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Dr Irfan Ahmad

Dr Irfan Ahmad

Irfan currently teaches

Biography

Irfan joined the School of Political and Social Inquiry at Monash University as a Lecturer in Politics in March 2009, and is closely associated with the Centre for Islam and the Modern World (CIMOW). Prior to this, he taught anthropology and Muslim sociocultural formations at University of Amsterdam and Utrecht University, The Netherlands. Having earned his doctorate cum laude (from University of Amsterdam) in Anthropology in 2005 November, Irfan won the prestigious Rubicon Grant from Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) to work as a postdoctoral fellow at International Institute for the Study of Islam in the Modern World (ISIM), Leiden University.

Based on his doctoral dissertation, Irfan’s monograph Islamism and Democracy in India (published from the Princeton University Press) depicts the mutation of the Indian Islamist politics represented by Jamaat-e-Islami and Student Islamic Movement of India. By focusing on Islamism in South Asia (unlike in the Middle-East), this monograph does not only make a shift in the spatial imagination. Rather it raises different theoretical questions to deepen our understanding of politics and religious imagination. It invites us to rethink the complex interrelationships amongst the state, religion, modernity, pluralism, secular democracy, minority identity and radicalism. Islamism and Democracy in India, in the words of one editorial reviewers, “is the most important book written on Muslims in India in the last three decades”. The monograph skillfully combines the traditions of anthropology, Islamic studies and social movement studies.

Irfan’s postdoctoral research engages with the practices of critique in the contemporary Islamic movements and societies. Taking such practices as “immanent critique”, this project aims at unraveling, for instance, how and why the “traditionalist” Muslim groups don’t share Jamaat’s Islamist vision of Islam and passionately critique it even as all of them invoke the Qura’n and Hadith (Prophet’s sayings) in their arguments? This project thus tries to unpack the meanings, motives and effects of immanent critique in the Islamic traditions. In November, 2008, Irfan convened an international workshop on the theme of his postdoctoral research. Titled “Understanding Immanent Critique: Cultural Politics and Islamic Activism”, its aim was to map out the efficacy of the term “immanent critique” to understand the dynamics of Muslim cultures and societies in their diverse milieus –in Muslim-majority as well as Muslim-minority contexts.

For the next few years, Irfan’s research will focus on anthropological exploration of the premises and the working of liberalism, nationalism and the subalternated collectivities. Through an in-depth examination of Indian Muslims, he aims to develop a comparative framework of understanding the religious and political life of Muslims minorities in South Asia and the West. A pivotal question for Irfan is how the figure of minority is fashioned and how this figure negotiates its identity in liberal, secular democratic nation-states such as those in the West and in India.

Irfan is particularly keen on supervising projects that broadly converge with his research interests.

Along with his academic research, Irfan also contributes to debates about contemporary issues in popular media. His articles have appeared in leading newspapers and magazine such as The Times of India, The Pioneer, Himal: South Asian Magazine, Business Today, Mainstream etc. Both English and non-English media have interviewed Irfan: Filosofie (Dutch magazine of Philosophy), Hindustan (a leading Delhi-based Hindi newspaper), Tehelka the People’s Paper (an English Weekly from Delhi), and NRC Handelsblad (a leading Dutch newspaper).  Previously, he also wrote for a variety of Urdu media such as Chhaon, Gulabi Kiran, Qaumi Tanzeem, Qaumi Awaaz, Rashtriya Sahara, Sangam, Sadaa-e-Aam etc.

Irfan is the Reviews Editor of South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies, and a member of its Editorial Committee. He is a member of Australia’s South Asian Studies Association.

Qualifications

Ph.D. (cum laude) 2005 University of Amsterdam
M.Phil. 1999 Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
M.A. 1996 Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
BA (Hons.) 1994 Jamai Millia Islami, Delhi
Matriculation 1988 Nawab Singh Uchchya Vidalaya, Sheoher, Bihar
Primary School 1979-83 Madrasa Islamia Arabia (Islamic Seminary), Dumri, Bihar

Research Interests

Social-cultural and Political Anthropology
Social Theories, Cultural Criticism
Culture, Religion and Politics of Modern South Asia (especially postcolonial India)
Nationalism and Transnationalism
Islam, Muslim Sociocultural Formations
Intellectual History of Islam, Islamic Movements
Urdu Literature

Publications

Book

Ahmad, Irfan. 2009. Islamism and Democracy in India: The Transformation of Jamaat-e-Islami. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

Journal Articles

Ahmad, Irfan. 2009a. “Genealogy of the Islamic State: Reflections on Maududi’s Political Thought and Islamism”. Journal of Royal Anthropological Institute (NS) 15: S145-S162.

Ahmad, Irfan. 2009b. “The Secular State and the Geography of Radicalism”. Economic and Political Weekly. XLIV(23): 33-38.

Ahmad, Irfan. 2008. “Cracks in the ‘Mightiest Fortress’: Jamaat-e-Islami’s Changing Discourse on Women”. Modern Asian Studies 42(2&3): 549–575.

Ahmad, Irfan. 2006. “The State in Islamist Thought”. ISIM Review. 18 (Autumn): 12-13. Reproduced in WLUML Dossier 28 (December 2006): 35-39.

Ahmad, Irfan.  2005. “Between Moderation and Radicalization: Transnational Interactions of Jamaat-e-Islami of India”. Global Networks: A Journal of Transnational Affairs. 5(3): 279-299.

Ahmad, Irfan. 2003a. “A Different Jihad: Dalit Muslims’ Challenge to Ashraf Hegemony”. Economic and Political Weekly. 38 (46): 4886-91.

Ahmad, Irfan. 2003b. “India-Pakistan: Friendship as Enmity”. Economic and Political Weekly. 38 (31): 3231-3233.

Ahmad, Irfan. 2002. “Timothy McVeighs of the Orient”. Economic and Political Weekly. 37 (15): 1399-1400.

Ahmad, Irfan. 2001. “In Memoriam: Ali Sardar Jafri (1913-2000)”. The Annual of Urdu Studies. No.16: 405-408. Reproduced from Seminar 2000, 494.

Book Chapters

Ahmad, Irfan.  2009. “The Indian Jamaat-e-Islami Reconsiders Secular Democracy” In. Barbara D. Metcalf (ed.). Islam in South Asia in Practice: Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

Ahmad, Irfan.  2008. “Power, Purity and the Vanguard: Educational Ideology of the Jamaat-e-Islami of India”. In. Jamal Malik (ed.). Madrasas in South Asia: Teaching Terror? London: Routledge: 142-164.

Ahmad, Irfan.  2004. “The Jewish Hand: The Response of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind”. In. Peter Van der Veer and Shoma Munshi (eds) Media, War and Terrorism: Responses from the Middle East and Asia. London and New York: Routledge Curzon: 137-154.

Entries in Encyclopaedia

Ahmad, Irfan. Forthcoming. “Mawdudi, Syed Abul Ala -1903-1979”. In. G. Böwering, P. Crone, W. Kadi, D. Stewart, and Qasim Zaman (eds). Encyclopedia of Islamic Political Thought. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

Ahmad, Irfan. Forthcoming. “Jamaat-e-Islami”. In. Gerhard Böwering, Patricia Crone, Wadad Kadi, Devin Stewart, and Qasim Zaman (eds). Encyclopedia of Islamic Political Thought. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

Selected Articles in Semi-Academic Journals and Internet

Ahmad, Irfan. 2008. “ ‘The Society of Suspicion’ and Anthropological Ethics”. Website of Association of Social Anthropologists of the UK and Commonwealth, February 04. http://blog.theasa.org/?p=49

Ahmad, Irfan. 2001a. “Bhutan’s Struggle for Democracy”. Radical Humanist. 64(10): 9-10.

Ahmad, Irfan. 2001b. “Communication”. Seminar. 498: 59-62.

Ahmad, Irfan. 1999a. “RSS Versus the Jamaat”. World Focus. 232: 16-19.

Ahmad, Irfan. 1999b. “Contextualizing Vande Matram”.Manushi: A Journal about Women and Society. 111: 29-30.

Ahmad, Irfan. 1997. “Emergence of Sociology and its Relationship with Social Sciences”. Employment News. 22: 1-2.

Ahmad, Irfan. 1996a. “Communication”. Seminar. 438: 66-67.

Ahmad, Irfan. 1996b. “UN at Fifty”. Third Concept. 107: 13-15.

Ahmad, Irfan. 1995. “Looking for the End of the Tunnel”. Social Reality. 1(2): 64-66.

Ahmad, Irfan. 1994. “Population and Development”. Mainstream. 32(43): 11-13.

Articles in Magazines and Newspapers

Ahmad, Irfan. 2006a. “Don’t Blame SIMI”. The Times of India. Edit Page. New Delhi. September 25.

Ahmad, Irfan. 2006b. “Freedom from Bigotry”. The Times of India. Edit Page. New Delhi. February 21.

Ahmad, Irfan. 2000. “Mera India/ Bharat Mahaan”. Business Today. January 7: 30-31.

Ahmad, Irfan. 1999. “Private Armies Ruling the Roost”. The Pioneer. February 1.

