The Muslim Secular
Osama Siddiqui
Although I initially decided to write a book review, I found it difficult to resist adding broader discussions that felt relevant. This is why this piece is a general discussion rather than a strict review. However, I fully credit Dr Amar Sohal, whose book, ‘The Muslim Secular’, is written in such a way that it allows for an in-depth exploration of the three Muslim leaders who played a significant role during the time of independence. Many books have been written about Muslim leaders who opposed the partition of India, but they did not base their arguments on emotions alone. Instead, they presented logical perspectives, with a shared belief that partition was not just the division of India, it was the division of Muslims.
Dr Amar Sohal, who currently teaches at King’s College London, focuses on three prominent 20th century political figures in his book: Maulana Azad, Sheikh Abdullah, and the Frontier Gandhi, Bacha Khan. These leaders opposed the division of India, but each had a different rationale for his stance.
Azad argued that Muslims should not fear marginalization in a united India, as the country would remain incomplete without them. His vision centered on a pluralistic and inclusive India, a perspective he articulated during a speech at the Qutub Minar. He firmly stated that he would not accept any form of independence that came at the cost of Hindu-Muslim unity. The book portrays Azad as a leader without ethnic biases, someone who considered himself a representative of all Indians rather than just the Muslim community. His very idea of independence rested on the foundation of a unified and inclusive India.
However, Bacha Khan and Sheikh Abdullah had perspectives that differed from Azad’s. Since my paternal family had an association with Bacha Khan, I would like to discuss his ideology first. Bacha Khan envisioned an India where Pakhtunkhwa enjoyed provincial autonomy. His movement, Khudai Khidmatgar (Servants of God), had a distinct Pashtun identity. He worked tirelessly to eliminate the deep-seated traditions of violence and revenge among the Pashtuns, promoting non-violence and forgiveness instead. His advocacy for non-violence strengthened his bond with Mahatma Gandhi, who admired both Bacha Khan and the discipline of the Khudai Khidmatgars. Unfortunately, after partition, tensions emerged between Quaid-e-Azam and Bacha Khan, as no mutual understanding was reached. As a result, he and his movement were often viewed with suspicion, accused of attempting to separate Pakhtunkhwa from Pakistan. He spent much of his life in prison and grew disheartened by how the Indian National Congress treated him. He famously told its leaders, “You have thrown us to the wolves.”
Sheikh Abdullah, known as the Lion of Kashmir, was not a member of the Indian National Congress, but his All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference largely aligned with Congress’s ideology. He supported a united India but urged its leaders to bridge the misunderstandings between Congress and the Muslim League. Abdullah openly advocated for provincial autonomy and sought to preserve Kashmiri traditions. His close relationship with Jawaharlal Nehru reinforced his belief in an inclusive India.
Dr Amar Sohal has highlighted three of the most significant Muslim leaders whose relevance persists today. The Kashmir issue remains unresolved. India’s political landscape has seen a shift toward right-wing policies, but the intellectual legacy of secular India, rooted in the ideas of Nehru and Azad, continues to resist this change. Meanwhile, Bacha Khan’s successors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have witnessed a decline in political influence.
Ultimately, Dr Amar Sohal has written a book that will be remembered as a landmark contribution to modern South Asian history.
The writer attended Cardiff University and completed his Masters of Science in Business Management. He has great passion for modern South Asian history, politics, political marketing and films. He may be reached at: osamasiddiqui21@yahoo.com. He tweets @osamasidd97.
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