Even after 70 years of Independence, our nation, which is rich in cultural, social and linguistic diversity, is witnessing convoluted discussions and debates on forced nationalism and religious communalism.

The world’s largest democracy has always believed in unity in diversity and yet in the current scenario, multiple identities of the country’s diverse populace are, in fact, being questioned about their patriotism at each and every step. Elaborating on these pertinent topics that are significant in today’s time, renowned author Sugata Bose, in his book The Nation as Mother, provides insights into the tectonic social and political changes our nation is going through by imagining the nation as a mother.

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He offers discerning analysis of the political legacies of Tagore and Gandhi, Nehru and Bose, Aurobindo and Jinnah, and a range of other thinkers and leaders of the anti-colonial movement, by breaking out of the false dichotomy between secular nationalism and religious communalism. “The essays question assumptions about any necessary contradiction between cosmopolitanism and patriotism, and the tendency among religious majoritarians and secularists alike to confuse uniformity with unity.

The speeches in Parliament draw on a rich historical repertoire to offer valuable lessons in political ethics,” writes Bose in the prelude. In his introduction, Sugata Bose quotes Tagore from his book titled Nationalism, which was published in 1917, “My countrymen will gain truly their India by fighting against that education which teaches them that a country is greater than the ideals of humanity.”

In a bid to invoke an alternative future of a new India. based on cultural intimacy among its different communities, The Nation as Mother delves into history on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of freedom. Regarding the contemporary debates on nationalism, the author feels that the knowledge of history is quite significant. He writes, “The book explores the relationship between nation, reason and religion in Indian political thought and practice.

Offering a subtle interpretation of the ways of imagining the nation as mother, the book illuminates different visions of India as a free and flexible federal union that have acquired renewed salience today.” Elucidating on religious majoritarianism, he further explains, “In arguing against the dangers of an intolerant religious majoritarianism, this book makes a case for concepts of layered and shared sovereignty that might enable an overarching sense of Indian nationhood to coexist with multiple identities of the country’s diverse populace.

The Nation as Mother delves into history on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of freedom to invoke an alternative future of a new India based on cultural intimacy among its different communities.”