Pandemic India: Coronavirus and the Uses of History

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has produced two different narratives in India. One, here described as “historical,” looks back to the pandemics of the colonial past—bubonic plague from 1896, influenza in 1918–19—as a source of comparisons, lessons, and dire warnings for the present. This narrati...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of Asian studies Vol. 79; no. 3; pp. 569 - 577
Main Author: Arnold, David
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: New York, USA Cambridge University Press 01.08.2020
Duke University Press, NC & IL
Subjects:
Asian studies
Colonialism
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Epidemics
Forum—The Pandemic: Perspectives on Asia
Forum—The Pandemic: s on Asia
Health care
Health services
History
Influenza
Narratives
Pandemics
Plague
Politics
Postcolonialism
Specificity
Victimization
Warnings
Middle East
Mumbai India
North America
Europe
India
influenza
coronavirus
history
plague
pandemics
India
ISSN:0021-9118, 1752-0401
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has produced two different narratives in India. One, here described as “historical,” looks back to the pandemics of the colonial past—bubonic plague from 1896, influenza in 1918–19—as a source of comparisons, lessons, and dire warnings for the present. This narrative envisages the reenactment of past scenes, including flight from the cities, victimization of the poor, and the questioning of state authority. The other narrative, here called “insurgent,” questions the value of historical analogies, doubts that history ever substantially repeats itself, and stresses the specificity of postcolonial Indian politics and health. While recognizing the validity of both narratives, the author urges caution in employing colonial history to critique contemporary events and, while recognizing the 1890s plague as a watershed moment, questions whether even the most devastating pandemics (such as 1918's influenza) necessarily result in profound social, political, and health care changes.
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ISSN:0021-9118
1752-0401
DOI:10.1017/S0021911820002272