Hyphenated Nationality and Belonging in India
Recent issues involving the harassment and deportation of Bengali-speaking migrant workers in India highlight a longstanding and intricate problem regarding national identity and the idea of "hyphenated nationality."
Historical Context and Current Concerns
- The problem of defining national identity in India is not new.
- Communities such as Muslims, Sri Lankan Tamils, northeasterners, and Indian Nepalis have historically been viewed as
- These issues reflect a broader regional and global phenomenon where nationality is judged through ethnic and territorial lenses.
Theoretical Perspectives on Nationality
Philosophical insights from figures like Etienne Balibar and Homi K. Bhabha offer a deeper understanding of the issues at play.
- Etienne Balibar: Nationalities are often defined by carrying forward a sacred heritage, leading to both assimilation and exclusion.
- Homi K. Bhabha: Nation-states attempt to create an ancient homogeneity, resulting in a dual process of pedagogy and performative strategy. This leads to the emergence of the “other.”
Challenges of Hyphenated Nationality
- The identity of Bengali migrant workers is caught between cultural meaning and nationalist certainty.
- Documents (pedagogy) alone fail to protect them, as performative narratives take precedence.
- This reflects the paradox where nation-states require both diversity for cultural richness and homogeneity for political unity.
Modern Implications and Structural Contradictions
- Despite globalization, nation-states maintain exclusionary practices, especially towards migrant labor.
- Bureaucratic procedures for data verification, such as the Census or National Family and Health Surveys, often expose these paradoxes.
- The conflation of ethnic and territorial identity with national belonging perpetuates interstate rivalries and community tensions.
Citizenship in Post-Colonial Societies
- Citizenship involves both legal and moral dimensions.
- Legitimate citizens are those granted legal identity by the state and moral engagement by society.
- However, the identity of Bengali migrant workers is often judged through negative narratives, framing them as the “other.”
Conclusion
The plight of Bengali migrant workers is not just a political or isolated issue but a manifestation of deeper structural contradictions within the nation-state model. The problem highlights the tension between the need for diversity and the demand for homogeneity. Until these contradictions are addressed, the exclusionary logic will continue to manifest in various forms.