Ahmad, Irfan. 1998a. “Global Bully in Washington”. The Pioneer. New Delhi. September 6.

Ahmad, Irfan. 1998b. “Only the Legacy Remains”. Himal: South Asian Magazine. 11(2): 31-33.

Ahmad, Irfan. 1998c. “Muslim Votes and BJP’s Dilemma”. The Pioneer. New Delhi. February 20.

Ahmad, Irfan. 1997. “A New Agenda for Muslim Radicals”. The Times of India. Edit Page. New Delhi. April 1.

Ahmad, Irfan. 1996a. “Cricket and Suicide”. The Times of India. Edit Page. New Delhi. April 9.

Ahmad, Irfan. 1996b. “The Ethics of a Beauty Contest”. The Pioneer. Delhi. November 6.

Conference Reports

Ahmad, Irfan. 2007. “Abdulkader Tayob’s Farewell Conference”. African Association for the Study of Religions Bulletin. May-November: 15-17.

Ahmad, Irfan. 2000. “Across the Seas”. India International Center Diary. April-May: 4-5.

Articles in Urdu Magazines and Newspapers

Ahmad, Irfan. 2000. “Kashmir aur Musalmaanon ka Mustaqbil”. Rashtriya Sahara (New Delhi). September 11. Edit Page.

Ahmad, Irfan. 1994. “Deen aur Seyaasat”. The Qaumi Tanzeem (Patna). January 20. Edit Page.

Ahmad, Irfan. 1992. “Ahle Jamia ke Naam Khat”. The Qaumi Awaaz (New Delhi). May 22.

Ahmad, Irfan. 1991a. “Faiz ki Shaaeri mein Insaan Dosti ka Paigham”. Gulabi Kiran (Delhi). July: 7-8.

Ahmad, Irfan. 1991b. “Bangladesh aur Jamhooriat”. The Sadaa-e-Aam (Patna). January 30.

Ahmad, Irfan. 1989. “ Nehru aur Qaumi Yekjehti”. The Chhaon (New Delhi). November: 42-44.

Reviews

Ahmad, Irfan.  2004. “Agency Denied” (Review of Padma M. Sarangapani’s Constructing School Knowledge: Ethnography of Learning in an Indian Village. International Institute of Asian Studies Newsletter. November: 35.

Ahmad, Irfan.  2001a. “Is Islam Anti-Modern?”(Review of Bruce Lawrence’s Shattering the Myth: Islam Beyond Violence. Biblio: A Review of Books: 6(9&10): 10-11.

Ahmad, Irfan.  2001b. Review of T. Mitchell (ed.) Questions of Modernity. Anthropological Review Database. July 12. Electronic Document. http://wings.buffalo.edu/ARD/showme.cgi?keycode=1473

Ahmad, Irfan.  2000. Review of J. Markoff’s Waves of Democracy. Contributions to Indian Sociology (n.s.). 34 (1): 143.

Ahmad, Irfan.  1999. “Beyond Citizenship: Construing Culture and Power” (Review of T. K. Oommen’s Citizenship, Nationality and Ethnicity: Reconciling Competing Identities). Mainstream. 37(11): 31-32.

Ahmad, Irfan.  1997. “Demystifying the Nation and Nationalism” (Review of G. Aloysius’ Nationalism Without a Nation in India). Mainstream. 35(41): 30-33.

Interviews

Ahmad, Irfan.  2008. “Westers Verzet in Een Islamitische Jasje”. Filosofie (Dutch magazine of Philosophy). January: 14-17. 

Ahmad, Irfan.  2007. “Need to Understand the Internal Openness”. Hindustan (a leading Hindi newspaper) New Delhi. July 21.

Ahmad, Irfan.  2006. “7/11 Terror Trial: The Flaming Cog in a Big Design”? Tehelka the People’s Paper (an English Weekly) New Delhi. July 29.

Ahmad, Irfan.  2005. “Democratie als Geschenk van Allah (Democracy is the Gift of Allah)”. NRC Handelsblad (a leading Dutch newspaper), The Netherlands. November 29.

Selected Conference/Workshop Papers

December 2-6 2009
Ahmad, Irfan. “An Outline of Abul Kalam Azad’s Cosmopolitan Theology”, 108th Annual Conference of American Anthropological Association, Philadelphia; Panel onMuslim Cosmopolitanism and the End/s of Secularism? Movement, Identity, and Contemporary Reconfigurations.

