Hamid Dalwai and Future Muslim Politics in India

By New Age Islam Correspondent 8 September 2025 Hamid Dalwai was a reformist thinker and activist who challenged both the dominance of conservative clerics in Muslim society and the identity-based politics that kept Indian Muslims trapped in the past. He argued that true progress lay in embracing education, gender equality, rationalism, and secular citizenship rather than clinging to fear-based community politics. Decades before the national debate on triple talaq and women’s rights, Dalwai placed Muslim women at the heart of reform and insisted that integration into India’s democratic framework, not isolation, was the key to survival. His ideas remain urgent today, as Indian Muslims face political marginalisation, social discrimination, and resistance to internal reform. Revamping Muslim politics in Dalwai’s spirit means moving from a reactive stance to proactive reform, from religious symbolism to real issues such as education and employment, and from a minority identity to equal citizenship—building alliances with other marginalised groups and reclaiming a confident, secular, and modern political role in India. Major Points: Hamid Dalwai lived a short life, but it was impactful in a big way. He boldly informed his community of harsh realities and challenged them to change and accept modernity. He informed Muslims that it was necessary they did not consider themselves as a mere minority, but as equal citizens and defenders of secular democracy. They are significant in Indian Muslim politics today. Something has become necessary — a shift from identity, a move from religious leaders to democratic leaders, from struggles of a symbolic nature to struggles rooted in reality, and from reaction and passive response to proactive action aimed at transformation. If Indian Muslims adopt Dalwai's principles, they can reclaim their place in India's democracy, no longer as a fearful minority but as assertive, progressive, and equal citizens. That would be the true credit to Hamid Dalwai's political thought — and the future ahead for Muslim politics in India. ------ Hamid Dalwai is a name which does not figure in routine political debates in India. But if you are someone interested in Indian Muslim politics, his biography and work are quite important. Born in 1932 in a tiny village in and around Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, Dalwai was a writer, social activist, and reformer. His short time on earth — he died only at 44 in 1977 — was engaged in his tireless work in revamping Muslim society and in giving Muslim politics in India a new direction. While most Indian Muslims were engaged with religion and community matters, Dalwai mentioned modernity, justice, rationality, and enhancing society. He felt that Indian Muslims needed to shift focus from identity-based politics and turn their attention towards education, social reform, and participation in the nation's modern democratic process. Indian Muslims are facing a new sort of social and political exclusion, and they also face issues within themselves. That is where the ideas of Hamid Dalwai come most into focus. His political thought shows Indian Muslims how they can avoid negative reaction, regain leadership, and revamp their role within India's democracy. This essay examines Dalwai's politics, why it is important, and how it can spark a necessary shift in Indian Muslim politics in the modern age. Politics by Hamid Dalwai: A Brief Summary There were two areas in which Dalwai's politics were conditioned. One, he hoped the Muslim community itself would adopt modern values, namely, gender equality, reason, and secularism. Two, he hoped Indians who are Muslim regard themselves as part of a democratic, plural, and secular nation, and not a community that shall ever need religious sanctioning by the government. Transforming Society through Politics Dalwai was convinced that there could be no political transformation without social transformation. He publicly questioned practices like triple Talaq, polygamy, and the lack of rights for Muslim women in Muslim personal law. In 1966 formed the first Muslim women's march in Mumbai, demanding reforms in Muslim personal law — a historic gesture in that time period. Freeing Muslim women was significant, in his opinion, in freeing the entire community. Secularism and Rationalism He was in favour of keeping religion a personal affair, unlike most Muslim leaders in his era. He did not favour exploiting Islam in a bid for power and stated that Indian Muslims' future was contingent on embracing secular politics. He was fond of saying Muslims need to get out of the mindset that they are a "minority community" in need of protection and instead become normalised citizens in India. Critique of Identity Politics Dalwai severely criticised the identity-based politics practised by the Muslim League and successive Muslim groups, founded on fear and divisiveness. He added that it made Muslims backwards-looking and prevented them from engaging with the real issues of the modern age — poverty, education, employment, and social development. Integration, Not Isolation Dalwai felt that Indian Muslims need not seclude themselves but, on the contrary, mingle with society. He desired that Muslims should participate fully in India's democratic and secular polity, instead of seeking special privileges on account of religion. The Significance of Dalwai's Politics Dalwai's politics were significant since it was ahead of their time. During the 1960s and 70s, when Muslim politics in India were mostly centred on safeguarding personal law and rights of the community, he steered the conversation in the direction of reform, rationality, and coming together. A Lone Voice for Transformation Dalwai envisaged a change in the Muslim personal law long before the rulings by the Supreme Court and the Indian discussion on triple talaq. He was well aware that women's rights were essential for the development of the community. Breaking the Fear Narrative He did not subscribe to the narrative that Muslims have always got to be on their guard against majoritarianism and thus need religious identity. Fear-driven politics, in his opinion, only reinforced reactionary clerical power in the community and brought no actual progress. Relevance in Today's Crisis Indian Muslims face a plethora of challenges nowadays: growing Islamophobia, fewer seats in power, and incremental economic and social progress. And there is resistance to modernity within