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A review by shreyabaldwa
H-Pop: The Secretive World of Hindutva Pop Stars by Kunal Purohit
informative
medium-paced
4.5
The BJP's propaganda game has always caught my fascination. Their well-oiled IT machinery and digital penetration in the country has made it easier for them to propagate their ideology far and wide. As a result, whether its during a religious procession, a festive occasion, a political rally, or now the reels on Instagram - it seems like culture promoting 'Hindutva' is everywhere. While the Hindutva pop culture exists far and deep, rarely do people understand its ramifications. However, Kunal Purohit's book 'Hindutva pop stars' looks at this unexplored research area with fine reportage.
The book details the rise and the hiccups in the journey of three Hindutva pop stars - Kavi Singh - a singer, Kamal Agneya - a poet, and Sundeep Deo a publisher. They mostly work independently of any Hindutva organisation. However, all are part of the growing Hindutva ecosystem. Their stories show how the BJP and its philosophy has become so ingrained in the heart of India.
Purohit's writing is simple and he presents the stories of the three pop stars in an engaging manner ensuring that all readers can grasp the significance of their work and the changing cultural dynamics. Instead of taking a hard stand against the hate culture, Purohit merely presents facts and leaves it to the reader to form their own opinions.
This Hindutva pop culture and hate music trend is dangerous as it demands the othering of Muslims and is a challenge to India's pluralistic ethos. While there is no clarity on how to combat it, the book is a conversation opener. This book, as rightly summarised in the blurb, presents “the frightening face of new India- one that is united by hate, divided by art.”
The book details the rise and the hiccups in the journey of three Hindutva pop stars - Kavi Singh - a singer, Kamal Agneya - a poet, and Sundeep Deo a publisher. They mostly work independently of any Hindutva organisation. However, all are part of the growing Hindutva ecosystem. Their stories show how the BJP and its philosophy has become so ingrained in the heart of India.
Purohit's writing is simple and he presents the stories of the three pop stars in an engaging manner ensuring that all readers can grasp the significance of their work and the changing cultural dynamics. Instead of taking a hard stand against the hate culture, Purohit merely presents facts and leaves it to the reader to form their own opinions.
This Hindutva pop culture and hate music trend is dangerous as it demands the othering of Muslims and is a challenge to India's pluralistic ethos. While there is no clarity on how to combat it, the book is a conversation opener. This book, as rightly summarised in the blurb, presents “the frightening face of new India- one that is united by hate, divided by art.”