Convergence & Divergence in Strategy

Background Brief

This research encircles the events & happenings which lead to motives for origination of sects of monotheist Islam in sub-continent. The is no discussion / commentary about what they practice and are they right or wrong present in this study. Presenting a brief perspective of geo-political & religious developments which encouraged the development of different school of thoughts in Islam and how this entire arrangement has paved way for future. Major events heighted in table below:

Event	Root	Year	Location	Principal Contributor	Famous For	Brief
East India Company	British Monarch	1608 CE	Surat – Gujarat Province	Sir Thomas Roe	Trading company	Conquering world assets through trade initially. Later practice divide & rule (making it a colony of British Empire)
Emperor Jahangir’s Rule	Mughal Dynasty	1605 CE to 1627 CE	Lahore	Emperor Jahangir	Allowed East India Company to start trade from India	As a trade ally like Persians & Central Asians, East India Company was allowed limited trade corridors.
“Hindu” as title for followers of faith	Reforms in Sanatum Dharma	1653 CE	Rome (in published Spanish literature)	Sebastiano Manrique	Combining all pocket faiths (300 plus) scattered all over Hind & collectively call then “Hinduism” making it a dominant majority of region.	First time used in religious context. Before this it was referred as natives living beyond of Sindhu River by Persians. e.g. All East Asian races are generally called “Asians”
“Hinduism” as the title of reformed faith	Reforms in Sanatum Dharma	1830 CE	Calcutta – Bengal Province	Raja Ram Mohan Roy	First developed Brahmo Samaj in 1928 then used collective term for all faiths of Hind to gain popularity for his movement.	In 1830 while his visit to England, he informed English that they (Indians) accepted them as rulers and that they (Indians) must accept them as subjects under a separate identity as “Hindus who follow Hinduism (collective faiths of Hind)”
War of Independence	Indians (all religions) fought as once force against English dominance	1857 CE	Meerut – Uttar Pradesh Province	Mangal Panday	“Indian Rebellion” or “Indian Mutiny” or “Revolt of 1857”	Muslims & Hindus collectively fought this was however was crushed comprehensively by Bruisers
Fall of Mughal Empire	Lost War on Independence	Sep 1857 CE	Delhi	Bahadur Shah Zafar	Fall of Mughals announces complete rule of Britishers at Sub-Continent	Colonization of Indian Sub-Continent as largest colony of British Empire

Debriefing The Events

All major events took place in 17th Century onwards & some are as recent as from 19th Century

• 1608 entrance of Britishers in sub-continent as traders.
• 1605 – 1627 the Era of Jahangir, when East India Company started limited operations
• 1649 introduction of title “Hindu” being inspired by Persian Word Sindhu as a collective noun for believers of numerous faith scattered in pockets all over sub-continent.
• 1830 through major reformers of religion toning it according to “the acceptable version” by careful selection of social conducts and start propagating word “Hinduism” as the collective noun for the belief itself.
• 1857 “War of Independence” which was against Britishers as collective force by Muslims & Hindus
• 1857 stays the fall of weak Mughal Empire and set colonial rule over Indian Subcontinent.

An Abstract of the Geo-Political-Religious Arrangement in Sub Continent

• Britishers took over a weak Muslim throne which raged Muslims across sub-continent to regain the lost pride. A revolt in such anger could not be dismissed at any cost.
• May it be because of 700 plus years of rule was shamed in front of non-Muslims who they ruled once for so long
• May it be the way Muslims were feeling about the betrayal of trading company (East India Company by allowing them to start trade zones in sub-continent) to their crown
• May it be an overwhelming fear of invasion from powerful Muslim empires present in west of controlling geographical location by Britishers

It was utmost important for Britishers to change majority of unified Muslims into minority of several belief sets under the banner of Islam (which was already divided into major Sunni & minor Shia sects within sub-continent). Simultaneously, developing an overwhelming British backed religious majority and economic system to exercise control & transfer of wealth from sub-continent to their mother land. In the process, colonialization of the richest geographical land on earth (as at that period it was happening across globe under the banners of exploration, trading and reforms).

