‘Hindus need to deradicalise themselves’: Apoorvanand | Conversations with Nilanjan

“Life of Muslims in India is uncertain," Delhi University professor Apoorvanand said at the outset, referring to the rising normalisation of Islamophobia in the country. Further, sketching a dark picture of the everyday fear faced by Muslims in India, he grimly pointed out, “Imagine a Muslim travelling in a train…it can happen and it has happened.”

In a hard-hitting conversation with The Federal, Prof Apoorvanand reflected on what it means to be a Muslim in contemporary India and why the burden of that question, according to him, lies equally with non-Muslims.

The discussion moved on from personal safety to politics, language, and constitutional rights, painting a portrait of what Apoorvanand described as “uncertainty as a condition of life”.

Everyday fear

Apoorvanand argued that the life of Muslims in India today is shaped by unpredictability and dependence on non-Muslim behaviour. “The life of a Muslim in today’s India is very very uncertain,” he said, pointing to incidents ranging from violent attacks to everyday suspicion.

He described scenarios where Muslims are stopped in trains, asked for identity, or attacked over something as routine as food in a tiffin box. Even school environments, he said, are not free from hostility, with children being called “Pakistani” in classrooms.

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He added that even historical references in classrooms can turn uncomfortable, where Muslim students feel singled out when figures like Aurangzeb or Akbar are discussed.

Political invisibility

Apoorvanand extended the argument to politics and public life, noting how Muslims are often simultaneously included and excluded. “You are standing in a crowd listening to your leader and your leader never ever mentions your name,” he said, describing political invisibility.

He contrasted this with polarising political speeches that frame Muslims as threats, claiming that entire electoral narratives are built around “saving Hindus from Muslims.”

He also referred to administrative and symbolic changes, such as renaming of institutions and religious sites, saying these actions contribute to a sense of erasure.

Mass radicalisation of Hindus

Apoorvanand said Islamophobia in India has become “banal and normalised,” arguing that it is no longer exceptional but part of everyday culture. He claimed that what he described as “mass radicalisation of Hindus” has become visible in social media and public discourse.

He cited videos of abusive songs targeting Muslims and alleged celebrations of violence, arguing that this reflects a deeper social shift. “You have to see the dance, the ecstasy,” he said, referring to what he described as violent content circulating online.

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He also warned that this environment makes it difficult for Muslims to distinguish between safe and unsafe social interactions in daily life.

Resilience of Muslims

Despite this, Apoorvanand highlighted what he called the “resilience of Muslims” in continuing to engage with constitutional mechanisms. He said many victims of violence continue to seek justice through courts even after years of delays.

He referred to families of lynching victims, such as the mother of a 14-year-old boy killed in a mob attack, saying they continue to attend court hearings despite losing trust in outcomes.

He also mentioned activists like Khalid Safi and Umar Khalid, arguing that even after imprisonment or legal battles, they have not abandoned faith in democratic struggle.

Language and labels

A significant part of the discussion focused on language, particularly terms like “ghuspethiya” (infiltrator). Apoorvanand said such words shape perception by turning Muslims into perpetual outsiders.

He explained how terms like “bahari” (outsider) evolve into “infiltrator,” and eventually into “illegal,” creating a chain of exclusion. “The journey from being seen as an outsider to being labelled an infiltrator is not a long one,” he said.

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He argued that such linguistic framing has led to social panic, especially in regions like West Bengal and Assam, where Bengali-speaking Muslims are often labelled as Bangladeshi.

Political representation

Apoorvanand also addressed the decline in Muslim political representation, arguing that electoral logic discourages fielding Muslim candidates outside Muslim-majority constituencies.

He said even secular parties avoid nominating Muslim candidates due to fear of electoral backlash. “Hindus find it very difficult to elect a Muslim as their representative,” he said, describing it as a structural political reality.

He cited examples from Assam and Bihar, including defeats of prominent Muslim candidates, to illustrate how caste and religious arithmetic shape electoral outcomes.

Discussing solutions, Apoorvanand said political parties must openly acknowledge Muslims’ legitimate place in India’s constitutional framework.

He argued that leaders often avoid even using the word “Muslim” in speeches, which contributes to invisibility. “Unless you start uttering this word, you cannot address the problem,” he said.

Responsibility of Hindus

He also urged Hindus to “detoxify and deradicalise,” saying responsibility lies within majority society to question hate speech, reclaim religious spaces, and challenge propaganda at home and in schools.

Apoorvanand said Hindus must take control of religious and cultural spaces and reject their “outsourcing” to organisations that propagate hate. He argued that religious processions should reflect devotion, not violence.

He added that conversations at dining tables and within families are crucial to challenging normalised hate. “This is the minimum that we can start doing,” he said.

He concluded that failure to address radicalisation would ultimately harm Hindu society itself, calling for a broader cultural and educational shift.

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