JMI Faculty Receive Research Grants Of Rs. 40 Lakh Under Vision Viksit Bharat Initiative; To Work On Pasmanda Muslims

Prof. Naushadul Haque Mullick and Dr. Taufeeque Ahmad Siddiqui, faculty members at the Department of Management Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) are awarded a prestigious research grant of Rs. 20 lakh by ICSSR under the Vision Viksit Bharat initiative. The grant supports their project focusing on the inclusion of Pasmanda Muslims.

In addition, Dr. Taufeeque Ahmad Siddiqui, in collaboration with IIT Dhanbad, has secured another research grant of Rs. 20 lakh under the same initiative for a project on fintech and financial inclusion of women.

“Viksit Bharat 2047” is an initiative aimed at realizing India’s aspiration of becoming a developed nation by its centennial year of independence.

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The research focuses on the Pasmanda Muslims inclusion, who are considered as the most backward and socially oppressed community of Muslim society. The word Pasmanda is derived from a Persian word that means ‘left behind’. Reportedly, India has nearly 85% of the Pasmanda Muslim population of the world. Pasmanda Muslims have been part of the BJP vote bank from the Muslim community and were referred by PM Modi during his speech.

However, there is no concept of casteism in Islam, but the Muslim community is understood along three lines including Ashrafs, Ajlafs, and Arzals. The first is upper caste or descendants of foreign invaders, Ajlafs are coverts, and Arzals are the most backward class of converts.

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The Ashrafs though in the minority have been the face of Muslims in Indian politics and issues related to Pasmanda were ignored. This has led the political parties to include Pasmanda Muslims as part of their vote bank.