The upper class/caste Indian Muslim leadership has historically and consciously focused on the politics of identity, centred on a few cultural-emotive issues - a process that by its very nature has stymied attempts towards democratisation within the community. As a critical appraisal reveals, such attempts only serve to perpetuate the domination of a minuscule elite who present such grievances as issues held in common by a 'uniform monolithic' Muslim community. In reality, the Muslim community remains diversified, fragmented and as caste-ridden as any other community.