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India’s Elections and the “Doniger Affair”

…eligion as a tool of social oppression. This is perhaps why the most vocal Indian (or Indian expatriate) defenders of Doniger in the wake of the controversy have, for the most part, been intellectual or activist Marxists. Penguin’s decision to withdraw her book gave them new ammo in a battle against what they perceive as Hindu majoritarian aggression, exemplified by the destruction of the Babri mosque and the 2002 Gujarat riots. Many of these inte…

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Policing Academic Freedom: A Book, a Controversy, and the Ominous Aftermath

…nguin publishing house, arguing that the book violated Article 295A of the Indian Penal Code, which forbids “deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class of citizens.” The school teacher was Mr. Batra, a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a right-wing Hindu nationalist organization. As early as 2001, Mr. Batra has engaged in political and legal measures to affect educational curriculum through his…

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BYU Honor Code Used to Harass Black Atheletes

…de, we sounded a note of caution here at RD about the “dark side” of honor code enforcement. After all, the honor code had been created during the 1960s in an effort by ultra-conservative BYU President Ernest Wilkinson to root out liberals, and honor code enforcement (including anonymous referrals) had been used to bait and harrass feminist, liberal, and gay students, shut down campus free speech, and compromise the privacy of pastoral counseling…

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“Americans Hate Muslims, Too” (And Other Impediments to U.S. Advocacy for Religious Freedom Abroad)

…n national identity. While American diplomats often advocate for religious freedom in India in general terms, their words are not enough to undo the perception of America as a neo-colonial, prejudicially Christian empire. American Christian missionaries in India have been frequently accused of being the advanced scouts of this putative American empire intent on weakening India politically, and then remaking it as a Christian nation, more pliable a…

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Religious Affiliation, ‘Mankind’: India’s Anti-Corruption Activist Leads Second Freedom Struggle

…orruption—what Anna Hazare, whose hunger strike made headlines, has named “India’s second freedom struggle.” I was glad to have the chance to interview Bedi when she came to Atlanta a few months ago for a conference. No Prima Donna Something told me to silence my cell phone and bury it in my handbag as I drove to meet Bedi at her hotel. It turned out to be a good move. When I got to the lobby another something told me to dig out my phone and check…

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LGBT’s, Opponents Prep for Vatican Synod; UN Rights Council Adopts LGBT Resolution; Brazil’s Evangelicals Eye Presidency; Global LGBT Recap

…us opposition as seen in last year’s rally against revising Article 972 of the Civil Code to change the term “man and woman” to “two parties” in the article concerning marriage and the term “father and mother” to “parents” in the Civil Code. Philippines: Anti-Discrimination Ordinance Passes Quezon City Council The city council of Quezon City unanimously approved an anti-discrimination ordinance this week, expanding a law from 2003 that banned anti…

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Global LGBT Recap: “Lavender Fascism,” Rage in India, Pope Francis Ousts Culture Warrior

…a few days at his Ashram. And amidst controversy over the treatment of an Indian diplomat by law enforcement officials in New York, a senior leader of India’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party has called for the arrest of gay American diplomats.   Chile: Pro-Equality Bachelet Returns as President In a race that gave voters a choice between two women vying for the presidency, Chilean voters on December 15 overwhelmingly elected former Presi…

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With Trump’s Failure to Protect Religious Minorities, Afghan Hindus and Sikhs Face an Uncertain Future in India

…r Singh Shergill, remains optimistic despite the history of persecution in India: “Although India has a troubling history in protecting the rights of minority communities, I see this as a positive development since it gives a much-needed option to the Afghan Sikhs and Hindus at risk, particularly given the failure of Trump and the Republicans to take any action.” Afghan Hindus may have little to fear, but Afghan Sikhs may find themselves going fro…

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Life as a Game Show: Reading Slumdog Millionaire

…energizes him. His devotion to Latika provides him a polestar that enables him to navigate through the turbulent waters of the postmodern city. As far as the complaint that the movie rehashes a negative image of India, I have to disagree. The slums and corruption are a part of India, even an India Shining. But, slums and corruption are everywhere; poverty and organized crime are artifacts of robust global capitalism. The movie’s important achieve…

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What Can Ancient India Tell Us About Our World?

…ofessional career as a public interest environmental lawyer has focused on promoting environmental and social standards for international lending. I often visited India, and in one of my trips, I traveled as a tourist to an archaeological site in Orissa state, Dhauli, to view stone inscriptions overlooking the site of a battle that took place in 260 BC. The inscriptions state that 100,000 were killed and 150,000 carried off. But the battle’s victo…

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