S. Ameer Ali, Ali Mian, Edward Said, John L. Esposito, Mahmood Mamdani, AG Noorani, Pankaj Mishra
S. Ameer Ali wrote a book called the Spirit of Islam. It summarizes glorious past contributions of Islam and Muslims to the world civilization. The book is by now one and a quarter of a century old.
Has the world accepted that Islam is glorious religion and the all that the western civilization has contributed owes an overwhelming debt to Islam and Muslims? No. What went wrong? We may go into the details later on. For the time being let us move on.
The west tried to create an image of Islam as a negative ideology and a destructive force. The onslaught was extremely devastating.
Then in early fifties of last century Ali Mian RA wrote a book called the Effect on World of Decline of Muslims. And many a Muslims came out of that depression that was inflicted upon them by the west.
Then in 1978 Edward Said wrote a book called the Orienlaism. In a single book he mercilessly destroyed the west's skewed view of the orient. The west made some cosmetic changes in the syllabi of the universities and got busy with life as usual.
Then Mahmood Mamdani wrote a book called Good Muslim, Bad Muslim. West did take a notice that this was a timely, remarkable and very pertinent book and then went back to its usual ways, as if the book was not even published.
Then there is John L. Esposito who has been routinely observing Muslim related political developments and commenting and writing books in a very mundane style. What did the west do? They bestowed upon him the title of the person who is justifying terrorism.
Then AG Noorani wtote a very slim monograph called Islam and Jihad putting the things in perspective. What did the west do? Well they simply did not notice a 96 pages book published by LeftWord Books in an oriental country called India.
Then there is Pankaj Mishra who surprised the world by his books like the Age of Anger. The west has taken a little note and he is being hailed as a successor of Edward Said.
Phew....a lot of work and just a ripple.