Modi's India: Hindu Nationalism and the Rise of Ethnic Democracy

by Christophe Jaffrelot, Cynthia Schoch (Translator)

A riveting account of how a popularly elected leader has steered the world's largest democracy toward authoritarianism and intolerance

Over the past two decades, thanks to Narendra Modi, Hindu nationalism has been coupled with a form of national-populism that has ensured its success at the polls, first in Gujarat and then in India at large. Modi managed to seduce a substantial number of citizens by promising them development and polarizing the electorate along ethno-religious lines. Both facets of this national-populism found expression in a highly personalized political style as Modi related directly to the voters through all kinds of channels of communication in order to saturate the public space.

Drawing on original interviews conducted across India, Christophe Jaffrelot shows how Modi's government has moved India toward a new form of democracy, an ethnic democracy that equates the majoritarian community with the nation and relegates Muslims and Christians to second-class citizens who are harassed by vigilante groups. He discusses how the promotion of Hindu nationalism has resulted in attacks against secularists, intellectuals, universities, and NGOs. Jaffrelot explains how the political system of India has acquired authoritarian features for other reasons, too. Eager to govern not only in New Delhi, but also in the states, the government has centralized power at the expense of federalism and undermined institutions that were part of the checks and balances, including India's Supreme Court.

Modi's India is a sobering account of how a once-vibrant democracy can go wrong when a government backed by popular consent suppresses dissent while growing increasingly intolerant of ethnic and religious minorities.

Genres: India, Politics, Nonfiction, History, Religion, Political Science, Asia

656 pages, Paperback

First published March 20, 2019

Reviews

[Harpal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christophe Jaffrelot's masterful work truly captures the rise of so-called nationalism which is actually the hatred of anyone who does not follow the majority religion, the majority totalitarian party, raises dissent or just a voice to be heard. Cry my beloved country!

[Vinay Sutaria · Rating 1 out of 5]

An overall long read into Narendra Modi and the ruling BJP party of India.
As any author would be, the writer here is biased, and I realised this as soon as I saw the dedication from the author to a specific ethnic group.
Giving credit to the author, the literature is well-researched and this is evident in the extensive notes and bibliography. But, unfortunately, most of the writing is a attempted attack at Narendra Modi through the actions of the population of India. I strongly believe that the majority's actions cannot be narrowed down to one individual, as there are many factors to take into account.
A long book, but not worth the read unless you are looking for evidence to reaffirm your pre-existing beliefs against nationalism or Hindutva ideas.

[Sadia Javaid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bhakts are not gonna like it. Because this book has two things they seem to hate, facts and logic. Many reviews here call this book hindu-phobic which in itself re-affirms how today in our country, people think that
Modi (or BJP)= Hinduism. I was initially unsure about starting on this book, but I am glad I did. A detailed, comprehensive book that shows us how India got to this point and how democracy is being smoothly and effectively crushed. You cannot call this book biased, because facts it has plenty. Don't kid yourself people, India is fast careening towards authoritarianism and we by ignoring it have a hand the destruction of our constitution.

[Derryck Viva Musica · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book runs along the current fashionable academic trend of hiding hatred of Hindus behind a facade of government, democracy, etc. Considering where India is (standing out as the only vibrant, active democracy) in a region replete with authocratic and theocratic countries, I find it hard to believe that this author only had eyes to single out the democracy of India as somehow wanting.

His narrative does a disservice to the new reader on this subject by missing out the historical context that was framed by the colonial era - and the suppression and subjugation of the native Hindu population over centuries.

The less said about this book the better.

[Masnoon Majeed · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-researched, well-throughout, nicely written book that I will highly recommend to anyone who seeks to understand Modi’s India. It demonstrates how the combination of the ideology of Hindutva, the slow takeover of India’s institutions by RSS, and Modi’s personal style have combined to push India towards a nightmare. It is really concerning how extremists in India operate to subjugate Muslims, “urban Maoists” (aka liberals), and other ethnic minorities by allowing thugs to operate with complete freedom to intimate/torture/kill activists while slowly infiltrating and compromising or destroying state institutions like national anti-crime units, judiciary, media, and the electoral commission. The book has a chapter on how each of those institutions has been attacked and compromised.

