In this book, Hilal Ahmed analyzes the relationship of Hindutva to the various facets -- historical, cultural, social, political -- of Muslim life in a new India. We learn a lot about the inner diversity of Muslim society, the complexities of Pasmanda politics, the absence of affection for Aurangzeb among India's Muslims, the weakness of Muslim liberals to strike roots in Muslim community, and much more. Enlightening!

Ashutosh Varshney
Director, Saxena Center for Contemporary South Asia
Sol Goldman Professor of International Studies and the Social Sciences
Professor of Political Science
Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs
Brown University

It's a measure of Hilal Ahmed's optimism in India's ability to self-heal that he draws lessons for the future from the past. Measured and restrained, A Brief History of the Present steers clear of emotionalism, preferring pragmatic reflection to put the state of Indian Muslims in context, and using that context to shine a light to the way ahead. Suffused with hope, Ahmed's latest offering treads the middle path. No mean feat, in these times of extremities.

Ghazala Wahab,
Editor FORCE, https: //forceindia.net/ and author of Born A Muslim: Some Truths About Islam in India (Winner of Book of Year Award [non-fiction] Tata Literature Live and AttaGalatta)

In this provocative new book, Hilal Ahmed skillfully examines the place of Muslims in the 'New India.' Building on a career's worth of qualitative and quantitative research, he asks and answers uncomfortable questions about 'Muslimness' in an era of Hindu nationalist hegemony. The book challenges popular arguments touted by both liberals and conservatives.

MilanVaishnav
Director and Senior Fellow
South Asia Program
Carnegie End