In early 2020 the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) published an India-centric propaganda material called Voice of Hind. This special report examines the first issue of the publication, which openly recruits Indian Muslims by manipulating the fears and grievances they harbour owing to certain political developments in the country. The analysis uses theories… Continue reading Can Communal Violence Fuel an ISIS Threat in India? An Analysis of ‘Voice of Hind’
Tag: Violence
Meet Badlu Khan, a Symbol of the Syncretic India the Hindu Right Wants to Erase
The doorbell rings at 11 am, right on schedule. Delhi is still coming to terms with brutal communal violence that has left 53 people dead at last count, but Badlu Khan Nizami arrives for his weekly music class, determined not to allow the horrors of the previous week intimidate him in any way. His metro… Continue reading Meet Badlu Khan, a Symbol of the Syncretic India the Hindu Right Wants to Erase
Silent River (Or Whose Side are you On? Written November, 2016)
A mother sings a lullaby. In the moonlight stars sparkle over the Jhelum. A father walks outside to lock the gate. And looks across the bund on to the silent river, black as night. Footsteps in the dark Stomp, crush Tar and leaves Dry as paper. Where are they headed? He wonders and hurries back… Continue reading Silent River (Or Whose Side are you On? Written November, 2016)
Digital Hatred, Real Violence
This paper was triggered by a study of social media commentary I had released earlier this year, that had shown a spike of 11 percent in religion based hate speech between 2016 and 2017. Here I try to delve into the causes and spread of such speech on social media and the intersections between free… Continue reading Digital Hatred, Real Violence
My Name is Honour
Watch my documentary: My Name is Honour Not far off the highway, less than 100 kilometers from the nation’s capital, the districts of Western Uttar Pradesh seem to have become synonymous with violence based on caste, religion or gender. The constitutional guarantee of a fundamental right to life is challenged every day by notions of honor. But what is this notion… Continue reading My Name is Honour
God’s Own Election. Kerala, May 2016.
Corruption, scams and tainted ministers in the Congress-led UDF, rampant infighting in the CPM-led LDF. Will the BJP be able to tap in to an electorate tired of Kerala’s limited political choices and open their account in the upcoming polls? Are fears of religious polarization in a state known for its communal harmony real or… Continue reading God’s Own Election. Kerala, May 2016.
maya mirchandani 