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Time of India
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Who's afraid of Mysore Pak? The bitter taste of India's language wars
Languages can either foster peace and understanding or serve as tools for conflict and division. In India, they are increasingly being weaponised. For instance, amid tensions with Pakistan, some shopkeepers in Jaipur renamed sweets like Mysore Pak and Moti Pak to Mysore Shree and Moti Shree, erroneously assuming the word 'pak' (meaning 'sacred' in Persian) to be of foreign origin. Ironically, in the case of these sweets, 'pak' is rooted in the Sanskrit term 'pakva' (meaning 'cooked'), with cognates in several Indian languages, including Kannada. On the other end of the country, Hyderabad's Karachi Bakery faced vandalism for using the name of a Pakistani city, despite being founded by a Sindhi Hindu refugee who migrated from Karachi in 1947. Such acts of linguistic intolerance are not isolated but part of a larger pattern where language is being used to fuel differences. Kamal Haasan's remark that Kannada is born out of Tamil sparked a row Words of Arabic origin, such as jihad (spiritual struggle), halala (permissible), talaq (divorce), sharia (Islamic law), and hijab (veil), have been used by political groups to marginalise and discriminate against communities. Conversely, innocuous Sanskrit-derived terms like bhakta (devotee), gobar (cow dung), gaumutra (cow urine), and mandir (temple) are stigmatised by opposing groups to demean and trivialise cultural practices and identities. Jai Shree Ram (Victory to Lord Rama) and Allahu Akbar (God is Great), once expressions of devotion, have been twisted into polarizing war cries. Forget humans, even AI chatbots like X's Grok have been manipulated to abuse and dehumanize people, communities and organisations using the 'unhinged mode' feature. More worrying than the language conflicts on social media is what is playing out on the streets. Skirmishes have been reported in several cities with migrant workers becoming soft targets for these 'language vigilantes'. In a nation where languages are deeply intertwined with cultural identity and pride, these conflicts over language use, words and signage strike at the heart of personal and communal belonging. But why is India's linguistic diversity — it has over 424 distinct languages — under strain? Among the reasons are the continued distrust of multilingualism by central and state govts, inconsistent implementation of the three-language policy, and the push for a 'one-country, one-language' ideology based on a European model of a nation state. Moreover, state govts are implicitly supporting this ideology of linguistic homogenization. A 2024 Kerala govt order mandated exclusive use of Malayalam in public advertisements and notices, prohibiting multilingual signs. Govts in UP, MP, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan have been actively replacing names of villages and cities perceived as Islamic with those reflecting Hindu heritage. In MP, for instance, Mohammadpur Machanai village was changed to Mohanpur, and Hajipur was renamed Hirapur. Critics argue that such renaming erases centuries of coexistence and shared history, while proponents claim it restores a pre-colonial identity. So widespread is linguistic prejudice in India that regional variations of a widely spoken language like Hindi are stigmatised. Hindi speakers from eastern states like Bihar and Jharkhand often face mockery for their distinct accents, word choices, and oral expressions. Their mother tongues, such as Bhojpuri, Magahi, and Angika, are labeled as crude or vulgar. By linking the perceived vulgarity of Bhojpuri films and songs to the language itself, the entire Bhojpuri-speaking community is viewed through a prejudiced lens. Similarly, though Telangana Telugu and coastal Telugu share a common script and a unified cultural history, Telangana Telugu has been treated historically as inferior. In films, Telangana Telugu speakers were frequently portrayed as comical or foolish. These linguistic, cultural, and social differences contributed to the 2014 separation of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. In fact, there is a competitive race among linguistic groups to claim the antiquity of their languages. A recent flashpoint was actor Kamal Haasan's remark that Kannada was born out of Tamil which sparked a sharp backlash. The Indian govt's 'classical' tag for certain 'dominant languages' — the 2024-25 list included Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali — has also become a coveted badge of prestige. These languages already receive significant budgetary support from both Union and state govts. Such official labels often end up intensifying conflicts and further marginalising resource-scarce minority languages like Tulu, Bhili, Gondi, Santali, Dogri, Angami, Lotha, Mizo, Garo, Khasi, Badaga, Irula etc. Far from being a unifying force, languages have become tools of polarisation in electoral politics. If India is to uphold its democratic ideals, the embrace of multilingualism must be more than symbolic. It must be actively nurtured, through policy, education, and public discourse. Languages are not just a medium of communication; they are the essence of identity, culture, and coexistence. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
