Fighting for Faith and Nation: Dialogues with Sikh Militants

Fighting for Faith and Nation presents ethnographic research and interviews with Sikh militants conducted in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Through conversations with activists and fighters, anthropologist Cynthia Keppley Mahmood documents the perspectives of those involved in the Khalistan movement for Sikh independence. The book combines scholarly analysis with first-hand accounts from Sikh militants about their experiences, motivations, and worldviews. Mahmood's fieldwork takes her from India to North America as she speaks with individuals who participated in or were affected by the conflict between Sikhs and the Indian state. The text examines questions of religious identity, nationalism, and political violence through an anthropological lens. By foregrounding militant voices while maintaining academic rigor, the work offers insights into how religious and political movements intersect with questions of sovereignty and resistance.

Readers emphasize the book provides a rare inside perspective on Sikh militants through personal interviews. Multiple reviewers note its value as a firsthand account that helps explain the motivations behind the Khalistan movement. Likes: - Detailed personal narratives from militants - Clear explanations of complex religious-political dynamics - Neutral, non-judgmental tone in presenting sensitive topics - Historical context around Sikh separatism Dislikes: - Some terminology and background knowledge assumed - Limited scope focuses mainly on militant perspectives - Academic writing style can be dense in places - A few readers questioned potential bias in interview selection Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (11 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (6 ratings) "Presents voices we rarely get to hear" - Goodreads reviewer "Important contribution to understanding this period of history" - Amazon reviewer "Sometimes gets bogged down in academic language" - LibraryThing review

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🔸 Author Cynthia Keppley Mahmood conducted extensive field research in Punjab and among Sikh communities in Canada during a period when many researchers and journalists avoided the region due to security concerns. 🔸 The book challenges traditional academic approaches by presenting militants' perspectives in their own words through dialogue format, rather than analyzing them solely as subjects of study. 🔸 Several of Mahmood's interview subjects were later killed in encounters with Indian security forces or disappeared, making her recordings some of the only existing documentation of their viewpoints. 🔸 The research for this book caused controversy in academic circles, with some scholars criticizing Mahmood for giving voice to militant perspectives while others praised her groundbreaking anthropological methodology. 🔸 The book explores how ordinary Sikhs transformed into militants following Operation Blue Star in 1984, when the Indian Army stormed the Golden Temple in Amritsar, providing rare insights into this pivotal moment in Sikh history.