Imaginary Homelands

1. Censorship's Insidious Power: Deadening Imagination

But the worst, most insidious effect of censorship is that, in the end, it can deaden the imagination of the people.

Erosion of Critical Thought. Total censorship doesn't just suppress information; it stifles the ability to conceive of suppressed alternatives. Without debate, the imagination atrophies, and people lose the capacity to question the status quo.

Examples of Censorship:

• Suppression of news about human rights abuses
• Banning of films or books deemed politically or morally objectionable
• Control over media narratives to promote a specific agenda

The Ultimate Victory. When censorship succeeds in deadening the imagination, it achieves its most profound and damaging effect. People begin to believe that what has been suppressed was either valueless or too dangerous to be known, thus completing the censor's victory.

2. The Paradox of India: Unity in Multitude

For a nation of seven hundred millions to make any kind of sense, it must base itself firmly on the concept of multiplicity, of plurality and tolerance, of devolution and decentralization wherever possible.

India's Defining Characteristic. The very essence of India lies in its multitude of languages, religions, races, and cultures. This diversity, while a source of richness, also presents a constant challenge to national unity.

Challenges to Unity:

• Communalism: The politics of religious hatred threatens the secular foundations of the state.
• Centre-State Relations: Tensions between the central government and the states, often exacerbated by power imbalances.
• Religious Extremism: The rise of Hindu fanaticism and its parallels in other religious communities.

The Secular Ideal. The only way to safeguard the rights of all minority groups is to uphold the principle of secularism. Abandoning this principle could lead to the country's disintegration.

3. Family Rule vs. Democracy: A Precarious Balance

It is beginning to look just possible—is it not?—that the interests of ‘the world’s largest democracy’ and those of its ruling family might not be quite the same.

The Nehru-Gandhi Dynasty. The Nehru-Gandhi family's long-standing dominance in Indian politics has created a mythologized image, raising questions about the true nature of Indian democracy.

Consequences of Family Rule:

• Centralization of Power: Power has been drawn from the states to the Centre, creating resentment.
• Lowering of Public Standards: The pursuit of power at any cost has diminished the quality of public life.
• Royal Court Culture: The creation of an unelected elite of family intimates has damaged democratic structures.

The Need for Change. It is crucial for India to assert that the nation is not owned by any one family and to restore faith in the India-idea based on multiplicity, plurality, and tolerance.

4. The Tyrant's Fall: A Glimmer of Hope for Pakistan

When a tyrant falls, the world’s shadows lighten, and only hypocrites grieve.

Zia ul-Haq's Brutal Regime. General Zia's eleven-year rule in Pakistan was marked by repression, corruption, and the imposition of a medieval, misogynistic ideology under the guise of Islamization.

Legacy of Instability:

• Collusion between police and criminal gangs
• Private armies servicing the narcotics industry
• "Elections" without political party participation

The Path Forward. The end of dictatorship offers a chance for Pakistan to embrace civilian rule, free elections, and the lifting of censorship, but the army's willingness to relinquish power remains uncertain.

A Call for Democracy. The United States should back democratic forces in Pakistan, such as Benazir Bhutto and her coalition, to foster a new stability centered on representative government.

5. The Myth of "Commonwealth Literature": An Exclusive Ghetto

‘Commonwealth literature’, it appears, is that body of writing created, I think, in the English language, by persons who are not themselves white Britons, or Irish, or citizens of the United States of America.

A False Category. The term "Commonwealth literature" is a chimera created by critics and academics, excluding English literature while grouping diverse writers based on their non-white, non-British, non-American status.

Dangers of the Ghetto:

• Creates a ghetto mentality among its occupants
• Leads to narrow and misleading readings of artists
• Distracts attention from what is actually worth looking at

The Reality of Diversity. The differences among writers from various Commonwealth countries are more significant than their similarities, making it impossible to define a cohesive "Commonwealth literature."

6. English as a Tool: Remaking Language for Freedom

To conquer English may be to complete the process of making ourselves free.

English as a World Language. English has become the world language due to colonization and the influence of the United States, but it is now being reshaped and domesticated by those who were once colonized by it.

The Indian Experience:

• English is used as an Indian language, free from the taint of its colonial past.
• In South India, English is seen as essential to communication between different linguistic groups.
• Indian society and literature have a complex and developing relationship with the English language.

