“Has secularism in India today become associated with the politics of convenience and tokenism? Who can really claim to be secular? And will this define the tone of the campaign for the next elections?” This was the subject of the discussion on NDTV dated July 17, 2013. Continue reading
Tag Archives: religion
Religion, politics and nationalism in pre-independent India/South Asia and the formation of India and Pakistan
The close interrelation between religion and politics in South Asia is not a phenomenon of the last 20 years. In South Asia, the natures of the Indian independence movement and of the colonial administration play vital roles. Continue reading
What is fundamentalism?
Fundamentalism is the interpretation of religions as ideologies. Continue reading
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP): History and Ideology
The BJP and its predecessor the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS) have a unique place within the political spectrum of India. The party was founded on October 21, 1951.
India’s Hindu culture and secularism: Contradicting views of the identity of the country
Officially, India is seen as a secular country implying equal treatment of all religions or rather a separation of religion from politics. Continue reading
The Nationalization of Hindu Traditions: Bharatendu Harischandra and the Nineteenth-century Banares
Review: VASUDHA DALMIA, The Nationalization of Hindu Traditions: Bharatendu Harischandra and Nineteenth-century Banares. Delhi: Oxford University Press 1997, 490pp. INR660(hpk) Continue reading