their own society as well. Dalwai's approach responds — rather than getting bogged down in identity politics or victimhood, Muslims can concentrate on reform, education, and modern politics. Secularism as a Survival Technique While for Dalwai, secularism was no accommodation but a mere survival tactic, in a plural nation like India, no community could ever prosper by encasing itself in compartments. This argument is all the more pertinent in present-day India, where polarisation is at lethal levels. Why Muslim Politics in India Requires Dalwai If we trace Indian Muslim politics before and after Dalwai's death, we discover that his idea never got the recognition it deserved. Instead, Muslim politics kept oscillating between two strategies: defensive politics: perpetual bargaining with the state in defence of religious identity, especially personal law. Symbolic politicising involves highlighting religious or community-based party representation. The policy does not make broad alliances or seek socio-economic agenda points. This strategy has been a failure. Presently, Muslims are poorly represented in parliament, lack access to education and job opportunities, and are increasingly susceptible to community violence. Meanwhile, religious leaders are still paramount in determining discussion among the community, averse to change and stifling critical thinking. Dalwai’s ideas can provide a fresh way forward: From Identity to Citizenship Muslim politics ought to be on the basis of citizenship and not identity. Rather than claiming rights as a "minority community," Muslims ought to claim rights as equal Indian citizens. This shift in focus makes the debate different and allows Muslims to cooperate with other groups that are also marginalised. From Clerical Control to Democratic Leadership He was ever warning against theocratic control in Muslim polity. Muslim politicians in the modern world should originate from education, social work, and grassroots activity and not religious authority. From Symbolic Issues to Real Issues Muslim politics should not just focus on religious symbols and personal law. It must also deal with real problems: unemployment, unfair treatment in housing, not having enough political representation, and getting access to education. From Reaction to Action He did emphasise that it was the Indian Muslim responsibility, not merely to react or respond, but also to take positive initiative towards development and progress. That positive approach is the need of the hour today. How Indian Muslim Politics Can Be Enriched Today In order to reform Indian Muslim politics as envisaged by Dalwai, a few actions are required. 1. The Cornerstone Is Education. Muslims should stress education, modern and scientific. Dalwai went on to say that it is futile to reform without education. Invest in schools, in scholarships, and in skill development. Political leaders should seek more government support in education instead of merely calling for religious schools. 2. Women at the Centre Dalwai strongly believed in women’s rights, and this is likely his biggest impact. Today, Muslim women should not only be viewed as people needing change but also as leaders in political and social movements. Events like the women-led protests against the CAA in Shaheen Bagh demonstrate how strong women’s leadership can be. 3. Forming Secular Partnerships Muslim politics need not isolate itself. Rather, it needs only to make alliances with Dalits, Adivasis, OBCs, and all other depressed sections. Such alliances can build a bigger platform in support of justice, equality, and rights enshrined in the Constitution. 4. Encouraging Rational and Liberal Thinking Dalwai hoped that Muslims would embrace rationality. Muslim organisations need to make space for debate, new ideas, and artistic expression instead of closing space for disagreement in the name of religion. Authors, artists, and intellectuals need encouragement in order to impact the minds of the community. 5. Political Participation Outside Identity Groups Though there are Muslim parties, Dalwai would have urged Muslims to get into ordinary parties and influence their norms on fairness, equality, and welfare. The focus ought to be on getting into national politics, not merely having different representation. 6. Challenging Internal Conservatism No transformation is possible without tackling inner conservativism. Dalwai openly challenged clerical authority, and Muslims today are required to take on personal law, modernity, and pluralism in a similar vein. We are required to foster voices of reform instead of stifling them. The Dalwai in the Modern Context Dalwai's politics was a warning to Indian Muslims on a few fronts. He warned that if Muslims kept focusing on identity-based politics and did not accept change, they themselves would be irrelevant in society and in politics. Unfortunately, a few among his worries are no longer hypothetical. His ideas also give us hope. They remind us that communities can change, that we can make progress through education and reform, and that being a citizen in a non-religious way is a better base than being separated by religion. In present-day India, Muslims are greeted with distrust, animosity, and exclusion. Dalwai's politics allows them a route towards regaining strength and power. Instead of retorting in fear or withdrawing, Muslims are able to embrace reform, modernity, and secular alliances. Hamid Dalwai lived a short life, but it was impactful in a big way. He boldly informed his community of harsh realities and challenged them to change and accept modernity. He informed Muslims that it was necessary they did not consider themselves as a mere minority, but as equal citizens and defenders of secular democracy. They are significant in Indian Muslim politics today. Something has come to be needed — a shift from identity, a move from religious leaders to leaders who are democratic, from struggles symbolic in nature to struggles rooted in reality, and from reaction and passive response to proactive action aimed at transformation. If Indian Muslims adopt Dalwai's principles, they can reclaim their place in India's democracy, no longer as a fearful minority but as assertive, progressive, and equal citizens. That would be the true credit to Hamid Dalwai's political thought — and the future ahead for Muslim politics in India. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-politics/hamid-dalwai-muslim-politics-india/d/136753 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism