Conversion and Cow Protection in India: Analysis and Critique of Hindutva Politics
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53111/ea.v58i3.1111Keywords:
anti-conversion bills, animal protection, secularism, democracy, communalism, agengy, ModtivaAbstract
Since 2014, India has been under the rule of BJP which progressively introduced various Hindutva agenda to usurp social dominance and undermine the minorities, especially Muslims and Christians. This essay concentrates on two issues namely conversion and cow protection which were passionately discussed during the colonial period but resurfaced post-independence thanks to VHP. The new emphasis given on these old topics clearly betray Hindu nationalist pattern of thought and action embraced by the current government. Instead of fomenting unity, strengthening the shared culture, this option by the Sanghparivar undermines social solidarity and risks civil conflict. To what extent and how Hindutva argumentation deviates from traditional/Gandhian Hindu conceptions and innovates on commonly shared Indic values are analyzed in this paper. It manifests the potential danger of denouncing constitutional secularism and democracy as well as religious freedom guaranteed in the constitution.
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