'Claiming Citizenship' book by Aishwarya Pandit: a deep dive into identity politics

Dr. Aishwarya Pandit’s book titled “Claiming Citizenship and Nation” – Muslim Politics and State Building in North India, 1947-1986 published by Routledge was launched today at the India International Centre, New Delhi.
The launch ceremony was attended by many leading personalities including Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha, Rajya Sabha MP Rakesh Sinha, and former Rajya Sabha MP KC Tyagi, along with Haryana Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

A panel discussion moderated by Professor MD Nalapat, Editorial Director, The Sunday Guardian with Shahid Siddiqui, National Vice President, Rasthriya Lok Dal, Dr. Seshadri Chari, Chairman, China Study Centre, Manipal Academy of Higher Education and the author, Dr. Aishwarya Pandit, was conducted.

The book provides insight into the changing nature of Muslim politics and the ideas of citizenship in independent India. It studies the electoral mobilization of minority groups across North India, particularly in Uttar Pradesh where Muslims have been demographically dominant in various constituencies.

The volume discusses themes such as the making and unmaking of the ‘Congress heartland’ and the threat of revival of ‘Muslim communalism’, alongside issues of representation, property, language politics, rehabilitation and citizenship, politics of Waqf, personal law and Hindu counter-mobilization. The author utilizes previously unused government and institutional files, private archives, interviews and oral resources to address questions central to Indian politics and society.

An important intervention, this book will be useful for scholars and researchers of politics, Indian history, minority studies, law, political studies, nationalism, electoral politics, partition studies, political sociology, sociology and South Asian Studies.

Speaking at the book launch, Aishwarya Pandit said, " This book has been a subject of my research at Cambridge. It discusses many important issues which are the heart of the contemporary Indian Politics, mainly the UP and the Muslim politics which are relevant for everyone today. It is relevant to all kinds of readers, from students to journalists and politicians. I've put in a lot of work in this book with research which is archival, so I am hoping for a good reception of the book."

Professor Nalapat said, "Partition was a very consequential event in the 5000 years long history of India. And the consequences are still being felt, not only in India but across the world. This book claims citizenship and nation, is extremely helpful in understanding some of the psychology that caused the partition and also why that trauma is still lingering in our country. This is a must read for those who want to see a strong and a united India."