1st Edition

Justice before Reconciliation Negotiating a ‘New Normal’ in Post-riot Mumbai and Ahmedabad

By Dipankar Gupta Copyright 2011
    200 Pages
    by Routledge India

    200 Pages
    by Routledge India

    The book explores how Muslims in Mumbai and Ahmedabad coped with the aftermath of the violence directed against them in 1993 and 2002 respectively, and how they responded to the ethnic carnages of which they were the victims, highlighting the importance of the context and the history of the place where such violence occurred.

    Unlike other studies on ethnic violence which have a short-term focus, in dealing with its immediate aftermath, this book examines what happens to the victims over time and how they negotiate a ‘new normal’ and get on with their lives. Using empirical material based on field work in Mumbai and Ahmedabad, the book shows that while poverty, education and employment remain important elements in the recovery process, the most crucial issue is that of justice and the need to reclaim citizenship. A significant section of the book is devoted to the relationship between Muslim faith-based organisations and the victims of ethnic violence.

    List of Abbreviations. Acknowledgement 1. Citizens or People: Majoritarian Politics in India 2. A Contested Normal: What Happens Afterwards? 3. By-passing Development: Livelihood Responses of Riot Affected Muslims 4. Social Rehabilitation: Justice or Forgiveness 5. Lessons Learnt: Majoritarian Politics and Democratic Equality 6. Summary and Policy Options: Placing the Citizen in the Centre. Appendix I: Annotated Bibliography. Appendix II: The Politics of Gujarat: Getting the Facts Right, Examining the Saffron Wave: How did the People Vote? Disaggregating Modi’s Appeal: Countering Hindutva, Behind the Miracle: Gujarat over the Long Term. About the Author. Index .

    Biography

    Dipankar Gupta is currently Senior Fellow at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi.