New Delhi: A new book, Missing from the House: Muslim Women in the Lok Sabha by Rasheed Kidwai and Ambar Kumar Ghosh, sheds light on the striking underrepresentation of Muslim women in India’s lower house of Parliament. Since the country’s first general election in 1951-52, only 18 Muslim women have served as MPs out of nearly 7,500 lawmakers elected during the same period.
Despite forming 7.1 percent of India’s population of 1.46 billion, Muslim women remain nearly absent in the 543-member Lok Sabha. In five parliamentary terms since independence, no Muslim woman was elected at all, and their numbers have never exceeded four in a single term. Notably, no Muslim woman MP has ever been elected from southern states, including Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, or Telangana.
The book profiles these 18 women, ranging from royalty to grassroots leaders, and from a tea vendor’s wife to a well-known actress. Early trailblazers like Mofida Ahmad from Assam and Maimoona Sultan from Bhopal broke barriers in 1957. Ahmad famously donated all her jewelry to the National Defence Fund during the 1962 war, exemplifying service and sacrifice. Others, including Mohsina Kidwai, Mehbooba Mufti, and current MP Iqra Hasan, also feature prominently.
According to the authors, 13 of these 18 MPs belonged to political families, raising questions about dynastic entry points. Yet, their careers were marked by clean records, free from corruption or hate speech. The book argues that their faith did not restrict them but instead strengthened their sense of duty and participation.
By highlighting the struggles, integrity, and contributions of these women, the book positions them as role models for future generations and underlines the need for structural reforms to ensure inclusive political representation.
