[Reader-list] Call for Papers on Indian Muslims

[faizan ahmed]

Dear Faizan,


I have mailed you Brochure of the seminar on "Muslim Artisans, Craftsmen and Traders: Issues in Entrepreneurship" organised by CEPECAMI (Centre for Promotion of Educational and Cultural Advancement of Muslims of India), in Feb. 2005. The centre will shortly bring out a volume based on the contributions made in the seminar. So far I have received 12 papers.



If you know any scholar(s) who could contribute a paper related with the theme of the seminar, please let me know his/her name or you personally request him/her to contribute the paper. The paper should be submitted within a month i.e. 10th June 2005.



Warm Regards



Dr. Abdul Waheed,

Director CEPECAMI

Ph: +91 571 2700920 Ext. 1347

Email: cepecami_amu at rediffmail.com 

 

 

Following is the Brochure of the seminar:

 

 

Two Days National Seminar on 

“Muslim Artisans, Craftsmen and Traders: Issue in Entrepreneurship”

 

 

Muslims of India are largest minority community.  They do not merely constitute about 14% population of India but are also found in the entire length and breadth of the country.  They are, indeed, a conspicuous national community.  Although united by common faith, Muslims are divided into various status, occupational, ethno-linguistic and sectarian groups.  Members of each group are further divided into classes.   Thus, contrary to popular perception Muslims are highly heterogeneous community.  Artisans, craftsmen and traders, having distinct status, social heritage and occupations, are important groups of Muslims.

 

Arts and crafts developed both as traditions and occupations among Indian Muslims.  There are well-known groups (beradaris) of Muslims, having traditional association with art and craft related occupations for centuries.  These occupations are, indeed, their social capital or heritage.  Besides, many other Muslims, especially unemployed and of lower income groups have recently started adopting art and crafts for earning their livelihood. Not only Muslim men but women too are specialists of various crafts.  Handicrafts, in fact, have become a significant source of either supplementing household income or employment to large number of Muslim women.  In this way sizeable number of Indian Muslims of rural and urban areas and of various status and ethnic groups, are artisans and craftsmen.  Most of them produce goods for others.  They are merely unorganized daily wagers and, therefore, are always vulnerable to the various forms of exploitation, to the vagaries of governmental policies and
 uncertainties of national and international markets.  

 

Unlike artisans and craftsmen, traders are few among Indian Muslims.  Generally Muslims kept themselves away from mercantile occupations in past despite Islamic injunctions.  As a result, very few groups of Muslims, especially of south and western Indian have been associated with trade and commerce.  Many other Muslims entered into petty business in post-Independent India.  They do not have strong mercantile base or net-work.  Therefore they are vulnerable to various forms of competitions in markets.   Furthermore, their properties are always at risk and looted in frequently occurring communal violence in different parts of the country.

 

How can life chances of these people be protected and promoted?   How can their socio-economic and educational conditions be ameliorated?  Can they not become self-reliant?  How can entrepreneurship be promoted among them?  These and other such questions require immediate intellectual attention.

 

Following sub-themes are identified for inviting scholars to contribute papers:

 

1.         Ethnographic profile      of various groups or beradris of Muslim associated with art, crafts and trade.

2.                  History of mercantile traditions/occupations among Indian Muslims.

3.                  Socio-economic and educational conditions of Muslim artisans, craftsmen and traders.

4.                  Community-cooperatives and Muslim artisans and craftsmen.

5.                  Communal violence and business interest/establishments of Muslims

6.                  Economic organizations among Indian Muslims

7.                  Governmental policies towards Muslim artisans, craftsmen and traders.

8.                  Globalization and small scale industry.

 

 

 



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