The Creative Process: The Arts of War (Spring 2017)
The Creative Process is The Mumbai Art Collective's flagship magazine.
The Creative Process is The Mumbai Art Collective's flagship magazine.
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<strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2017</strong><br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>War</strong><br />
IMAGE: MUSLIM SOLDIERS OF THE INDIAN ARMED FORCES OFFERING<br />
THEIR NAMAAZ (PRAYERS) BEFORE MANNING THEIR POSITION AT A BATTERY<br />
OF AUTOMATIC AND SEMI-AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUNS./ UNKNOWN<br />
<strong>The</strong> photograph above depicts three Muslim soldiers <strong>of</strong> an unknown<br />
unit <strong>of</strong> the Indian Armed Forces <strong>of</strong>fering prayers during a break in<br />
battle. This photograph is particularly iconic, for it has significant<br />
propaganda value for the Indian government. Pakistan was set up as<br />
a purely Islamic state, according to its founder, Mohammed Ali<br />
Jinnah because he felt that Muslims had no place in India. However,<br />
India is a secular country, and this image subverts the narrative<br />
championed by the Pakistani government, which is that <strong>of</strong> a small<br />
Muslim state being subdued and standing up to a Hindu aggressor.<br />
<strong>The</strong> photographer also crafts into this photograph the motif <strong>of</strong><br />
headgear to further subvert the Pakistani master narrative,<br />
progressing from a full helmet to an army green baseball cap. <strong>The</strong><br />
range <strong>of</strong> headgear shown in this image is reflective <strong>of</strong> the diversity<br />
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