New Delhi, Feb. 27 -- The economic plight of India's minorities, particularly Muslims, has been a very disturbing factor for all those who would like the society to strive for equality and justice. If we see the origin of Muslim community in India, apart from the spread of Islam through Arab traders from 7th Century AD in the Malabar Coast, the majority conversions have been mainly from the victims of caste oppression who were also economically deprived sections of society. During what is called the Mughal period, Muslim kings ruled from Delhi-Agra. During this the structure of society where landlords were Hindus in greater numbers the economic plight of large sections of Muslims remained similar to poor Hindus.

After the 1857 uprising t...