The Islamophobic roots of population control efforts in India can be traced back to the colonial era. In the late 19th century, the British colonial government began to implement a number of population control measures in India. These measures were motivated by a number of factors, including the desire to reduce the cost of administration, the fear of overpopulation, and the belief that Hindus were outbreeding Muslims.
One of the most notable population control measures implemented by the British was the introduction of the Contagious Diseases Act of 1868. This act allowed for the forcible detention and examination of women suspected of prostitution, and it was disproportionately applied to Muslim women. The act was widely seen as a form of racial and religious discrimination, and it contributed to the growing sense of resentment among Muslims towards the British colonial government.
After India gained independence in 1947, the newly-formed government continued to implement population control measures. These measures were often motivated by the same concerns that had motivated the British colonial government, including the fear of overpopulation and the belief that Hindus were outbreeding Muslims.
In the 1970s, the Indian government launched a major population control program called the National Family Planning Program (NFPP). The NFPP was a coercive program that used a variety of methods to encourage people to have smaller families, including sterilization, IUDs, and injectable contraceptives. The NFPP was particularly controversial because it was disproportionately applied to Muslims.
The NFPP was eventually abandoned in the 1990s, but the legacy of population control in India continues to this day. Muslims in India continue to be disproportionately affected by population control measures, and they continue to view these measures as a form of religious discrimination.
The Islamophobic roots of population control efforts in India are a reminder of the long and complex history of religious discrimination in India. These efforts have had a lasting impact on the lives of Muslims in India, and they continue to be a source of tension and conflict in the country.