Who are Pasmanda Muslims? Why is PM Modi talking about them?

At the recently concluded BJP national executive meeting in Hyderabad, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a special mention of the Pasmanda Muslims.

According to The Economic Times, Modi said that the BJP should make efforts to gain support of the the Pasmanda (backward and Dalit) Muslims, who have been economically and socially deprived. 

It is for the same reason that the sole Muslim minister in Uttar Pradesh (UP) Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s cabinet, Danish Ansari is a Pasmanda Muslim. Ansari hails from the UP’s East Ballia constituency, and is a Minister of State of Minority Affairs in the UP government.

WHAT DOES PASMANDA MEAN? 

Pasmanda is a Persian term which means “those who have fallen behind”, The Hindu reported. In the context of Indian Pasmanda Muslims, it refers to the Muslims who belong to the backward and Dalit castes. 

The term was adopted as an oppositional identity by the Muslim group Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz in 1998 against the dominant Ashraf (upper caste) Muslims. Since then, the term has found its usage in political circles too.

THE MUSLIM SOCIETY IN INDIA

Islam by nature is egalitarian universally, but, in India, Muslims since centuries have been divided into three major groups and hundreds of biraadris, The Print reported. 
In the caste hierarchy in India, the Indian Muslims are divided into Ashraf (upper-caste Muslims), Ajlaf (backward) and Arzal (Dalits). 

Ashraf, which is the plural form of Sharid (elites) are also known as Shorfas. The group traces its origins to western or central Asia. It constitutes Arabs, Iranians, Turkish, Sayyids, Shaikhs, Mughals, Mirzas and Pathans among others. These groups traditionally have been rulers or elites. 

Ajlaf  is the plural of Jilf which means 'uncivilized'. This group comprises artisan castes that are included in the Other Backward Classes (OBC). 

Similarly, Arzal is the plural form of Rajeel ('lowborn'). This group constitutes the Dalit Muslims who are equivalent to Hindu Dalits, the lowest in the caste hierarchy. 

THE PASMANDA MUSLIMS

Together, both Ajlaf and Arzal groups makes up the Pasmanda Muslims or the backward Muslims in India. The Pasmanda Muslims make up 85% of the Muslims in India and the the Ashraf group also known as Savarna Muslims constitutes 15% of the Muslim population in India. 

The Pasmanda group has Dalit, backward and tribal groups in it like Julahe (Ansari), Kasai (Qureshis), Dhunia (Mansuri), Fakir (Alvi), Hajjam (Salmani), Mehtar (Halalkhor), Gwala (Ghosi), Dhobi (Hawari), Baddhai- Lohar (Saifi), Manihar (Siddiqui), Darzi (Idrisi), Vangujjar etc, The Print Reported.

A REALITY:  Though Islam preaches equality and emancipation of caste-based divisions, in the Indian society, discrimination amongst the Muslims is a harsh reality. From the Kaka Kalekar Commission which was the first Backward Classes Commission to Mandal Commission, Ranganath Mishra Commission and the Sachar Committee, all have highlighted the caste discrimination in the Muslim society in India.

The Indian Pasmanda Muslims are included in the reservation quota.

THE DENIAL

According to Dr Fayaz Ahmad Fyzie, a columnist and translator, the Ashraf Muslims are always in denial of the fact that the Pasmanda Muslims are socially discriminated against. 

He points out that there is absolutely negligible representation of the Pasmanda Muslims even in the Muslim governing bodies like Muslim Personal Law Board, Jamaat-e-Islami, Jamiatul Ulema, Milli Council, Majlis-e-Mashwarat, Waqf Board, Imarate Shariah and also in influential madrasas. 

“In the name of minority politics, the Ashraf have been serving their own interest by using the numerical strength of the Pasmandas,” he wrote for The Print.