“You seem to be underestimating how much the average Muslim dislikes Hindus (and vice versa). This is a sad reality.”
This comment on a thread conversation – yet again discussing partition on BP, jumped out at me. And I think it deserves to be dissected.
I for one, strongly disagree with the projection of personal animus, extrapolated all the way into the ‘average muslim’. And vice versa. I’m going to assume that Kabir is ‘only’ deigning to speak on behalf of the ‘average muslim’ of the subcontinent, and not beyond. But even then, I think this assertion is utterly inaccurate.
I do not believe that ‘disliking Hindus’ is baked into the character or mindset of the muslims of the subcontinent, whether in India, or beyond it, into Bangladesh of Pakistan. Now, I am aware of the ‘kufr’ attack lines that those suffering from Islamophobia often deploy and may even believe. But I am confident that this is the usual weaponization of the fringe by those with ignorant, or intentionally jaundiced agendas.
The Problem with Monolithic Thinking
To say that “Muslims dislike Hindus” is to treat over 500 million people across multiple countries as if they share a single mindset. This kind of thinking ignores differences in geography, class, education, political views, and personal experiences.
Communities are not monoliths. A Muslim family in Kerala may have vastly different social interactions and attitudes compared to one in Lahore or Dhaka. The same is true for Hindus across regions. Reducing such diversity to a single emotional stance erases individual agency and lived reality.
Historical Context Matters—but So Does Interpretation
It’s true that the subcontinent has witnessed periods of conflict, most notably during the Partition of 1947. That traumatic event left deep scars and continues to influence inter-community perceptions. However, it is a mistake to project historical violence onto present-day relationships without acknowledging the decades of peaceful coexistence that have followed.
In fact, millions of Hindus and Muslims continue to live side by side, working together, forming friendships, and even intermarrying. Everyday life in much of the subcontinent is not defined by hostility but by routine interaction.
The Role of Politics and Media
Modern tensions, where they exist, are often amplified by political rhetoric or media framing. Narratives that emphasize division can serve specific agendas, making it appear as though distrust is more widespread than it actually is.
It’s important to distinguish between politically motivated discourse and the attitudes of ordinary people. The loudest voices are not always the most representative.
Lived Reality: Coexistence Over Conflict
Walk through neighborhoods in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Karachi, or Dhaka, and you’ll find markets, schools, and workplaces where Hindus and Muslims interact daily. Festivals are sometimes shared, businesses are jointly run, and friendships cross religious lines.
These everyday examples rarely make headlines, but they represent the true fabric of society.
Why Generalizations Are Harmful
Broad claims about mutual dislike do more than misrepresent reality—they can actively contribute to division. When people are told repeatedly that another group harbors negative feelings toward them, it can create suspicion where none existed.
Challenging such narratives is not about denying that tensions exist, but about refusing to let those tensions define entire populations.
A More Nuanced Understanding
A more accurate perspective acknowledges that:
Historical conflicts exist, but so does long-term coexistence
Political narratives can distort social realities
Individual experiences vary widely
Cultural interdependence is a defining feature of the region
If we are to understand the subcontinent honestly, we must move beyond simplistic narratives and recognize the complexity—and humanity—of its people. Resorting to ignorant tropes about ‘muslims dislike hindus and vice versa’ not only should be avoided, but deserves to be countered forcefully.
Agreed. I refuse to believe that all the muslims I work with, do business with, and live near have a hidden contempt for hindus. Even the hindu-muslim paradigm itself is overly reductive as sub communities of each interact in their own way, not mention they are not the only religions that exist here. Moreover, the muslims who could be said to have the most legitimate grievances like kashmiris live the most ordinary lives in places like Bangalore. They work in tech, open restaurants, are sports coaches, not just the old school dry fruits and carpet merchants of old.
We suspect Indian Muslims are increasingly more afraid; the pressure to de-Islamicise is there among the “modern component”.
Bangladeshi Muslims, we can’t speculate on but they seem to be admirers.
Pakistani (Punjabi) Muslims LOVE Sikhs but are Hinduphobic.
Yeah, I think Owaisi and millions of Indian muslims would hard disagree.
You really need to walk through and experience some of India’s muslim neighborhoods.
This trope of Daraa hua Hindustani Musalmaan is more a function of hype and social media conjecture than reality.
This is not to deny or gloss over genuine challenges of prejudice that Indian society needs to honestly front up to, of course.
Tbh the liberal strain of Islam followed by the Muslim elite in India is the best path forward for Indian Muslims.
If to integrate amongst the Indian mainstream, Muslims have to shed some of the more hardcore illiberal habits – nothing wrong with that.
