Rights and Minorities: The Case of Indian Muslims

Abstract

Rights are inalienable in nature. They are the basic entitlement of every citizen in democracy. They guarantee the minimum basic need of an individual in a society. Rights have been recognized fundamental to every human being for their survival in society as well as in a nation. It is the guarantee of the State to provide and safeguard the rights of its citizens. Rights have been well documented in several International forums as well as in the constitution of countries. Minorities occupy a special place in any country of the world. India as a country believes in unity and diversity and boasts about its religious pluralism. Indian constitution has provided several safeguards for the minorities to bring them into mainstream and to protect them from arbitrary discrimination of the majority. Muslims in India are recognized as the largest minority and there strength is more than the total strength of all other minorities in the country. Despite such a sizeable share of the population, they are largely backward and poor in all aspects of development. This paper discusses the concepts of rights recognized at International forums as well as in the constitution of India, and discusses the prevailing condition of Indian Muslims despite all the safeguards and rights available to them.