Hindutva, Militarism, and Everyday Insecurity in Contemporary India

• In Event: Law, Disinformation, and Majoritarianism in South Asia

Abstract

In the study of ethnoreligious, and majoritarian political agendas, scholarly attention has been disproportionately concentrated on electoral behavior and outcomes. The concerning rise in everyday insecurity associated with such contexts is often overlooked. This paper studies the rise of Hindutva (ideology of Hindu nationalism) in India and the intensification of anti-minority violence, particularly against Muslims. The current period of political violence in India is unparalleled in both form and scale. Since 2014, anti-minority violence in India has moved from ‘spectacular’ and ‘conjunctural’ outbursts towards a climate of state-sanctioned militarism through persistent, quotidian, and low-intensity violence. This is evidenced by an unprecedented rise in instances of lynching’s, mob violence, and state repression of Muslims. Focusing on the network of vigilante groups identified as senas (armies) that are sympathetic to Hindutva and yet strategically distanced from the government, this paper analyzes the ideological motivations and mobilization tactics of Hindutva with a focus on the role of social media, the rise of everyday insecurity, and the emergence of a militarized public sphere. In emphasizing the role of ideology and studying the ‘everyday’ as the site of violence, this paper argues highlights the transformational impact of everyday militarism on social relations, political agency, and the possibilities of democratic futures.

Author

• Yash Sharma, University of Cincinnati