Ways of Remembering Law, Cinema and Collective Memory in the New India

Oishik Sircar's "Ways of Remembering" explores the complex interplay between law, cinema, and collective memory in contemporary India, particularly focusing on the representation of the 2002 Gujarat pogrom.

The book examines how Bollywood films and legal judgments shape public understanding of this event, revealing how secular law's attempts to address religious violence can inadvertently normalize or even legitimize such acts.

Sircar's analysis highlights the aesthetic dimensions of law, demonstrating how legal discourse constructs narratives that both condemn and simultaneously excuse violence against Muslims.

The book challenges conventional approaches to understanding the relationship between law and violence, offering a nuanced perspective on the role of memory and representation in shaping social justice.

Ultimately, "Ways of Remembering" provides a critical examination of how legal and cinematic narratives interact to shape collective memory and influence perceptions of justice.