Communal Geographies: An Introduction

Abstract

This paper introduces a special section comprising eight papers that delve into complex geographies of communal identities in modern South Asia. It situates these papers at a significant intersection of spatial histories and historical geographies of the region, with a focus on exploring the intricate relationship between community and religious identity on the one hand, and space and scale on the other. We take a broad view of communal geographies, reconsidering spatiality through community histories that encompass diverse contexts such as local mohallas and national statistics, rural and urban settings, and secular and religious spaces. It illustrates how religious communities have mapped their identities onto everyday arenas like borders, gurdwaras, homes, markets, mosques, shops, streets and temples. Drawing from various disciplinary and theoretical perspectives and employing methodologies ranging from archival research to oral history and ethnography, this special section expands our understanding of how social practices and religious interactions leave their footprints on geography.