India is Kafkaland: When the State Terrorises its Citizens

The focus of this study has been to examine the terror that the State unleashes on its citizens. Given the rampant prejudice against Muslims, the political climate that has existed in the past two decades and the prevalent discourse on Islamic terrorism, it is difficult to believe that the police will not be careful about who they pick up in such cases, says Manisha Sethi in this interview with Tehelka

Over the past three decades, terrorism has slowly injected itself into the minds of ordinary citizens, infecting them with a deep fear of the unknown. Terrorism as a mode of warfare in the hands of men who want to inflict mayhem and fear has evolved to be a defining feature of our times. Bomb blasts, as primary weapons of terrorism, are random, unexpected and unforgiving. Blasts invariably trigger rage and mass paranoia, blurring our rationality to a level where our senses and memories stand stunned. “Uprooting terrorism” has become a ubiquitous project in our political discourse as the problem is identified as a great threat to our republic. That is why it is important that we understand the mechanics that go into “uprooting terrorism”. Manisha Sethi’s Kafkaland is probably the best place to start.