Contested Identities and the Muslim Qaum in northern India

281 Pages·2009·16.63 MB·English

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Contested
Identities
the Muslim Qaum in India: 1860-1900
and
northern c.
S Akbar Zaidi
Churchill College
University Cambridge
of
CAMBRIDGE
UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY
for degree Doctor Philosophy
is the
This dissertation of of
submitted
Abstract
Contested Identities the Muslim Qaum in India: 1860-1900
and northern c.
S Akbar Zaidi
in Urdu from
Using
the
primarily published sources second-half of the nineteenth
Indian Muslims,
thesis to
century, my presents evidence with regard north which
idea homogenous,
Muslim
questions the of a centralising, entity. at times called the
Using large
community. qaum, ummah or nation. a number of second-tier publicists'
in Urdu,
the thesis that the
writings argues self-perceptions and representations of
Muslims. far local. disparate, highly
many were more parochial, multiple, and
The idea homogenous, levelling, identity.
contested. of a sense of collective or an
imagined in This line
this
community, seem wanting period. of evidence and
has important implications for locating
the
argumentation, also moment of
identity formation
Indian Muslims,
that
separatism and amongst north and argues
happened later has been imagined. Based
this than this, the
much previously on
historiography
thesis teleological
also argues against an anachronistic or strain of
Indian Muslims
to this
with regard north of period.
The debated, is Urdu
through these through the
main medium which arguments are
large have been
print world, where a number of new sources presented which
difference, Whether it in
this than this
underscore more uniformity. was religious
debates, debates
the to the
around attempt unify as part of a qaum or around
- -
for Muslims be humiliation literature
to the
reasons at a point of zillat utter points
- -
diverse interpretations, Moreover,
to the
multiple and causes and solutions. question
Muslim bitterly by be
those to
of who a was', was always contested who claimed
Muslims The forum how
themselves. thesis the the
also examines of munäzara, and
forms helped in individual identity,
pre-print of public engagement emphasising
The interplay between
the
authority and reputation. oral representation and
fixity
the the
subsequent written accounts after event, also raise questions about of
for historians.
print'. and about sources
Using broadly,
this the thesis to the
new print material, engages with notions related
imagined in
the that
community and public sphere, arguing a colonial context, much
based European be for
the theory the to the
of on experience, needs rethought, nature
development formation
the the
and of public sphere/s and of of communities, may
have been different in
this
somewhat context.
Statement Length Originality
of and
does limit by Faculty History.
This
thesis the the
not exceed word prescribed of
University Cambridge. This dissertation is includes
the
of result of my own work and
is done in
that the
nothing outcome of work collaboration except where specifically
in
the text.
stated
Akbar S Zaidi
Contents
Acknowledgments
Preface iii
Chapter 1: Introduction 1
Chapter 2: Zillat 22
Chapter 3: Who is Muslim? Labels Self-identity 74
a and
Chapter 4: Print, Identity, Differences 132
Chapter 5: Orality in Print: The the
creation of myth and reinforcement
identity 191
of
232
Chapter 6: Conclusions
251
Bibliography
Acknowledgments
After having done in for 30 I
taught
studied, and research political economy years,
decided journey learn History. What I
to to
get an education, and embarked on a
be led how
thought to
would an easy quest, me understand a completely new
discipline, 'done'. During four I have
taught, the
was researched, and years studied
learnt History, I have debts have learnt from
the
and acquired numerous and many of
best in field.
this
first debt is late Rajnarayan Chandavarkar, first
My to the
who was my advisor at
Cambridge, into his discipline. I from
and welcomed me started off a completely
highly I be but
thought thesis,
vague and ambitious project, which would my very
becoming History, Raj instructed how do
to
soon after a student of me on research
History Raj for but before his
and what was all about. was my advisor one year
I his last I him for his initial
thanks
passing, and was student. owe many advice,
friendship.
guidance and
I fortunate inherit Professor Sir Christopher Bayly Raj's
to
was as my advisor after
Chris know, have been learn from
to
passing, and all as students of we privileged and
Chris. Chris has I in first into doctoral
the
with made material collected my year my
dissertation. Without his in
terms
unconditional support, of availability, advice and
I have finishing His
the thesis.
support, would not achieved my goal of
for
I
encouragement proved crucial at numerous critical moments, which am grateful.
from leading historians.
