How Hindu nationalism is changing India – By Angana P Chatterji
Over the past five years, India has moved further away from the multicultural model set forth in its secular constitution. While its prescriptions have never been followed to the letter, as seen in the underrepresentation of minorities – Muslims in particular – in the administration, the police and the military, as of 2014, Muslims also began to vanish from elected assemblies, where this minority is hardly represented anymore.
Not only are Muslims marginalised in major institutions and the public sphere, but they are targeted by Hindu nationalist militias as well. These groups are trying to rid the public space of this minority by (re)converting its members to the dominant religion, preventing them from praying in the open and prohibiting them from acquiring real estate in mixed residential areas.
They are also trying to cut the majority community off from the Muslim minority by preventing interfaith marriages. Over and beyond this, the vigilantes attack Muslims, accusing them of eating beef or taking cows to slaughter, which is against the law. Not only do these accusations sometimes result in perfectly illegal lynchings, but in many cases vigilantes also enjoy police protection.…
https://www.telegraphindia.com/culture/books/how-hindu-nationalism-is-changing-india/cid/1689236
SEE ALSO:
- In Gujarat, an urban-rural divide, as nationalism is pitted against development – By Mansi Mehta (Apr 23, 2019, Sabrang India)
https://sabrangindia.in/article/gujarat-urban-rural-divid-nationalism-pitted-against-development - Under Modi, How Did Hindu Nationalism Affect India’s Foreign Relations? – By Krzysztof Iwanek (Apr 27, 2019, The Diplomat)
https://thediplomat.com/2019/04/under-modi-how-did-hindu-nationalism-affect-indias-foreign-relations/ - Rude awakening – By Venkitesh Ramakrishnan (Apr 26, 2019, Frontline)
https://frontline.thehindu.com/cover-story/article26778794.ece - Balakot lessons – Editorial (Apr 26, 2019, Indian Express)
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/balakot-air-strike-lessons-iaf-pulwama-terror-attack-india-pakistan-tension-5695057/
