Traditional Rites and Contested Meanings-Sectarian Strife in Colonial Lucknow

Sectarian Strife in Colonial Lucknow Mushirul Hasan In the early 19th century in northern India, especially in Lucknow, Muslim culture was characterised by the intermixing of religio-cultural strands and the fusion of various religious beliefs and practices. Yet by the end of the century, representations of unity gave way to symbols of discord as heightened sectarian consciousness and disharmony between Sunnis andShias took hold. This paper traces the political reasons for the growing sectarian division among Muslims in the late colonial period.