IndianMuslims: Responding to Violent Identity Severance with Faith

have been welded for generations that are being challenged during this time. Muslims are trying to assert their identity within a national constitution that is now eroding the free practice of religion and they are met with sickening violence.

Genocide Watch has warned with great severity of an impending genocide against Muslims in India perpetuated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) (Aljazeera). Thus, I want to use this space to dismantle the argument that I see employed by Muslims and Non-Muslims alike: atrocity against Muslims stems from religious differences. That logic is disingenuous to India’s social makeup as the largest pluralistic society on the planet with the second largest group of Muslims within a country (Majumdar). There are intricate linkages between faith and citizenship that

The right-wing belief of the extremist paramilitary group, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has filtered down into pop culture and sprung new cells in support (South Asia Scholar Activist Collective; Frayer and Khan). Songs and dance that celebrate the purification of Hindustan by expunging Muslims from the country are integrated as a cultural practice neighbourhoods gather to partake in. Hindutva pop songs like those of Sandeep Acharya define Muslims as “tenants” in India who must be exiled, and are evidence of an ideology that asserts Hindu supremacy in place of a constitutionally secular state (Discovery World Documentary). Further, cultural gatherings led by the RSS processions turned into mob riots in 2022 infiltrating Madhya Pradesh with the looting of Muslim-owned businesses and the burning of Muslim homes (Discovery World Documentary). This rhetoric contradicts the sheer number of religious groups, including Muslims, Christians, and other minorities, who mark India as a country of unparalleled diversity.

Apps such as “Bulli Bai” that circulated pictures of Muslim women, depicting them as ‘for sale’ to the public only further demonstrate the targeted violence against Muslims in India. The name of this app is one of the derogatory slang terms used against Muslim women, along with “Sulli” - its’ original version. Further, the lack of action taken against such discrimination is demonstrated by the lack of arrests made despite public outcries and police cases opened regarding harassment (Dasgupta).

While “Bulli Bai,” as opposed to “Sulli,” does not allow users to engage in real transactions, the desired effect is wrought: the dehumanization and degradation of Muslim women are deemed permissible. Muslim women are thus reduced to transactional objects, and their achievements are rendered invalid. These stories, hopefully, depict the manner in which Muslims are alienated from contemporary spaces in India through a political wave that has diffused into mainstream media and culture.

For context, the reign of BJP began in 2014 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was elected, sending a wave of Hindu - not Indian - nationalism (Jaffrelot). Regardless though, even the opposing party - Congress Partypossesses this Hindutva ideology. While there are no issues with their campaign to promote Hindu medicine, build cow shelters, and protect sacred rivers - the line is drawn with their attempt to replace secularism with Hindu nationalism. Despite this not be their primary goal, in response to BJP and to accrue votes from the majority Hindu population, it is now visible that this tactic ostracizes Muslims along both sides of national political parties.

The hatred for Muslims is perpetuated by a national shift in paradigm: India in its contemporary form is not inclusive of Muslims. This current trend of violence towards Muslims and Islam is politically charged. Indian politicians aim to etch a definitive line - that Indian-Muslim is an inherent contradiction. Thus, constituting a genocide.

Works Cited

Dasgupta, Sravasti. “What Is Bulli Bai Scandal - Indian App That Listed Muslim Women for AuctionSravasti Dasgupta.” The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 8 Jan. 2022.

Discovery World Documentary, director. India: Anti-Muslim Hate Music. YouTube, YouTube, 30 Jan. 2023.

Frayer, Lauren, and Furkan Latif Khan. “The Powerful Group Shaping the Rise of Hindu Nationalism in India.” NPR, NPR, 3 May 2019.

Jaffrelot, Christophe. “The Fate of Secularism in India - the BJP in Power: Indian Democracy and Religious Nationalism.” Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 4 Apr. 2019. Moneycontrol. “What Is Bulli Bai, the Controversial App Targeting Muslim Women on Social Media?” Moneycontrol, 4 Jan. 2022.

Majumdar, Samirah. “5 Facts about Religion in India.” Pew Research Center, Pew Research Center, 31 May 2022. Reuters. “Indian Officials Demolish Several Houses after Protests over Anti-Islam Remarks.” CNN, Cable News Network, 13 June 2022.

Sen, Somdeep. “Analysis: Islamophobia Is the Norm in Modi’s India.” Islamophobia | Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera, 10 June 2022. South Asia Scholar Activist Collective. “What Is Hindutva?” Hindutva Harassment Field Manual, 221.