Unmasking Indian Secularism - Paperback

by Hasan Suroor (Author)

In a bold attempt to help break the impasse in Hindu-Muslim relation, this book brings a much-needed perspective to a polarized debate on conflicting notions of secularism. It calls for de-hyphenating the so-called 'Muslim Question' (place of Muslims in a Hindu-majority India) from the wider debate on secularism and advocates a new Hindu-Muslim deal based around the centuries-old common cultural heritage skirting religious differences. In a refreshing break from liberal orthodoxy, the book explores the idea of a secular Hindu state which will recognize Hinduism as the official religion but guarantee equal rights to all its citizens, irrespective of their faith: a version of Britain's secular Christian state. An incisive analysis of why secularism failed and the rise of majoritarian Hindu nationalism, it underlines the urgent need for a new road map to restore communal harmony before it's too late for course correction.

Author Biography

Hasan Suroor is a well-known journalist and has written extensively on identity politics and Hindu- Muslim relations. He was a Press Fellow at Wolfson College, Cambridge University, studying the British experience of multiculturalism. His previous works include India's Muslim Spring: Why Is Nobody Talking About It? Who Killed Liberal Islam and Making Sense of Modi's India (ed).