Hindustan Times
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘We say Allahu Akbar when in distress': Mehbooba Mufti on zipline operator's chant during Pahalgam attack
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday responded to the controversy around a zipline operator allegedly shouting 'Allahu Akbar' during the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, saying the chant is a common expression among Muslims during times of distress, just as 'Jai Shree Ram' is for Hindus. She urged the central government to act against those fuelling communal tensions online. Mehbooba Mufti's statement comes amid suspicion expressed by a section of people over the zipline operator, which security agencies have not yet substantiated. 'There are some people on social media who are very communal... Like we say, 'Jai Shree Ram', Muslims say 'Allahu Akbar' and when we are in any difficulty, we say 'Allahu Akbar'... The government of India must take strict action against those who are spewing venom on social media...,' ANI news agency quoted Mehbooba Mufti. The April 22 terror attack took place at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, where terrorists fired at tourists, killing 25 Indians and one Nepali national, and injuring many others. In response, the Central government vowed harsh punishment for the attackers and those involved in plotting the assault. The family of Muzamil, the zipline operator heard chanting "Allahu Akbar" during the Pahalgam terror attack, has come forward in his defence. Muzamil's father, Abdul Aziz, told the news agency that his son was terrified after the incident and broke down in tears. "Right now, Muzamil is with the police. He was very scared, he started crying at that time. He said, 'Don't say anything to me, something happened here'," Aziz said. Responding to the viral video in which Muzamil was heard saying "Allahu Akbar", Aziz added, 'Even if the storm comes, we say Allahu Akbar. What fault do we have in this? Muzamil used to work only with the zipline; he didn't do any other work.' He insisted that Muzamil had no wrongful intentions and was simply carrying out his duties at the time. The controversy erupted after a video of Gujarat tourist Rishi Bhatt went viral, showing him ziplining just as the Pahalgam terror attack began. Bhatt alleged, 'nine people ziplined before me, but the operator did not utter a word. When I was sliding, he spoke, and then the firing started. So, I have my suspicions about that man. He said 'Allahu Akbar' thrice and then the firing started... He looked like a regular Kashmiri.' Bhatt recounted, 'Firing started when I was ziplining... After about 20 seconds, I realised that it was a terrorist attack... and people on the ground are being killed.' He said he witnessed 5–6 people being shot. Describing his escape, he said, 'I unlatched my belt and jumped down, took my wife and son and started running away. We saw people hiding in a spot that resembled a pit, making it difficult to spot them easily. We too hid there.' (With ANI inputs)
NDTV
29-04-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
BJP vs Trinamool In Bengal Temple Politics And A "Fake Hindu" Jibe
Kolkata: A newly built temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath in the coastal town of Digha in West Bengal has become the centre of a political flashpoint between Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's government and the BJP. The BJP has called Ms Banerjee a "fake Hindu", stating that government funds cannot be used for building temples. "Puri Dham will remain Puri Dham. Mamata Banerjee is a fake Hindu. Temples can't be built using government funds. It is a cultural centre, not a temple. Don't mislead the people of Bengal. Hindus make temples on their own. No government fund was used to build the Ram temple (in Ayodhya). Hindus across the world funded it," said BJP leader and the Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. Mr Adhikari also called Ms Banerjee an "anti-Hindu", who is responsible for the "migration" of Hindus from Murshidabad, where violent clashes were reported during protests against the Waqf law. Union Minister and Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar echoed similar views on Ms Banerjee and said that building temples is not the job of the government. Raising the Murshidabad issue, he said, "On one side, you are killing Hindus, and on the other side, you are constructing temples. Constructing temples or mosques is not the job of the government. The public built the Ayodhya temple, not the government." "For the Jagannath Temple in Digha, people should raise funds. Why does the state government have to get involved in this? Mamata Banerjee is trying to win the elections by climbing on the shoulders of Lord Jagannath," the BJP MP told reporters. The attacks drew a fierce counter from the Trinamool with party MP Kalyan Banerjee saying that the BJP considers only those as Hindu who chant "Jai