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Informationen zum Autor Muhammad Mujeeb Afzal is Assistant Professor, School of Politics and International Relations, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. He has served as a research scholar for the Central Asian Institute, Islamabad, and as a senior research fellow for the Area Study Centre, Quaid-i-Azam University. Klappentext The Hindus and the Muslims in India are often projected as absolute identities. The present study argues that a number of identities-communitarian, caste, and regional-exist in India and compete to preserve their respective traditions. This is a pioneering attempt by a Pakistani scholar to study an important aspect of Indian politics which is of vital significance for the present-day India and the future relations between the two great communities of India. It willbe of interest to the academicians as well as general readers in South Asia. Zusammenfassung The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is perceived as a communal party that aims to eliminate the secular character of the Indian state in which Indian-Muslims coexist. The Hindus and Indian-Muslims are often projected as absolute identities. The present study argues that a number of identities-communitarian! caste! and regional-exist in India and compete to preserve their respective traditions. The BJP as the proponent of Hindutva and the Muslims as the advocates of Islam-Urdu are struggling to protect their respective values system and traditions. Both identities have deep historical roots that were formed during the British Raj. The author has studied the BJP-Muslim interaction in three distinct phases: the Raj era; the post-Independence Congress-dominated era; and the post-Congress-dominated BJP era. The book will be useful for academicians! politicians! and students of International Relations and Indian politics. It will be an indispensible read for those who design courses on Indian politics and South Asia.
