Religion at the Service of Nationalism and Other Essays

Madhu Kishwar, Oxford University Press, 1998
Price: Rs 295/- (India), Pages: 323
ISBN 0195641612

This anthology of essays examines ethnic, religious and politically inspired conflicts in India. The first set of articles describes how Hindu-Sikh relations became hostage to the ongoing conflicts in Punjab over Centre-State relations. Another set describes Hindu-Muslim conflicts, including animosities that arose during the personal law controversy, the use of communal violence for electoral gains, the bloodshed in the aftermath of the destruction of Babri Masjid, and the transformation of the Kashmiri movement for regional autonomy into a murderous ethnic conflict between Hindus and Muslims. The essays closely intermesh reportage and political analysis with suggestions for methods to combat the politics of ethnic violence. Hard-hitting and provocative, they are characterized by an urgency and passion stemming from Madhu Kishwar’s extensive field and archival work. Essential reading for all those concerned about finding solutions to the growing ethnic conflicts in India.