Bangladesh, March 7 -- Indias identity as a pluralistic democracy rests on a delicate balance: citizens of different faiths must be free to practice their beliefs while respecting the rights and sensitivities of others. Yet recent incidents during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan have revived an uncomfortable question in parts of the country — how should a diverse society manage competing religious practices in shared public spaces? It may be mentioned here that, while Muslims in India are mostly portrayed by media outlets as ill-fated minority, in reality they are the second-largest population and the fastest-growing demographic in India, and by far the most pampered one, be it by media, politicians, or pop culture.

Over the past...