It was never an easy task. It had to be carefully designed and operated.

Sharing conceptual diagrams for a common person to understand as what had happened to achieve above initiative:

Religious Canvas in Sub-Continent before British Rule

Sub-continent was distributed with numerous Dharmic faiths (mythology, set of rituals & social conduct laws) scattered all over geographical locations in small pockets. Each with separate set of deities, believed scriptures and scholars.

A larger percentage was present in form of Muslims (Sunni & Shia), who were in majority. This fact was hidden but was proven in history as larger section had reigned almost 700 years being in larger number against smaller geo-political-religious sections (Dharmic faiths) discussed above.

This arrangement was venerable for British Empire to handle so many faiths including Muslims, Zoroastrian, Christians, and Buddhists with hundreds of Dharmic faiths present in sub-continent. There was an acute need to disrupt this arrangement.

The Strategy: Weaken the numeric & ideological strength of Muslims by conceptual division while introducing another ideological (religious) majority in region with strong backing from British Empire to balance out Muslims and are easier to handle w.r.t. to their vague ideological framework. This arrangement should nullify the possible power gain by Muslims in subcontinent at least.

Religious Canvas in Sub-Continent after British Rule

The larger contingent had be divided into different school of thoughts based upon fundamental ideological differences which could not be done at deity level but could easily be started at least one level lower and onwards to that.   

Not only differentiation but fundamentally different schools of thought were essential to develop (school of thought drives ideology) which should be followed with heart & soul by followers of belief set. For this, localized versions and cultural based practices were incorporated in some while others were shaped in orthodox manner. This created different schools of thoughts (differentiation) based upon movements associated to cause to give it justified meaning. Some clans were shifted from other regions while others were originated as a delusion. Dividing a large number into smaller sections making it a weak link in society. The basis of difference was created (not all but mainly) through the interpretation of Hadees (word of man “Prophet PBUH”).

On the other hand, numerous Dharmic faiths were combined with help of regional lords, political leaders and religious reformers to unite under one banner of Hindusim (combined religions of Hind) with strong backing from British Empire. It was easier to do as change can be made at deity level by combining all sub-sets of locally worshiped deities to a master-set of Hinduism. Making them overwhelming religious majority of the region. That is why today we see different sets of deities are worshiped by different religious sections of Hinduism at different geographical locations.

Thus, minority was combined together to make an overwhelming majority and majority was divided into sects & sub-sects and became minority against newly reformed Hinduism in subcontinent.

Dual Strategy Implantation

Two major strategies were implemented in sub-continent, which took major gear shift in mid 19^th Century under the banner of religious reforms and ideological movements.

• Unite scattered Dharmic religions of sub-continent (religious reforms)
• Divide major religion into sectarianism (ideological movements)

Rise of Sectarian Islam in Sub-Continent

Islam which forbids division had already experienced a major divide since 7^th Century on account of political differences in form of  Sunni & Shia Islam. In 12^th Century after Saladin won the Jerusalem conquest in Crusades; when Khwarezmid Empire of Persia announced publicly as the separate sect of Islam different from Sunni Islam with cultural rituals of ancient Persian customs embedded as major belief practices. These ideological movements of 19^th Century served as ultimate division of majority of Muslims in sub-continent. 

Till present these doctrines are believed and practices as major faiths of Islam (like majors faiths of Sanatun Dharam before religious reforms done by Britishers through local scholars). They have published curriculum enforcing their believe systems though the ultimate concept lies majorly with monotheistic preaching of Islam however when we go into details henotheistic practices are also found in some belief set which shows the inclination and major inspiration from unified dharmic faiths of Hind “titled as Hinduism”.

