Aatish Taseer's Journey of Self-Discovery: Navigating Identity and Belonging in a Nationalist Age

Aatish Taseer, a British-born Indian writer, recounts how the Indian government revoked his overseas citizenship in 2019 after he published a critical article on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Taseer, who identifies as gay and has Pakistani heritage, felt liberated by his exile and embarked on a journey of self-discovery, culminating in his new book "A Return to Self: Excursions in Exile."

Aatish Taseer, a British-born Indian writer, found himself in an unexpected predicament in 2019. After publishing a critical article on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Time magazine, Taseer's Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) was revoked by the Indian government [1]. This revocation, citing Taseer's Pakistani heritage, not only stripped him of his citizenship but also forced him into a journey of self-discovery, culminating in his new book, "A Return to Self: Excursions in Exile" [2].

Taseer's story is a complex interplay of identity, politics, and personal growth. Born to an Indian mother and a Pakistani father, Taseer identifies as Indian and has spent much of his life in India. However, his father's Pakistani heritage became a political liability when Modi's administration revoked his OCI. Taseer's loss of citizenship was not an isolated incident; the Indian government has revoked the OCI of over 200 individuals, many of whom are critics of the government [1].

Despite the revocation, Taseer found liberation in his exile. He no longer felt the need to conceal parts of his identity that were at odds with India's Hindu nationalist turn. His book, "A Return to Self: Excursions in Exile," is a collection of travel essays that explore his search for wholeness and belonging. Taseer visits various countries, trying to understand the essence of their national identities and what makes something belong to a particular country [2].

Taseer's journey is a reminder of the complexities of identity and belonging. His story highlights the political use of citizenship documents and the consequences of staking one's identity on nationality. As Taseer's case illustrates, the quest for authenticity can be a fraught and often futile enterprise. His experiences underscore the importance of understanding and respecting the nuances of identity in a globalized world.

References:
[1] https://asianreviewofbooks.com/a-return-to-self-excursions-in-exile-by-aatish-taseer/
[2] https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/aatish-taseer-identity-belonging-nationalist-age-2025-07-10/