Description
Book SynopsisExplores the formation of the Sikh diaspora and, in so doing, offers a powerful inquiry into conditions of peoplehood, colonialism, and postcoloniality. Demonstrating a new direction for historical anthropology, this book focuses on the position of violence between 1849 and 1998 in the emergence of a trans-national fight for Khalistan.
Trade Review“Historical anthropology at its best,
The Nation's Tortured Body explores the history and politics of the Sikhs in a complex, and contested, transnational context. Axel’s book evocatively charts the ways in which the crossing and marking of boundaries have shaped the foundational identities of a diasporic community, providing a graphic illustration of the multiple meanings of the idea of ‘homeland’ in our contemporary postcolonial world.”—Nicholas B. Dirks, Columbia University
“This groundbreaking study of the Sikh diasporic world is also a brilliant ethnography of violence and loss. Tacking deftly between the politics of images and the imagination, Axel shows how the iconic social categories produced in the colonial encounter shape the struggle over the politics of place, person and body in contemporary India. This book will surely change the ways in which we see how colonialism, diaspora and the politics of separatism inform the formation of modern subjects with mobile loyalties.”—Arjun Appadurai, University of Chicago
“Provocative and informative . . . . The arguments and the material covered constitute a helpful corpus for reference and thoughtful discussion. The layout of the volume is excellent, and the numerous maps, pictures, and posters illustrating various points enhance its value. . . . Recommended as an informed and provocative reexamination of dynamics within the Sikh diaspora . . . .” -- N. Gerald Barrier * Journal of Asian Studies *
"A provocative reading of Sikh historical figures and events. . . . It provides valuable examples of transnational flows and the working of the social imaginary. Those interested in diaspora studies, gender studies, postcolonial theory, transnationalism, historical anthropology, and the anthropology of violence will want to take note." -- Verne A. Dusenbery * American Anthropologist *
Table of ContentsList of Figures vii
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction: Promise and Threat 1
1: The Maharaja's Glorious Body 39
2: The Restricted Zone 79
3: The Tortured Body 121
4: Glassy Junction 158
5: The Homeland 197
Conclusion 224
Notes 237
Bibliography 263
Index 291