For what it’s worth, current “interpretations” of Islam do have problematic elements not compatible with modern society.
Nothing wrong with getting rid of those illiberal elements. And I would say the same of such Hindu practices/beliefs. Difference is Hinduism has already gone through a lot of reforms both pre and post Independence.
Does it really matter if this change is done via “pressure”?
Even Ataturk’s changes were resisted and Turkey is the best example of a liberal secular Muslim society (Erdogan’s neo ottomanism not withstanding) and probably the only Muslim country to get rich in the modern era without oil.
Removal of triple talaq is a good thing, regardless of which party does it.
I’ve shared the observation before i presume, but I’ve been told directly by muslims that the last 12 years, if anything revealed, the limits of majoritarianism from the center in an “all politics is local” way. The feeling in 2014 was much more ominous, that there are unprecedented hardliners in charge, and anything could happen. Now it appears that yes, the most obnoxious person you know can rub it in your face that “his people” run the show. But on the ground, nothing has changed, the alarming scenarios have not played out and while the overton window has shifted to the hindu right, there’s also ideological fatigue. There has always been a very secular “modern component”, if anything, Pakistan has always had the largest share of modern muslims, right?
This is part of the Punjabi soap opera. They now love the perpetrators of the partition violence against them, the most committed to neutralizing islam, and project their indignation on culturally distant bengalis and telugus who weren’t party to it, because these people are so much easier to dislike. It goes both ways with Indian Punjabis not wanting to see Pakistan completely dishonoured, because it would be a kind of insult to their own pretenses, and pretend that partition and animosity weren’t precipitated by their own interests.
India has the largest share of modern muslims in the subcontinent imo.
Also Pakistani Muslims aren’t really “modern” per se.
There is an upper limit to how modern you can be in an “Islamic Republic”.
Both the laws and the demographics ensure it.
thought-provoking comment.
Is de-Islamicising not a good thing in a multicultural environment?
If anything it ought to be encouraged. Clearly the Islamicising and othering themselves hasn’t really worked out for either them or the majority, no?
Exactly my point.
I find the word choice here …more than a bit problematic. ‘de-Islamicising’ smacks more of demanding to throw the baby out with the bathwater and reminds me of the ‘dismantle and eradicate’ Hinduism nonsense that some Pak-sponsored ‘non-profits’ tried to peddle a while back.
Both are regressive examples of bigotry, not progressive push for modernity.
Discussing and calling for reform is one thing, going full Chinese Communist Party on Uighurs is…..totalitarian crime against humanity.
I don’t think people understand how integrated Muslims are in India, especially in urban India.
No Indian Hindu can go through life without sizable interaction with Muslims.
And if you go rural, muslims are hard to differentiate at all. The greatest anxiety and peak performative religiosity , as with most things, is among the aspiring middle class.
Your observations appear to be from North karnataka, where a larger group of Muslims reside.
In South karnataka Muslims tend to live in their own ghettos.
A generation ago our Muslims knew about Hindu faith and it’s lore better than the current one.
Years ago as a young engineer I was scolded by our Muslim driver for stepping into a Rama Mandir pandal with my shoes!!. We had Muslim staff perform ayudha Puja in dussera.
The recent generation has become more inward and sectarian and generally seems to have taken the Friday sermons rather literally.
On the other hand, Hindus have got some knowledge about islam from the internet.
Human behaviors and choices are ultimately shaped by incentives. It has become …. fashionable to assert a more Islamic identity for a time in the 90s and 2000s while the Indian economy was still starting to improve, and the middle east served as inspiration and funding source for a more …orthodox identity. These things continue to evolve, shift and adapt over time.
I am confident that India will largely succeed in continuing to take strides towards an iteratively stronger ‘unity in diversity’ nation. And Indian muslims are going to be trailblazers along with the rest of their Indian co-citizens in how to seize modernity without having to totally shed their heritage or faiths.
It’s completely false to claim that the average Muslim ‘dislikes Hindus’.
Some of the most religious people in my family/friends (hijabis, bearded muslims) get along with Hindus the best with regular sharing of food/gifts between them.
There is a general disliked baked into Islam for polytheism and explicit idol worship at an abstract level BUT for reference I would even say this is much more milder than vegetarian Hindu dislike of meat eating.
and this is why I remain hopeful for an eventual rapprochement between Ind-Pak.
The vast majority of people are just that.
Similar to what I’ve observed. Pious looking muslim uncle seems genuinely kind, it’s the recently politically awakened young person whos not particularly pious who carries the most angst (either religion). And yes, in my experience many cultural vegetarians have a disgust reflex for meat eaters, and this is a big blind spot of self awareness when it comes to how much tolerance they credit themselves with.