Confronting the Indian State: Islamism, secularism, and the Kashmiri Muslim question

This paper investigates the framework of Islamist politics of Jama'at e Islami in Indian-administered Kashmir. Even though Jama'at e Islami creates the notion of other in the Indian state and challenges it but Kashmir's provincial relationship with India also forces it to work within the limits set up by the same state. This paper, thus, conceptualizes the relationship between Indian state and Islamists in a Muslim Majority region that demands the right to self-determination. In doing so, the paper interrogates Jama'at e Islami's rhetorical opposition to the political doctrine of Indian secularism and raises queries about minority rights and their place in the Islamist project.

Automated summary

This paper examines the framework of Islamist politics of Jama'at e Islami in the Indian-administered Kashmir region. While Jama'at e Islami challenges the Indian state and its ideology, the provincial relationship between Kashmir and India also constrains its actions. Therefore, this paper conceptualizes the relationship between the Indian state and Islamists in a region with a Muslim majority that demands self-determination, and raises questions about Jama'at e Islami's opposition to Indian secularism and the status of minority rights in the Islamist project.