Concept Note: The recent ASGG Report (2014) on the conditions of Muslims in West Bengal reiterates the concerns expressed in such previous reports as the ones headed by Justice Sachar and Misra. Muslims in West Bengal are grossly underrepresented in the political and economic life. Their socio-cultural situation fares no better than the dalits. The migration of most of the elite Muslims from Bengal during the Partition of India (1947) has left behind a disenfranchised community. The subsequent indifference of the 'secular democratic' state toward the bleak condition of Muslims has further exacerbated the problem.
Since there has not been any significant comprehensive study undertaken about Muslims in West Bengal, this particular issue of Cafe Dissensus intends to focus on the question of Muslim life in West Bengal, their political participation, their educational attainments, their intellectual contribution, their contribution to Bengali culture, the Bengali Muslim Women's Question, the emergent dalit identity among Muslims in West Bengal, and their present-day plight.
The contributors are requested to address some of the following questions in their submissions (but not limited to these questions alone):
How did the Bengali Muslim identity emerge historically? Does the post-Partition Muslim identity in West Bengal differ from the pre-Partition days? Did the Muslim identity in West Bengal evolve differently from that of present-day Bangladesh? What form has the present-day Muslim politics taken in West Bengal? Does a separate Muslim party have a future in the politics of West Bengal? What role do the madrasas play in the education of Muslims in West Bengal? Is there a division between religious and secular forms of education among Muslims? What has been the contribution of Muslims in West Bengal toward literature, film, music, art, architecture, and television? How have Muslims been represented in the cultural domain and media? Where are the organic Muslim intellectuals in Bengal? Since the time of late 19th century, how has the Muslim Women's Question evolved among Bengali Muslims? How have Muslim women fared in West Bengal compared to their Hindu counterparts? How does the emergent dalit identity among Bengali Muslims recalibrate questions of politics, economics and culture? Since the state has failed to perform its duties towards more than a quarter of its population, how could the Muslim civil society pressurise the government to attend to the needs of the community? At a time of neo-liberal reforms when jobs are mostly privatised and when there is a growing popularity of rightist ideologies, is the demand for reservation among Muslims in West Bengal counterproductive?
Note: While the shorter version of the essays (2000-2500 words) will be published online on Cafe Dissensus journal, we request the contributors to prepare longer essays (5000-6000 words) toward a book project. In other words, after publication of the shorter versions of the essays online, the editors would like to approach a publisher (in India or abroad) for the publication of a volume on Bengali Muslims, which would include the longer essays.
Mobile: +91 94 94 24 26 45
No comments:
Post a Comment