Book review | ‘A Brief History of the Present: Muslims in New India’ offers critical examination of complexities
The Hindu-Muslim divide, rooted in colonial history, continues to be one of the most enduring legacies in Indian politics. In A Brief History of the Present: Muslims in New India, Hilal Ahmed, a scholar at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, offers a critical and nuanced examination of the evolving complexities of Muslim identity in today’s India.
Ahmed identifies four dominant, and often conflicting, concepts: socialism, secularism, inclusion and Hindutva-driven nationalism. These ideologies, according to Ahmed, “dominate, survive, overlap and compete with each other in the real world of politics”, shaping the doctrine of New India. The book challenges assumptions held by both liberal and conservative perspectives, employing a multifaceted methodology that seamlessly blends historical analysis, sociopolitical critique, and empirical research.
The narrative begins with a harrowing account of a tragic event on 31 July 2023, where a Railway Protection Force constable allegedly murdered four people on a train, including three Muslim passengers. Ahmed uses this incident to highlight the escalating anti-Muslim sentiment in India, where symbols of Muslim identity—such as the skull cap, beard, hijab, and even the Urdu script—are increasingly perceived as existential threats to Hinduism. This environment, Ahmed argues, has led to a dangerous rise in nationalism, where Muslims are not only marginalised but also violently targeted. He notes that the “merger between the global anti-Islamism and anti-Muslim communalism specific to India led to a new political consensus, which may be called ‘Muslim politicophobia’.”
Ahmed skilfully navigates the complex terrain of identity, resisting the reduction of Muslims to a monolithic group. He insists that researchers must maintain an objective and open-minded approach when engaging with political and social issues without losing their moral sensibilities. The book does not shy away from critiquing both ends of the political spectrum. Ahmed exposes how both proponents of Hindutva and liberal defenders of secularism have oversimplified Muslim identity—either by categorising Muslims as a homogeneous group or by failing to critically examine the power dynamics within progressive and deprived sections of society. That has provided fertile ground for the rise of Hindutva, which has capitalised on Hindu victimhood, further marginalising Muslims.
