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4 The BJP and the war on history

Abstract

Narendra Modi led his party to an emphatic victory in the 2019 Indian elections. While there are many factors that contributed to this electoral success, the popularity of Hindutva history, its adoption by many as Indian history, and the emotional fervour with which that history has been weaponised within and outside the academy, carries some explanatory weight. This chapter will look at the ways the Bharatiya Janata Party and its fellow travellers have perpetuated convincing historical narratives that have undermined the secularism written into the Indian constitution. While this historical perspective has deep roots, its prominent place in the 2019 election campaign vividly showcases the emotive and destructive power of history.

Abstract

Narendra Modi led his party to an emphatic victory in the 2019 Indian elections. While there are many factors that contributed to this electoral success, the popularity of Hindutva history, its adoption by many as Indian history, and the emotional fervour with which that history has been weaponised within and outside the academy, carries some explanatory weight. This chapter will look at the ways the Bharatiya Janata Party and its fellow travellers have perpetuated convincing historical narratives that have undermined the secularism written into the Indian constitution. While this historical perspective has deep roots, its prominent place in the 2019 election campaign vividly showcases the emotive and destructive power of history.

Chapters in this book

  1. Front Matter i
  2. Contents v
  3. List of figures and tables vii
  4. List of contributors viii
  5. Acknowledgements xiii
  6. Introduction 1
  7. Part I: Fear, love and fake news
  8. 1 Ordinary conspiracy theories and everyday communalism 25
  9. 2 People-led campaigns in the 2019 general election 34
  10. Part II: The emotive politics of Hindu nationalism
  11. 3 Neoliberalism and cultural majoritarianism in India 45
  12. 4 The BJP and the war on history 53
  13. 5 The passionate politics of the Savarna poor 63
  14. 6 Seeking humanist Hinduism 74
  15. Part III: Love, hate and Kashmir
  16. 7 The historical roots of conflict over/in Kashmir 87
  17. 8 This side of paradise 97
  18. 9 The fear of Indian settler colonialism and the battle for Kashmir’s soul 106
  19. Part IV: Women, gender and love
  20. 10 Love taboos 119
  21. 11 Why is romance political? 128
  22. Part V: What young Indians want
  23. 12 In pursuit of Parivartan 137
  24. 13 What do young people want from elections? 148
  25. Part VI: The economics of India’s passionate politics
  26. 14 Social oppression and exploitation of Adivasis and Dalits in contemporary India 157
  27. 15 Two large shocks and a long-term problem 169
  28. 16 Agrarian crisis, farmers’ protests and women’s assertion 177
  29. Part VII: India tomorrow
  30. 17 The Modi government’s authoritarian project in India 189
  31. 18 The 2019 elections and their implications for Muslim politics 199
  32. 19 Cementing emotions 208
  33. Index 217
Passionate politics
This chapter is in the book Passionate politics
https://doi.org/10.7765/9781526157751.00012

Chapters in this book

  1. Front Matter i
  2. Contents v
  3. List of figures and tables vii
  4. List of contributors viii
  5. Acknowledgements xiii
  6. Introduction 1
  7. Part I: Fear, love and fake news
  8. 1 Ordinary conspiracy theories and everyday communalism 25
  9. 2 People-led campaigns in the 2019 general election 34
  10. Part II: The emotive politics of Hindu nationalism
  11. 3 Neoliberalism and cultural majoritarianism in India 45
  12. 4 The BJP and the war on history 53
  13. 5 The passionate politics of the Savarna poor 63
  14. 6 Seeking humanist Hinduism 74
  15. Part III: Love, hate and Kashmir
  16. 7 The historical roots of conflict over/in Kashmir 87
  17. 8 This side of paradise 97
  18. 9 The fear of Indian settler colonialism and the battle for Kashmir’s soul 106
  19. Part IV: Women, gender and love
  20. 10 Love taboos 119
  21. 11 Why is romance political? 128
  22. Part V: What young Indians want
  23. 12 In pursuit of Parivartan 137
  24. 13 What do young people want from elections? 148
  25. Part VI: The economics of India’s passionate politics
  26. 14 Social oppression and exploitation of Adivasis and Dalits in contemporary India 157
  27. 15 Two large shocks and a long-term problem 169
  28. 16 Agrarian crisis, farmers’ protests and women’s assertion 177
  29. Part VII: India tomorrow
  30. 17 The Modi government’s authoritarian project in India 189
  31. 18 The 2019 elections and their implications for Muslim politics 199
  32. 19 Cementing emotions 208
  33. Index 217
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