Communalism, Caste and Hindu Nationalism South Asian edition: The Violence in Gujarat

Belligerent Hindu nationalism, accompanied by recurring communal violence between Hindus and Muslims, has become a compelling force in Indian politics over the last two decades. Ornit Shani's book examines the rise of Hindu nationalism, asking why distinct groups of Hindus, deeply divided by caste, mobilised on the basis of unitary Hindu nationalism, and why the Hindu nationalist rhetoric about the threat of the impoverished Muslim minority was so persuasive to the Hindu majority. Using evidence from communal violence in Gujarat, Shani argues that the growth of communalism was not simply a result of Hindu-Muslim antagonisms, but was driven by intensifying tensions among Hindus, nurtured by changes in the relations between castes and associated state policies. These, in turn, were frequently displaced onto Muslims, thus enabling caste conflicts to develop and deepen communal rivalries. The book offers a challenge to previous scholarship on the rise of communalism, which will be welcomed by students and professionals. Cover......Page 1 Half-title......Page 3 Title......Page 5 Copyright......Page 6 Dedication......Page 7 Contents......Page 9 Acknowledgements......Page 10 Glossary......Page 12 Abbreviations......Page 14 Map of Ahmedabad......Page 16 Introduction......Page 17 Part I The background......Page 39 1 Setting the scene......Page 41 The urban profile......Page 42 The making of three cities......Page 49 De-industrialisation......Page 53 Housing......Page 61 2 The politics and discourse of reservations and caste......Page 68 Reservations: between caste and class......Page 69 From caste and class to communalism......Page 75 The making of caste (1)......Page 79 The political context of reservations and communalism......Page 82 The making of caste (2)......Page 90 Part II The 1985 Ahmedabad riots: the historical conjunction between caste conflicts and communalism......Page 93 Outlining the riots – the plot......Page 95 3 The official account......Page 105 The walled city......Page 124 The Cow of the Temple Decapitated: Its Head Thrown in the Temple at Dariapur......Page 127 Ahmedabad of the chimneys: the eastern industrial belt......Page 138 A Challenge to Reservation......Page 144 O BROTHER PATELS OF ALL-GUJARAT! AWAKEN, AWAKEN!......Page 146 Part III The making of ethnoHinduism......Page 149 5 The making of ethnoHinduism: from the politics of redistribution to the politics of recognition......Page 151 The making of ethnoHinduism and caste......Page 156 The state and the making of ethnoHinduism......Page 163 Communal violence and the state......Page 169 6 The role of violence in ethnic politics......Page 172 1985......Page 175 1969......Page 177 2002......Page 184 Violence and ethnoHinduism in the 1990s......Page 189 GOVERNMENT OF INDIA......Page 205 AHMEDABAD MUNICIPAL CORPORATION......Page 206 PAPERS AND NON-OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS......Page 207 NON-OFFICIAL REPORTS......Page 208 NEWSPAPERS......Page 209 BOOKS AND ARTICLES......Page 210 UNPUBLISHED DISSERTATIONS......Page 220 BACKGROUND READING......Page 221 Index......Page 227 Introduction; Part I. The Background: 1. Setting The Scene; 2. The Politics And Discourse Of Reservations And Caste; Part Ii. The 1985 Ahmedabad Riots: The Historical Conjunction Between Caste And Communalism; Outlining The Riots -- The Plot; 3. The Official Account; 4. The 'living-text', Or, The Riots Within The Riot; Part Iii. The Making Of Ethnohinduism: 5. The Making Of Ethnohinduism: From The Politics Of Redistribution To The Politics Of Recognition; 6. The Role Of Violence In Ethnic Politics; Bibliography. Ornit Shani. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 189-210) And Index.