An interesting thing to learn was how Modi won over India’s poor by scapegoating Muslims and playing “politics of dignity” aka giving people toilets rather than a living wage. Also, Jafferlot notes that Modi operates a form of sultanism, where his rule is dependent on a system of fears and rewards, a personal relationship with the people, and of course, lots of collaborators, which in this case includes India’s industrial complex.

The book is also an excellent discussion of concepts of populism and ethnic democracy.

The only thing I can warn though: This is a depressing book. There does not seem to be much hope of BJP/RSS going downwards, especially after the clever ways in which the far-right has overtaken almost every secular/national institution. It seems more likely that India will probably move further and further towards a civil war or genocide sort of a situation.

A note to Pakistanis: No, it does not validate the two-nation theory. If India was united, then secular institutions would have actually had much more power that no one extremist ideology would have been able to take over like this.

It seems that India is on its way to becoming a worse form of Pakistan aka the "Hindu Republic of India." though yes I do think that while Pakistan seems to be on its way to becoming more tolerant of other religions and the situation for minorities is improving, it seems India is going towards the other side!

Also, I see more hope for Pakistan with an ever stronger judiciary, democracy, and media. And no, I do not mean immediately or currently. I am saying that the overall (including up and down with the military's influence and stupid IK style populism) trend of Pakistan's democracy has been painfully, yet still, positive.

[Hemang · Rating 1 out of 5]

A rather unacademic post-truth discourse.

[Ashish Kuhite · Rating 5 out of 5]

Modi's India is a deeply insightful book that offers a nuanced and comprehensive analysis of the political landscape in India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The author's examination of the rise of Hindu nationalism and its impact on India's democracy is a significant contribution to the ongoing discourse on Indian politics.

What sets this book apart is its ability to navigate the complexities of India's diverse society, highlighting the tensions and contradictions that exist between its various religious and ethnic communities. The author's analysis of the rise of ethnic democracy and its implications for the country's future is particularly thought-provoking, shedding light on a topic that has become increasingly important in recent years.

The author's research is meticulous and well-documented, making this book a valuable resource for both experts and general readers. The author maintains an objective and impartial tone throughout the book, presenting a balanced view of the issues at hand.

The book explores a wide range of topics, including the relationship between Hindu nationalism and secularism, the rise of authoritarianism, and the impact of globalization on Indian society. The author's examination of the impact of these factors on India's democracy is insightful, providing a deep understanding of the challenges facing the country today.

The writing style is engaging and accessible, making it an enjoyable read despite the sensitive nature of the subject matter. The author's use of case studies and real-world examples helps to bring the issues to life and provides a clear understanding of the complex dynamics at play.

In summary, Modi's India is a must-read for anyone interested in gaining a deep and nuanced understanding of the current political situation in India. The book provides a valuable contribution to the ongoing discourse on Indian politics and society, shedding light on the challenges facing the country and offering a thought-provoking analysis of its future.

[Akul Baiju · Rating 5 out of 5]

A comprehensive account of how India is transitioning and has already transitioned to an ethnic, populist, authoritarian democracy. The book is not an easy read, but is an important one. Take your time with it, it took me more than a month to finish it. But I’m so glad I read it. It is well-researched, factual and is from a writer who is well-respected in the study of Indian politics. Read it with an open mind and don’t forget to question the polity of the ‘New India.’

[Nandakishore Mridula · Rating 5 out of 5]

The decline of democracy in India has been well documented, year after year, by countless surveys. The 2018 report released by the Varieties of Democracy Institute described India as an "electoral democracy" (and not as a "liberal democracy") because of an "autocratization process" that found expression in "a partial closing of the space for civil society," including NGOs and the media, and in a decline in political transparency." Two years later, the annual report of the same institute pointed out that "India has continued on a path of steep decline, to the extent it has almost lost its status as a democracy." The Democracy Index of the Economist Intelligence Unit showed that India had slipped ten places in the 2019 global ranking, to fifty-first place, behind South Africa, Malaysia, Colombia, and Argentina. In this index, India was now part of the "flawed democracies" because of "an erosion of civil libertiesthe country "-including in Jammu and Kashmir. In 2020, India ranked 110 out of 162 countries in terms of personal freedom. The same year, Freedom House pointed out that India earned "the largest more decline among the world's 25 most populous democracies" in its yearly report. 'As a result, India has now been placed by the organization among "countries in the spotlight," along with Haiti, Iran, Nigeria, Sudan, Tunisia, Turkey, Hong Kong, and Ukraine.

