1.6 Ghosts of Partition- Contemporary India 1

8/18/2019 1.6 Ghosts of Partition- Contemporary India 1

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Title

Ghosts of partition: paranoia

• International relations: India and Pakistan construct each

other as permanent enemies.

• Territorial borders, which are porous, fixed in the national

imagination

• Inevitable cross-border migrations become illegal.

• The absorption of migrants or refugeesduring partition and later has dominated

sub-continental politics.




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• The nation betrayed by a minority; thus

national politics is majoritarian.

• National metaphors create insiders/outsiders:

religion, language and other differences.

• Minorities have to fight for legitimate

citizenship in the national community.

Examples: communal riots, Babri Masjid

demolition, rise of Hindutva

Ghosts of partition: betrayal

Babri Masjid

• National story is about the unity of Indians in their

diversity.

• This notion of national unity may undermine political

pluralism.

• It subordinates regional and other identities.

• The fear of partition and further territorial disruption

demonises minority groups.

Ghosts of partition: the national narrative




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1.6 Ghosts of Partition- Contemporary India 1