Identity and religion : foundations of anti-Islamism in India

`A sensitive and intelligent account of the Indian nationalist thought and the difficulties it faced in doing justice to India`s Islamic inheritance′ - Lord Parekh Fellow of the British Academy `A thoughtful, well-researched and original analysis of the nationalist conceptualisation of the Muslim presence in India′ - Professor Noel O`Sullivan , University of Hull Amalendu Misra shows that while some eminent nationalist leaders were implacably hostile to Muslims, even wholly secular ones were uneasy with India’s Muslim past and had a generally unfavourable disposition towards both Muslims and Islam. The book explicates this by focusing on the writings of Vivekananda, Gandhi, Nehru and Savarkar supported by a wealth of examples from a wide range of contexts. It argues that the views of these four prominent individuals were heavily shaped by British historiography as well as their respective visions of independent India. The author goes on to suggest how modern India needs to redefine itself to flourish as a genuinely secular democracy.

'A sensitive and intelligent account of the Indian nationalist thought and the difficulties it faced in doing justice to Indiàs Islamic inheritance' - Lord Parekh Fellow of the British Academy

'A thoughtful, well-researched and original analysis of the nationalist conceptualisation of the Muslim presence in India' - Professor Noel O'Sullivan , University of Hull

Exploring the reasons behind the difficult relationship between Hindus and Muslims, the author of this volume links the unease to the development of the Indian nationalist struggle. He analyzes the views of four nationalist leaders: Vivekananda, Gandhi, Nehru and Savarkar to conclude that independent India inherited the legacy of a skewed nationalist interpretation of the role of Muslims in India. Highlighting the role of many public and political institutions, he also suggests how their intervention could promote better understanding between these two groups.

"In spite of several hundred years of Muslim presence in India and the close interaction between Hindus and Muslims, the majority of Hindus remain uncomfortable with their Islamic past. As a consequence, most of them seem to have considerable difficulty in integrating the huge contribution of Islam in their historical construction of India's national identity. This book looks at the reasons behind this discomfort and argues that the continuing resentment towards Muslims can be linked to a bias in the Indian nationalist tradition." "This well-researched account of an important but hitherto little understood basis of Hindu-Muslim tension will attract a wide readership among historians, sociologists and political scientists. It will also interest those concerned with the wider issues of ethnicity, religion, communal politics, and the state of India's polity today."--Jacket Dedication Contents Acknowledgements Introduction 1. Vivekananda’s Hindu Regeneration Project 2. Gandhi and Political Hinduism 3. Nehru—The Sceptical Secularist 4. Savarkar’s Discourse on Radical Ethno-Nationalism 5. The Legacy of British Historiography Conclusion: The Manifest Destiny Glossary Bibliography Index About the Author