American Unexceptionalism: Global Lessons on Fighting Religious Nationalism 005: India: Will the Largest Democracy in the World Survive Religious Nationalism?
This episode of American Non-Exceptionalism delves into the rise of Hindu nationalism in India and its global impact, including its manifestations within the Indian diaspora in the United States. Hosts Matthew Taylor and Susie Hayward discuss the symbolism and controversy surrounding the use of a bulldozer in an India Day parade in New Jersey, highlighting Hindu nationalism's influence on American soil. Scholars Nikhil Mandalaparthy and Anant Rambachan provide a historical perspective on India's transition from British colonial rule to a secular democracy, the role of Hindu nationalist organizations like the RSS, and the political ascent of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP. The episode also explores grassroots resistance strategies, the role of the academic community, and the importance of interfaith and intra-faith dialogue in combating religious nationalism.
Additional Resources:
- Mandalaparthy, Nikhil. “100 Years Later American Hindu Leaders are Making the Same Mistakes.” The Wire, 6 Sept. 2021.
- Mandalaparthy, Nikhil. “A ‘Pilgrimage of Love’ Seeks Indian Hindu Leaders Willing to Condemn Hindu Nationalism.” Religion News Service, 24 Apr. 2023.
- Rambachan, Anantanand. Essays in Hindu Theology. Fortress Press, 2019
- Rambachan, Anantanand. “The Hindu Value for Debate and Dissent: Untangling Hinduism and Hindutva.” Anantanand Rambachan – Blog, 15 Mar. 2020
Nikhil Mandalaparthy, PhD Student at Emory University: researcher, curator, and organizer interested in religion and politics in South Asia and the South Asian diaspora. Recently, as a 2024-25 Luce Scholar, Nikhil was affiliated with the International Centre for Ethnic Studies in Colombo, Sri Lanka, where he taught a course on "Religion and Resistance in Sri Lanka and Beyond." As a journalist, Nikhil has reported from India, South Africa, and the United States, with reporting published in several outlets, such as Religion News Service, Foreign Policy, Religion Dispatches, and Religion Unplugged, and has been supported by the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting.
Anantanand Rambuchan, Professor Emeritus at St Olaf University. His books include: Accomplishing the Accomplished: The Vedas as a Source of Valid Knowledge in Shankara, The Limits of Scripture: Vivekananda's Reinterpretation of the Authority of the Vedas, The Advaita Worldview: God, World and Humanity, A Hindu Theology of Liberation and Essays in Hindu Theology. His scholarly interests include: the Advaita (Non-dual) Vedanta tradition, Hindu ethics, liberation theology, and interreligous dialogue. The British Broadcasting Corporation transmitted a series of 25 lectures on Hinduism by Prof. Rambachan around the world.
Dr. Matthew D. Taylor is the senior Christian scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies in Baltimore, where he specializes in American Christianity, American Islam, Christian extremism, and religious politics. His book, The Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement that is Threatening Our Democracy (Broadleaf, 2024), tracks how a loose network of charismatic Christian leaders called the New Apostolic Reformation was a major instigating force for the January 6th Insurrection and is currently reshaping the culture of the religious right in the U.S. Taylor is also the creator of the audio docuseries Charismatic Revival Fury: The New Apostolic Reformation.
Rev. Susan Hayward: was until recently the lead on the US Institute of Peace’s efforts to understand religious dimensions of conflict and advance efforts engaging religious actors and organizations in peacebuilding. She has conducted political asylum and refugee work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Advocates for Human Rights. Rev. Hayward studied Buddhism in Nepal and is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ.
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Executive Producer: Dr. Bradley Onishi
Producer: Andrew Gill
Original Music and Mixing: Scott Okamoto
Production Assistance: Kari Onishi
Funded through generous contributions from ICJS, Princeton Theological Seminary, and the ICRD.
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