A Search for Identity: Conversion from Hinduism to Islam among Scheduled Castes in Sindh. A Case Study of Shahdadpur(District Sanghar) and Bait Ussalam Matli (District Badin)

Abstract

This paper discusses the factors that cause Scheduled Caste Hindu's conversion to Islam in Sindh. The study has been conducted in Shahdadpur city (District Sanghar) and Bait Us salam Matli District Badin. The reason to include two different places as a case study is to get inclusive results as Bait Us salam a center of training for new Muslim converts gets these converts through their special Dawah campaign that is run throughout Sindh. At the same time, Shahdadpur is a city that is not only dynamic in its population and rich in its culture but has a unique blend of different religions and different Muslim religious sects. History of Scheduled Caste Hindus conversion to other religions including Islam dates backs many centuries in the Sub-Continent. The conversion of Scheduled Caste Hindus in the past was labelled under the different tags due to their specific motives for conversion. The conversion from Hinduism to Islam in different parts of Sindh raise questions due to the nature of conversion. Mainstream and international media present it as forced, enthusiastic Muslims call it a submission to the ultimate truth and some push and pull factors indicate that some ulterior motives like social, political, and financial status and their prompted and unprompted assimilation are also causing their conversion to Islam. Instead of bringing the conversion of Scheduled Caste Hindus into different parts of Sindh under any particular tag or preconceived label, the researcher has investigated the phenomenon through a qualitative method of research by conducting semi-structured interviews through snowball sampling from 32 converts in the Shadadpur Sanghar and Bait Us salam Matli and has found three categories of converts although with different intentions and commitment towards religion but with same consequences.