Title: Muslim Writer in India Faces Isolation Amid Rising Islamophobia
In a country where Hindu nationalism is on the rise, Ziya Us Salam, a Muslim writer living on the outskirts of Delhi, is feeling the weight of discrimination and isolation. As a visibly Muslim individual, Salam faces constant ethnic profiling in his daily life, from the bank teller to fellow passengers on the train.
The once vibrant life of Salam, filled with cinema, art, and music, has now been reduced to a routine of office and home, with heavier concerns occupying his thoughts. His daughter, an impressive student-athlete, even needed counseling due to the struggles she faced as a Muslim in a society that questions her identity.
Salam’s family often debates whether to stay in their mixed Hindu-Muslim neighborhood, where real estate agents and landlords discriminate against them based on their religion. Despite the challenges, Salam clings to hope that India is in a passing phase of discrimination.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rise to power in 2014 has emboldened right-wing organizations to reshape Indian society, leading to increased Islamophobia and discrimination against Muslims. Salam now focuses his writings on the plight of India’s Muslims, feeling a sense of duty to address the existential crisis facing his community.
While Salam remains optimistic about India’s ability to restore its secular fabric, the reality of discrimination and isolation weighs heavily on him and his family. In contrast, in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, Muslims like Jan Mohammed experience a different reality, where secularism is protected, and communities coexist peacefully.
As Salam navigates the challenges of living as a Muslim in a Hindu-first India, he holds on to memories of a time when coexistence was the norm. Despite the isolation and discrimination he faces, Salam remains hopeful that India can overcome its current divisive state and restore its secular values.
