You are always an Outsider

You are always an Outsider

My university is located near the Dadri village, which has currently turned into the epicenter of a major human tragedy followed by political upheaval taking place in India. I tried to relate to the Dadri lynching, and JNU, issues when I was living in Dadri in my work –
‘You are always an Outsider’

It’s very disturbing to see how easily the label anti-national is dispensed. A closer examination of the instances in the recent past show that the branded ‘anti –national’ are more often than not either Muslims or Dalits who are raising questions about the machinations of the ‘State’- It is undoubtedly a result of collapsing of the two terms Nation and State into one.

I wish to talk about the feeling of being an outsider in this land, however being inside the secured premises of my university I have become an insider. At the same time I am aware that the people who were initially from this land have turned into outsiders. I wish to express this constant sense of dislocation experienced by people. It was a small room. As soon as the viewer cross yellow line, in front of the two walls, walls turn outwards and rejecting the viewer.

You are always an Outsider