I
the
also acknowledge comments and support many Who
ideas. Professors Barbara D Metcalf
read chapters and offered comments on various
CM Naim, did Javed Majeed. Professors Muzaffar Alam
and read chapters, as and
key issues helped
Mushirul Hasan,
offered advice and comments on which me clarify
issues. I for help. Professor Usha Sanyal
to them their
numerous am grateful all of
deserves for interest in for
thanks taking the
particular an my work and reading entire
before I her
thesis thanks.
completion. owe many, many,
do for Dr TCA Raghavan,
In
to to the this thesis,
order allow me research essential
historian himself discussed ideas
the this thesis they
an vvho also of with me as were
developing, it for libraries India, for I
to to
made possible me get across which am
In Delhi, friendship from Mohan, Githa, Prabir.
extremely grateful. and support
Rahul. Ayesha, Aditya, Nivedita, Satish Mary,
and made each of my visits
memorable.
is for
Perhaps the
the one person who most responsible my staying course and
is historian friend, Charu Gupta Delhi University. Charu
finishing
this thesis, of
and
has been from before it began. She instrumental in
this thesis,
was
part of well
helping how History done', I know, that this thesis
me to understand was and would
have been Charu's help Her
not possible without constant and encouragement.
been has in
this thesis through.
support critical seeing
On I for
there
a personal note, are a number of people who need to thank their
during journey. Even in
the this
support, understanding and encouragement course of
.
both interest in
took this
my middle-aged years, my parents a great project and were
I it I for
that through their
eager see and am very grateful all support and
The last friendship
the thesis to the
encouragement. year of owes much coffee and
Afiya S Zia in Karachi, it far deal life's
to
with who made easier with multiple
Rabab, Faiz, Amar Laila, deserve
tribulations. the thanks
challenges and and all
for for
the to they
possible, giving me permission chase my windmills. while waited
to
me return.
Preface
I have transliterated Urdu into English laid in John
the
words primarily on pattern out
'
T Platts', A Dictionary Urdu, Classical Hindi, English. Barbara
of and and also use
Metcalf's builds Platts' in her Islamic Revival
in
schema where she and simplifies
British India: Deoband, 1860-1900.2 I diacriticals
transliterate
without except where
I feel Urdu For instance,
the to the
an emphasis makes word closer original. one
is deal in
Muslim Indian
the
word which used a great writings regarding north well-
born, is incorrectly `ashraf '. The
the 'a'.
written as word needs an accent on and
be `ashrcf, `akhläq' `ajläf. differ from Platts'
to to
needs written as similar or also
.I
L
Urdu letters he
'g, `c'
the transliterates
use of and which as and respectively, and
I far Also, for Urdu Platts
use the simpler gh and ch. the word `in' and 'I', uses the
form I for `in' for `I'. In Urdu
same men; use men and main some cases my use of
differs from is
Urdu
terms the the
other scholars, and one particular case use of
`vao' `wao'. Some `softer' `wao',
the
alphabet or scholars use version, such as
Barelwi, Nadwa. I, however, the `stronger' `vao', in Barlevi, Nadva. I
use version, as
do for `vao', in fatty Nawab, both
this the
all uses of except of case a and of which are
fairly I `wao'. Following Barbara Metcalf, I
the
now standardised, where use softer
`s'
too, to transliterated to
simply add an many words make a plural, particularly,
but Arabic for like
twas, the
qaums, raises, etc, use other more standard ones
,f
For I has become for
mazähib, etc. proper names, use what now convention,
Khan, Khän.
than
example, rather
In I by Urdu
this thesis, the transliterated
also use original names as newspapers
in Oudh Punch Oudh Ukhbar, both
themselves, the the
particular, and of which were
from Lucknow.
the the two
given on mast-head of papers
1
John lF Platts, Dictionari' C'r(lu, Classical Hindi, English, Oxford University Press, London,
and
O1
.1
1974, first 1884.
published
2
Barbara D Metcalf, Islamic Revisal in British India: Deoband 1860-1900, Oxford University Press,
Princeton, 1982.
