The RSS has sought to replace Arjuna’s ethical hesitation with ritualised obedience, recasting the Bhagavad Gita to sanctify unthinking certainty. This is India’s present crisis, at the centenary of…
Hindutva politics and the entrenched ethnic tensions in Assam have intensified the “othering” of Bengali Muslims in the state. But these "others" live in extreme poverty compared to other…
Three new books reveal how Hindutva exploits every lever of power—the BJP’s political sway, state machinery, the judiciary, Aadhaar, police, and investigative agencies—to crush dissent. Though they…
The “MahaKumbh” is crafted to secure the consent, not only of the traditional pilgrims who went following the truly sanatana seasonal rhythm, but also that of the well-heeled “holy-dippers”, who flew…
Pilgrimages are now more than mere religious acts: they are vast moving spectacles where scale becomes proof of sanctity. The call to become part of a moment eternal yet fleeting draws in devotees to…
Savarkar's Marathi writings are key to understanding his political thought. His literary work laid the groundwork for his ideas of Hindutva and devastatingly magnified the popularity of his…
After floundering for a new identity the Congress has hit on 'Nyay': justice for 90% of the people. The BJP recognises the danger of this promise to reorder current privileges resonating…
An analysis of Hindutva popular culture in the small towns of north India explores its performers, audiences, and the resources supporting it. Seemingly simple songs by ordinary people fuel powerful…
Accusations of Hinduphobia that are made in the US have become an easy way to silence criticism of Hindu nationalism. Challenging this agenda requires both active condemnation of the Hindu right as…
Anxiety amongst upper-caste diaspora that their narrative about a benign Indian culture would be undone lies at the heart of the opposition to California’s bill to ban caste discrimination.
