Review of ‘Between Nation and ‘Community’: Muslim Universities and Indian Politics After Partition’, Cambridge University Press, Hardbound, Pages 360, MRP: INR 1,295
THE HISTORY OF PARTITION IS CHECKERED, layered, charged, and packed with complex dynamics. Not a few but many communities and institutions were instrumental in shaping different aspects of post-independence India. From politics to economics to the social and religious spheres, these communities and institutions have often stood at the frontlines; either as intermediaries negotiating between state and society or as core subjects that define the very spirit of the nation, now free from colonial rule. Among all, two institutions stand out for their complex legacies and hold on to be cornerstones in the socio-political life of Indian Muslims: Aligarh Muslim University (‘AMU’) and Jamia Millia Islamia (‘JMI’).
Laurence Gautier, the author of the book, is a historian of modern South Asia where she unpacks this very complexity in Between Nation and ‘Community’. The book focuses on the political and symbolic characters of these two universities in post-Partition India, influenced by their pre-Partition establishments. Deriving from the rich set of archival materials, oral histories, and existing scholarship, including foundational works by David Lelyveld, Barbara Metcalf, and Mushirul Hasan, Gautier explores and puts forth how AMU and JMI have negotiated their institutional identities, Muslim affiliations, and relationship with the Indian state.
The book consists of nine chapters, including the introduction and conclusion, each digging deep into different facets of the two universities. Gautier presents an in-depth and layered exploration from their origin as educational projects to their stand in nation-building, their involvement with minority affairs, and the evolving narratives of empowerment and representation.
