Crossing the Threshold: Understanding Religious Identities in South AsiaWho is Hindu, who is Muslim? The answer, according to Dominique-Sila Khan, is not as simple as generally assumed. By analyzing documentary sources as well as original field data, she examines the shaping of religious identities in South Asia, particularly in North India. The author argues that the perception of Islam and Hinduism as two monolithic and perpetually antagonistic faiths coexisting uneasily in South Asia has become so deeply ingrained that the complexity of the historical fabric is often overlooked or ignored. She demonstrates how the emergence of clear-cut categories is a comparatively recent phenomenon, and shows how the past is characterized by a remarkable fluidity and diversity in the social and religious milieus of the two faiths. In exploring the historical mechanisms that have led to the emergence and crystallization of religious identities the author sheds light on the increasing number of conflicts which threaten the harmonious co-existence of South Asian communities today. |
Contents
Who is Hindu who is Muslim? | 8 |
Creating Orthodoxies | 51 |
Nation and Religion 19202000 | 94 |
Copyright | |
5 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
affiliation Aga Khan Aga Khan III Ahmad al-Din Arya Samaj Ashraf Barmati bhakti Bishnoi Brahmanical British Bullhe caste census Chishti Christians claim concept Conversions and Shifting culture Dadu darga Delhi devotion dharma disciples fact faith famous fifteenth-century followers groups Gujarat Gupti Guru Nanak Hindu and Muslim Hindu-Muslim Hinduism Hindutva History Ibid Imam Imamshahi India indigenous Islam Jains Jaipur jāti Kabir Khojas later liminal Mayaram medieval modern Moir movement Mughal Muslim Musulman Nath nineteenth century Nizari Ismaili organisation original orthodox Pakistan panth particular perceived phenomenon Pir Shams Pirana Pranami Punjab Qalandars Rajasthan Rajput Ramdev referred religion religious identity ritual rulers sacred sampraday Sanatani Sanskrit Sanskritisation Satpanthi Sayyids scholars sect sectarian Shah Shaiva Shamsis Shaykh Shi'a Shifting Identities shrine Sikh Sikhism Sindh Singh social South Asia Subcontinent Sufi Sufi saint Sufism Sultan Sunni Sufi syncretic taqiyya temple term tradition Twelver Twelver Shi'i ulama Untouchables Vaishnava various Vedas Vedic worship