Ne\\ Delhi, 2002; first
published
Chapter One
Introduction
Contemporary historiography
Indian Muslims
half
on north of the second of the
for
has been
the by history
nineteenth century, most part, over-shadowed the
of, and
Sayyid Ahmad Khan his Muhammadan
Anglo-Oriental College
around,
and
at
Aligarh, by Muslim for
and separatism,
which some scholars, arose a as consequence
the both. Within
doing
of cultural and political praxis of this tradition
and around
of
history, has been
there influence
also work of considerable
and quality on religious
institutions
and processes which moulded the Muslim Public, the Muslim
gain,
it
identity
1857. No deny
giving a sense of community and after one can the
influence
and role of Sayyid Ahmad Khan, Altaf Hussain Hall. Dipti Nazir Ahmad
Shibli Naumani
and to the important Indian Muslim
name perhaps most north
-
intellectuals latter half
the the Muslim
of of nineteenth century over the
-
imagination in late
the In
nineteenth century and subsequently. the
addition,
institutions
Deoband, Bareilly, Farangi Mahall later Nadvatul Ulema,
of at
and
for,
Muslim just in
played an equally powerful role and over, consciousness, not
India, but
the Indian beyond. Indisputably,
northern all across sub-continent, and this
historiography
individuals, institutions
that these defined
strain of shows, trends,
and
ider Muslim for Muslims helped define
that
a xv public sphere many of period and a
'
Muslim identity.
certain
For list Ram Gopal, Indian Muslims. Political History (1858-194'), Asia Publishing
a short see:
-
.4
House, London, 1959; Qeyamuddin Ahmad, The 11'ahabi Love in India, Firma KL
merit
M1ukhopadhyay, Calcutta, 1966; Muhammad Mujeeb, Indian Muslims, London, 1967; Shan
Mohammad, Sir Si'i'J hmad khan: A Political Biography, Meenakshi Prakashan, Meerut, 1969;
-I
.
.
Peter Hardy, The 11u. British India, Cambridge University Cambridge, Press, 1972, Paul Brass,
slims of
.
Language, Religion Politics in North India, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 1974;
and
Francis Robinson, Separatism 4mong Indian Afuslims: The Politics United Provinces' lfuslims
the
cal
. . ,
'0, 1860-19. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1974: Christian \ Troll, Scni"id Ahmad Khan: A
Rei, Aluslim Theolo, Vikas Publishinu House, Ness Delhi, 1978; Das id Lela
rte'r"prciation '. s eld,
vv/
t li; '. l first Generation.:. 11uslim ti'O/idara in British India, Oxford University Delhi, Press, 1978;
y
s
ýýrh
.
tfuslin,
Hatt Malik, Sir Sved Khan 1todcrnisation in India Pakistan, Columbia
and and
'lhmad
. . .
lUnkersity New Press. York, 1980: Rafiuddin Ahmed, The Bengal 1luslims 1S-1-1906:. 1 Quest/or
Identity. Oxford l lnis Press, Delhi, 1981; Barbara D Metcalf. Islamic Revival in British India:
ersitz
ECA
MB!
