Understanding The Muslim Mind

by Gandhi Rajmohan

A fascinating account of the Muslims in twentieth-century India, Pakistan and Bangladesh through his biographical sketches of eight prominent Muslims- Sayyid Ahmed Khan (1817-1898), Fazlul Haq (1873-1962), Muhammad Ali Jinnah (1876-1948), Muhammad Iqbal (1876-1938), Muhammad Ali (1878-1931), Abul Kalam Azad (1888-1958), Liaqat Ali Khan (1895-1951) and Zakir Hussain (1897-1969) Rajmohan Gandhi, the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, provides a deeply insightful and comprehensive picture of the community in the subcontinent today.

Genres: India, Islam, History, Biography, Nonfiction, Religion

376 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

Reviews

[Mridul Manohar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was never sure of what to expect from a grandson of "Mahatma Gandhi" that too on a subject as sensitive as Post-Partition Muslims in Indian sub-continent. It could have been a thorough and thorough pro-muslim sentiment as Mahatma himself felt during post-partition days or it could have been just opposite a hard core anti-muslim as many, of those either affected by partition or brought up on the stories of partition and Mr. Jinnah, feel like.
But boy, what a thorough and engaging read! No book, no author can be as unbiased about the Hindu-Muslim issues as Mr Gandhi has been in his book. It explores the human insecurities, mutual distrust, eclipsing of larger picture under the ambition of a few individuals, that too in an era of impoverished citizens. It gives a in-depth understanding of sentiments and thought process of people and leaders of the time.
As a foot note, the reader will be able to see more shrewd players with stakes in partition than Mr. Jinnah or Mahatma. The latter-two fighting a war of egos.

[Revanth Ukkalam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title of this book is very strange with its totalising spirit 'Understanding THE Muslim Mind' but the book itself is anything but boastful and rash. It looks at the lives, thought and work of eight Muslim political leaders, thinkers, and educationists (the latter is one crucial area that a few of them profoundly ventured into) from Syed Ahmed Khan the founder of Aligarh to Zakir Hussain the co-founder of Jamia Millia Islamia. It is a study of the various positions that these spokesmen of the Muslim community in South Asia represented since the formation of the Raj and how they drove the macro and particular phenomena that dominated politics and social life. It is an attempt to encircle the major debates that have surrounded the Muslim identity - the two nation theory, representation, constitutionalism, Modernity vs traditionalism, religion and mysticism, education, and of course partition(s). Rajmohan Gandhi has an extremely balanced and mature look at the tricky questions concerning the largest and politically active minority in Modern South Asia.

[Muhammed Hussain · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me by a friend, and I was initially skeptical about it, mainly because I'd read Rajmohan Gandhi's works on Hyderabad and it was obvious that he glossed over many controversial subjects. He was blind to Sardar Patel's flaws, and he had a very rosy image of the Congress. The title of the book also seemed pompous. Especially when the writer is not Muslim himself.

However, I did read the book, and I strongly recommend it now.

It is a collection of essays on eight individuals - between 1850 and 1960 - who shaped and represented the Muslim community.

It speaks of Sir Syed's desire to modernise Muslims, Iqbal's call to action, Muhammad Ali's devotion to Gandhi, Jinnah's perseverance, Fazlul Haq's politics, Azad's unwavering faith in Hindu-Muslim unity, Liaquat Ali Khan's loyalty, and Zakir Hussain's simplicity

All of these would resonate with any Indian who is familiar with Muslim culture and ethos. And if they aren't, it would indeed help them understand at least some part of the Muslim psyche of the subcontinent's Muslims.

[E.T. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a compilation of short biographical sketches (30-40) pages each of 8 Indian Muslims 1857-1947.
Skipped Zakir Hussain's bio for complete lack of interest.
The author should have included Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan and Sikandar Hayat.
Edited :- Based on my readings in the last 2-3 years, feel d title is completely inappropriate. It doesnt offer insights into how those 'minds' worked or thought. Rating downgraded from 3 to 2.

[Arihant Pateria]

An account of 8 personalities active during India's fight for independence, their stance on partition, and their lives post independence in the sub continent. The author remains factual and looks at everyone with the same eye, and leaves it to the reader to create their opinions. At times feels like a collection or biographies, and at times feels like a textbook on modern history. Many great scholars have tried to cover the Hindu-Muslim relationship in the sub-continent, and have done so greatly. However it is almost impossible to remove a sense of personal bias from their accounts. This is the most unbiased take on the sensitive topic that I have read. Amust read for those interested in modern Indian history, and/or the India-Pakistan partition.

[Arun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it.....