The Identity Project by Rahul Bhatia is a deeply researched book about Hindu identity, citizenship, Aadhaar, the Citizenship Amendment Act, the Delhi 2020 riots, and the changing nature of Indian democracy. Through history, reportage, and personal observation, Bhatia traces how identity has become central to contemporary Indian politics. This review looks at how the book explains Hindu majoritarianism, the alienation of Muslims, the use of state power, and the growing relationship between identity, surveillance, and citizenship in India.
Book: The Identity Project: The Unmaking of a Democracy
Author: Rahul Bhatia
Form: Political non-fiction / reportage
Subject: Hindu identity, citizenship, Aadhaar, CAA, Delhi riots, and the changing nature of Indian democracy
Main themes: Hindu nationalism, identity politics, CAA, NRC, Aadhaar, Delhi 2020 riots, Muslims in India, surveillance, state power, RSS, Hindutva, democracy, and citizenship
Best for: Readers interested in Indian politics, democracy, Hindutva, citizenship, state power, surveillance, Aadhaar, CAA, and contemporary Indian non-fiction.
Why I Picked The Identity Project
I picked up The Identity Project because I wanted to understand the visible change in India after 2014. Around me, I could see people asserting their Hindu identity more forcefully, often accompanied by a growing disdain for Muslims. It felt as though familiar individuals had assumed a new, more aggressive persona. People once known for their rationality and openness were now becoming increasingly rigid, intolerant, and dismissive of differing viewpoints. This change signaled a troubling societal shift, and this book helped me understand some of the roots behind it.
About The Identity Project
The Identity Project by Rahul Bhatia traces the process through which Indian citizens are being consolidated around a Hindu identity. The author reflects on how people around him started to change and how this change became more visible and direct after 2014.
The author guides readers through the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act in 2019 and the wave of violence that followed. The Delhi riots of early 2020, among the worst communal clashes in recent years, become a grim confirmation of the deepening religious divide in India. Through this narrative, Bhatia argues that the CAA represents another step in the project of consolidating Hindu identity, further entrenching communal divisions and alienating citizens along religious lines.
CAA, Delhi 2020, and the Legal Aftermath
The detailed account of the aftermath of the Delhi 2020 riots is deeply unsettling. Bhatia goes into the legal battles that victims had to face and shows how, in his account, the legal system failed many of them. The actions of the police and the judiciary, as presented in the book, reinforce the larger narrative of Hindu supremacy and state bias.
The Historical Roots of Hindu Identity
The Identity Project also delves into the historical roots of Hindu identity consolidation, tracing its evolution back to the mid-nineteenth century. The book explores the roles played by figures such as Dayanand Saraswati and organisations such as the Arya Samaj, Hindu Mahasabha, and, most notably, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
Bhatia examines how these groups laid the groundwork for a unified Hindu identity with the goal of establishing a Hindu Rashtra. He also draws attention to the ideological influences of fascism and Nazism on the RSS and its founders. The book argues that these authoritarian roots continue to shape contemporary politics, with the legacy of Hindutva ideology becoming increasingly visible in the present sociopolitical landscape.
Aadhaar, Identity, and Surveillance
In the pursuit of assigning a unique identity to every Indian citizen, initiatives like Aadhaar become central to the book. Bhatia looks at how Aadhaar was initially presented through the language of efficiency and governance, but also how it opened up serious questions about data, surveillance, citizenship, and state control.
The project was later implemented aggressively during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure. Bhatia shows how the data of over a billion people could be used not only for governance, but also for unprecedented surveillance and control. This is one of the most disturbing parts of the book because it connects identity, technology, and state power in a very direct way.
Writing Style
The Identity Project is a thoroughly researched and information-rich work that offers deep insights into contemporary India. The chapters on Aadhaar are particularly detailed and informative, though at times they may feel exhaustive. Similarly, the sections tracing the history of Hindu identity consolidation are comprehensive but lengthy, which might cause some readers to lose engagement.
Despite these challenges, the book remains a valuable and important read for anyone trying to understand the sociopolitical shifts in India. It is backed by meticulous research, critical analysis, and a strong sense of urgency.
Who Should Read The Identity Project
The Identity Project is for readers interested in Indian politics, democracy, citizenship, Hindutva, Aadhaar, CAA, surveillance, and the changing relationship between state and citizen. It is especially useful for those who want to understand how identity is being reshaped in contemporary India, and how this affects Muslims, dissenters, minorities, and ordinary citizens.
Our Verdict
The Identity Project is an important and unsettling book about contemporary India. Rahul Bhatia connects history, reportage, law, technology, and politics to show how identity has become one of the central tools of power.
The book may feel dense in parts, especially in the sections on Aadhaar and the history of Hindu identity, but its importance lies in the questions it raises. It helps readers understand how citizenship, religion, data, and state power are coming together to reshape Indian democracy. For anyone trying to understand the India of the present moment, this is a valuable and necessary read.
About the author
Rahul Bhatia is an award-winning writer and journalist based in Mumbai. His work has appeared in The New Yorker, Guardian Long Reads, and other publications. He won the True Story Award in 2024 and was a Harvard Radcliffe Institute fellow in 2022–23.
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About the reviewer
Manoj Payal
Manoj is an avid reader and a writer in progress, with interests spanning literature, history, politics, and the social sciences. His writing across book reviews, essays, articles, and poetry—explores ideas, society, and the human experience.He has spent over two decades working in the IT industry, a background that informs his analytical approach to reading and writing.