D GE
VERS
E, i!.
y ;
It is
direction
in
much of this historiography has
contemporary
western which
informed
Muslim
our notion of the 'public the Muslim has
and of quum. and
influenced
during
our understanding,
not only of personalities and processes the
but
importantly,
nineteenth century. perhaps more
of subsequent events and
developments in first half
the the twentieth Clearly, for better for
of
century.
and
influence
importance
the historiography
this
worse, and
of strain of on our
the Indian Muslim be denied. Our
understanding of north cannot the
notion of north
Indian Muslim late
the is framed by
of nineteenth century, this
analysis.
from
Apart these however, different
very well-known processes, there trends
were
influences
taking India Muslims. Despite
and place all across north amongst the the
local
these influences developments,
active presence of often and regional and our
knowledge
less-familiar developments has been
the
and understanding of
somewhat
in light larger bigger
obscured especially the of the trends and the picture. My thesis
document
less-known
tries to
and understand some of these other trends and
influences Muslim being in India
the tries to that
on north and show only when one
developments field, does
the the
considers outside main on sidelines, one get a more
Muslim India in
the the
complete picture of of north nineteenth century. 'It was', as
`the local, decentralised
one contemporary scholar argues, networks of
knowledgeable fringes
the these
people on of pretentious controversies which carried
2
deepest
the
power of social change'.
Deoband W-1900, l, Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 2002; first Princeton, 1982;
published
Farzana Shaikh, C'ommuniti' Consensus in Islam, Cambridge University Cambridge, Press, 1989;
and
Usha San\ Devotional Islam Politics in British India: hmad Ri-a Khan Barehri His
al, and -1 and
,
tlovt'ment, 18'0-1920, Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 1999; Ayesha Jalal. Self
and
.
So Ilusliin Individual Community Islam in South 1850, Sun
vereignh'. the and the of sia since c. ,
-e-
, .I -,
Meel, Lahore, 2000; Mushirul Hasan, From Pluralism to Separatism: 0asbas in Colonial
adh,
.4
Oxford Uni\ Press, New Delhi, 2004; Harlan 0 Pearson, Islamic Re/brm Revival in
and, and
crsit\
India: Tariqah-i The Muhammadivah, Yoda Ne\ý Press, Delhi, 2008.
,
1\'inetcenth-centur
2C
Ba\ lý, EmpirL' Infbrmation: Intelligence Gathering Social Consciousness in lncliar,
and and
:\
1-80-1,1 ý0. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1999, 314.
p.
My looks
thesis (perhaps,
these local)
at
secondary. or second-tier, trends, and
lesser-known,
examines some of those hidden, less-researched, debates ideas
and
have helped form
Muslim
the Muslim imagination.
which may the
public sphere and
Perhaps, importantly.
literature
this it, it
more a study of that through
may suggest
helped fissures differences
the in
create and accentuate
and which resulted not one,
but Muslim being despite
many public spheres
created, our perhaps unconscious
the Indian Muslim late
acceptance of particular a notion of north the
public sphere of
by
nineteenth century, accepted some as conventional wisdom today.
One the features Indian Muslim intellectual history in latter
of surprising of north the
half
the the debate
of nineteenth century, was extent of vibrant and often, violent, and
Muslims
argumentation that took place amongst talking to each other and to
Often debates in form
took the
representatives of other religions. such place of a
forum for debate, frequently held in
towns
ara, munäLl a public small and cities
India, by few
thousand the
across north which was usually attended a onlookers of
lay leaders. Before
their the
public who would cheer on religious spread of print and,
in fact, it dominance forms, forum
the this the
persisted well after of print public was
discourse between
to take
main space which allowed religious place adversaries and
different beliefs faiths. Yet, despite differences
with people of and severe which were
in debates
the that took there
often reflected nature of place, was an underlying sense
least, for
the
tolerance
of or at acceptance other, and even when some speakers
- -
jeered by
to
the
were ridiculed and public present, speakers were given room state
their
views.
became far
This tradition of talking to, or at times, at, one's opponent, more
far
the
`scholarly',
and spread and wide. once print medium
systematic and perhaps
in Urdu. This, literacy
developed Muslim time
and scholars started writing at a when
in
5-8
levels have been than the the
percent of male population
not more
would
lack
Yet, despite the
this apparent of a reading public. press and publication
region.