When India shares national borders with six other countries, why does the term “across the border” (see previous paragraph) immediately denote Pakistan? Because it is “the” border, physical manifestation of the emotional boundary that Indian nationalism has constructed itself upon. Indian nationalism has not premised itself in the same manner against any other nation: not Bangladesh, Nepal, China or even, as might be expected, its former colonial master. This leaves the Indian Muslim uniquely vulnerable. His cultural identity is a visible approximation of the prayer, diet, dress and custom in the one place imagined as the anti-India.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Mar 2014 03:29:57 +0000
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