During a conversation with a Kurdish woman in London, the issue of India’s diversity came up. As an immigrant forced to leave her country, she admired that Muslims in India don’t have to leave their homeland; they travel elsewhere only if they choose to.
While this sentiment is still prevalent, some voices have begun to notice that “things are changing in India.” When the Kurdish woman mentioned this, I wasn’t sure how to explain the complexity of a country in constant evolution. For instance, consider the protest in Shimla over the alleged illegal construction at a mosque in the Sanjauli area. This issue not only highlights the old Hindu-Muslim divide but also reflects growing concerns over the alleged “changing demography” in Himachal Pradesh—an inevitable consequence of diversity.
When we talk about India’s coexistence in harmony, we forget that coexistence came with significant challenges. The Shimla protest by Hindus exposes a fault line we’ve long tried to bury. There’s an underlying reluctance to address the issue, perhaps stemming from a distrust that the Indian public can’t handle the truth, or because the truth itself seems subjective.
It’s not that Shimla lacked a Muslim presence or mosques; the city has a long history of peaceful coexistence with its Muslim minority and is home to hundreds of mosques. Now, Hindus in the Sanjauli area allege that the local Muslim population has increased, which concerns them. The anger goes beyond the “illegal” construction; it’s also about the perception among Hindus in Sanjauli that an increase in the Muslim population threatens the balance and safety that has long existed in their minds. These demographic anxieties reinforce a larger narrative that has historically been difficult for India to reconcile.
The hidden reality
One might easily argue that these fears have no basis in reality, that they are products of ignorance, generalisation, or even implausible in today’s world. However, such arguments do not change the reality that these fears exist on the ground. India’s history, marked by religious divisions, has ingrained a belief that a community’s fate is tied to its numbers. This fear remains embedded in the Indian subconscious, resurfacing whenever a perceived threat arises.
The Shimla protest reflects a deeper, historical anxiety about balance, belonging, and identity in the nation. Yet, both within India and on the global stage, we often fail to address this narrative with real depth. India’s complex reality is often oversimplified by blaming political figures or dismissing issues as political propaganda. Regardless of which party is in power, the problem persists because it is fundamentally a social issue that has been politicised. The political layer only scratches the surface; real progress requires addressing the issue at the societal level, where trust, dialogue, and understanding can begin to heal long-standing fractures.
When protesters in Shimla resorted to violence and pelted the police with stones, they attempted to impose their demands through intimidation. This mob-driven coercion threatens the very foundation of law and order. The mosque dispute has been ongoing for at least 14 years, with frustration mounting after an attack on a businessman allegedly by some Muslim men.
The question is why the government has failed to find a solution in a decade, despite both the BJP and Congress having been in power during this period. While the state has yet to provide a resolution, it is crucial that the government ensures that, regardless of the circumstances, mobs cannot blackmail it into bending to their will. Such an outcome would be disastrous. Instead, solutions must be delivered through due process. Let us remember that India is a republic, not just a democracy.
Amana Begam Ansari is a columnist and TV news panelist. She runs a weekly YouTube show called ‘India This Week by Amana and Khalid’. She tweets @Amana_Ansari. Views are personal.
(Edited by Prashant)