The author contends that the nationalism being advanced in India today is a majoritarian vision that rejects individuals based on identity or immutable markers like ethnicity, religion and language. The alternative of civic nationalism is put forward which he claims is observed in country’s institutions and constitution. Civic nationalism gets the agreement of residents to partake in a free and democratic society and shields singular rights that should be advanced and secured most importantly. Though ethnic nationhood inheres in the body, civic nationalism requests to the brain civic nationalism as a rule requires liberal majority rule government to develop. Ethnic nationalism appears to expect of its disciples that they should in a real sense not think past their qualities argues Tharoor.
The Battle of Belonging: On Nationalism, Patriotism and What it Means to be Indian, is contestably Shashi Tharoor's most ambitious work yet. Coming when words such as nationalism, patriotism and majoritarianism dominate discourses, the book provides an apt commentary on issues plaguing the country.
-Karthavya Asthana, Writer
Tharoor identifies one of the most prominent issues in the country to be the dilution of difference between nationalism and patriotism. It has been said historically that while a patriot is ready to die for his country; a nationalist is ready to kill for his country. Tharoor provides intriguing characterisation to establish the meaning of nationalism and distinguishes it from patriotism. Explaining that there is a space to question your state and government in the concept patriotism, he reproaches the BJP government for militarizing nationalism to a certain extent.
The book goes on to criticise the BJP for re-telling the interdependence story and creating false narratives. Several leaders from the ruling party have extolled the like of Sardar Patel and Gandhi while attacking the very foundation of their dream of India. There have also been questions raised on RSS’ participation in the freedom struggle. One of the most relevant ideas in the book is how unity has given way to uniformity. This can be observed by how the ruling party has been campaigning in elections and trying to convert the multi religious democracy into a Hindu Rashtra.
However, critics have questioned Tharoor’s ability to call out the larger culpability of the Congress over the decades in allowing Hindu fundamentalism to enter from the fringes into the mainstream of Indian politics. Whether it was the Shah Bano case or opening the locks of the Babri Masjid, Congress cannot be vindicated from the factors that led to status quo. While the book identifies the problems to a great extent, only time will tell when the sun will set on the current empire.
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