Punjab's Muslims
63 Anna Bigelow: Punjab’s Muslims Punjab’s Muslims: The History and Significance of Malerkotla Anna Bigelow North Carolina State University ____________________________________________________________ Malerkotla’s reputation as a peaceful Muslim majority town in Punjab is overall true, but the situation today is not merely a modern extension of the past reality. On the contrary, Malerkotla’s history is full of the kind of violent events and complex inter-religious relations more often associated with present-day communal conflicts. This essay is a thick description of the community and culture of Malerkotla that has facilitated the positive inter-religious dynamics, an exploration of the histories that complicate the ideal, and an explanation of why Malerkotla has successfully managed stresses that have been the impetus for violence between religions in South Asia. ________________________________________________________ When the Punjabi town of Malerkotla appears in the news, it is often with headlines such as “Malerkotla: An Island of Peace,” (India Today, July 15, 1998), or “Malerkotla Muslims Feel Safer in India,” (Indian Express, August 13, 1997), or “Where Brotherhood is Handed Down as Tradition” (The Times of India, March 2, 2002). These headlines reflect the sad reality that a peaceful Muslim majority town in Indian Punjab is de facto newsworthy. This is compounded by Malerkotla’s symbolic importance as the most important Muslim majority town in the state, giving the area a somewhat exalted status.1 During a year and a half of research I asked residents whether the town’s reputation as a peaceful place was true and I was assured by most that this reputation is not merely a media or politically driven idealization of the town.
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