Discourse on Minority Rights, Identity, and Exclusion: An Indian Perspective

ABSTRACT: This paper – using the qualitative approach and literature review – thoroughly debate the rights of Muslim minority in Indian context. It was investigated from critical point of view that whether Muslim minorities are really enjoying their rights under the umbrella of Indian democracy and secularism. The problem of exclusion created through different ways and the special role played by multiple factors were taken into cognizance. Kashmir case has been provided as special reference, where it has been seen how power was abused against the people of Kashmir. The case of socio-economic, political marginalization of Muslims in India was also highlighted. The dimensions of security, development, and education in Indian context have been elucidated seriously in this study. Debate on security dimension with inclusion of other welfare agendas and projects for dealing the issue of minority development has been seriously taken into consideration. Any democratic governance can survive once the welfare of all the citizens will be ensured equally. Extremism can be overcome by the methods of tolerance and accommodation. The extremism can also be defeated once multiculturalism methods will be used. Undoubtedly, extremism has been always a major threat against India’s glorious legacies. India can get more international recognition once the forces of extremism would be defeated by the secular forces of India on Indian soil. Perhaps, security and overall development of minorities could be ensured through the constitutional means vis-a-vis in real practice. KEY WORD: Minority Rights; Identity; People of Kashmir; Indian Perspective. RESUME : “Wacana tentang Hak-hak Minoritas, Identitas, dan Pengecualian: Suatu Perspektif India”. Makalah ini – dengan menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dan tinjauan pustaka – membahas secara tuntas hak-hak minoritas Muslim dalam konteks India. Dikaji dari sudut pandang kritis apakah minoritas Muslim benar-benar menikmati hak-hak mereka di bawah payung demokrasi dan sekularisme India. Masalah eksklusi diciptakan melalui cara yang berbeda dan peran khusus yang dimainkan oleh banyak faktor dimasukkan ke dalam kesadaran. Kasus Kashmir telah disediakan sebagai referensi khusus, dimana telah terlihat bagaimana kekuasaan disalahgunakan terhadap rakyat Kashmir. Kasus marjinalisasi sosial-ekonomi, politik kaum Muslim di India juga disoroti. Dimensi keamanan, pembangunan, dan pendidikan dalam konteks India telah dijelaskan secara serius dalam penelitian ini. Perdebatan tentang dimensi keamanan dengan memasukan agenda kesejahteraan lainnya dan proyek untuk menangani masalah pembangunan minoritas telah dipertimbangkan secara serius. Setiap pemerintahan yang demokratis dapat bertahan hidup setelah kesejahteraan semua warga negara dipastikan sederajat. Ekstremisme dapat diatasi dengan metode toleransi dan akomodasi. Ekstremisme pun dapat dikalahkan begitu metode multikulturalisme segera dilaksanakan. Tidak diragukan lagi, ekstremisme selalu menjadi ancaman utama terhadap warisan mulia India. India dapat memperoleh lebih banyak pengakuan dunia internasional begitu kekuatan-kekuatan ekstremisme akan dikalahkan oleh kekuatan-kekuatan sekuler di negeri India. Mungkin, keamanan dan pengembangan minoritas secara keseluruhan dapat dipastikan melalui cara konstitusional berhadapan dengan praktek nyata. KATA KUNCI : Hak Minoritas; Identitas; Rakyat Kashmir; Perspektif India. About the Authors: Dr. Hilal Wani is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science, Government Degree College Sopore in Jammu and Kashmir, India. Sakina Khazir is a Ph.D. Student at the Department of Philosophy AMU (Aligarh Muslim University), Uttar Pradesh, India. For academic interests, the authors are able to be contacted via e-mails address at: wanihilal@gmail.com and saku.wani99@gmail.com Suggested Citation: Wani, Hilal & Sakina Khazir. (2019). “Discourse on Minority Rights, Identity, and Exclusion: An Indian Perspective” in SOSIOHUMANIKA: Jurnal Pendidikan Sains Sosial dan Kemanusiaan , Volume 12(1), Mei, pp.1-18. Bandung, Indonesia: Minda Masagi Press owned by ASPENSI with ISSN 1979-0112 (print) and ISSN 2622-6855 (online). Article Timeline : Accepted (December 27, 2018); Revised (March 24, 2019); and Published (May 30, 2019).