At a time when community issues are often reduced to political rhetoric, Mohammed Meraj Rayeen is charting a different path one built on grassroots work, empowerment, and social transformation. Roughly a year ago, he founded Pasmanda Vikas Foundation with a clear conviction: politics alone cannot solve the deeply rooted problems of backward-caste Muslims; real change requires education, social justice, health, economic upliftment and collective solidarity.
Rayeen originally from Vaishali in Bihar, now based in Delhi came to realise early on that his community, the “Pasmandas” (which are often from backward or marginalized Muslim castes), make up a substantial portion of India’s Muslim population. Yet they remain socially and economically sidelined. Rather than treating them as a “vote bank,” Rayeen envisaged a future where Pasmandas become a self-reliant, dignified community.
Rejecting the common narrative that frames the Pasmanda movement strictly in opposition to the elite “Ashraf” Muslim class, Rayeen took a different approach. He actively reached out to members of the Ashraf community and invited them into the foundation building a coalition based on cooperation, not conflict.
From Idea to Impact: What the Foundation Does: Since its inception, Pasmanda Vikas Foundation has translated its mission into concrete programmes across multiple domains:
Education & Modernisation of Madrasas: In a recent event, the foundation organised the Qaumi Talimi Bedari Conference at the hall of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind. As part of the event, computer kits were distributed to students from five different madrasas an effort to bridge traditional religious schooling with modern digital literacy. Inspired by the success, the next goal is to distribute similar computer kits to students of 350 madrasas in Haryana’s Nuh district, opening new employment and learning opportunities for young Pasmandas.
Economic & Social Empowerment: The foundation supports youth in starting ventures, offers financial guidance, provides legal aid to those facing discrimination or social injustice, and organizes skill-development and outreach initiatives. Scholarships & Career Guidance: For students from economically weaker backgrounds, it offers scholarships and helps them access educational and professional opportunities that may otherwise remain out of reach.
Healthcare and Well-being: Acknowledging that education alone isn’t enough, the foundation plans to expand into healthcare initiatives reflecting a holistic approach to community welfare. Women’s Empowerment: Under its women’s wing, led by activists and professionals, the foundation runs workshops, seminars, and employment-oriented programmes to uplift Pasmanda women often the most marginalized within marginalized communities.
What began as an NGO is fast evolving into a movement one that aims to give its beneficiaries more than temporary relief, but a sustainable path towards dignity, equality, and self-reliance. One of the defining features of Rayeen’s model is inclusion. The foundation’s guidance board itself features a diverse mix religious scholars from institutions such as Deoband, academics from major universities, social activists, and representatives from Dalit-Muslim welfare organisations.
By doing so, Rayeen is strengthening what can be described as a Pasmanda–Dalit alliance bridging divides and uniting communities that share similar socioeconomic challenges. Rayeen openly asserts that reservation and affirmative action remain key to achieving long-term justice for Pasmandas. He believes the fight will be long, but only possible through collective effort and persistent activism.
“Inclusion,” he says, “shouldn’t be just political tokenism it should lead to real empowerment.” Through the Pasmanda Vikas Foundation, Rayeen offers hope not just for his community, but for a broader narrative in India. One where backward-caste Muslims, often overlooked, don’t just seek representation — they claim dignity, rights, and a future shaped by opportunity. This is not a story of charity. It is a story of transformation. And in a nation struggling with layers of inequality, it might just be the kind of model that many more need.