It is a phenomenon seen all over the world - Democracy's move towards the right. This is accompanied by cultural nationalism, xenophobia, autocracy, the deterioration of democratic institutions, curtailment of civil liberties, and the 'otherisation' of minorities. Narendra Modi's decade-long rule is a textbook illustration of how this happens.

Modi, like other populist leaders, exploited the country's existing fault lines (in this case, caste and communal divides). The Indian state of Gujarat witnessed the most massive genocide of Muslims while he was chief minister. Even though his complicity was not proved (largely because the state law machinery was controlled by the Hindu Right Wing), many people believe that fundamentalists carried it out with his blessings. Earning the sobriquet of 'Hindu Hriday Samrat' (the Emperor of Hindu Hearts), he ruled the state as a virtual dictator for twelve years. Then, taking advantage of the anti-incumbency against the ten-year-old Congress rule in Delhi, he managed to sweep the elections, casting himself as 'Vikas Purush' (Development Man).

Of course, ever since the beginning, Modi's performance was just optics. Selling his image as the son of a humble tea-seller as opposed to the 'elites' who had so far ruled India, he managed to capture the hearts of the public, even without giving anything concrete in return. His development was mostly on paper; however, he covered it up by blaming the previous governments. Even the 2016 demonetisation which broke the back of the economy didn't dent his image.

While Modi concentrated on his development propaganda, unofficial vigilante groups of the Hindu Right wing started attacking minorities, mainly Muslims, on a regular basis. The ostensible reason was that they slaughtered cows, an animal considered sacred to Hinduism. Many Muslims were lynched, but no action was taken in most cases because law enforcement agencies were mostly sympathetic to Hindu fundamentalism.

In 2019, Modi came back to power with an even bigger majority, capitalising on a divided opposition and the narrative of the state being under attack from outside and inside. Obviously Pakistan, and Muslims, were the villains. In the second Modi government, all appearances of neutrality were cast aside and the state started openly acting against Muslims. All the governmental agencies were taken over by government sympathisers; draconian laws were enacted; and opponents to the regime were incarcerated without bail on trumped-up charges. Even the Supreme Court has become compromised. And the government openly moved towards making India a 'Hindu Rashtra' (Hindu State) by enacting the Citizenship Amendment Act (which makes the basis of refugee citizenship their religion); officially building a temple to the Hindu god Rama on the spot where the Babri Masjid, a mosque built by the Mughal emperor Babur, had stood (the mosque had been demolished by a Hindu fundamentalist mob); and removing Article 370, which promised special status to Kashmir, from the constitution.

Christophe Jaffrelot provides a clear timeline of these events, with an erudite analysis, supplemented by plenty of footnotes. I urge everyone to read it, especially non-Indians, because we indians, who have been living through this hell for the past decade, know most of it.

Postscript: Modi expected to come back with two-thirds majority in the parliament in the 2024 elections, so that he could change the constitution. However, he suffered a rude shock and couldn't even manage an absolute majority on his own (now his party, the BJP, has to rule with the support of coalition partners). So the Hinduisation drive has lost some of its momentum. Now the government is trying to change the system so as to have simultaneous elections to the states and the centre, probably with an aim to grab power everywhere at the same time - which they consider possible with a compromised Election Commission. Will they be successful? We will have to wait till 2029.

[Nallasivan V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this skepticism: if you are actively following what is happening in India since 2010s, is there anything new you can learn about the majoritarianism that is slowly seeping into our society? You would probably think not. But Jafferlot's book is both comprehensive and systematically presented, that it captures the severity with which Indian institutions and society are being turned subservient to the majoritarian cause.

[Saket · Rating 5 out of 5]

The information age appears blindfolded by overload of lies and truth is obscured in general except to this author. The straightforward attack on liers is the approach the author took. I believe his efforts should be awarded.

[Asterix · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a magisterial examination of the rise of Modi and the BJP from political outsiders to near-total dominance in India.

