Tharoor Sounds Alarm, Islamophobia in India Deepens Through Everyday Encounters

In a powerful and thought-provoking essay, Indian parliamentarian and author Shashi Tharoor has shed light on the increasing marginalization of Muslims in India, highlighting three real-life incidents that expose the growing social and religious divide.

The first incident involves a Lebanese woman named Noor who has visited India for over 15 years. Once appreciated for her Arabic name, she now receives suspicious questions like, “Oh, are you Muslim?” — a shift that has made her rethink her visits to India.

The second story involves the children of an Afghan surgeon, relocated to India on the advice of a former Indian diplomat. However, within a year, the children faced religious discrimination from peers, being told they couldn’t play together “because you’re Muslim.”

The third incident features a UN official from India, who, during a meeting with a Middle Eastern militant, was met with hostility and threats after disclosing his Indian nationality — a reaction fueled by reports of anti-Muslim actions in India.

Tharoor acknowledges that while these may seem isolated, they reflect a larger pattern of intolerance, urging the need for introspection before the damage becomes irreparable.