Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Pasmanda community

Mains level: Upliftment of minorities

In a political conclave in Hyderabad, PM made a special mention for the Pasmanda muslim community and their social upliftment.

The word Pasmanda is derived from the Persian language meaning ‘left behind’.
The Pasmanda community comprise of Dalits and Backward Muslims who are fighting a different social battle inside the society.
This community has its stronghold in Uttar Pradesh where the Pasmandas account for around 75% of the total Muslim population.
In fact, 85% of the total population of Muslims in the country is known as Pasmanda.
It is believed that the so-called untouchable Hindu converts are categorised as Pasmanda.

The caste system is applicable to Asian Muslims in the same way as it is applicable in the Indian society.
Among the South Asian Muslims including those living in India, 15% are considered upper class or upper caste, called Ashraf.
The remaining 85% Muslims known as Arzal and Ajlaf are considered to be Dalit and backward. Arzal means degraded.

If reports are to be believed then the creamy section of the Muslim society looks down upon them.
They are backward and oppressed economically, socially and educationally. This oppressed section among Muslims is called Pasmanda in India.

Actually the Pasmanda movement in India is 100 years old. A Muslim Pasmanda movement had emerged in the second decade of the last century.
After this, in the 90s in India, two big organisations were formed in favour of the Pasmanda Muslims.
This was the All India United Muslim Front, whose leader was Ejaz Ali.
Apart from this, Ali Anwar of Patna founded an organisation named All India Pasmanda Muslim Merej.
However, both are termed as non-Islamic by Muslim religious leaders.
All the small organisations of Pasmanda Muslims are mostly found in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

Who are the Pasmanda?

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