Jaffrelot, one of the world's finest scholars on Hindu nationalism, tells us how a combination of paeans to Hindu identity, attacks on Muslims in the wake of Islamist terror, populist rhetoric, Modi's own charisma, and appeals to lonely, economically deprived young men helped propel Modi from RSS volunteer to PM. Modi's instincts expanded the BJP's appeal outside its traditional upper class urban base--a near non-factor electorally in a still very poor, rural country--such that it was in a position to win national elections. His attention to detail is astonishing, documenting nearly every step in Modi's rise to power, down to the dates and locations of speeches.

Jaffrelot also demonstrates how the BJP relied on vigilantes and other non-state actors--particularly the wide-ranging group of Hindu nationalist organizations called the Sangh Parivar, headed by the RSS--to create a so-called "Hindu Rasthra," or Hindu nation, in Modi's first term. But after winning a second term with an even larger majority, the BJP and Modi were emboldened to establish a "Hindu Raj," or Hindu state--using the apparatus of state power to denigrate Muslims, attack political opponents, and stifle opposition. Jaffrelot's thesis--that Modi's BJP has transformed India into an ethnic democracy, in which only Hindus are full citizens--is hard to argue with once you have quenched yourself on the firehose of evidence that this book asks you to drink from.

There are minor quibbles to be had. For example, Jaffrelot seems to think the only real way to help the poor is through wealth redistribution schemes, poo-poo-ing initiatives like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan as merely symbolic measures, and rejecting any efforts to improve the business environment as crony capitalism. In addition, he is not the most engaging writer--though part of that is surely the fault of the translation from French, which results in some odd constructions (like calling a reporter's interviewees "informants," as if they were helping the CBI catch a Congress MP for trumped up charges of tax fraud.)

Nevertheless, this is an absurdly well-researched work, and is bound to anger the RSS trolls (who, I see are already active on this book's page on Goodreads).

[Richard Marney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do Modi and the BJP represent what Trump’s MAGA cohorts and the White Christian Nationalists want to achieve or vice versa? The extreme paradox of the populist electioneering (pro-the dispossessed via identity politics) that propels the two movements into office is manifest. Once in power, they pursue ruthlessly antithetical policy stances (pro-affluent in fiscal matters, attitude towards deregulation, laxity in face of blatant corruption, etc.). The result is that their supporters are harmed, but remain blinded by the hatred of the “other.”

It is sad that the two largest democracies (not to mention others who will remain nameless) share this cancer of ethnic / religious nationalism.

[Samuel Premkumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly researched and well written book on the right wing in India. The book captures the principles, the process, the thinking and planning behind implementating the right wind ideology in India. Its frightening to read about the infiltration of the institutions and its impact on the Soceity. The last hope, the third pillar also started shaking and with that the democracy is expected to end.
A slow read but a must read to understand the "work in progress" for the last 40 years or so.

[Anshuman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compendium to what has exactly transpired in India from 2014 to the present. Anyone with a keen sense for news would probably recall most of what is stated in the book. However, this provides a good refresher to anything that might have been forgotten or overlooked considering the always advancing monstrous machinery of the RSS/BJP.

[Sheeba Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book from the Indian Amazon website, and it gives me immense pleasure that I was able to buy this book from an Indian vendor. I say this because the book ‘Modi’s India: Hindu Nationalism and the Rise of Ethnic Democracy’ by Christophe Jaffrelot is rightly and highly critical of the right-wing parties that are currently in power in India. Though there have been attempts as correctly pointed out in the book, in Chapter 8: Deinstitutionalizing India, to kowtow to the current dispensation and the like-minded parties, the fact that this book was bought from India suggests not all has been lost.

I am in awe of the author, Christophe Jaffrelot, and the command that he has over the affairs of India is worth emulating. I chose this book after hearing him on Karan Thapar’s show on The Wire aired on YouTube. I then watched him speaking on The Blackhole in Pakistan. It is a physicist Pervez Houdboy’s YouTube channel. The author has a command over the issues plaguing my country and offers his insights into the occurrences that one may not have thought of. I was appalled by reading Chapter 6: Targeting Minorities as I come from a minority community. What bewilders and saddens me is that in spite of progressing in literacy rate over the years the country hasn’t really become educated and has not shunned its prejudices against the so-called “Others”. What India is witnessing is a vilification, demonization of its own people, while the right-wing movement has gained traction in the other parts of the world through targeting and spewing venom against recent immigrants and not somebody that has lived and assimilated in their countries for hundreds of years. People have migrated from place to place since time immemorial and will continue to do so.

