The Idea of India

Religious and Cultural Pluralism as Resistance to Sectarian Conflict

Photographer

Asim Rafiqui

Concept

In the last few decades we have become accustomed to news of sectarian violence on the Indian subcontinent. In particular, there is a widening and violent rift between India’s Hindu and Muslim communities. But religious and cultural pluralism is a prominent feature of Indian life and has been her heritage for centuries. My project is a visual and narrative documentation of this ‘idea of India’ as I explore pluralist landscapes, shared sacred sites, shared cultural traditions and community level efforts at reconciliation within divided communities. I am revealing through images and writings India's ancient heritage of pluralism and tolerance, a heritage reduced not only in the wake of her colonial subjugation but also by modern day politics and nationalism. The celebration and patronage of this heritage is a crucial act of resistance to the sectarians and hysterical nationalists and a means of building peace between the communities.

Biography

Asim Rafiqui is an independent photographer based in Stockholm, Sweden. He turned professional in 2003 and started by focusing on stories from Afghanistan, and Pakistan while also pursuing personal projects that focused on issues related to the aftermath of conflict. This focus has led him to produce stories from Iraqi Kurdistan, Haiti, Israel and the tribal areas of Pakistan.

He was awarded the Aftermath Grant for his 'The Idea of India' project. He also received a Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting Grant in 2008 to document the aftermath of the recent conflict in Gaza.

He has also regularly shot assignments for magazines like National Geographic (France), Stern (Germany), Newsweek, and Time (USA, Asia).

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The Idea of India

Religious and Cultural Pluralism as Resistance to Sectarian Conflict

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