How India's Hindutva Movement Evolved
A few days ago, I posted a question on X that sparked an unexpected reaction. I had just watched the Indian film 'Dhurandhar', which attempts to link Karachi's Lyari gang wars of the 1990s to the Mumbai terrorist attack years later. My question was simple: 'Why are Indians so obsessed with Pakistan?' I was genuinely perplexed by this phenomenon. Despite India's numerous attacks on Pakistan, Pakistani media rarely focuses on Indian villainy, and the film's portrayal of Pakistanis and Muslims as one-dimensional aggressors seemed excessive.
The response was immediate and intense. Troll farms flooded my comments with insults, reflecting the underlying nationalist anger. It's clear that while Pakistanis don't wake up planning to insult Indian columnists, the opposite is not always true. My question also had a secondary purpose: to address the film's well-crafted narrative. Bollywood filmmakers have made significant strides in cinematography, scriptwriting, musical scores, action sequences, and production. Yet, the film's portrayal of Muslim characters as one-dimensional seemed out of place.
This issue isn't just about Pakistanis; it's a broader concern. The film's success in India, fueled by state-driven anti-Pakistan narratives, has been overshadowed by its ban in several Gulf countries, where millions of South Asians reside. This ban significantly impacts the film's earnings and suggests that India's state-driven animosity towards Muslims might hinder its citizens' opportunities in Muslim-majority Gulf countries. As Pakistan strengthens its security presence in the Gulf, such actions are likely to persist.
How did India, once a secular and admired democracy, fall into this propaganda and historical mistruths? A recent initiative, 'Seeing the Sangh: The RSS Project', sheds light on this. The project, released by CERI-SciencesPo and The Caravan magazine, which have faced harassment from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's supporters, reveals the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as 'the largest far-right network in history'.
The RSS, with its propaganda against Muslims and minorities, has gained significant influence. Despite acknowledging only a few dozen affiliates, it is widely understood to coordinate a vast network. The 'Seeing the Sangh' map demonstrates numerous organizations in India that align with the RSS's agenda, from organizing mobs to lynching Muslims to destroying mosques and changing city names. Christophe Jaffrelot, a South Asian history scholar, emphasizes that Hindutva is often associated with the BJP, but its roots extend deeply into civil society since the RSS's founding in 1925.
Bollywood films are not immune to this influence. The Hindutva mindset permeates every aspect of Indian life, even affecting talented filmmakers. 'Dhurandhar' could have been a Hollywood-worthy film, but its one-dimensional portrayal of Muslims was influenced by Hindutva. This ideology's toxic grip stifles potential and talent, and unfortunately, a significant portion of the Indian diaspora has embraced Hindutva, prompting major US academic institutions to study its far-right ideology.
The cost of hatred is profound, and India is experiencing its consequences. The 'Seeing the Sangh' map illustrates how Hindutva has shaped the country. While many Indians may remain unaware of the Modi regime's impact, the world observes the tragedy. Interestingly, despite their general bias against Pakistanis, the Indian audience's favorite character in 'Dhurandar' was the Indian spy, not the Pakistani Muslim character. This paradox highlights the complexity of the situation, where even lies can be perceived as truth.
