Book Review: How Violence Took Centre Stage in Indian Politics
Thomas Blom Hansen's new book, 'The Law of Force: The Violent Heart of Indian Politics', argues that Hindu-Muslim antagonism, culminating in the Partition, is the violent foundation of Indian politics.
Political violence in West Bengal during 2018 Panchayat polls. Photo: PTI.
Politics06/May/2021
Almost 20 years ago, political scientist Paul Brass published a book that set out to explain the production of Hindu-Muslim violence in contemporary India. Focusing on half a century of riots in Aligarh, he convincingly implicated the police, criminal elements, members of Aligarhâs business community, and many of its leading political actors in the continuous effort to âproduceâ violence.