Event	Root	Year	Location	Principal Contributor	Famous For	Brief
Bohra	Shia Islam > Ismailism	Inception: 1567 CE Rise: 1850s CE	Gujrat Province	Jalal bin Hasan	Dawoodi Bohras as sub-sect. Sunni Bohras as sub-sect. 9th Century origination shifted to sub-continent in 16th Century	Dawoodi Bohras are Shia Muslims of the Ismaili Mustaaliam sect who believe that their 21st imam went into seclusion in Yemen in the 12th century and appointed a deputy, called a dai-e-mutlaq, to lead the community.
Wahabi	Sunni Islam	Inception: 1744 CE Rise: 1870s CE	Najd – Central Arabia	Muhammad ibn Abd al Wahhab	Basics of religious practices defying all sects	Advocates a purification of Islam, rejects Islamic theology and philosophy developed after the death of the Prophet Muhammad, and calls for strict adherence to the letter of the Quran and Hadees.
Ahl-e-Hadees	Sunni Islam	Inception: 1750s CE Rise: 1930s CE	Delhi	Imam Shah Waliullah Dehalwi (fore father in 18th Centruty)	Small political party in India which gain popularity in 1930	Ahl-i Hadith call for a return to the first principles and for a revival of “the original simplicity and purity to faith and practices.” They are also opposed to foreign customs and beliefs that crept into Muslim societies as well as foreign philosophical thoughts and Sufi mystical concepts such as Ma’rifat.
Agha Khani	Consider them self – Sunni Islam	Inception: 1818 CE Rise: 1938 CE	Iran	Hasan Ali Shah	Clan fled to sub-continent in 1838 where they were well received and settled by Britishers	In addition to one God & Prophet Muhammad PBUH, Ismailies believe that Hazir Imam is Mazhar of God means manifestation of God on earth. Concept similar to that of Henotheists. Easily accepted by society.
Deobandi	Sunni Islam	Inception: 1867 CE	Saharanpur – Uttar Pradesh Province	Muhammad Abid Hussain	Dar ul Uloom “house of learning”	Orthodox practices defying Sufism & Bralvi school’s practices
Bralvi	Sunni Islam	Inception: 1880 CE	Pilibhit – Uttar Pradesh Province	Ahmed Raza Khan	Manzar-e-Islam	Personal devotion to God and the Islamic prophet Muhammad, adherence to Sharia, and Sufi practices such as veneration of saints.
Qadiyanis (Ahmadees)	Consider them self – Sunni Islam	Inception: 1889 CE	Qadian – Indian Punjab Province	Mirza Ghulam Ahmed of Qadian	Self proclaimed “Masih Son of Maryam – The Christ“	Adam (PBUH) was the first Prophet on Earth not the first human. Muhammad (PBUH) is not the last Prophet & subordinate prophets in Islam can appear & will appear till end of mankind.

Conclusive Remarks

Sects in Islam has provided a major blow to the unity of Muslims not only in sub-continent but to greater extend in world as well. Some of the conclusions which can be derived through above study are:

• Islam was a major religion as compared to sectarian faiths of Sanatun Dharam in sub-continent
• After extensive workout of dual strategy of unity & division of two different belief systems, balance of power was shifted and till date maintained.
• Weakening the Muslims though their own scholars resulted in strict handling of affairs which is till date evident in division of international boundaries, atrocities & violation of human rights in Kashmir, Junagarh, Hyderabad State or on accounts of massacres of Muslim community etc. Today, sectarian Islam holds deep roots & aggressive sentiments.
• Uniting & strengthening dharmic belief sets in sub-continent with commitments given to local scholars “to do”, Rajas “to implement & spread” & belief scholars “to maintain silence & preach” of better lands through boundary commission, international acceptability with aggressive socio-economic & media support (as prevalent time) and friendly quota system for them across globe.
• We can safely say, it was an intelligent strategy implemented successfully through intellectual & influential locals.