Between Identity and Equity: An Agenda for Affirmative Action for Muslims ∗

Developmental studies today must per force attend to the issue of social exclusion of hitherto marginal groups — ethnic and religious minorities, women, indigenous groups and populations assigned lower status in an acutely stratified society as ours. This article is located amidst the raging debate over affirmative action, including reservations, for India's Muslims. For the Muslims of India, both identity and equity are intensely contested concepts that impinge upon political mobilisation as well as policy initiatives. This has received fresh impetus following first, the findings of the Sachar Committee, which have validated the widespread perception of Muslim marginalisation; and second, the emergence of powerful collective voices from amongst the Muslim middle and lower castes. At the heart of the issue is whether Muslims qua Muslim deserve reservation, in which case would the sociologically identified Ashrafs get to be included among the beneficiaries. Or is marginality among Muslims, akin to other communities, primarily a caste/status group experience? And therefore should initiatives for distributive justice, including quotas, be tempered to account for cumulative deprivations of the Ajlafs and Arzals? ¹ This article persuasively argues for the latter — a formula consistent with Constitutional entitlements, prevailing legal discourse and one that stands the test of political pragmatism.