Dominique-Sila Khan and Zawahir Moir1

In India as else where, Islam still tends to be perceived as a monolithic phenomenon. The study of its historical and contemporary aspects continues, more than often, to be restricted to “legalistic” Sunnism which, as a result of the writings of both earlier Sunni theologians and orientalists, is considered to be its normative form, viewed in isolation or in opposition to other religious movements.2 The important part played by other Islamic traditions in the subcontinent, the various forms of interactions which existed and still exist between Islam and indigenous movements, the intricate issues of conversions and the emergence of clear-cut religious identities towards the end of the nineteenth century, have begun only recently to attract academic attention.

In particular, the role of Ismailism in its South Asian acculturated form bas been considerably underplayed by scholars mainly concerned with the interface between Sufism and Hinduism and the conflicts which have torn the “rival religious communities”, once more preconceived as two opposed monolithic blocks.

The Imamshahi tradition of Gujarat, centred on Pirana near Ahmedabad, which we have chosen to introduce here exemplifies in itself some of the complexities of the subject. This sect of Nizari Ismailism (itself a branch of Shia Islam) which emerged in the fifteenth century and survived to this day in spite of numerous crises, continues to play a part in contemporary Gujarat.

Unfortunately the literature on the subject is rather scanty and does not fully comply with the requirements of modern scholarship. Besides, as no recent studies of the Imamshahis are available, the contemporary developments within the sect have not yet been analysed. This paper - part of our ongoing research project3 thus seeks to fill up a gap and, while challenging earlier perceptions of the subject, raises a number of issues. Their elucidation could help us to a better understanding of past and present South-Asian society, especially by revealing the range of ambiguities and complexities that can underlie and thus call into question what seems like straightforward communal conflicts.