Papers by Amit Singh (PhD)
Secular Studies, 2024
This article presents an Indian case study of how Hindu nationalists challenge freedom of express... more This article presents an Indian case study of how Hindu nationalists challenge freedom of expression and secularism. Focusing on the film ‘Water’ (2005) and the related controversy (2000) in a north Indian district in Varanasi in 2000, this article examines the conflict between Hindu nationalists and those who oppose them. Through the theoretical lens of ‘contextual secularism’, this article analyses the narratives of Hindu nationalists and resistance groups involved in the secular-religious impasse. In particular, the article focuses on the most important interrelated aspect of this situation—the tension between freedom of expression and Hindu religious intolerance. This study applies qualitative research methods, particularly semi-structured interviews, and narrative analysis. The study concludes that Indian secularism tolerates Hindu religious bigotry toward dissent and that Hindu nationalism is incompatible with secular democracy and, to some extent, with freedom of expression and dissent. However, there is the possibility of resistance to hegemonic Hindu nationalism.
Antropologia Portuguesa, 2023
This article analyses tension between human rights and Hindutva, the Hindu nationalists' discours... more This article analyses tension between human rights and Hindutva, the Hindu nationalists' discourse. Particular focus is put on women's rights and the right to freedom of expression and dissent in India using the film Water and the controversy associated with it in the north Indian district of Varanasi in 2000. Firstly, the relation between human rights, secularism and Hindutva/Hindu nationalism is discussed conceptually. This is followed by a discussion of the narratives of Hindutva's followers in Varanasi and their involvement in the controversy surrounding the film Water. Extracts from interviews of Hindu nationalists are included to illustrate this tension. The article concludes by claiming that Hindutva is an antithetical to secularism and human rights.
The Loop, 2022
In India, fascism is reinventing itself. It has crept through Hindu nationalism – Hindutva – and ... more In India, fascism is reinventing itself. It has crept through Hindu nationalism – Hindutva – and now poses a serious threat to Indian democracy, writes Amit Singh
Unisia: Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2022
Despite their hallowed status in Hindu mythology and magnificent past in the Mughal E... more Despite their hallowed status in Hindu mythology and magnificent past in the Mughal Empire, hijras experience significant harass-ment and discrimination due to their gender orientation and style of life. This article analyses the current human rights situation of hijras (eunuchs) in India against the background of the Criminal Tribes Act (CTA) in 1871. This article argues that the British colonial construct/imposition of masculinity on Indian hijras by classifying them as ‘criminal tribes’ have adversely impacted their lives not only in British India but also in Contemporary India. To support the main argument, the article also contextualizes gender theories in the light of hijra’s bodies.
Social sciences , 2022
This article analyzes how Hindu nationalists employ fantasy narratives to counteract resistance, ... more This article analyzes how Hindu nationalists employ fantasy narratives to counteract resistance, with a particular focus on narratives of ‘motherhood’ and ‘pseudoscience’. It does so by first introducing a conceptual discussion of the relationship between fantasy narratives, ontological insecurity, gender, and anti-science as a more general interrelationship characterizing pre- and post-COVID-19 far-right societies and leaders, such as India. It then moves on to discuss such fantasy narratives in the case of India by highlighting how this has played out in two cases of Hindu nationalist imaginings: that of popular culture, with a specific focus on the town Varanasi and the film Water (produced in 2000), and that of the COVID-19 pandemic and the emerging crisis and resistance that it has entailed. Extracts of interviews are included to illustrate this resistance.
Explorations- E-journal of the Indian Sociological Society, 2020
The disruption of daily life, due to COVID-19 pandemic in India, reminded me of Prime Minister Na... more The disruption of daily life, due to COVID-19 pandemic in India, reminded me of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s shock decision in November, 2016 to scrap 86% of India’s currency (demonetisation); the abrupt disappearance of cash crippled supply chains and led to systemwide job cuts, which made life worse for the poorest in India – disrupted their normal lives – in a
similar manner, this health pandemic is also affecting. Due to COVID, Indian state, like others, faced an abnormal situation-suspension of normality. What does normality mean for the marginalised Indian population? Whom does normality serve? We need to ask this question.
