HeikeC58098401 at 08:19, 17 May 2025

2025-05-17T08:19:12Z

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{{Short description|Indian author, academic}}{{Infobox person
| name = Shamsul Islam
| birth_date = 1947
| alma_mater = [[Delhi University]]
| occupation = author, academic, and activist
}}

'''Shamsul Islam''' is an Indian author, academic, and activist known for his work on the intersection of religion, politics, and history in India.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Indore Auditorium Cancels Ex Professor's Event, Says "Government Order" |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indore-auditorium-cancels-professor-shamsul-islam-event-says-governments-orders-2844488 |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref> He is a retired professor of political science from the [[Delhi University|University of Delhi]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dr Shamsul Islam, Author, Retired professor of Political Science, Delhi University, News, Photos and Videos |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/conclave-mumbai/2023/speaker-profile/2441122 |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref> where he taught from 1973 to 2013. He has been particularly vocal about the rise of communalism and the distortion of historical narratives, especially in the context of Hindu-Muslim relations in India.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2024-02-17 |title=Kannada translation of Shamsul Islam's book to be released today |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/kannada-translation-of-shamsul-islams-book-to-be-released-today/article67858215.ece |access-date=2024-08-21 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Left Islamophobia: A Critique of Shamsul Islam's writing on Tablighi Jamaat |url=https://www.milligazette.com/news/7-analysis/16896-left-islamophobia-a-critique-of-shamsul-islams-writing-on-tablighi-jamaat/ |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=The Milli Gazette — Indian Muslims Leading News Source |language=en}}</ref> His work often critiques the ideological underpinnings of the Hindu nationalist movement,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shamsul Islam |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/profile/author/Shamsul-Islam/ |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=Frontline |language=en}}</ref> particularly its attempts to rewrite Indian history in a way that marginalizes minority communities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=MuslimMirror |date=2024-04-27 |title=84th Anniversary of Anti-Pakistan 1940 Azad Muslim Conference of Indian Muslims |url=https://muslimmirror.com/eng/84th-anniversary-of-anti-pakistan-1940-azad-muslim-conference-of-indian-muslims/ |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=Muslim Mirror |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
He was born in 1948 in India. He pursued his higher education at the [[Delhi University|University of Delhi]], where he later became a professor of political science.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bhat |first=Prajwal |date=2023-09-09 |title=ABVP protests against academic Shamsul Islam in Mangalore University calling him 'anti-Hindu' |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/karnataka/abvp-protests-against-academic-shamsul-islam-in-mangalore-university-calling-him-anti-hindu |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=The News Minute |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Kasbe |first=Raosaheb |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e0f5xwEACAAJ |title=Decoding the RSS: Its Tradition and Politics |date=2019 |publisher=LeftWord Books |isbn=978-81-940778-2-4 |language=en}}</ref> His academic journey and early life experiences influenced his critical perspectives on political and social issues in India.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bharathi |first=Vartha |title=Renowned researcher, author Dr. Shamsul Islam, to deliver BV Kakkilaya Inspired Oration 2023 |url=https://english.varthabharati.in/karavali/renowned-researcher-author-dr-shamsul-islam-to-deliver-bv-kakkilaya-inspired-oration-2023 |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=english.varthabharati.in |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Wahab |first=Ghazala |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SbduzgEACAAJ |title=Born a Muslim: Some Truths about Islam in India |date=2021 |publisher=Aleph Book Company |isbn=978-93-90652-16-7 |language=en}}</ref>

== Career ==
Shamsul Islam taught political science at the University of Delhi from 1973 to 2013. During his tenure, he became known for his critical stance against [[Hindutva]], religious bigotry, and the persecution of women, Dalits, and minorities.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-02 |title=Shamsul Islam – Janata Weekly |url=https://janataweekly.org/author/shamsulislam/ |access-date=2024-08-21 |language=en-US}}</ref> His work spans various forms of writing, including books, articles, and street plays.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-09-25 |title=Shamsul Islam {{!}} Read All The Stories Written by Shamsul Islam. |url=https://indianexpress.com/profile/columnist/shamsul-islam/ |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Possamai |first1=Adam |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u3S1BQAAQBAJ&q=shamsul+islam+author |title=The Sociology of Shari'a: Case Studies from around the World |last2=Richardson |first2=James T. |last3=Turner |first3=Bryan S. |date=2014-12-04 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-319-09605-6 |language=en}}</ref>

