Borders, Histories, Existences
Gender and Beyond
- Paula Banerjee - Vice-Chancellor, The Sanskrit College and University
Political Sociology
Borders are often sites of exclusion and inclusion in the context of South Asia; they symbolize control and the urge to challenge and transcend that control. Resistance results in greater efforts to control. The medium of control changes over time but what remains constant is the fact that the control of borders necessitates control of bodies. Historically, border studies have suffered from simplification of the issues on the one hand, to collusion with forces that privilege a few, on the other. In this book the author portrays how states construct borders and try to make them static and rigid. She goes on to discuss how bordered existences, such as those of women, migrant workers and people afflicted with AIDS, destabilize these apparently rigid constructs.
Borders, Histories, Existences by Paula Banerjee is a gripping enquiry into the nature of South Asian borders… Banerjee’s brilliant analysis delves deep into the recent developments in border studies while at the same time going back to different histories only to give them a new rendering with the help of the contemporary concept of borders… Borders, Histories, Existences is a distinctive and broadening contribution to Asian studies. Students of politics, history and gender will find it very beneficial to their respective fields… The most attractive feature of Borders, Histories, Existences is its emphasis on borderlands as a unique form of existence instead of going for the notorious defense and strategic studies. Despite the large academic scope of the work it is quite accessible and can be used as an introduction by those who are interested in border studies.
Backed by data, historical fact and popular narrative, this timely book helps the reader to understand that human rights and security are complementary paradigms – one cannot be sustained without the other.
