03 Identity as Shiite Muslim: A Study of College and Madrassah Students of Baltistan

Abstract

The research discusses the Shiite-Muslim identity of college and madrassah students in Baltistan. The aims of the study are to understand structures and significant components of Shiite-Muslim, identity in college and madrassa students of Baltistan. Identifying points of conflict collision contradiction overlaps convergence in the Shiite Muslim identity in college and madrassah students. It also explores how cultural political and religious elite looked into identity issues and conflicts as well as takes their view of changes that have taken place in these identities over time due to the infrastructural changes and super-structural changes in society. Analysis of the data produced through focused group discussions and in-depth interviews were reduced to data reduction techniques. The differences between identities of madrassah and college students were identified and were found to be more fluid than their madrassah based counterparts.