In this episode, I am in conversation with Professor Rajshree Chandra, to talk about her book, ‘Competing Nationalism: The Sacred and Political Life of Jagat Narain Lal’, the biography of her grandfather. Jagat Babu was a key leader in the Indian National Congress and played an important role in national movement, especially in Bihar. He was also a member of the Constituent Assembly and minister for Law and Animal Husbandry in the Bihar government post-independence. In her work, Rajshree traces the life and ideas of Jagat Babu and shows us how his life as a microcosm reflects the trajectory of Indian nationalism and the dilemmas of nationalists. She narrates the journey of Jagat Babu through four pathways: Ascetic, Hindu Nationalist, Anti-Colonial and Civic nationalisms. Rajshree talks about how Jagat Babu navigated through and sometimes attempted to refashion these four pathways. Towards the end, Rajshree reflects on forms taken by these nationalisms in contemporary times. This episode will leave us with several lessons to reflect upon. 

Rajshree Chandra is a professor of political science at Janki Devi Memorial College, Delhi University, and is a senior visiting fellow at Centre for Policy Research.