Reinventing images of Variamkunnan: Politics of memory and patriotism in contemporary India

Variyamkunnath Kunhamed Haji, sometimes called Variyamkunnan (1883–1922) was a prominent 20th-century anti-colonial leader from the Malabar region of south India. He was known for establishing a parallel government against the British colonial system, which received widespread global attention. Although all of his remnants and records were eliminated by the British administration, a rare image of him was recently found by researchers from a French magazine archive, sparking heavy controversy in the region. Against the backdrop of the existing ascendancy of Hindu nationalism in India, right wing groups challenged the iconic persona of Variyamkunnan as a freedom fighter. At the same time, in many recent instances, the very practice of invoking memory against exclusionary practices of ethnic nationalist politics has become a normal part of Muslim citizenship politics in India. This process of resistance has been fostered by different methods, including various kinds of performances, war songs, and even academic projects. Against the backdrop of the above controversy and subsequent debates, this article argues that the ‘iconising’ of anti-colonial leaders, the rejuvenation of war songs, and art performances that invoke memory/history should be analysed as a major tool of contemporary Muslim citizenship politics in India.