Embracing Ambiguity. Indian writers in England must embrace English despite their ambiguity towards it, finding in that linguistic struggle a reflection of other struggles taking place in the real world.

7. Kipling's Conflicted Vision: India Through Two Lenses

I have never been able to read Kipling calmly. Anger and delight are incompatible emotions, yet these early stories do indeed have the power simultaneously to infuriate and to entrance.

Kipling's Dual Nature. Kipling's work reflects a personality in conflict, part bazaar-boy and part sahib, resulting in contradictory responses in the reader.

The English Kipling:

• Exhibits racial bigotry, portraying Indians as wife-killers, scamps, and betrayers.
• Identifies with the attitudes of his white characters, reinforcing stereotypes.

The Indian Kipling:

• Possesses an intimate knowledge of India, giving his stories undeniable authority.
• Creates convincing portraits of Indians, capturing their language and psychology.

A Battle Within. In stories like "On the City Wall," the two Kiplings are at war, with the Indian Kipling subverting the English Kipling's belief in British leadership.

8. The Allure and Peril of the "Raj Revival"

The continuing decline, the growing poverty and the meanness of spirit of much of Thatcherite Britain encourages many Britons to turn their eyes nostalgically to the lost hour of their precedence.

Nostalgia for Empire. The "Raj revival" in British media reflects a longing for a time when Britain held global power, often distorting historical realities.

Distortions and Stereotypes:

• Portrayal of Indians as exotic and subservient
• Glorification of British rule and its supposed benefits
• Erasure of the violence and oppression of colonialism

The Need for Critical Analysis. It is crucial to recognize the political context of these fictions and to challenge their revisionist view of history.

The Dangers of Quietism. The adoption of a ghetto mentality and the confinement within narrowly defined cultural frontiers would be a dangerous pitfall.

9. Orwell's Whale vs. the Protesting Wail: Art and Politics

The migrations of the fifties and sixties happened. ‘We are. We are here’.

Orwell's Quietism. Orwell's "Inside the Whale" advocates for a passive acceptance of reality, a philosophy that can lead to intellectual defeat and serve the interests of the status quo.

The Power of Protest:

• Literature can give the lie to official facts and challenge distorted realities.
• Artists have a responsibility to engage with political issues and to make their voices heard.
• The migrations of the fifties and sixties happened. ‘We are. We are here’.

The Need for Engagement. In a world without hiding places, it is necessary to make a fuss, to protest, and to challenge the status quo.

10. The Seductive Power of Deification: Attenborough's Gandhi

All of us who love India are in mourning today.

The Deification of Gandhi. The film "Gandhi" deifies the Mahatma, presenting a sanitized and distorted version of Indian history.

Distortions and Omissions:

• Downplaying the violence and complexities of the independence struggle
• Ignoring the contributions of other leaders, such as Subhas Bose
• Presenting a simplistic view of non-violence as a universally applicable strategy

The Dangers of Mythologizing. By sanctifying Gandhi and mangling history, the film satisfies Western longings for a spiritual guru and a non-violent revolution, while obscuring the true nature of India's struggle for freedom.

11. The Migrant's Eye: A New Perspective on the World

Having been borne across the world, we are translated men.

The Migrant Experience. Migrants face problems of definition, cultural preservation, and the need for change, all while navigating the complexities of their new world.

A Double Perspective:

• Migrants are both insiders and outsiders in their new society.
• This stereoscopic vision offers unique angles for entering reality.

The Dangers of Ghetto Mentality. It is crucial to avoid confining oneself within narrowly defined cultural frontiers and to embrace the world beyond one's community.

The Freedom of Choice. Literary migrants have the freedom to choose their parents, drawing on a polyglot family tree to measure themselves and to which they would be honored to belong.

12. The Unseen Forces: Power, Corruption, and the Human Spirit

For God’s sake, open the universe a little more!

The Dark Side of Power. The world is full of unseen forces, from political corruption to religious extremism, that threaten individual freedom and well-being.

The Importance of Resistance:

• Literature can give voice to the voiceless and challenge official narratives.
• Artists must push the limits of what is possible and dare to endanger themselves.

The Enduring Human Spirit. In the face of adversity, the human spirit can triumph, finding strength in friendship, love, and the pursuit of truth.

Last updated: March 7, 2025