ABSTRACT
The Muslim community's perception that the post-2001 'War on Terror' has been a cipher for anti-Muslim mobilisation and the tacit strengthening of anti-Muslim attitudes in the guise of security concerns regarding radical ideology and militancy. This chapter examines the evolution of Muslim leadership, symbols and issues of mobilisation and the socio-political situation in which the leadership developed, became assimilative or separatist. It focuses on the role of the Indian syncretic culture, right-wing Hindutva leadership and violence against Muslims as important conditioning aspects of Muslim leadership. After Independence, 'moderate Muslim' leadership comprised of second-generation leaders who developed in the above circumstances. They were bolder and more assertive than the first generation leaders who led cautiously on the issue of Muslim identity in the aftermath of Partition. The political Islamists aim to establish an Islamic state and enforce Islam as understood by one sect or another.