Nothing in the book mentioned is something that didn’t happen as relevant references have been produced at the end of the book. The book shares the extent to which power-hungry people can go in order to stay in power and relevant in the public sphere. This book will not go down well with the apparatchiks of the ruling dispensation, but it should certainly give them a reason to ponder as to where this path that they have ventured on will lead the country to, if they claim to love it more dearly than “Others”.

I couldn’t put the book down due to the incidents described and the analysis done that provided an insight into the psyche and the modus operandi of the right-wing forces. The book is a must read for anyone irrespective of the ideology that they subscribe to. I give it 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Najumuddin]

The author either appears to be biased or has no knowledge about Hindus and definitely not about Modi.
To me it appears to have been hired bu vester intrests to create Hindu phobia.
Such authors need to be rejected by the society.

[Sham]

It is a Hinduphobia book written by someone who has no clue about Hindus and Hinduism or Hindutva.

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fascinating book that has deepened my understanding of the devolution of Indian democracy under PM Modi and the BJP more than any other. Anyone wishing to understand the current state of Indian politics need much look much further. That said, the book, which is 467 pages could easily have been condensed to ~300 pages with some good editing. Although it is well researched, it is frequently redundant, repetitive, and unnecessary detailed beyond the point required to achieve its aims.

[Mohammed Al Hawal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book that highlights the way that the current Modi regime is trying to revive the ‘dominant’ Hindu community. The author went into detail to mention the modes of ‘Hinduziation’ of India which follows extreme measures only an authoritarian leader authorizes. This gave an insight to what state India is currently at with the rule of PM Narendra Modi. However, the book could have tried to simplify some terms that would be easier to familiarize with global readers who had no insight on domestic Indian politics.

[Sharan Banerjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book delves extremely well into the structural pillars behind Modi’s rise and what is the roadmap for right wing institutional capture and change as the fabric of the Indian democracy. It’s a detailed primer on the politics of two regimes of the NDA government up unt COVID as well how complicit state governments and para-institutional forces have aided in the transformation of Indian polity.

[Harry Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd give this a 3.5 if I could but I want to err on the positive side because this book does have a lot of valuable things to say. It's just that it says them in an overly dry, dull, academic way. In doing so it turns what could have been a really engaging story into something that (in my case) you had to drag your way through the last 100 pages or so.

[Dante Boffa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible scholarship to convey evidence across a breadth of sectors of the growing and pervasive influence of Hindu nationalist ideology in modern India. Thorough, evocative and pointed, this was a great read.

[Kushagra Goyal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detailed account of the political developments during the reign of PM Modi. I believe the book will need an edition update to cover the events that have happened after the book was published. I am personally looking forward to it and I hope the author is able to do it soon enough.

[Rhuff · Rating 5 out of 5]

A prescient work describing not only India's descent into ethno-nationalism under a budget-slashing Supreme Leader: it illuminates the current American dilemma under the MAGA regime. Jaffrelot describes the intellectual origins of Hindu nationalism under the pre-independence RSS; its remission in the Nehru-Gandhi decades; and its resurgence as the post-WW II world ran out of steam. Under Modi it's a national duty to be a religious fanatic, persecute minorities, target dissidents, and repress women. If the state doesn't want to soil its hands with these people, fear not: plenty of street goons stand willing to ku-klux anyone they're told.

Will the US go the same route under its new order? Hard to say now, of course, but the former republic is on its way. Beside this obvious analogy, however, Jaffrelot offers a crucial insight as to why such things as cow protection (or in the US, "gender protection") are so vital to those reshaping society. They are not distractions from the "real" issues, but a fundamental redefining of the nation itself. This is to be not a state based on laws, but of culture. The nation is defined by its majority culture (as interpreted by the Movement); not a constitution, nor body of law. If these institutions exist, they are the culture's servants, not its master, as the Supreme Leader Modi embodies the state.

The term ethnic democracy employed here is rather an oxymoron, much like the term "national democracy" employed by postwar neo-Nazis. Rest assured that whenever a state has to define itself by whom it excludes, it is no longer a democracy worth the name. Wolves in sheep's clothing are as old as the hills they graze, and as fresh as tomorrow's newsfeed.

