Identity of Muslims in India as Marginalized community: Special Focus on Minorities of Gujarat State

Marginalized communities and ethnic minorities are a visible sign in most of the modern societies around the world. The tag people carry as belonging to a marginalized and minority community may give rise to suspicion. Their presence in a civilized society may not be welcomed and the people who belong to majority communities may not reckon them. However, in India, the constitution has recognized the rights of people who belong to marginalized and minority communities. Over the years, the majority has curtailed the rights of the marginalized communities’ not through legislation but by depriving them of government benefits. Among these six minority communities, Muslims across the world and in India are looked in suspicion. Most of the communal violence across India have had the participation of Muslims. Do these people involve in violence without any provocation? The Sachar Committee, which was appointed to look into social, economic and educational conditions of Muslims, highlighted and presented its suggestions on how to remove impediments preventing Indian Muslims from fully participating in the mainstream activities of Indian life. On this background, my research paper tries to show the conditions of Muslims as belonging to one of the minority communities in India, how have they been marginalized, their present status in the state of Gujarat and their contributions to the nation building tasks.