RobbieS
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Its true that Muslims have been economically under-represented in the Indian society. More than external factors like partition etc., I would blame internal factors for their current state. Post independence the Muslims in India haven't had a strong leadership in the country. Apart from film actors and cricket stars they haven't had any social heroes to look upto. No industrialists, intellectuals or statesman of a national stature. True there are examples of an Azim Premji and a Abdul Kalam but that's about it.
I think a major blame has to be on their community leaders who either fall to Congress and SP/BSP's votebank politics or adopt an anti-BJP stance. In both cases they play into the hands of the big political parties without any benefit to their community. Many in the rural areas, prefer sending their kids to Madrassas rather than govt./private schools. The day they adopt better means to education and economic they will be much better off. Change as they say, starts from within.
Another factor that I have noticed in cities like Delhi and Mumbai, is the absence of a connection between middle class and lower class of Muslims. Those who are in the middle and upper class do not identify themselves withe lower class artisans/craftsmen of UP/Bihar etc and see them as lower caste Hindu converts. They most often see themselves as descendents of Pathans or other high class Muslims. Hence, their economic progress fails to trickle down to the lower classes of Muslims whose condition doesn't improve at all.
I think a major blame has to be on their community leaders who either fall to Congress and SP/BSP's votebank politics or adopt an anti-BJP stance. In both cases they play into the hands of the big political parties without any benefit to their community. Many in the rural areas, prefer sending their kids to Madrassas rather than govt./private schools. The day they adopt better means to education and economic they will be much better off. Change as they say, starts from within.
Another factor that I have noticed in cities like Delhi and Mumbai, is the absence of a connection between middle class and lower class of Muslims. Those who are in the middle and upper class do not identify themselves withe lower class artisans/craftsmen of UP/Bihar etc and see them as lower caste Hindu converts. They most often see themselves as descendents of Pathans or other high class Muslims. Hence, their economic progress fails to trickle down to the lower classes of Muslims whose condition doesn't improve at all.
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