Moving beyond faith: Muslim Jogis and religious conversion in north India

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article historically and anthropologically examines the issue of religious conversion and identity formation among a Jogi community of religious converts. They were previously Muslims and changed their religious association to Hinduism after 1947. Individual and collective narratives of their religious conversion and the problems associated with forming a respected socio-religious identity indicate that religious conversion in South Asia is a non-linear event symbolising a complex process of becoming Hindu. The Muslim Jogis were not accepted by the Hindu Jogis after these conversions, leading to the formation of a new Jogi caste community called the Suddhi (purified) Jogis, popularly recognised in Alwar as a caste of converts. The community members still struggle to assert their Hindu identity. This article argues that converting to Hinduism may result in ‘social stasis’, signifying a ‘perpetual state of becoming’ due to the lack of complete social acceptance of converts by the traditionally recognised caste communities of ‘Hindus’.