The Battle Of Belonging: On Nationalism, Patriotism and What It Means To Be Indian

I initially procured this book to find out for myself what the whole hype around Tharoor the intellectual is all about. Not only was I pleasantly surprised, but now I think he genuinely has a deep love for the country, and even more importantly, a vision for what it should be (which in fact it has been too, way before the chaos of the past few decades). And let's stop confusing the terms Anglophile and Elitist. Just because you and I were educated in English-medium schools and perhaps studied abroad, or even lived or were born abroad, does not automatically make us Elitist (even if we are arguably elite) - and certainly does not mean that our patriotism is any lesser than that of the salt of the earth kind of people. It takes all kinds of people to fill the world, and we need each other's perspectives to illuminate and temper our own. And we certainly need Tharoor's. This book is incredibly well-researched and impeccably referenced. The bibliography itself is worth the price of the book. And it's about the events of the here and now, of a history that's occurring before our very eyes. Yes, a battle is afoot. There's no other way of describing it. Why do we live in a country today where so many of us have to prove that we are patriots? And why the patriotism of others, ideologically rooted in which side you very well know, is assumed without question and reproach? Why do we increasingly come across the feeling that there can be only one idea of India, whereas this ancient civilisation housed in a new country (seventy five years for a country is still very, very young) has always been identified as that place where ideas jostled against one another like passengers on the Virar fast, but still travelling together to the same destination? There are many important questions asked in this book, and very many humane, illuminating observations shared by the author. In these times of turbulence, if you are wondering just what in the world is going in with India, this book needs to be read. Oh also - this is not a piece of Congress propaganda. Tharoor as a writer is very neutral, even though is never disingenuous - he makes a mention of his loyalty to the Congress but also explains why. Tharoor has a wonderful mind, a good heart and his famous mastery of language is at service here. Do read! This book is about us!

Completing this book took me around 1 week, usually reading does not take me too long, this thoroughly researched book, what Tharoor called his "magnum opus", stand firmly on his claim. I had to revisit all the theories of nationalism, primarily, three broad approaches- primordial, perennial, and modernist before reading its first section. To my utter surprise, Tharoor has, indeed, entertained all the theoretical debate which I could imagine and even he has gone beyond it. He has conceptually separated all the forms of nationalism and argued that patriotism needs to be rescued from the shackles of ethnocultural nationalism.Tharoor in his Magnum opus presented his case strongly, forcefully, and emphatically for civic nationalism twinned with patriotism, which would indeed, give every Indian their rightful honoured place in the twenty-first century and beyond. He also sought to balance the common good with individual rights and group rights so that individual freedom is not undermined in the name of cultural autonomy. He has also countered the Daniel A. Bell's work "The China Model" where Bell argued that authoritarian regime of China can be viable model of governance, or say, the alternative to Indian and Western liberal democracy.This book is well updated, deals with current empirical reality, and furnishes normative critique of existing regime in India while completely exposing them from their roots - their ideologues and ideologies, social media bigotry, soft bigotry subtly perpetuated by leaders at the centre, and most importantly why does the masses are associating themselves with them, not only within territorial boundary of nation but beyond it - Diaspora nationalism.Book has many things to offer and provides further works citation which is essential and updated. He speaks for the "New India" where no one gets lynched for the food you eat, marginalised for the faith you hold dear, criminalized for the person you love, or imprisoned for making use of fundamental rights guaranteed by our own Constitution. He called this book a paean to an India, not an elegy, and certainly not a dirge!

A must read to get into the depth of what’s happening in our country and what we as responsible and patriotic citizens need to do to restore the ‘Unity in diversity’ we grew up taking for granted!Shashi Tharoor mincing no words in giving a clarion call to protect our democracy and the spirit of nationhood!Scholarly and yet so understandable and absolutely relatable!

This book is very beautifully written by Shashi Tharoor. He is great writer. In present times we the people are battling for belonging. This book is looking through the present times politics of religion, cast and creed. Thanks to Shashi Tharoor for writing this beautiful book.

This book elaborates on an idea whose time has come.Indians must debate what form of nationalism they want. And Shashi Tharoor lays out the choices before us clearly. Hence the four stars.But why not five?That's because, when discussing the Congress party, he gets defensive. He glibly glosses over its failings and structural faults that are clearly visible to an unbiased eye.Why did he have to do that? Because he needed to point out the structural faults of the BJP in order to make his case. And he found that he was throwing stones from a glass house.But, possessing great intellect and exposure to world affairs, he has great ability to counter evidence that's obvious to the meanest intellect.Barring this trap that he could not but set for himself, the book is an excellent take off platform for a crucial debate.