Shree Ram". Slamming Mr Adhikari, he said, "Is he a real Hindu? According to the BJP's Hinduism, the Hindus of West Bengal who follow the Hindus of Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, eat veg and say 'Jai Shree Ram' are Santani Hindus." Another party leader, Kunal Ghosh, pointed out that Ms Banerjee belongs to the Hindu Brahmin community, and being secular, she respects all religions. He also sought to know why Mr Adhikari did not think about this when he and his family members were in the Trinamool. "Mamata Banerjee belongs to a Brahmin Hindu family, and she is secular; she respects other religions. Suvendu Adhikari, his father and his brother were with Mamata Banerjee for so many days. Suvendu Adhikari was an MLA, MP and a minister from Trinamool, but he did not think about all this back then," said Mr Ghosh. Modelled after the 12th-century Puri temple, situated about 350 km away in Odisha, Digha's Jagannath shrine will be inaugurated by Ms Banerjee on Wednesday. The temple has been built by the state-run Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO) at a cost of Rs 250 crore over 20 acres land. Heavy security is in place at the temple, including police in civil dress and drone surveillance, ahead of its opening in Digha. A maha-yagna is underway at the shrine that will be attended by the Chief Minister in the afternoon along with other dignitaries. Digha is Bengal's most popular sea resort that attracts a huge number of tourists round the year. The town is located in Purba Medinipur district, the fortress of Mr Adhikari, a former lieutenant of Ms Banerjee. The Chief Minister had expressed hope that the temple would help Digha transform into an international tourist destination. For several thousand years, the temple would serve as a place for the congregation of people, she had said. "This temple will add a new feather to the state's cap. Digha will grow into an international tourist attraction. This will serve as a place of harmony. The sea adds a special charm to Digha. If it becomes a place of pilgrimage, more tourists will come," the Trinamool chief had said.
The Independent
21-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Members of far-right Hindu group attack Easter service in India with sticks
An Easter prayer service in the Indian city of Ahmedabad was disrupted on Sunday by members of two far-right Hindu groups who accused attendees of engaging in religious conversions. Eyewitness footage shared on social media showed activists from the Bajrang Dal and the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) entering a private prayer meeting in the Odhav area of the city, wielding sticks and shouting slogans such as 'Jai Shree Ram' (Glory to Lord Ram) and 'Har Har Mahadev' (Hail Lord Shiva). The groups are known for their links to Hindutva, a hardline nationalist ideology that promotes Hindu supremacy. They are also loosely affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological parent of prime minister Narendra Modi 's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and have long campaigned against Christian and Muslim religious conversions. While there were no reports of injuries, the incident has added to growing concerns over the increasing frequency of religiously motivated intimidation and violence in India. Inspector Pratik Zinzuvadia of the Odhav police confirmed that the incident occurred during a Christian congregation at a residential hall in Vimalpark Society, attended by around 100 people marking Easter Sunday. According to police, the intruders confronted attendees – many of whom were women – and demanded to know their religion, accusing organisers of conducting illegal conversions of Hindus to Christianity. The situation was brought under control after police were called to the scene. Both parties were taken to the local police station, where they submitted written complaints. Darshan Joshi, a local representative of Bajrang Dal, filed a statement requesting an investigation into 'religious conversion', reported the Indian Express. However, Inspector Zinzuvadia confirmed that officers found no indication of conversion activity during their preliminary assessment. Emanuel Amaydas, a member of the Christian community present at the gathering, filed a counter-complaint accusing 10 to 15 unidentified individuals of storming the venue and causing disruption. Police said they were examining the complaints and that no formal charges had been filed as of Sunday evening. "We have taken complaints from both sides and begun an inquiry into the case," Inspector Zinzuvadia said. Jvalit Mehta, a regional coordinator of Bajrang Dal, later told the Times of India the activists had entered Christian gatherings in both Odhav and Nikol neighbourhoods based on what he described as 'information that conversion activities were going on'. Under Indian law, forced religious conversion is illegal in several states, though laws are often vaguely defined and critics say they are frequently misused to target minority communities. In 2024, attacks on Christians rose to 834 incidents, up from 734 the previous year, according to data from the United Christian Forum.
