Islamic Reform and Colonial Discourse on Modernity in India ― Socio-political and Religious Thought of Vakkom Moulavi

Colonialism was much more than another account of imperialism in human history. It introduced European categories and concepts into everyday habits of thought of the colonized. Focusing on writings of Vakkom Moulavi, who is known as the father of 'Islamic reform' in Kerala, South India, Abraham argues that the socio-religious reform movements of the colonial period was largely shaped by the discourse on modernity. In the wake of the socio-political changes initiated by colonial rule in Kerala, Vakkom Moulavi motivated Muslims to embrace modernity, especially modern education, in order to reap maximum benefit. In this process, to counter the opposition of conservative leaders and their followers, he initiated religious reform arguing that the major themes of colonial discourse were fully compatible with Islamic traditions. However, though modernization was the overall purpose of his socio-reform movement, he held fairly ambivalent attitudes towards individualism, materialism and secularization and defended Islam against the attacks of Christian missionaries.

Jose Abraham earned his Ph.D. from the Institute of Islamic Studies, McGill University, Canada and currently teaches courses dealing with Islamic studies and South Asian history at Concordia University, Canada. He also taught at the Department of Religion and Culture, United Theological College, Bangalore, India.