[Tomislav · Rating 1 out of 5]

A harsh polemic against Narendra Modi and Hindu nationalism. The author claims that India is experiencing a strong decline in democratic standards and looks at every opportunity to connect that with flaws of its prime minister. That also includes lengthy analysis of trivialities about his public image, rhetorical style and Twitter account. Several pages are spent painstakingly analyzing Modi’s speech on the issue of hygiene and the lack of toilets in the country. The book often seems like a collection of newspaper articles, opinion pieces and short essays clumsily put together, lost in unnecessary details rather than focused on the big picture.

Jaffrelot uses some standard concepts from political science, analysis of populism and competitive authoritarianism, and there are some interesting observations about the recent development of Hindu nationalism, which became a plebeian movement largely defined by its rivalry with Islam. But a lot of his analysis also seems quite naïve, since he doesn’t give much value to constraints and realism in politics. That is especially visible in his comments on economic development, welfare state and ethnic conflicts, which are just unrealistic, pointless moralizing. If you are interested purely in criticism of Modi and concerned that India is going through a historic political crisis, I guess this book provides a lot of useful, detailed case studies to reinforce such views. I have no strong opinions on that issue, I was more interested in learning facts about recent Indian politics, and I didn’t find it engagingly written or useful.

[Izaz Haque · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very detailed and comprehensive study of how India's democratic structure was moulded to the whims of a popular populist/autocrat, with a strong dose of ethnic (read Muslim and Christian) antipathy and government collusion with vigilantism / violence thrown in for good measure.

India's economy is still slanted towards the very wealthy and for the poor it is just that - a dose of dignity, superiority depending on religion, and a struggle for daily wages despite the rapid economic progress India is making on paper. A growing middle class goes along. A very clever politics seeds the government with the means to constantly get its way by putting its favorites in important positions.

Institutions are diluted to favor the wishes of the ruling party, the supreme court, corruption watchdogs, you name it, are manipulated thru "constitutional" measures. The western world, long looked for for human rights, etc) looks the other way because of India's growing pockets, and then, who else is there anyway. A strong connection with Israels ultra-right seals the deal.

A lot more in this book than i have said here, but it is a must read for all who care about democracy and human rights.

[A YOGAM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wer sich für geopolitische Entwicklungen und Machtverschiebungen in Asien interessiert, sollte sich mit Indien unter Modi auseinandersetzen. Christophe Jaffrelot, der an der renommierten King’s College London lehrt — wo mein Sohn derzeit seinen Master absolviert —, liefert in seinem Buch „L’Inde de Modi : national-populisme et démocratie ethnique: National-populisme et démocratie éthique“ eine kritische Analyse, wie Nationalpopulismus und ethnische Polarisierung nicht nur die Innenpolitik prägen, sondern auch die Stabilität Indiens als aufstrebende Regionalmacht beeinflussen. Die Untersuchung von Hindu-Nationalismus, der Marginalisierung religiöser Minderheiten und der Instrumentalisierung staatlicher Institutionen bietet wertvolle Einblicke in die sozialen Spannungen, die politische Entscheidungen und die Außenpolitik Indiens prägen. Wer globale Dynamiken verstehen will, kann das Land nicht losgelöst von diesen internen Entwicklungen betrachten — Modi ist kein rein innenpolitisches Phänomen, sondern ein geopolitischer Faktor.

[Yaroster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jaffrelot démontre encore une fois une maitrise du sujet plus que remarquable,
Je l'ai d'abord suivi durant ma lecture de l'excellent "Populisme au Pouvoir", un catalogue de chefs d'états en tout genre qui s'adonnent à coeur joie au populisme.

L'Inde de Modi est certainement un incontournable sur la montée de l'Hindutva et l'emergence un ethno-état religieux. Il y'a autant du biographique que de la contextualisation pour les néophyte comme moi-meme.

Foncez les yeux fermés, c'est une mine d'or d'information.

[Jagdish Patel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Biased but informative.

The author is not objective, but is not necessarily lying either. His explanations of Modi's strategies seem correct. However, his anecdotal examples of Hindu, majoritiran, the misdeeds in a vast country of 1.2 billion people are not adequate to prove many of his conclusions. Only time will tell where India, like the USA and Israel that are going thru similar threats, may end up.