Abstract
For decades, the Muslim-majority town of Malerkotla, Punjab, has been emblematic of communal harmony—the place where everyone gets along, a so-called island of peace. As the author has argued previously, this reputation is the result of hard work and constant vigilance to realize it on the ground, even imperfectly. It also persists despite enormous pressure. The last decade has proven challenging for Malerkotla citizens, but their work continues. From the protests in Shaheen Bagh, Delhi, against the Citizenship Amendment Act, to the farmers’ protests at the Delhi borders, to current political concerns after Malerkotla became a newly minted electoral district, Malerkotlans continue to strive for belonging in an India where divisive nationalisms are ascendant. This article addresses the past and present of citizen strategies to build intersectional solidarities, to affirm and reaffirm a long-standing collective identity built on communal harmony, and to imagine a future India that is diverse, inclusive, and just.
