ABSTRACT
The riots that erupted in Mumbai in January 1993 actually did not sweep across the city in a sustained wave of violence. Clashes between Hindus and Muslims hit certain sections, while other areas went completely untouched. The four neighborhoods receiving the most publicity and forming the empirical basis of popular speculations about the riots in Mumbai were: Jogeshwari, Behrampada, Dharavi, and Govandi/Deonar. The sprawling slums of Jogeshwari have a population of over 300,000. Jogeshwari experienced a series of communal clashes over the past several years, and the Shiv Sena interpreted the arson incident in Jogeshwari as Hinduism’s failure to protect itself. Further actions of Shiv Sena corporators confirm that local-level Sena leaders are adept at weaving politics into the symbolism of a Hindu nation bent on political ambitions.
