PSYCHOLOGICAL PRE-REQUISITES OF MUSLIM EMPOWERMENT

This is another volume among 11 volumes on “Empowerment of Muslims” series undertaken by Institute of Objective Studies. There is no denying fact that Muslim community in India has experienced extensive disempowerment during the past five decades. It is manifested in the grossly disproportionate and inadequate representation of the community in parliament and state legislature, in central and state governments, in the police and paramilitary forces, in the public and private sectors, in the judiciary and the bureaucracy, in the professions, in the institutions of higher learning and in the media. The disempowerment of the community is also evident in the abysmal level of poverty, illiteracy and economic backwardness.

The economic, social and educational backwardness of the Muslim community in India has been established and highlighted by a number of official reports such as the Gopal Singh Minority Panel Report, the Report of the 43rd Round of the National Sample Survey and the Programme of Action under the New Economic Policy (1986). The various schemes launched by the government to ameliorate the economic and educational conditions of Muslims have remained mostly on paper. The benefits of various government schemes, aimed at improving the socio-economic conditions of the weaker sections, have not accrued to Muslims in any significant measure.

This is one among the 11 series volumes on 'Empowerment of Muslims' undertaken by IOS. It is common knowledge that in general Indian Muslims are economically and socially backward. In view of this, the project aims at to take a holistic view of the complex problems faced by Indian Muslims in different spheres of their life and suggest means and ways for their empowerment in respective fields. This project also aims at to formulate and recommend a comprehensive strategy for the over-all and sustained empowerment of Muslims in India in light of the value system of the Muslims, in the larger context of Indian society, and in the light of the past experiences.