Violence is deeply casteist where high caste Hindus remain behind the curtains while middle castes and even Dalits are used as fodder against the religious minorities, especially, Muslims and Christians.
Shlaim’s core argument is that Gaza’s suffering—especially after the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack and Israel’s brutal response (Operation Swords of Iron)— is no accident. He sees Zionism as a settler-colonial project, echoing scholar Patrick Wolfe’s idea that “invasion is a structure, not an event.” Gaza’s blockade since 2007, the repeated bombings Israel calls “mowing the lawn,” and the staggering toll— over 40,000 deaths by mid-2024, mostly women and children— aren’t just security measures but steps toward elimination.
On 6th September 2025, Free Voice organised a reading session. The book chosen was A Moral Reckoning: Muslim Intellectuals in Nineteenth century Delhi (2005, OUP) by Mushirul Hasan. The session was proposed by budding sociologist Zeeshan Husain, an admirer of Hasan’s work since his college days. The session aimed to introduce this important work to young readers and encourage them to read it whenever they could.
This book studies the major instances of communal violence that occurred between 2022 and 2023 during Ram Navami processions.
In this book, I sensed a vision for the future of the Muslims in India that Mushirul Hasan must have dreamt of. He wanted Muslims to be a securer of justice not only for Muslims but also for the non-Muslims of the world. This is a message for global peace and communal harmony.
It encompasses about two hundred years of British imperial history, leaving out the depredations of the empire in North America . It is a sordid tale of violence shellacked over with propaganda, hubris, racism, a willingly compliant press, and an ignorant domestic audience.
Promoting social harmony among all religious groups was the keynote of Syed Ahmad’s mission. He once wrote, “A life devoted to good deeds is better than a thousand acts of devotion and piety.”
It tackles pressing issues such as education, unemployment, disrespect for parents, and the plight of the subaltern.
The memoir elaborates in detail on how the essence of Hindu communalism is social exclusion, while the essence of Ambedkarism lies in social inclusion.
In these strange times, even universities and the students are being targeted. Reading provides a refuge, or as some may call it, an escape from the everyday theaters of eccentricities and violence. It was a respite to pick up The Nehrus in Prison (2016) by Mushirul Hasan.