A struggle to belong: The grappling cases of Israel and India

Abstract

Citizenship as a concept has always been subjected to serious contention, with scholars trying to reach a comprehensive denotation of the word and has rather been considered a “slippery concept.” Aligning with the modern democratic spirit, the article titled as “A struggle to belong: The grappling cases of Israel and India” engages with the key question as to: what is citizenship and how it is posited in both Israel and India? We also bring forth a comprehensive comparative study with similarities and differences of the Law of Return in Israel with the modern-day Citizenship (Amendment) Act in India, exploring the cultural aspect of citizenship and its pivotal role in the process of nation-building. The paper also highlights student movements as well as women moving from mere victims to survivors, beneficiaries to contributors, and objects to agents of change in India with regards to demand for citizenship rights.