Presenter
Anwari Mohammad Ahsan Masood - South Asia Institute, University fo Heidelberg, Heidelberg, GermanyPanel
124 – Muslim Counterpublics in the Indian Nation-state Public SphereAbstract
The paper will shed light on the controversy surrounding the
publication of “Rangila Rasul” in 1924, pre-partition India. The
publication is widely believed to be a satirical critique of the Muslim
Prophet Mohammad, and one which generated a considerable amount
of communal tensions at the time of its publication. It is also credited
with changing the blasphemy laws of the country, whereas the
subsequent murder of the publisher by Ilm-u-din marks an important
cornerstone of the legal structures at play. The event continues to
steer public sentiment and discourse in Pakistan regarding blasphemy
charges and freedom of speech to this today.
This paper will hence attempt to chart the history of the case
along with its modern day implications, whilst paying close attention
to the media representation of the incident in present day Pakistan, by
closely following the myth of Ilm-u-din, and the construction of his
sexuality in cinema in contrast to his confession.
