Fighting for Faith and Nation: Dialogues with Sikh Militants (Contemporary Ethnography) [Paperback]

Cynthia Keppley Mahmood (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1996 | ISBN-10: 0812215923 | ISBN-13: 978-0812215922

The ethnic and religious violence that characterized the late twentieth century calls for new ways of thinking and writing about politics. Listening to the voices of people who experience political violence—either as victims or as perpetrators—gives new insights into both the sources of violent conflict and the potential for its resolution.

Drawing on her extensive interviews and conversations with Sikh militants, Cynthia Keppley Mahmood presents their accounts of the human rights abuses inflicted on them by the state of India as well as their explanations of the philosophical tradition of martyrdom and meaningful death in the Sikh faith. While demonstrating how divergent the world views of participants in a conflict can be, Fighting for Faith and Nation gives reason to hope that our essential common humanity may provide grounds for a pragmatic resolution of conflicts such as the one in Punjab which has claimed tens of thousands of lives in the past fifteen years.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Mahmood (Frisian and Free: Study of an Ethnic Minority of the Netherlands, Waveland, 1989) undertook this investigation as a study of the anthropology of violence and based her interviews solely on Sikhs living in North America, including some in prison. The narratives relate primarily to the relationship of the individual to Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, or the invasion of the holiest Sikh temple by the Indian government in 1984. The last portion of the book raises questions about membership in communities and violent attempts to force conformity. Mahmood discusses Edward Said, Salmon Rushdie, and Harjot Oberoi (a Sikh whose academic writings have stirred much controversy). She is careful to state that the militants within the Sikh community are a minority and raises ethical issues for an anthropologist undertaking such research. Highly recommended.?Donald Clay Johnson, Univ. of Minnesota Lib., Minneapolis
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Highly recommended."—Library Journal

"Mahmood brilliantly interweaves Sikh militants' narratives—their aspirations, fears, beliefs, and actions—with an understanding of India's Khalistan movement in particular and of contemporary political conflict in general. . . . Fighting for Faith and Nation provides the theoretical and methodological tools for understanding the politics of violence and militancy and the troubled concepts of nation and freedom. More important, it provides a sensitive and responsible approach to difficult and contentious issues—to matters, literally, of life and death."—Carolyn Nordstrom, University of California, Berkeley

"A stunning presentation of narrative ethnography, achieving the remarkable feat of forcing the reader to enter into the world—and the world view—of those whom most of us would regard as terrorists. The issues this book raises cannot be ignored."—Mark Juergensmeyer, University of California, Santa Barbara

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 328 pages
• Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press (November 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812215923
• ISBN-13: 978-0812215922
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.7 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #717,532 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #40 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Other Eastern Religions & Sacred Texts > Sikhism

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Most interesting analysis of the Khalistani movement September 10, 1997

By [e-mail]

Format:Paperback

C. K. Mahmood has, in her book, given us a glimpse of the real world of expatriate khalistani militants, heretofore distorted by Indian Govt./press propaganda. Her book is based on extensive interviews she undertook with different people who were involved in the movement at one time or another. The style of presenting the material reminds us of Shakespearean plays where, after the characters play out their parts there are asides to give the audiences the context. Not only has she brought out the travails of the militants but also her own uneasy position as a practicing anthropologist who, on the one hand, has to keep her distance to be objective, and on the other, has to show empathy to really understand the motivations of the militants. While her subjects are going through dilemmas of their own she has her own sets to confront with.

She has presented the interviews verbatim as they were recorded and has given her own analysis after the interview. This gives her work some objectivity as people can then agree or disagree with her interpretation/analysis. She also develops the background of the movement with a brief introduction to the Sikh religion. She goes on to give background material about the Damdami Taksal, the genesis of Bhindrawale. It is interesting to note the different motivations of the militants. One was a very religious person, in common parlance he could be referred to as a religious fanatic. Another was a champion of Punjabiyat. By far all were deeply religious and derived their strength from their common history and heritage. One cannot feel but a little disturbed while reading some of the interviews as we can see the workings of communalism and the ghosts of the 1947 blood bath rear their head. The state comes out looking as very repressive and inefficient.... Once a friend told me that the reason the police uses torture is that they are very inefficient in information gathering and hence resort to the most primitive means i.e. torture. Another point coming out was that most militants were in it as a reaction to state repression. But very few had a clear idea what objective they were fighting for, while they knew what they were fighting against.

