PASMANDA MUSLIMS
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About
- ‘Pasmanda’ is a Persian word that denotes the ‘ones left behind’. The word is used to define the depressed classes among Muslims.
- Backwards, Dalit and tribal Muslims use the word Pasmanda as an umbrella identity.
- In 1998, “The term Pasmanda Muslim was first used by Ali Anwar Ansari when he founded the Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz.
- While Islam does not allow the creation of social hierarchies, the existence of caste categories is a reality for Muslims across India.
Details
- Indian Muslim society can be broadly classified into;
- Ashrafs (the “noble” elite or “honourable ones”)
- Ajlafs (backwards Muslims)
- Arzals (Dalit Muslims)
- Ashrafs claim to be the descendants of Muslims who migrated from the Islamic homelands of Arabia, Persia, Turkey, and Afghanistan, or of upper-caste converts from Hinduism.
- Ajlafs are the middle-caste converts who were involved in occupations that are considered ritually “clean”; weavers, tailors, vegetable sellers, etc.
- Azaleas belong to the lowest, “untouchable” castes — like the scavengers, washermen, barbers, butchers, beggars, etc.\
- The Rajinder Sachar Committee was formed in 2005 to study the social, economic and educational condition of Indian Muslims and highlighted 3 groups among Muslims:
- Those without any social disabilities, the Ashrafs.
- Those equivalents to Hindu OBCs, the Ajlafs.
- Those are equivalent to Hindu SCs, the Arzals.
- The Justice Ranganath Mishra Commission stated that the caste system impacted all religious communities in India, including Muslims.
- In the absence of a caste census, no specific caste-based data are available.
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