Challenging essentialist histories: Ayesha Jalal’s nuanced portrait of South Asian Muslims
Ayesha Jalal’s Self and Sovereignty: Individual and Community in South Asian Islam Since 1850 stands as a monumental and intellectually profound work, meticulously exploring the complex evolution of Muslim identity and political consciousness within South Asia. This dense, scholarly tome, spanning over six centuries of tumultuous history from the mid-19th century CE through colonialism, nationalism, […]
Beyond the Mahatma: Leaders who questioned Gandhi’s legacy
As a “Sanatan” casteist Hindu, Mohandas Gandhi’s positions elicited significant responses from prominent community leaders, including Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Mohammed Ali Jauhar, Abu Aala Mawdudi, and EV Ramasamy (Periyar). Each of them critiqued Gandhi on various planes, highlighting the problematic nature of his stance, particularly when viewed through the lens of xenophobia […]
From British Raj to Ram Raj: Heeding Jinnah’s Warning
Ram Raj The idea of Ram Raj or the rule of Ram was central to Gandhi—he died with Ram’s name on his lips. It was central to larger Hindu historical mythology as an ideal, a golden age. But Gandhi helped convert the notion from culture to politics, from private belief to public policy. To him, […]
