Title : Political Representation of Muslims in India (1952–2004)

Author : Iqbal A. Ansari

Publisher : Manak Publications Pvt. Ltd.

YOP : 2006

Pages : xxii + 418

ISBN : 81-7827-130-3

Price : Rs. 900

About The Book/Author :

Iqbal A. Ansari (b. 1935), former professor of English at the Aligarh Muslim University 1995, has been visiting professor at Jamia Hamdard (2001-2003) and Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi (2003-2004). Prof. Ansari has written extensively on issues related to human rights, minorities & prevention and resolution of inter-community conflicts. His publications include Readings on Minorities: Perspectives and Documents, Vol. I & II (1196), Vol. III (2002); Communal Riots: The State and Law in India (1997); Human Rights in India: Some Issue (1998); Muslim Situation in India (1989) and Uses of English (1978).

There is a worldwide concern today for democracies to become inclusive, for reasons of political justice, as well as for their better national integration, especially for religious and ethnic minorities.

The Indian freedom movement since 1920s showed awareness of the need of special measures to ensure due representation to religious minorities and Scheduled Castes and Tribes (SC & ST) in legislatures. In keeping with this consociational-affirmative model, the framers of the Constitution provided for population based quota of seats for minorities and SC& ST under joint electorate, in August 1947. However, lingering apprehensions about such provisions for religious minorities, caused by the Partition led to their scrapping in May 1949. While dispensing with the special provision for minorities, Nehru and Patel, among others, gave firm assurance to them, especially to Muslims, that even without Constitutional safeguard the majority community would not only be fair but generous of them, ensuring their due representation in legislatures.