Our Hindu Rashtra

Aakar Patel's book is timely, and the deep dive into the Disturbed Areas Act in Gujarat was undoubtedly the most insightful portion of the book for me. It explains how segregated and ghettoised Gujarat really has become for Muslims- and the ghettoization is enforced under the draconian Disturbed Areas Act which among other things allows the State to prohibit property sales in certain areas notified under the Act, on the basis of “demographic balance” and “public order”. Mr. Patel writes forcefully on how this has adversely impacted major centres of population in Gujarat like Ahmedabad- which by some accounts is now the most segregated city in India. Throughout the book Mr. Patel relies on examples, actual data, and case studies of the marginalization of minorities that are reported in newspaper everyday but end up being forgotten statistics in the larger political discourse. Another portion of the book which is particularly insightful is how judicial pronouncements, often given obiter dicta from the benches in the early years of our republic, have helped provide immaculate legal cover for the worst aspects of religious majoritarianism in the country. The weakest link in his book is undoubtedly the one on Jinnah and Pakistan, specifically in how he deals with the causes of Partition, the role of Congress and how it all eventually played out. Mr. Patel puts the entirety of the blame on a muscular and arrogant Congress which was “refusing Muslims its rightful share” in the political future of the country . This is an incomplete view that doesn't account for the historical nuances at play. I would suggest to readers that they read [b:The Sole Spokesman: Jinnah, the Muslim League, and the Demand for Pakistan 73902 The Sole Spokesman Jinnah, the Muslim League, and the Demand for Pakistan Ayesha Jalal https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348865917l/73902.SY75.jpg 71499] to instead understand the internal dynamics of the Muslim Leauge, the compulsions and motivation of Jinnah better.