Call for a democratic response to challenges faced by Indian Muslims in West Bengal

By Humaira Jawed

The recent release of Indian Muslims’ Tryst with Democracy: Challenges and Opportunities by Syed Ali Mujtaba at the ICCR Library in Kolkata brought together academics, activists, and public figures to discuss the political, social, and educational challenges facing India’s 210 million Muslims. The event featured former Rajya Sabha member and bureaucrat Jawhar Sircar, public intellectual Saira Shah Halim, Professor Maidul Islam of the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Kolkata, Dr Abdul Matin of Jadavpur University, philanthropist Dr Fuad Halim, and social leader Imran Zaki.

In his keynote address, Sircar highlighted the socio-economic stagnation of the Muslim community, attributing it to poor access to quality education and the absence of effective leadership. He urged Muslims to reject being treated as vote banks and instead align with democratic, secular forces committed to preserving India’s pluralistic ethos. “Muslims must not be allowed to be used as vote banks and must boldly join the democratic, secular forces fighting to restore the plural India vision where we are born,” he said. Emphasizing education over religious symbolism, Sircar called it the true path to progress. He also advised patience regarding the caste census, suggesting it could be a game changer for Muslims once the 2026 report is released.

Author Syed Ali Mujtaba outlined four priorities for the community’s democratic advancement: understanding their strengths and weaknesses in electoral politics, building political representation from local bodies to Parliament, improving educational merit to qualify for competitive services, and strengthening grassroots networks through self-help groups and community initiatives. “This book is a guideline of actions that the community may follow for their progress and betterment in India,” he said, describing it as essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the problems faced by Muslims and the potential solutions.

Professor Abdul Matin of Jadavpur University emphasized the importance of improving government schools and hospitals to uplift Muslims and other marginalized groups. He questioned how families earning ₹8,000–₹10,000 a month could afford private education, noting that deteriorating government schools leave children ill-equipped to rise. He pointed out that this issue affects not only rural Bengal but also major Muslim neighborhoods in Kolkata such as Metiabruz, Khidirpur, Topsia, Park Circus, and Raja Bazar. “Kolkata Municipal Corporation used to run schools, which no longer function,” he said, adding that the weakened public education system disproportionately impacts low-income groups, with Muslims among the worst affected. Political interference, both past and present, compounds the problem. “If you are not part of this or that political party, it will…” he said, leaving the sentence unfinished to imply systemic bias. He also described the grim state of healthcare, where people from rural Bengal queue from midnight to see a doctor or get admitted, and advocated for local mohalla schools and clinics.

Saira Shah Halim, widely regarded as a moderate voice in political circles, spoke passionately about the discrimination Muslims face not only in Bengal but across India. She described a form of apartheid in Delhi and Kolkata, and took a firm stand on housing discrimination. “People say Muslims are getting ghettoized, but do Muslims have a choice?” she asked. She criticized the absence of secular MPs during key parliamentary debates on Muslim concerns, such as the Anti-CAA Bill and the revocation of Article 370, implicitly referencing TMC MPs who skipped those sessions.

Professor Maidul Islam observed that while Muslims are democratically conscious, they face systemic barriers. He noted a sharp decline in Muslim representation in the Lok Sabha since 1980 and in the Bengal Assembly since 2011, attributing this to deliberate exclusion by political parties—a practice Ambedkar had warned against. He linked the lack of progressive leadership to the community’s continued struggles.

During the open discussion, Dr Abdul Matin reiterated the urgent need to improve public education, while Saira Shah Halim emphasized deeper community participation in democratic processes. Imran Zaki and Manzar Jameel also shared their perspectives. Speakers agreed that the book offers a comprehensive account of Indian Muslims’ historical and contemporary engagement with democracy, analyzing the decline in political influence and proposing solutions within the constitutional framework.

The event concluded with a consensus on the importance of education, leadership, and political representation as essential drivers of progress.

Copies of the book are available from Atlantic Publishers & Distributors Pvt. Ltd., 7/22, Ansari Road, Darya Ganj, New Delhi – 110002. Email: aparna@atlanticbooks.com | Phone: 011-40775252 | Website: www.atlanticbooks.com

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Humaira Jawed is a social worker based in Kolkata

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