Downstream: Is India Really a Democracy? w/ Alpa Shah
May 27, 2024
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Anthropologist Alpa Shah discusses India's democracy, Hindutva ideology, and authoritarianism under Modi's government. Topics include caste system impact, dissent suppression, evidence tampering, and challenges to democracy. The podcast delves into media manipulation, complicity, and the erosion of democratic values in India.
Caste hierarchy in India impacts economic positions, perpetuates social inequality.
Deep dives
The Influence of RSS and BJP in Indian Politics
The RSS, an organization in India, has significantly influenced politics by creating the BJP, which is now the ruling party with Narendra Modi as Prime Minister. This Hindu nationalist agenda aims to reshape India into a Hindu nation, impacting civil society and elections.
Narendra Modi and the Hindutva Agenda
Narendra Modi, associated with the RSS, embodies the Hindutva ideology seeking to establish a Hindu Rashtra. He has led significant political initiatives and projects aligned with Hindu nationalism. His charisma, political acumen, and ties to the RSS underscore his leadership in shaping India's political landscape.
Authoritarianism and Suppression of Dissent
The case of the BK-16 activists highlights India's authoritarian shift, with activists being targeted and imprisoned under false terrorism charges. The manipulation of evidence, cyber surveillance, and state involvement in silencing dissent pose significant challenges to democracy and civil liberties in India. The international community's limited awareness and coverage of these issues raise concerns about surveillance and authoritarian tendencies within the country.
Caste System and Economic Hierarchy in India
The podcast delves into the intricacies of the caste system in India, emphasizing how caste defines social hierarchy and economic positions. Those at the top, like Brahmins, are considered pure, while Dalits at the bottom are deemed impure and tasked with menial jobs. The system extends to economic structures, evident in examples like a gelatin factory where Dalits are relegated to precarious zero-hour contracts, highlighting the entrenchment of caste dynamics within Indian society.
Adivasis and Resource Exploitation
The episode sheds light on Adivasis, indigenous communities in India who historically inhabited forested regions rich in natural resources. These areas have become targets for mining by multinational corporations, leading to severe conflicts and displacements. Adivasis face counter-insurgency measures, encounter killings, and mass incarceration as the state aligns with capital interests. The narrative underscores the struggle of Adivasis to protect their lands against powerful economic forces, reflecting broader issues of exploitation and state oppression.
The Indian election will be one of the largest the world has ever seen, with almost 1 billion people eligible to vote. It’s often said that India is the world’s biggest democracy. But what if that isn’t quite true? What if Narendra Modi, India’s Prime Minister for the last decade, has undermined the very building […]
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