The author reflects on their revisiting of Edward Said’s “Orientalism” and its implications on the perception of the East by Western scholars. They discuss the biased narratives in literature, art, and political discourse over centuries, particularly highlighting ongoing Islamophobia. Despite persistent misrepresentation, Islam continues to thrive, evoking a sense of pride.
Month: Nov 2024
Azadi by Arundhati Roy
Modi’s determination to create a Hindu India, based on his inaccurate interpretations of a long lost history, is in many ways similar to the swing globally to the right. However it’s much more complex in a country that is more akin to an Empire or a continent. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is the richest political party in the world. Since 2014, it has been the ruling political party in India under the incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The BJP is a far right party and has close ideological and organisational links to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a far-right paramilitary organisation. Its policies adhere to Hindutva, a Hindu nationalist ideology. India however, contrary to Modi’s assertions, has never been a Hindu country, buts facts are a fascists nemesis.