Muslim Political Discourse in Postcolonial India

The book examines the postcolonial Muslim political discourse through monuments. It establishes a link between the process by which historic buildings become monuments and the gradual transformation of these historic/legal entities into political objects. The author studies the multiple interpretations of Indo-Islamic historical buildings as 'political sites' as well as emerging Muslim religiosities and the internal configurations of Muslim politics in India. He also looks at the modes by which a memory of a royal Muslim past is articulated for political mobilisation. Raising critical questions such as whether Muslim responses to political questions are homogenous, the book will greatly interest researchers and students of political science, modern Indian history, sociology, as well as the general reader interested in contemporary India.

Hilal Ahmed is Assistant Professor, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), New Delhi.

Preface. Acknowledgements. 1. Introduction 2. Monumentalisation in Colonial India: Discovery of an 'Indian Muslim Architectural Heritage' 3. Monumentalisation in Postcolonial India: Conservation, Law and Muslim Politics 4. Jama Masjid and the Political Memory of a Royal Muslim Past 5. Babri Masjid and the Muslim Politics of Right to Heritage 6. Conclusion. Appendices. Select Bibliography. About the Author. Index