India’s democracy promises representation and empowerment for all citizens, but Muslim women have remained largely absent from its national political stage. Since the first general elections in 1951-52, only eighteen Muslim women have been elected to the Lok Sabha, India’s lower house of Parliament. This shows that despite India being a democratic nation, political power has remained distant for many marginalized groups, especially Muslim women.
The new book, Missing from the House: Muslim Women in the Lok Sabha, explores the lives of these eighteen women. It provides an account of their struggles, achievements, and the challenges they faced while entering a political space dominated by patriarchy, socio-cultural conservatism, and majoritarian politics. The book highlights how these women overcame social, cultural, and political barriers to serve as representatives of the people. Their journeys reflect resilience, dedication, and a commitment to India’s founding democratic ideals.
Even seventy-eight years after independence, women in India still face hurdles in participating fully in politics. Large sections of women, especially Muslim women, are denied equal voice and representation in decision-making spaces. Important issues affecting Muslim women, such as the right to maintenance after divorce, the misuse of triple talaq, and discrimination linked to polygamy, are often addressed in courts or by civil society rather than in Parliament. This lack of representation means their perspectives and concerns are rarely heard in the country’s highest legislative forum.
The book also points out that the scarcity of Muslim women MPs reflects a larger problem in Indian democracy. While the country promises empowerment for the marginalized, Muslim women have remained on the margins. For example, in the 299-member Constituent Assembly of India, only fifteen were women, and just one, Begum Qudsia Aizaz Rasool, was Muslim. Since independence, in five of the eighteen Lok Sabhas up to 2024, no Muslim woman was elected at all. At most, their number has never exceeded four in the 543-member House, showing a chronic absence of proportional representation.
Despite these challenges, the eighteen Muslim women who made it to the Lok Sabha have made significant contributions. They have shown moral integrity, selfless service, and dedication to improving the lives of their constituents. Remarkably, none of these MPs had major allegations of corruption, criminal charges, or hate speech during their tenure. They have used their positions to actively participate in parliamentary debates, raise questions on diverse policy issues, and secure developmental work for their constituencies. Many also contributed meaningfully to parliamentary committees, showing their commitment to public service even in the face of social and cultural barriers.
These women’s political journeys reflect not just personal achievements but also the larger struggle for representation and equality. They paved the way for future generations of Muslim women aspiring to enter Parliament, showing that political engagement is possible despite structural disadvantages. Their active involvement in legislative processes demonstrates how Muslim women can shape laws, strengthen rights, and promote social progress when given the opportunity.
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The book argues that Parliament should embody selfless service, ethical leadership, and socio-economic upliftment for marginalized communities. Highlighting the lives of these eighteen women brings attention to the silences and apathy that have persisted for decades. It urges society to reconsider the barriers that have prevented equal political participation and to ensure that women, particularly from marginalized communities, are given a fair chance in democratic governance.
Shashi Tharoor, who wrote the book’s foreword, emphasizes that the work is timely and necessary. It calls on India to move beyond symbolic recognition of marginalized groups toward real representation in practice. Muslim women in Parliament represent more than numbers—they embody the potential for an inclusive, pluralistic, and progressive democracy. Their stories highlight the cost of collective indifference and inspire hope that India’s parliamentary democracy can fulfill its promise of equal voice for all citizens.
In conclusion, Missing from the House is both a tribute to the eighteen pioneering Muslim women MPs and a call to action. It reminds us of the urgent need to address historical exclusion and to create pathways for greater participation of Muslim women in Indian politics. By documenting their lives and achievements, the book challenges society to confront its biases and to ensure that democracy truly works for everyone, particularly those who have long remained on the margins.
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