Journal of Southeast Asian Human Rights, 2020
The rising tide of Honour killings against Hindu women and their justified murder in the name of ... more The rising tide of Honour killings against Hindu women and their justified murder in the name of culture by their parents/relatives, superficially reflects the tension between traditional and modern values in India. At a deeper level, cases of Honour killings represent the ongoing struggle between the universality of human rights and cultural relativism. Against this background, this article critically examines the role of universal human rights in relation to cultural relativism whilst assessing the values that claim to support honour killings in Indian culture. This article will examine the universalism of human rights and their influence on gender-based violence- especially relating to honour killings in North India. In addition, I will argue for an approach (drawing on the seminal work of Donnelly1 who proposed ‘relative universalism of human rights’) allowing the tension between universality and particularity/relativism can be reconciled.
The tussle between freedom of expression and religious intolerance is intensely manifested in Ind... more The tussle between freedom of expression and religious intolerance is intensely manifested in Indian society where the State, through censoring of books, movies and other forms of critical expression, victimizes writers, film directors, and academics in order to appease Hindu religious-nationalist and Muslim fundamentalist groups. Against this background, this study explores some of the perceptions of Hindu and Muslim graduate students on the conflict between freedom of expression and religious intolerance in India. Conceptually, the author approaches the tussle between freedom of expression and religion by applying a contextual approach of secular-multiculturalism. This study applies qualitative research methods; specifically in-depth interviews, desk research, and narrative analysis. The findings of this study help demonstrate how to manage conflict between freedom of expression and religion in Indian society, while exploring concepts of Western secularism and the need to contextualize the right to freedom of expression. Ancient India is known for its skepticism towards religion and its toleration to opposing views (Sen 2005; Upadhyaya 2009), However, the alarming rise of Hindu religious nationalism and Islamic fundamentalism, and consequently, increasing conflict between freedom of expression and religion, have been well noted by both academic (Thapar 2015) and public intellectuals (Sorabjee 2018; Dhavan 2008). Conflict between freedom of expression and religion in India is well known. The censoring of books and films by the State, and the victimization of writers, film directors, and academics by Muslim fundamentalist and Hindu religious-nationalist groups are well noted. In this context, the Indian Constitution not only empowers media and free thinkers, but also those who are religiously offended. Desire among many people to prohibit religiously hurtful speech (or expression) has become a focal point of conflict between religious-fundamentalist groups and free thinkers. Indian Penal Code provisions 298 and 295A have resulted in the harassment of many writers, journalists and academics. In addition, use of violence and fatwa is also being used to suppress freedom of expression by Muslims and Hindu fundamentalist groups. 2. Hindu Fundamentalism The main objective of Hindu religious-nationalists is to establish Hindu rule in India: To spread Hindu values and to defend Hindu society from alien religions, cultures, and ideologies. Among prominent Hindu fundamentalist groups are, R.S.S. (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh), V.H.P. (Vishva Hindu Parishad) and Shiv Sena. Since the early 1980s, these groups, to a certain extent, have been responsible in inciting communal violence against religious minorities in India (Chatry 2012, p. 214).
This paper analyses role of an India based NGO (non-governmental organization) working for the to... more This paper analyses role of an India based NGO (non-governmental organization) working for the torture victims of marginalized groups (such as Dalits, Muslims) using novel methods of testimonial therapy (hereafter TT)- employing it for the rehabilitation of torture victims providing voice for voiceless, mobilizing human rights movement by bringing narratives of injustices of Dalits (Untouchables) into the public discourse and opens an important space for human rights redressal. Against this back ground, this paper, also will be contextualizing theories of social movement and epistemology of south.
Teaching Documents by Amit Singh (PhD)
The Loop , 2022
The hegemonic rise of Hindu nationalism and Hindu populism in India has trapped Indian Muslim min... more The hegemonic rise of Hindu nationalism and Hindu populism in India has trapped Indian Muslim minorities. The secular Indian state appears to be developing into a Hindu authoritarian state, and one where violence against Muslims is normalised, argues Amit Singh
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Papers by Amit Singh (PhD)
similar manner, this health pandemic is also affecting. Due to COVID, Indian state, like others, faced an abnormal situation-suspension of normality. What does normality mean for the marginalised Indian population? Whom does normality serve? We need to ask this question.
Teaching Documents by Amit Singh (PhD)
similar manner, this health pandemic is also affecting. Due to COVID, Indian state, like others, faced an abnormal situation-suspension of normality. What does normality mean for the marginalised Indian population? Whom does normality serve? We need to ask this question.