Scarred: Experiments with Violence in Gujarat asserts the existence of a much larger politics of violence; and tells the story of a disaster in Hindutva’s laboratory which etched deep faults in Gujarat’s social landscape.While capturing the predicament of the Sabarmati Express survivors; Scarred is an intense; moving portrait of refugees whose lives have been changed forever by the violence that followed. It tells the story of people fighting for justice amidst fear and turmoil; unable to return home. It is also an insightful look into the minds of the perpetrators of this violence; and the world they seek to construct—a world where the ghettoization and socio-economic boycott of Muslims have become the norm.What exactly happened in Gujarat in February 2002? Why did the country’s political leaders fiddle while Gandhi’s Gujarat burned? In this honest and thought-provoking book; Dionne Bunsha tries to answer these and many of the questions that we are still left with.
#287424 in Books Free Press 2010-09-28 2010-09-28Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x 1.30 x 6.00l; 1.17 #File Name: 143914155X544 pagesFree Press
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Impeccable research; vibrant storytellingBy E.J.Exceptionally readable; this book debunks some of the more extreme legends about Five-Points; while not shrinking from describing the very real misery and squalor the neighborhood. I particularly enjoyed the character sketches of residents of this area. The book also explained why things happened and how. The influence of the saloon keepers; how many politicians got their start in the fire engine companies; the election day brawls and the draft (and other) riots are covered in detail. I am performing genealogy research on Irish ancestors in New York - this is an invaluable resource.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. This is one of the best if you're interested in the Five Points neighborhoodBy S. KristoffI'm not a historian; but I have read some books on the history of New York. This is one of the best if you're interested in the Five Points neighborhood. The book covers the time period from approximately 1830 to 1860 in wonderful detail. For all the detail; it is not a dry read. You can get a great sense of what life was like in these few square blocks in the time before the Civil War. If you are interested in the history of New York; particularly some of the city's less glamorous areas and eras; you want this book.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A great book...By John Paul SassoneAs a native NY'er and someone who is very interested in the history of NYC; I highly recommend this book to anyone who shares that interest. Anbinder presents the history of the Five Points in an interesting; sometimes humorous; sometimes sad; but always interesting way that makes this book hard to put down. Its well researched and far from a dry presentation of facts. A great book for anyone interested in this topic.
