Mapping exclusion: Muslim women’s education in West Bengal from colonialism to the present

This article explores the systematic exclusion of Muslim women in West Bengal’s education system. Through descriptive, historical analysis and empirical investigation, the authors have examined the persistence of educational marginalisation of Muslim women using insights from theories of social exclusion, the capability approach, and intersectionality to interpret the problem. National-level surveys and micro-level studies have been used to critically analyse educational access of Muslim women. These have been statistically tested for compatibility and compared with primary data derived from the authors’ survey of five Muslim-majority villages in the Burdwan district of West Bengal to verify patterns of discrimination. The findings reveal the enduring problems of illiteracy and dropouts at secondary and higher secondary levels and the inefficacy of government interventions in improving the situation. Based on such evidences, the authors have argued that Muslim women face greater educational exclusion than other disadvantaged social groups. However, the findings indicate a marginal improvement in Muslim women’s participation in higher education. The novelty of the study lies in its broad historical scope, investigation of the multifaceted exclusion faced by Muslim women, and its systematic and scientific approach to support the central arguments.