Nazia Erum is an Indian author, journalist, entrepreneur and TEDx speaker based in Noida. She earlier worked with Amnesty International India. Her book, Mothering a Muslim, hit the bookshelves in 2017 and made waves in India and the international community. Interestingly, the book didn't draw much response from Pakistani media and academia.

After a lapse of nine years, the larger message in the book has become more painful, and relevant, as the RSS agenda of Muslim hate is touching new heights in India. Before a serious discourse on the subject, we need to look into the main theme of the book.

Erum initially intended to write a "positive memoir of a modern Muslim mother". However, as she began speaking with other Muslim families, the project took a profound turn. What she uncovered was so overwhelming that she "cried while speaking to the parents and kids". The book is the result of a year-long research project in which Erum reached out to 145 Muslim families in 12 Indian cities. She spoke with over a hundred children and their parents.

The book focuses specifically on the experiences of urban Muslim families whose children attend elite, English-medium schools, challenging the perception that such prejudice is limited to the "illiterate poor". The book documents rampant bullying of Muslim children in some of India's top schools. Children as young as six years old are hit by classmates because of their faith. Common slurs include being called "Pakistani" or "terrorist". The book reports instances of religious segregation within........

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