Purity as politics: crafting discipline in the puritan public sphere of Assam and its institutional sedimentation

This essay theorizes the concept of ‘puritan public sphere’ and uses it as a framework to explain the purifying nature of Assamese subnationalism in practice. It argues that linguo-cultural purity serves as a prerequisite for civic legitimacy in the state and shifts away from classical notions of the public sphere as inclusive and dialogic. The study examines how symbolic violence and moral discipline normalize the marginalization of those deemed outsiders in the state, thereby pathologizing any deviation from puritan norms. It uses Cotton University as a case study and conducts a discourse analysis of ‘Cottonian’ magazines (1978–1985), along with interviews with marginalized students, to understand how puritan values become embedded in institutional life. It distinguishes puritanism from xenophobia by demonstrating that rather than expelling difference, puritanism disciplines it. The study contributes to debates on nationalism, identity, and institutional power while advocating a more plural and agonistic public sphere.