November 28-29 2008
Ahmad, Irfan. “Outline of a Theory of Immanent Critique”. International Workshop on “Understanding Immanent Critique: Cultural Politics and Islamic Activism”, Leiden, The Netherlands

July 9-11 2008
Ahmad, Irfan. “Genealogy of the Islamic State: Reflections on Maududi’s Political Thought and Islamism”, 20th European Conference on Modern South Asian Studies, Manchester, UK

October 19-20 2007
Ahmad, Irfan. “The Show Boy, Hindus’ Imam, an Apostate, or a Nationalist? A Preliminary Outline of Abulkalam Azad’s Cosmopolitan Theology”. Contemporary Muslim Cosmopolitanisms Conference, Cambridge University.

September 06 2007
Ahmad, Irfan. “How Practice Transforms Theory: Immanent Critique and Jamaat-e-Islami’s Changing Discourse”. Weekly seminar at Centre for the Study of Social Systems, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

May 25 2007
Ahmad, Irfan. “Genealogy of the Islamic State: Reflections on Maududi’s Political Thought and Islamism”, Conference on Cool Passion: The Political Theology of Conviction, University of Amsterdam.

December 01 2006
Ahmad, Irfan. “Cracks in the ‘Fort of Islamic Culture’: Jamaat-e-Islami’s Changing Discourse on Women”, South Asia Seminar, Department of Anthropology, University of Sussex, UK.

November 15 2006
Ahmad, Irfan. “Cracks in the ‘Fort of Islamic Culture’: Jamaat-e-Islami’s Changing Discourse on Women”, 105th Annual Conference of American Anthropological Association, San Jose, California; Panel on Islam, Politics and Modernity: Anthropological Perspectives.

October 13-15 2006
Ahmad, Irfan. “ ‘If We Don’t …Wage Jihad, What Will We Do?’ Explaining Radicalization of Young Islamists in India”, Conference on Youth and the Global South: Religion, Politics and the Making of Youth in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, Dakar, Senegal.

April 6-9 2006
Ahmad, Irfan. “Erosion of Secularism and Explosion of Jihad: Explaining Islamist Radicalization in India”, Panel on “Ideology of Transformation, Transformation of Ideology: The Many Faces of the Jamaat-e-Islami in South Asia” for Conference of the Association for Asian Studies, San Francisco.

February 20 2006
Ahmad, Irfan. “Is Genre Sovereign: Poetry and Limits of Islamism?” Public Culture Colloquium, Department of Anthropology, University of Texas, Austin.

May 26-27 2005
Ahmad, Irfan. “Between Moderation and Radicalization: Transnational Interactions of Jamaat-e-Islami of India”, Workshop on Islamic Reform Movements in South Asia, SOAS, University of London.

May 19-21 2005
Ahmad, Irfan. “Familiar Discourse in an Unfamiliar World: Conflict, Protest and Democratization in a Tahriki Madrasa of North India”, International Workshop on Islamic Learning in South Asia, Erfurt University, Germany.

October 25 004
Ahmad, Irfan. “Should Ideology Remain an Orphan in Movement Theories: Ideological Mutation and Islamist Movement in India?”  Workshop with James Jasper on Protest: Theory and Practice after the Paradigms, ASSR, University of Amsterdam.

November 21 2003
Ahmad, Irfan. “ ‘Ninety Nine Percent Individuals of this Qaum are Ignorant of Islam, Ninety Five Percent Are Deviant...’ Discourse of Purity and Purity of Discourse”, Dutch Anthropological Association Conference, 105th year, Leiden. Panel: Postcoloniality and the Search for Purity.

May 6 2003    
Ahmad, Irfan. “Understanding Religious Nationalist Movement in India: How (Ir)relevant is the Contentious Politics Model”, Workshop with Sidney Tarrow on Contentious Politics: Identity, Mobilization and Transnational Politics, University of Amsterdam. 

July 15-28 2001 
Ahmad, Irfan. “Mapping Religious Nationalism: The Jamaat-e-Islami in India”, Summer Institute Workshop on Public Spheres and Muslim Identities, Wissenschaftskolleg Zu, Berlin.

May 28 2001                             
“Politicize Islam, Islamize Politics: Electoral Process and the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind”, Conference on Cultures of Voting held at Centre d’Etudes et de Recherché Internationales, Paris.

Research/Workshop Grants

Awarded grants (in 2008) to organize an international workshop “Understanding Immanent Critique: Cultural Politics and Islamic Activism”, from the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, The Netherlands, Forum, an important Dutch non-governmental organization, and Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development, a key Dutch organization for intercultural exchange

Awarded Rubicon Grant (in 2006) by Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research for Postdoctoral Research

Awarded Full Doctoral Fellowship (in 2000) by the University of Amsterdam

 

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