He has been actively involved in street theatre, founding one of India's oldest and most active street theatre groups, Nishant.<ref>{{Cite web |title=भारत छोड़ो आंदोलन 1942 से ग़द्दारी की कहानी : आरएसएस और सावरकर की ज़बानी |url=https://www.hastakshep.com/column/Quit-India-Movement-story-of-betrayal-since-1942-RSS-and-Savarkar |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=www.hastakshep.com/ |language=en}}</ref> He has performed in over 6,000 street plays across various countries, addressing issues like caste persecution, gender bias, and religious intolerance.<ref>{{Cite web |last=DHNS |title=Kannada translations of two books with opposite views of Savarkar released |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/bengaluru/kannada-translations-of-two-books-with-opposite-views-of-savarkar-released-2900079 |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref>

== Literary contribution ==
Below is a list of some of his notable literary works:

* ''Religious Dimensions of Indian Nationalism: A Study of RSS''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Islam |first=Shamsul |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Gx5R9D_JpQEC&q=shamsul+islam+author |title=RSS Primer: Based on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Documents |date=2010 |publisher=Pharos Media & Publishing |isbn=978-81-7221-039-7 |language=en}}</ref>
* ''Savarkar myths and Facts''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Islam |first=Shamsul |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rNxGvlOoUvsC&q=shamsul+islam+author |title=Savarkar Myths and Facts |date=2006 |publisher=Media House |isbn=978-81-7495-234-9 |language=en}}</ref>
* ''Know the RSS: Based on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's Documents''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Islam |first=Shamsul |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-_v7jwEACAAJ |title=Know the RSS: Based on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Documents |date=2017 |publisher=Pharos |isbn=978-81-7221-071-7 |language=en}}</ref>
* ''Cultural Nationalism: The RSS' Agenda''
* ''Indian Freedom Struggle and RSS''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Islam |first=Shamsul |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gNcEtAEACAAJ |title=Indian Freedom Movement & RSS: A Story of Betrayal |date=2017 |publisher=Pharos Media & Publishing Pvt Limited |isbn=978-81-7221-085-4 |language=en}}</ref>
* ''Golwalkar’s We or Our Nationhood Defined: A Critique''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Islam |first=Shamsul |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zoQMAQAAMAAJ&q=shamsul+islam+author |title=Golwalkar's We Or Our Nationhood Defined: A Critique |date=2006 |publisher=Pharos Media & Pub. |isbn=978-81-7221-030-4 |language=en}}</ref>
* ''Hindutva and Fascism''
* ''Savarkar, Sita Ram Goel, and the Swadeshi Fascists''
* ''Muslim Against Partition: Revisiting the Legacy of Azad, Ansari, and Chhotani''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Islam |first=Shamsul |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uTMFkAEACAAJ |title=Muslims Against Partition: Revisiting the Legacy of Allah Bakhsh and Other Patriotic Muslims |date=2015 |publisher=Pharos Media & Publishing Pvt Limited |isbn=978-81-7221-067-0 |language=en}}</ref>
* ''Communal Rage in Secular India''
* ''RSS School Texts and the Murder of Mahatma Gandhi''
* ''Democracy versus Communalism: Right-Wing Politics in India''
* ''RSS and Modi: An Untold Story ''
* ''Hindu Nationalism and the Indian Constitution''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Islam |first=Shamsul |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JkqIzwEACAAJ |title=Hindu Nationalism and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh |date=2022 |publisher=Pharos Media & Publishing Pvt Limited |isbn=978-81-7221-123-3 |language=en}}</ref>
* ''The Muslim Nationalism Myth: Causes and Consequences''

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Islam, Shamsul}}
[[Category:Indian writers]]
[[Category:Indian male writers]]
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian academics]]
[[Category:Indian activists]]

Shamsul Islam (author) - Revision history

HeikeC58098401 at 08:19, 17 May 2025