A population which to a large degree is often found clustered in separate communities (as the case for many minorities in other countries) and generally segregated, even if not by intention. Coming across a Muslim can be an oddity in many localities. There are a lot of communal tensions still being harbored by people today. I have repeatedly heard the phrase "सब पाकिस्तान से हैं" (they are all from Pakistan) being used derogatively to describe Indian Muslims, amongst other similar things (that one sticks out to me because I've heard it way too often)
It is possible that the reasons are not what the author thought they were. But it is pretty likely that they were, and I'm suggesting we give the author the benefit of the doubt in that he had valid reasons and prior similar experiences to feel that way.
It is very easy to discount an experience when your bubble makes you think it is impossible. For many years I didn't think casteism was a thing anymore in cities, since I never saw it happening. Over time I realized that it is still very much there, just that those not negatively affected by it tend to not notice it.
I don't think I've lived in an Muslim-discrimnation-free bubble; I've grown up in the Middle East, and if there's one place you'll hear about antiMuslim going-ons, it's there.
And from my position, Muslims in India have it pretty fucking good. In what world can people like this:
get away with being spewing divisive bullshit, and then call for action against Muslim discrimination and for reservations for Muslims? Muslims have their own penal code! Up until the BJP rule, legislation was in favour of Muslims, at the expense of togetherness of society.
In India Muslims have a pretty powerful political position given the fact that they are a minority. I somehow am disinclined to believe that the author suffered any actual discrimination given the political clime in India.
All Indians follow the same Criminal, Contract, Labor, Company, Tort, Property and Tax laws.
The only exception is Personal law (marriage, inheritance, adoption etc) where for historical reasons there were separate laws for Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Jews, Buddhists etc. These laws were codified in British India when the British came to control directly or by proxy a diverse population with diverse religions, languages and culture.
When India became an independent country, the framers of the constitution had many issues decide on in a short time and decided to punt on some contentious issues for later generations to resolve. One of them was personal law where they agreed that a uniform personal code would be desirable but left it to future generations to resolve. The other was a common national language.
Both have not been resolved. There is no uniform personal law and Hindi is not the national language.
Just because it isn't as bad as $othercountry and because the state does not directly oppress them does not mean religion-ism doesn't exist. It need not be overt.
It is possible that the reasons are not what the author thought they were. But it is pretty likely that they were, and I'm suggesting we give the author the benefit of the doubt in that he had valid reasons and prior similar experiences to feel that way.
It is very easy to discount an experience when your bubble makes you think it is impossible. For many years I didn't think casteism was a thing anymore in cities, since I never saw it happening. Over time I realized that it is still very much there, just that those not negatively affected by it tend to not notice it.