“Why Can't You Say You Are from Bangladesh?”: Demographic Anxiety and Hindu Nationalist Common Sense in the Aftermath of the 2008 Jaipur Bombings

The study reveals how demographic anxiety, fueled by Hindu nationalist narratives and governmental surveillance practices, shapes perceptions of Bangladeshi immigrants and Indian Muslims in Jaipur. The 2008 bombings, incorrectly linked to Bangladeshi infiltrators, exposed the role of identity documentation and media discourse in reinforcing stereotypes that influence urban space struggles. The term 'Bangladeshi' emerged as a flexible signifier, encapsulating varied ways of identifying local populations, particularly impacting Jaipur's 'Bangladeshi Basti,' which faced heightened police scrutiny. The research combines personal observations, media analysis, and archival data to illustrate how governmental legibility practices and common sense reinforce each other, with material consequences for marginalized communities.

Moodie, M. (2010). “Why Can’t You Say You Are from Bangladesh?”: Demographic Anxiety and Hindu Nationalist Common Sense in the Aftermath of the 2008 Jaipur Bombings. Identities, 17(5), 531–559. https://doi.org/10.1080/1070289x.2010.526889