Unbound

UNBOUND

BY Archit Mahale

South Asian Futurism does not hold the same status as the more explored concepts of Afrofuturism and Chicanafuturism. Nonetheless, there are hopes, aspirations, and a higher, more radical plane of existence that us South Asians must move into, one beyond face value. It allows us to reclaim our narratives, explore new possibilities, challenge the power structures provided by the system, and live in a more inclusive and equitable world. Too often, racial and ethnic futurisms are approached through a scientific lens. It raises the possibility of what our unique cultures, hurled into an age of advanced technology, would look like. 

However, more often than not, futurisms are simply defined by creating a better tomorrow. Building a society rid of caste, colorism, patriarchy, colonialism and its legacy, and the rampant mental health stigma is the “futuristic” society we South Asians must strive to be in. We all must play a role in creating and cultivating a South Asian radical consciousness, one that supports and uplifts queer, trans, and non-binary individuals, actively challenges caste, critiques capitalism, nurtures intergenerational dialogue, centers Indigenous voices, and celebrates linguistic and religious diversity. We must collectively and intellectually move past labels, assumptions, expectations, myths, states, and governments, which have done nothing but confine us and limit our thinking. We are not your model. We are not your minority. We are not your myth. Whether we are to radically reform all that we have or overthrow everything entirely as anarchists, we must work towards and build a framework predicated on the fluidity of identity and expression. It’s time to create something for us, by us. Liberation is irresistible. 

“Building a society rid of caste, colorism, patriarchy, colonialism and its legacy, and the rampant mental health stigma is the “futuristic” society we South Asians must strive to be in.”

We, as South Asians, must radicalize ourselves, intellectually militarize ourselves, and deploy countermeasures against white supremacy, imperialism, and all systems of domination. We must organize, unite, and build coalitions to understand what is working against us if we want to defeat it. Unity is crucial for any ethnic group with a diaspora. It has, is, and will continue to be a threat to the American Empire. Liberation and consciousness are not a distant light. They are an urgent demand. It is your duty to yourself.