Along with the glimpse into the Khalistani militant community, she also gives us a glimpse into the rarefied ivory towers of academia. This happens in the last three or four chapters, which I found very interesting. As she contends, the study of anthropology was, in the past, heavily influenced by European colonialism. As a result anthropology was interested in "constructing" group identities. A clear example is the British's classification of Sikhs and others as "martial races". With the demise of the old colonialism, anthropology broke free of that yoke, and with the creation of the liberal nation state in the west, was more interested now in deconstructing group identities. This was completely at odds with the various nationalist/resistance movements in the third worlds which rallied around these very group identities that were being deconstructed. It is in this context that Harjot Oberoi's theses about the identity of the Sikhs has been met with passionate opposition from orthodox Sikhs. As she states that the Indian Liberal state imposes oppression by denying these identities. As a reaction the orthodox and militant Sikhs reinforce that identity. But when a Harjot Oberoi comes out with a theses that totally neglects the political dynamics that this identity is entwined with, he runs into trouble. She makes a case for a different kind of anthropology which is more "human". According to her, a more "humane" approach can help in resolving some of these conflicts rather than demonizing that each side indulges in. Read more ›

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Controversial topic gets an objective analysis March 7, 2000

By Jasbir S Virdi

Format:Paperback

Growing up as a Sikh in America I was far removed from the atrocities perpetrated on the Sikh community in India. I distinctly remember as a child watching my parents and family desperately calling India to relatives to ensure their safety. Then in 1994 on my first visit (after 13 years), I discussed the topic of the November 1984 riots with some of my relatives. I found their accounts to just as harrowing. What I found more disturbing was the censorship of the issue there. No books were written or at least could be obtained in India. To my surprise I came across this book one day on Amazon and decided to get it. I found the book to be intelligent, meticulously researched, and above all engrossing. Although I am far from an extremist I can understand the extreme position of the these "freedom fighters" Cynthia Manmood presents interviews dispersed with her opinions many of which her subjects, I'm sure would disagree with. Recommended book for anyone interested in current Indian history as well as Sikh history.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars 1984-India June 2, 2001

By Jasleen Matharu

Format:Paperback

When Cynthia Keppley Mahmood narrated some of her experiences with the Sikh Militant during the fieldwork to one of her students, he remarked, "These people are magnificent." After reading the book, many readers may feel the same way while others may disagree depending on which side of the fence they stand - victim of terrorism or victim of injustice that leads to terrorism.

Although Mahmood makes it very clear in no uncertain terms about her disagreement in regards to the route the Sikh militants have taken up to seek justice, she still manages to bring together a very unbiased and objective account. This book sheds light on the history and politics behind what led to the disaster of 1984 in India. And then the aftermath is recounted by the eye witnesses and victims now settled in the US.

Inder Malhotra, one of the most distinguished journalists of that time, compared Sant J.S. Bhindrawale to Khoemini and Frankenstien but this first hand accounts of people who grew up with, lived with, and fought with Bhindrewale show a different picture. After reading this book, it is up to the reader to decide which account to believe.

Finally, a version that tells the story on behalf of the militants, their justifications, and their ideology. The first hand accounts of people who were directly involved and affected during the Blue Star operation are extremely moving and shows the image in different light than what one has seen before. The bravery of Sikh men, women and even children is amazing. The illustrations, some provided by the international documentation of human rights violation in India, are tremendously moving.

This is a read that will take a while due to its poignant nature, but worth the time to understand the depth and dimensions of this problem

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars walking in fire to promote understanding February 26, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I highly commend the hard work and courage it took Ms. Mahmood to dialogue with human beings whose way of thinking and being is so foreign to most westeners offering a glimpse into their world in their own words and not in judgement of them (though not in agreement either). If more dialogue like this occured, the way would be paved for better understanding and bridgemaking rather than bridgebreaking as is the common approach when politicians deal with so-called 'terrorist groups'.Dialogue and the groundwork that promotes understanding, humanisation and the promotion of dignity are the tools of peace in our global village.Thank you for taking the risk where others would not.