Aug 17 2023 to Aug 17 2023 6:30 p.m.

EVENT HAS ENDED

Where

Bangalore International Centre

7 4th Main Rd, Stage 2, Domlur 560071

Event Description

Pranav Kohli’s Memories in the Service of the Hindu Nation is based on 14 months of ethnographic fieldwork in Delhi and its surroundings between 2017 and 2018 with Partition survivors from west Punjab and the North-West Frontier Province. On the anniversary of the declaration of the Radcliffe Line as the boundary between India and Pakistan following the Partition of India, author Amandeep Sandhu joins Pranav in a conversation as they delve into the profound insights from the book and shed light on the global rise of far-right nationalism in the context of globalisation and its interconnectedness with memories of victimhood.

Focusing particularly on Hindu nationalism in India, the book presents a timely and significant contribution to the literature on South Asian Partition Studies, unraveling the intricate web of tragic events and their far-reaching consequences. One of the central inquiries of this event centers on a pressing question: “What does it mean to remember the Partition in the time of fascism?” prompting reflection on the impact of collective memory and historical trauma in the face of contemporary challenges. Through meticulous analysis, the author reveals the elements that constitute cycles of violence, drawing connections between the reinstitution of trauma in Partition memories and the self-serving justifications behind the contemporary violence associated with Hindu nationalism, allowing for deep insights into how the hegemony of Hindu nationalism has shaped the narratives of Partition survivors from the Hindu community, ultimately recruiting them in the service of a purported Hindu nation.

Memories in the Service of the Hindu Nation offers an understanding of the intricate interplay between past and present, trauma and politics, inviting attendees to engage in critical discussions on nationalism, memory, and identity. This conversation is an opportunity to explore complex historical legacies and the role of memory in shaping current sociopolitical landscapes.

Speakers

Pranav Kohli Author & Political Anthropologist

Pranav is a political anthropologist. He holds a PhD in Anthropology from the National University of Ireland Maynooth and an MPhil in Race, Ethnicity and Conflict from Trinity College Dublin. His debut book, Memories in the Service of the Hindu Nation: the Afterlife of the Partition of India, is based on his doctoral research. He is currently in Bangalore on a career break.

Amandeep Sandhu Author & Journalist

Amandeep hails from Punjab and was born in Rourkela, Odisha. He holds a Master’s in English Literature from the University of Hyderabad. He is a prolific writer and journalist. He is the author of Sepia Leaves (2008), Roll of Honour (2012) and Panjab: Journeys Through Fault Lines (2019). He is currently a Homi Bhabha Fellow.