Activist and author Shehla Rashid believes that her new book, Role Models: Inspiring Stories of Indian Muslim Achievers, will help break stereotypes associated with the Muslim community and power the belief that they are free to chart out their destiny with an equal opportunity in India.

In a conversation with Abhinandan Sekhri, she throws light on her book, which has essays documenting the setback-to-success stories of icons such as music composer AR Rahman, tennis star Sania Mirza, ISRO scientist Nigar Shaji, and paraplegic swimmer Shams Aalam, among others. But also in one chapter after another are mentions of the Narendra Modi government.

On the question of absolving those who are in power of responsibility, and the repeated mentions of PM Modi in every chapter, the former JNUSU vice-president says, “He is the prime minister for all…what’s your problem in Muslims talking to their prime minister?...I don’t understand your discomfort.”

Considering her book’s objective to tackle stereotypes, the author is asked about who was responsible for the Jharkhand BJP’s ad which demonised Muslims and which the Election Commission eventually ordered to be taken down. “I can keep harping on the negativity. I have done that for the longest time and I have achieved nothing…Now I am trying a different route. I am trying to counter negativity with positivity…this is how Muslims are contributing to Viksit Bharat,” she says, holding the book.

The author says a leader’s job is to inspire and not to hand out jobs. Asked if these are the leaders mentioned in the book, she says she is referring to the prime minister. “This book is not about him?” says Abhinandan. “It is about a dream which has been envisioned by PM Narendra Modi,” says Shehla.

The author says change that doesn’t happen “even after 20 years of activism” is possible “if you manage to engage constructively with the system”. On what triggered this shift to a new approach after years of combative activism, she says, “The more activism we were doing, the stronger BJP was getting.”

On the question of joining BJP, she says, “Who knows? Time will tell.”

Watch the full interview.

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