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Analysing the Outwardly Developed-Inwardly Backward Paradox Surrounding the Educational Status of Muslims in Kerala, India

Abstract This paper discusses the paradox situation related to the education of Kerala Muslims that the author defines as outwardly developed but inwardly backward. After briefly discussing the educational status of Indian Muslims compared to other religious groups and a short discussion on the educational backwardness of Muslims in India, the paper moves next to discuss why the existing situation forms a paradox. Analyzing the three important layers of education; literacy, school education and the number of graduates, it is argued that Kerala Muslims’ position compared to other Muslims in India is satisfactory only at the level of primary education. However, when it comes to higher education, Kerala Muslims are behind their counterparts in other Indian states. Within Kerala, Muslims are the most educationally backward religious group, notwithstanding their favorable economic position and political strength within the state. Lastly, Kerala Muslim women are the most disadvantaged group in that they face triple-discrimination in education; discrimination based on religion, gender, and geographic inequalities. In the Kerala development model, Muslims, especially the Muslim women are the most marginalized group who need further support from state machineries to overcome the decades-long educational backwardness.