[Reader-list] 'US feels India has 180m Muslims'

[Rajkamal Goswami]

Is Azim Premji a Muslim? I was  under the impression that he was a
Zoroastrian. But even wikipedia lists him as the richest 'Muslim' of
India! Giuess i was cultivating a wrong notion all the time! So
Zoroastrians are nothing but Muslims huh?

On Sun, Sep 4, 2011 at 2:40 PM, Javed <javedmasoo at gmail.com> wrote:
> If the US says it, it must be true.
> ---------------------
>
> 'US feels India has 180m Muslims'
> TNN | Sep 4, 2011, 01.23AM IST
>
> The US views on ‘Indian Islam’ and its interpretation had found place
> in one of its diplomatic cable, leaked by WikiLeaks.
>
> NEW DELHI: The United States believes that there are many more Muslims
> who live in India than is being officially stated here through census,
> and 'Islam' here presents a series of dichotomies like most issues
> affecting the world's largest democracy.
>
> The US views on 'Indian Islam' and its interpretation had found place
> in one of its diplomatic cable, leaked by WikiLeaks.
>
> Referring to various 'contacts' in India, the cable says that most of
> them believe that the official figure ( Census 2001) of over 138
> million Muslims in India is "under representative" as actual number is
> "substantially higher" - closer to 160 to 180 million.
>
> Taking sympathetic views of Indian Muslims for their 'liberal'
> approach, the cable, originated from American embassy in New Delhi in
> February last year, says that majority of the Muslims live in a very
> poor condition despite some of the millionaires from the community,
> like Azim Premji, influence Indian market.
>
> It says: "Iconic celebrities such as Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan
> attract legions of fans, while millions of Muslims languish in
> poverty. Since Independence, three Muslims have been appointed as
> President, but Muslims are grossly under-represented in Parliament and
> other elected bodies".
>
> The US embassy cable also refers to the Rajinder Sachar Committee
> report which in 2006 revealed that Muslims in general fare worse in
> economic terms than India's Dalits. "These seeming contradictions
> reflect overall socioeconomic trends in India: a tiny percentage of
> Muslims thrive, while the vast majority struggles to support
> themselves".
>
> The cable, however, noted that Indian Muslims are eager to catch up to
> their compatriots. "Their Sufi heritage, promoting pluralism and
> tolerance, should leave them well-equipped to compete in secular
> India. However, lingering resentment from the partition and external
> influences threaten to divide the community".
>
> US diplomats in their dispatch to Washington also noted in details the
> composition of Shias and Sunni and existence of tension between two
> Sunni movements - Barelvi and Deobandi - rooted in differences in
> ideology, wealth, education and views on reforms. On political front,
> the dispatch says that Shia and Barelvi leaders have, of late,
> discussed forming a political alliance to counter Deoband and the
> increasing influence of Wahabism. The alliance would balance each
> group's strength: Barelvis have the numbers and Shias have a higher
> level of education and more contact with the Indian elite.
>
> http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/US-feels-India-has-180m-Muslims/articleshow/9853345.cms
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-- 
Rajkamal