Islamization in modern South Asia : Deobandi reform and the Gujjar response / David Emmanuel Singh.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Singh, David Emmanuel.

Series:

Religion and society (Hague, Netherlands) ; 56.

Religion and society, 1437-5370 ; v. 56

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Islam--South Asia.

Islam.

Islam--India.

Muslims--South Asia.

Muslims.

Muslims--India.

Deoband School (Islam).

Bakrawallah (Indic people).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (344 p.)

Place of Publication:

Boston ; Berlin : De Gruyter, 2012.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This book explores the religious identity of the indigenous Gujjars living in Rajaji National Park (RNP), Uttarakhand, India. In the broader context of forest conservation discourse, steps taken by the local government to relocate the Gujjars outside RNP have been crucial in their choice to associate with NGOs and Deobandi Muslims. These intersecting associations constitute the context of their transitioning religious identity.The book presents a rich account of the actual process of Islamization through the collaborative agency of Deobandi madrasas and Tablighi Jama'at. Based on documents and interviews collected over four years, it constructs a particular case of Deobandi reform and also balances this with a layered description of the Gujjar responses. It argues that in their association with the Deobandis, the Gujjars internalized the normative dimensions of beliefs and practices but not at the expense of their traditional Hindu-folk culture. This capacity for adaptation bodes well for the Gujjars, but their proper integration with wider society seems assured only in association with the Deobandis. Consequently this research also points toward the role of Islam in integrating marginal groups in the wider context of society in South Asia.

Contents:

The Deoband school

The Van Gujjars

The Gujjar 'indigeneity'

Deobandi Islamization

The Gujjar response.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [236]-275) and indexes.

ISBN:

9786613941695

9781614511854

1614511853

9781283629249

1283629240

OCLC:

813285777