The Trishanku Nation: Memory, Self and Society in Contemporary India

The author presents a vivid canvas of the historical contingencies that outline the post-colonial Indian context in a human-centred manner, which gives history, a flesh, blood and life of its own. This creates a challenge to his account, in terms of ideology and perception. His primary inquiry as to from which factors, the three C’s – Corruption, Casteism and Communalism create the limbus partum (limbus) or Purgatorio (midway between hell and heaven). He begins by acknowledging the naysayers and argues the multidimensional nature and ‘suppleness’ of contemporary India. The role attributed to politics and religion, particularly the combination is more than apposite, but to link it with culture as a construct appears a bit apologetic than necessary.