From The Backcover Of 'The Context Of Ethnicity' By Dipankar Gupta

The Context of Ethnicity questions the widely held conceptualization of nation-states and ascriptive identities, through a study of Sikh extremism in the Punjab. The author argues that contrary to popular opinion, regional sympathies can co-exist with nationalist loyalty.

In this book the author maintains that viewing ethnic conflict in terms of cultural exclusiveness and intolerance prevents us from comprehending how friends and enemies switch sides radically even within a relatively short span of time. Ethnic identities are not fixed and permanent, but dynamic and have to be located within specific sociological co-ordinates. To this end, Dipankar Gupta uses ethnographic material relating primarily to the Punjab problem, with comparative references to the Shiv Sena movement, on which he has done considerable work. He argues for a triadic framework where the interaction between warring dyads is contextualized by the thematics of the nation-state. He thus attempts to separate ethnicity from the related phenomena of communalism and fundamentalism.

'Here is a painstakingly researched and utterly honest attempt at analysing and presenting the Sikh problem in a proper perspective.' -The Hindu

'The book not only provides a fresh perspective on one of the most critical periods of Independent India, but also gives us some important clues to understand other similar problems both inside and outside the country.'

- Business Standard

About The Author 'Dipankar Gupta' Of 'The Context Of Ethnicity'

Dipankar Gupta is Professor of Sociology at the School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi.