As CAA protestors reclaim national symbols, an echo of the freedom struggle is heard across India

The assertion of familiar tropes of nationhood reflects the awareness that the manner in which Modi has sought to define India is inimical to its ethos.

Rohit Chopra

· Jan 19, 2020 · 06:30 am

This is how Hindu identity became the basis of India’s right wing ecosystem on the internet

An excerpt from ‘The Virtual Hindu Rashtra: Saffron Nationalism And New Media’, by Rohit Chopra.

Rohit Chopra

· Dec 19, 2019 · 05:30 pm

Despite their conspiracy theories, Hindutva backers raise valid concerns about Indian history books

But if they want to be taken seriously, Hindu nationalist ideologues must honestly examine their roots of collaboration with British colonisers.

Rohit Chopra

· Sep 16, 2017 · 08:00 am

From Charlottesville to India, majoritarian identity politics can only be countered by universalism

The Right has successfully co-opted the Leftist discourse of oppression and marginalisation to create fear and anxiety that the majority is losing ground

Rohit Chopra

· Aug 19, 2017 · 08:00 am

The rise of illiberal elites – and the lazy scapegoating of political correctness

A surreal discourse marks Indian and American politics where myopic out-of-touch liberal elites are being blamed for all that is wrong.

Rohit Chopra

· Jan 05, 2017 · 08:00 am

There's more to the Hindu Republican Coalition than its love for Donald Trump

The group points to a very real feeling among large swathes of Hindu-Americans that they are unfairly neglected. It may not be wise to ignore it.

Rohit Chopra

· Nov 06, 2016 · 07:30 am

In another shooting tragedy on a US campus, lessons for India

Both India and America hide behind the rhetoric of exceptionalism, in which violence is an unfortunate aspect of a gloriously multifaceted society.

Rohit Chopra

· Jun 03, 2016 · 12:00 pm

What the latest Sahitya Akademi resolution tells us about the right to dissent

The writers remind us that the task of dissenting is never done.

Rohit Chopra

· Oct 24, 2015 · 08:30 am

Modi comes home: What explains the mutual attraction between the PM and his Silicon Valley fans

Short answer: the mix of economic prosperity and cultural conservatism.

Rohit Chopra

· Sep 27, 2015 · 09:00 am

More Indians are writing in English ‒ in a narrower range of sentiment and voice

How did Mumbai's eclectic literary culture of the 1990s result in this?

Rohit Chopra

· Sep 22, 2014 · 07:00 am

So what if Modi's doing a U turn? He's only following the example of his new fans

As it became clear that Modi was going to win, many Indian-origin Americans, Indian-origin British, and most of all, Indian-origin Indians smoothly pivoted to supporting him.

Rohit Chopra

· Aug 21, 2014 · 06:39 am

The man behind the humorous Twitter handle RushdieExplains on why he quit

The US-based professor who created @RushdieExplains recounts his experience.

Rohit Chopra

· Jul 17, 2014 · 07:38 am