Reasons for the end of Islamic period • Maratha Empire • Indian Rebellion in 1857 • The beginning of British rule • Today the second largestreligion in India • 13 % of population

4. Conflict of Kashmir History • Partition of India and Pakistan in 1947 • -> Hindus in India, Muslims in Pakistan • Maharaja Hari Singh • Incursion by Muslims from Pakistan -> help of India • Three wars in 1947, 1965 and 1971 • Kashmir insurgency in 80’s and 90’s

5. Conflict of Kashmir Situation Now Indiacontrolstwothirds of the territory, Pakistan on third The Line of Control Groups of Kashmiriswantingindependence

7. Religion violence in India • Over 10,000 people have been killed in Hindu-Muslim communal violence since 1950 • Mass attacks • Not just Hindus vs Muslims

8. Anti-Muslim violence • Hindu right-wing politicians oftenlegitimize instances of mass violence against Muslims • 1983 Nellie massacre • 1992 Babri mosque- Bombay riots • 2002 Gujaret violence

9. Anti-Hindu violence • Victims or killers? • 2006 Mumbai • 2008 Mumbai • Hotels, train station, Jewish Chabad house • 172 people killed • 2010 Deganga riots

10. Education and Government

11. Education Prominent gap between Hindu and Muslim in education, most visible at higher education levels. 4.5% Muslims hold university degrees (cf. Hindu 19%)

12. Education Government affirmative action: covers disadvantaged social groups (Hindu caste system) but does not extend to religious minorities (Muslims). Low level of education + low quality of education Urdu – Less chance of learning in Mother Tongue Overall literacy rate: 59% Muslims, 68% Hindu. Less opportunities to obtain governmental jobs

13. Government Muslims hold less than 5% of government posts (15% population) 2014 Elections – 370 registered parties Potential for Muslim ‘bloc’ BJP Hindu nationalist party – anti-Muslim movement, current opposition party. Oppose Muslim benefits. Uniform civil code ‘Secular democracy’

14. Muslim Personal Law Separate rights for Muslims protecting Muslim ‘Shari’a law’ Maintains Muslim customary law through an Act of Parliament 1937 (during British rule) Governs ‘personal affairs’ Dissolution of marriage, adoptions, family matters. Supreme Court India recent decision– adoption case Interference vs. expansion. Crossed the line? Decisions cause inter-religious tensions

15. Employment – The Sachar Committee Report Facing religious discrimination in the Hindu-dominated job market Muslims are amongst the poorest communities in India Relying on self-employment Posing as Hindus to get jobs

16. Lack of equal opportunities Access to banking facilities much more restricted in areas with large Muslim populations Areas occupied by fewer Muslims had better roads, better public transport, water supply facilities 1/3 of small villages with many Muslims do not have any educational institutions 40% of large villages with many Muslims do not have any medical facilities

17. Recent developments The setting up of the ‘Equal Opportunities Commission’ – dealing exclusively with minorities New scheme for the education of Muslims, both children and adults

18. Thank you