Qaum, Mulk, Sultanat: Citizenship and National Belonging in Pakistan

After the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947, both new nation states faced the challenge of creating new national narratives, symbols, and histories, as well as a new framework for their political life. Ali Qasmi's book traces the complex development of ideas of citizenship and national belonging in the postcolonial Muslim state, offering a nuanced and sweeping history of the country's formative period. He paints a rich picture of the long, arduous, and often conflict-ridden process of writing a democratic constitution of Pakistan, while simultaneously narrating the invention of a range of new rituals of state.

Format: Hardback
Length: 444 pages
Publication date: 12 December 2023
Publisher: Stanford University Press

After the traumatic events of mass violence and massive population movements during the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947, both newly formed nation-states were confronted with the daunting task of crafting new national narratives, symbols, and histories, as well as establishing a fresh framework for their political existence. While India's leadership claimed the legacy of the anti-colonial movement, Gandhi, and a civilizational heritage in the subcontinent, the new political elite in Pakistan faced a more intricate challenge: to establish a distinct and autonomous Muslim history and political tradition amidst a millennium-long history of cultural and religious interaction, blending, and coexistence. Drawing upon a vast array of diverse sources, Ali Qasmi delves into the intricate evolution of citizenship and national belonging in the postcolonial Muslim state, presenting a comprehensive and multifaceted history of the country's formative years. Qasmi vividly portrays the protracted, arduous, and often contentious process of drafting a democratic constitution for Pakistan, while concurrently recounting the creation of a multitude of novel state rituals, such as the precise shade of the flag, the exact date of birth of Pakistan's national poet, and the official recognition of Eid as a national holiday. Through his insightful analysis, Qasmi offers a captivating exploration of the practices of being Pakistani and presents a fresh perspective on Muslim history in the subcontinent.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781503637283