Farzana veseys biography of martin

If India is all about “inclusive development”, then why the need for Muslim role models at all? An Azim Premji may be among the top philanthropists today, but has it made any impact on society’s attitude towards Indian Muslims?

Besides, of what practical value is it to the common Muslim to bask in the reflected glory of an IT revolutionary? No one uses the example of a Narayan Murthy or the Ambanis to ask poor Hindus and Dalits to become progressive.

Is it also not a bit ironical to bait a community about lack of progressive thinking at a time when excavated history is defining nationhood?

Shehla Rashid’s debut book Role Models: Inspiring Stories of Indian Muslim Achievers (Penguin Random House) provides no answers, for there are no questions asked.

She writes, “We (Muslims) must not limit our imagination or see ourselves within the narrow confines of identity.” The book itself rides on a supra identity, pigeonholing a community and direc