How India gradually declined from a vibrant democracy into a brutal fascist country would only be an ironic story to be told to next generations, opines Amit, our Editor-at-Large (Europe). An exclusive for Different Truths.

For 60 years after the end of World War II, democratic governance has flourished and expanded its reach. Now it appears this process has stalled and is even reversing in many of the established democracies of Europe, North America and Asia. The ascendance of right-wing populism (RWP) is even more apparent among the newly established democracies such as India. The intellectual roots and underlying logic of RWP are best understood as an outgrowth of the fascist ideologies of the early 20th century as evident in its rejection of liberal democratic conception of the nation and citizenship as apparent in Indian case where religious Hindu extremist ideologies is mainstreamed and Muslim minorities in the state of Assam being stripped from their Indian nationality. Indian masses under the spell of their fascist leaders rejecting liberal values such as human rights, secularism and pluralism. Gandhi is displaced by Savarkar – a Hindu ideologue, who was inspired by fascists ideologies. RSS is explicitly influenced by European fascist movements, its leading politicians regularly praised Hitler and Mussolini in the late 1930s and 1940s.

Indian masses under the spell of their fascist leaders rejecting liberal values such as human rights, secularism and pluralism. Gandhi is displaced by Savarkar – a Hindu ideologue, who was inspired by fascists ideologies.

Hence, we shall no longer delude ourselves thinking India as a democratic country. In fact, India – where one of the worst human rights violations is going on in Kashmir and Assam – have switched over a fascist regime, in 2014, through democratic elections. Interestingly, fascist leaders, such as Hitler in Germany, came to power using democracy and elections only to destroy the democratic system and values. Historically, fascist leaders have often come to power through democratic elections. But the commitment to freedom, such as the freedom inherent in the right to vote, tends to end with that victory (Stanley, 2018).

What Hitler here describes is absolute rule by a leader, after an initial democratic vote. There is no suggestion in Hitler’s description of what he calls “true Germanic Democracy” that the leader must subject himself to a subsequent election.

In Mein Kampf, Hitler praises “true Germanic Democracy,” with “free choice of the Leader, along with his obligation to assume entire responsibility for all he does and causes to be done.” What Hitler here describes is absolute rule by a leader, after an initial democratic vote. There is no suggestion in Hitler’s description of what he calls “true Germanic Democracy” that the leader must subject himself to a subsequent election. (Hitler is here also drawing on the mythic past, when medieval German kings were elected for life) Whatever this system is, it is not recognisably democracy”.

In Indian case, cult of Narendra Modi is similar to Hitler’s style who abhor civil liberties and human rights. Modi government diluted powers of right to information act (controlling the tenure of Chief Information commissioner),and have changed the Unlawful Prevention Activities which empowers the government to designate individuals as terrorists and empowers the Director-General, National Investigation Agency (NIA) to grant approval of seizure or attachment of property when the case is investigated by the agency. It is noteworthy, for a fascist leader any intellectuals or academic who do not dance at the tune of government is enemy of the state, thus designated to be a terrorist. Under the Modi’s rule there is steep degradation of freedom of expression and freedom of religion. In addition, government institutions such as CBI, RBI, ED, Election commission and even local courts are losing its credibility as all these being tempered by the ruling government to torment dissidents.

The most telling symptom of fascist politics is division. It aims to separate a population into an “us” and a “them.” In India, pre-existing communal divisions between Hindu and Muslims have been solidified by the Hindutva forces, such as RSS and its political wing BJP.

The most telling symptom of fascist politics is division. It aims to separate a population into an “us” and a “them.” In India, pre-existing communal divisions between Hindu and Muslims have been solidified by the Hindutva forces, such as RSS and its political wing BJP. Hindutva forces appeal towards an idea of Hindu rastra where only Hindus would be calling the shots and religious minorities have to succumb to inferior position meaning Muslim and Christians-irrespective of their Indian nationality and loyalty to the state-would always be susceptible to mob lynching. In fact, Narendra Modi came to power in 2019 elections only on the basis of war mongering against Pakistan and promoting hatred against Muslims in India. Their propaganda machinery keeps feeding Indian masses daily dosages of communal poison through government sponsored media, their leaders and religious groups.

Fascist politicians justify their ideas by breaking down a common sense of history in creating a mythic past to support their vision for the present.  Idea of Ram Rajya is a case in this point. For desperate hungry and poor masses- it is convenient for the fascist leaders to lure in the fictional state of the time where everything was fine until they are invaded by the barbarians.  Mythic past is a state never to be achieved, however, its fascination keeps poor masses into a day dream- their sentiments and frustrations are capitalized by the fascist leaders by fomenting venom against Muslims whose presence made pure India into impure and a backward nation.

Fascist rewrite the population’s shared understanding of reality by twisting the language of ideals through propaganda and promoting anti-intellectualism… attacking universities and educational systems that might challenge their ideas.

Fascist rewrite the population’s shared understanding of reality by twisting the language of ideals through propaganda and promoting anti-intellectualism (by silencing intellectuals through sedition charges, threat of mob lynching, trolling, firing them from job, reducing funding, making fun of their knowledge, by promoting pseudo-science), attacking universities and educational systems that might challenge their ideas. Eventually, with these techniques, fascist politics creates a state of unreality, in which conspiracy theories and fake news (we know it as GODI media) replace reasoned debate. We see all these symptoms of fascism on daily basis in India.

India, in the fascistic imagination of the its Hindutva supporter, suddenly became the world leader- even though- it ranked 102th on Global Hunger Index and seen a worst human rights abuser by the World media, United Nations, academics and intellectuals globally. Plural and tolerant India was overtaken by the religious fanatics and mob lynching fascinated majority.

Fascist ideology seeks to naturalise group difference, thereby giving the appearance of natural, scientific support for a hierarchy. When social rankings and divisions solidify, fear fills in for understanding between groups.

Fascist ideology seeks to naturalise group difference, thereby giving the

appearance of natural, scientific support for a hierarchy. When social rankings and divisions solidify, fear fills in for understanding between groups. Any progress for a minority group stokes feelings of victimhood among the dominant population. Current fascist Hindutva leaders does this by creating fear about Muslim populations growth rates in India, taking revenge for the defeat ( this inferiority complex is core of Hindutva politics)of Hindu kings in the medieval times at the hands of Muslim rulers; and blaming secular political parties for pampering Muslims conveniently ignoring backwardness of Muslims. Promoting fiction over facts is their grand method. Because they do not apply logic in politics.

Masking corruption under the guise of anticorruption is a hallmark strategy in fascist propaganda (Stanley, 2018); Arbitrarily imposed demonetisation, and hastily implemented GST, and setting the narrative of bringing black money in India from Switzerland, are case in the point.

Demonetisation directly benefited ruling elites and their partners, consequently breaking economic backbone of masses.

Demonetisation directly benefited ruling elites and their partners, consequently breaking economic backbone of masses. However, people still thought this step is intended to root out the corrupt elites, though accepted suffering caused due to demonetisation, masses rejoiced thinking they have not big stake to lose, but to rich people, little did they know, demonetisation was a form of corruption which consolidate all money in the one ruling party’s hand. After demonetisation, all most all money returned to the bank – there was hardly any black money in the market- in the form of currency of INR 500 and 1000. More than hundred people lost their lives in the wake of demonetisation – Modi never apologised for this.

A fascist leader never interested in economic development (high unemployment, poor economy in India reflect this trend) rather focuses on capturing the power, killing the dissent as every possible way to maintain to his hegemony.

The undemocratic intent behind fascist propaganda is key. Fascist states focus on dismantling the rule of law, with the goal of replacing it with the dictates of individual rulers or party bosses (Remember demonetization). Mob lynching of Dalits and Muslims, threats to intellectuals often happens with tacit support from ruling leaders showing utter disregard to rule of law. In Utter Pradesh, chief minister Yogi Aditya Nath runs his private armies (Hindu Yuva Vahini) to terrorise minorities supported by other Hindutva groups (VHP, Bagrang Dal) which is enlisted as Hindu religious militant’s groups in USA CIA list.

Jason Stanely (2019) has argued that some voters are simply more attracted to a system that favours their own particular religion, race, gender, or birth position. Thirty seven percent such people voted for Modi in national election, in 2019.

Jason Stanely (2019) has argued that some voters are simply more attracted to a system that favours their own particular religion, race, gender, or birth position. Thirty seven percent such people voted for Modi in national election, in 2019. The resentment that flows from unmet expectations can be redirected against minority groups seen as not sharing dominant traditions; goods that go to them are represented by demagogic politicians, in a zero-sum way, as taking goods away from majority groups. Some voters see such groups, rather than the behaviour of economic elites, as responsible for their unmet expectations. Candidates must attract these voters while appearing not to flout democratic values.” In India, we can see hate mongering against Muslim minorities by ruling fundamentalist Hindus blaming minorities everything bad and uncivilized.

In addition, opposing parties and corrupt elites are often made scapegoats for the problems created by fascist leaders.

The sociological research has shown that stable demographic characteristics such as being less educated, working class or a member of a dominant ethnic group tend to predict support for the right wing (e.g. Arzheimer, 2016) as were most of the supporter of Modi (people voted to BJP on the name of BJP-one man hegemonized a national party as we see in fascist Germany). In fascist countries, authoritarianism flows from one single leaders, who rules the country on his whims and fancies – as we see in contemporary India.

Conclusion

Once there was a democratic and secular India.

Stanely, Jason (2018) How Fascism Works the Politics of US and THEM, New York, Random House

Rosenberg, Shawn (2019) Democracy Devouring Itself: The Rise of the Incompetent Citizen and the Appeal of Right-Wing Populism, In Psychology of Political and Everyday Extremisms. Domenico Uhng Hur & José Manuel Sabucedo (Eds.), forthcoming.

The opinion and views expressed in this article are that of the author alone. ~ Editor

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