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Mohammad Sajjad

Professor Mohammad Sajjad teaches history at the Centre of Advanced Study in History, Aligarh Muslim University. You can e-mail the author at Sajjad.history@gmail.com

All stories by MOHAMMAD SAJJAD

How do we rescue the Republic?

How do we rescue the Republic?

Rediff.com4 Jul 2017

'The prime minister has merely paid lip service condemning these crimes instead of launching a massive crackdown against such brutalities,' argues Professor Mohammad Sajjad.

Why people don't trust the Opposition

Why people don't trust the Opposition

Rediff.com26 May 2017

Why are the 'secular' parties silent about the lynchings on our streets? Are they so busy forging political alliances that they ignore the numerous distortions of Constitutional values?

Exclusionary 'nationalism' won't solve everyday needs

Exclusionary 'nationalism' won't solve everyday needs

Rediff.com25 Mar 2017

'The top-most functionaries and destiny-makers of the nation have thrown away the pretensions of statesmanship.' 'They seem to have made a categorical announcement that the next general election will be fought on the solo plank of Hindutva, rather than on good governance, economic development, and employment to youth', says Mohammad Sajjad.

The role and power of Muslims in UP politics post 2017

The role and power of Muslims in UP politics post 2017

Rediff.com16 Mar 2017

'Compared to other social groups, managing the Muslim constituency has always been easier for the secularists.' 'Just some symbolic measures and window-dressing would keep the Muslim flock together.' 'Having been betrayed by all the supposedly 'secular' political parties, Muslims should turn into citizens without any ascriptive identity marks,'says Mohammad Sajjad.

BSP or SP: Who will UP's Muslims vote for?

BSP or SP: Who will UP's Muslims vote for?

Rediff.com2 Feb 2017

Muslims constitute 20% of UP's electorate. Currently, Muslim voters are divided between Akhilesh's SP and Mayawati's BSP. What will tilt the balance? Can Muslims back the winning party? Mohammad Sajjad explains the mysteries of UP's Muslim politics.

The cost of worshipping Shahabuddin

The cost of worshipping Shahabuddin

Rediff.com22 Sep 2016

'At least 6,000 people attended a meal at Shahabuddin's residence in a feast to celebrate his bail. As if the community has no other priorities of channelising such funds for better purposes!,' says Mohammad Sajjad.

Why Bihar will not see a Dalit upsurge like Gujarat

Why Bihar will not see a Dalit upsurge like Gujarat

Rediff.com12 Sep 2016

'In Bihar, the Dalits are not a consolidated socio-political constituency,' says Mohammad Sajjad.

Why was a horrifying rape at BHU hushed up?

Why was a horrifying rape at BHU hushed up?

Rediff.com30 Aug 2016

The Hindutva brigade's silence on the rape may possibly be explained that this incident is an intra-Hindu affair for them. What is even more intriguing is that vocal gender activists have preferred to almost ignore the incident. Why? Is it because homosexual rape does not involve the woman either as victim or as aggressor, asks Mohammad Sajjad.

Flooded yet 'dry': The great Bihar paradox

Flooded yet 'dry': The great Bihar paradox

Rediff.com25 Aug 2016

Let Bihar be damned under its contradictions of having gone 'dry' and then having been submerged under flood, which is a recurrent phenomena? After all it is a godforsaken land, having lost its promises of overcoming its problems, says Mohammad Sajjad.

The scary messages from the Saran riots

The scary messages from the Saran riots

Rediff.com17 Aug 2016

'Consider this image of today's youth in Bihar -- armed with a bike, a smartphone and possibly some illegal arms too, imbibing incessant stream of images from the Internet and television.' 'Some of them would turn into gau bhakts, some would listen with interest the exploits of Salafism, dig deep into the Internet to come out with images which cry vociferously that their respective religions are in danger.'

Why students unions at universities must not be curbed

Why students unions at universities must not be curbed

Rediff.com4 Jul 2016

The State is trying to curb the students movements, therefore, there are suspicions against some of the Subramanian report on education's recommendations, says Mohammad Sajjad.

History backs AMU's claim as a Muslim university

History backs AMU's claim as a Muslim university

Rediff.com16 Feb 2016

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi's stand that AMU is not a minority university reveals the anti-minority stand of the political party now in power, says Mohammad Sajjad, outlining the long history behind one of India's premier universities.

Malda decoded: What really happened?

Malda decoded: What really happened?

Rediff.com19 Jan 2016

India's Muslims need to assert their educational and economic upliftment and political empowerment rather than be provoked by communal remarks, says Mohammad Sajjad, reflecting on the Malda riot.

How Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav won Bihar

How Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav won Bihar

Rediff.com8 Nov 2015

'The clearest interpretation of the November 8 mandate is that the backwards, Dalits and minorities, and a huge proportion of women cutting across caste and class, displayed massive consolidation to the extent that despite chipping of votes by the Left Front, by the Third Front and by the BSP, Mahagathbandhan candidates won, and in many cases by huge margins,' says Mohammad Sajjad.

Is the BJP losing the Bihar elections?

Is the BJP losing the Bihar elections?

Rediff.com26 Oct 2015

'The BJP has replaced huge portraits of the two BJP leaders from Gujarat with very small portraits of many leaders from Bihar. Much is being read into this changed tactic of hoardings and banners,' says Mohammad Sajjad.

Raking up beef issue will hurt the BJP

Raking up beef issue will hurt the BJP

Rediff.com13 Oct 2015

'By resorting to divisive issues, the BJP is giving the impression that even if it is voted to power it won't do anything new to give Bihar a facelift. It will repel voters with the belief that the BJP can't do anything without communal polarisation as its core ideology. This is sad and unfortunate,' says Mohammad Sajjad.

The unfair witch-hunt of Hamid Ansari

The unfair witch-hunt of Hamid Ansari

Rediff.com3 Sep 2015

Hamid Anasari's was not talking of reservation for the whole religious community to which he too happens to belong. Yet, sections of media chose to put words into his mouth and then subject him to the criticism he never deserved. This does not augur well for our media or democracy, says Mohammad Sajjad.

How Muzaffarpur was different from Muzaffarnagar

How Muzaffarpur was different from Muzaffarnagar

Rediff.com22 Jan 2015

'The horrific episode of January 18 in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, is quite different from what happened in Muzaffarnagar, UP, in September 2013. The Akhilesh Yadav-led administration in UP and riot-mongers among our political formations need to learn lessons from the response of the state and society in Bihar's Muzaffarpur,' says Mohammad Sajjad.

Is the BJP playing communal politics at AMU?

Is the BJP playing communal politics at AMU?

Rediff.com1 Dec 2014

'The BJP politics of appropriating icons from its ideological adversaries could only be a desperate attempt to extend the Jat-Muslim divide in Uttar Pradesh. Why this desperation when it can comfortably get votes on the plank of economic development?'

AMU gender row: Reinforcing Muslim stereotypes

AMU gender row: Reinforcing Muslim stereotypes

Rediff.com14 Nov 2014

While the row over allowing women into the AMU library has been wrongly portrayed, it does not mean gender biases are non-existent in AMU. The campus does have its own shares of all kinds of cultural and ideological prejudices prevalent in the world outside. The AMU campus is not a segregated island, says Mohammad Sajjad.

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