Are Indian Muslims Really That Different from Bangladeshi Muslims?

Are Indian Muslims Really That Different from Bangladeshi Muslims?

Are Indian Muslims really that different from Bangladeshi Muslims? Ask any Indian Muslim and they’ll say, Yes, of course! and proceed to extol the virtues of their faith and culture, while downplaying the beliefs and practices of Bangladeshi Muslims in comparison. But are they really that different? And if so, why do we lump all Muslims together anyway? In this article, I hope to explore these questions, as well as share some similarities between Indian and Bangladeshi Muslims.

 

How different are they, really?

Both groups are South Asian Muslims and have many similarities but there are a few key differences between them. Bangladesh was a part of India until 1971 when it became its own country. It is also about twice as big in size as India with an estimated population of 160 million people compared to India’s 1.3 billion people. There is no real difference between how these two Muslim communities practice their faith, but Indian Muslims tend to come from poorer backgrounds and don’t enjoy as much freedom, which can sometimes lead to radicalization and extremism in some cases. Most Indian Muslims aren’t very well-educated, however, meaning they could be more vulnerable to recruitment by terrorist organizations than educated Bangladeshis would be, for example.

 

A Note on Minorities and Bigotry

Minorities are an easy target for bigotry, and it’s not uncommon to encounter anti-Indian or anti-Bangladeshi sentiments. Both communities have frequently been compared to each other, but there are some important differences that make their experiences distinct. Bangladeshis (or Bengalis) are a Muslim minority group in Hindu India while Indians are themselves a diverse group of over 1 billion people—many of whom practice Islam. It’s also worth noting that Bangladesh has historically suffered much greater poverty than India, leading many young men to migrate out of both countries to seek work abroad. This influx of foreign labor can cause friction between host populations and immigrants, who face widespread prejudice because they're viewed as economic competition.

 

Interfaith Dialogue Needed Now More Than Ever

In light of recent events, it’s clear that we need to start engaging in dialogue about Islamophobia. Yes, religious extremism exists and deserves to be called out. However, not all 1.6 billion Muslims are members of a terrorist organization or agree with their goals and methods. In fact, many take offense at what these groups stand for, just as many Americans were offended by 9/11. If you consider yourself an ally—and particularly if you’re part of a minority group yourself—the next time someone makes an anti-Muslim remark (or even worse), think about intervening and starting a productive                                                                                         conversation. You might save someone’s life.