Mainstream Weekly[fond noir][blanc]BOOK EXCERPT[/blanc][/fond noir] *
The fusion of religion and politics has adversely affected both spheres. A Leader won power in 2014 to protect Hinduism and Hindus. Ironically, Hindus lost self-confidence because they were constantly bombarded by politicians with the warning that they are endangered. The Polarisation Project which split society on religious lines also divided Hindus between the Hindutva warriors and liberal Hindus. The differences among the Hindus based on caste, subcaste and language got exacerbated. Ghettoisation increased. There are places where it is not enough to be a Hindu, one must be a Tamilian Brahmin! In a modern metropolis like Mumbai (called Bombay earlier), the Hindu must speak Marathi to avoid problems. The Hindu fish mongers in a Bengali colony in New Delhi are threatened because their shops are close to their temple! A couple of Hindu rationalists have been murdered. So, Muslims are not alone!
Hinduism has become an intensely contested faith and lost some followers. Its brand value in the international faith market has come down as incidents of intolerance get reported abroad. The idea of India is diminished. India is no longer well-known for its multi-cultural traditions. While Hindu nationalists sloganeered, an external enemy grabbed some of India