Christophe Jaffrelot on CJP, RSS, BJP and the future of Indian democracy | South Central 99
In this week’s South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna are joined by political scientist and scholar Professor Christophe Jaffrelot for an extended conversation on the RSS, the BJP, the rise of Hindutva and the changing nature of Indian democracy. Listen and follow on YouTubeListen
In this week’s South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna are joined by political scientist and scholar Professor Christophe Jaffrelot for an extended conversation on the RSS, the BJP, the rise of Hindutva and the changing nature of Indian democracy. Listen and follow on YouTubeListen and follow on AppleListen and follow on Spotify Dhanya begins by asking Jaffrelot about the student-led protests against the government, which have shifted from demands for better governance and education to concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the alleged exclusion of millions of voters.Jaffrelot describes this as a transition “from policies to politics”, arguing that the convergence of student movements and opposition parties could be significant. However, he says a larger social movement would need to bring together farmers, workers and Dalit groups, drawing parallels with the JP movement.The conversation then examines the weakening of democratic institutions under the BJP government. Jaffrelot argues that the institutional changes initiated in Gujarat under Narendra Modi were replicated at the national level, pointing to the functioning of the police and judiciary, the diminishing role of parliamentary committees and concerns surrounding the Election Commission.The discussion moves to the relationship between the RSS and Modi. Jaffrelot says Modi has established himself as a national populist leader with a direct relationship with voters, often bypassing the BJP’s traditional organisational structures and the RSS. While the RSS has benefited from the government’s policies and continued to expand its grassroots presence, he warns that it also risks being held accountable for the government’s failures.Jaffrelot also argues that defeating the BJP electorally would not necessarily mean that Hindutva has lost its influence in society. He points to the normalisation of anti-Muslim sentiment and rising hostility towards minorities, saying that reversing these changes would require a broader social movement that goes beyond electoral victories.The conversation then turns to caste politics and the RSS’s attempts to bring different caste groups under the umbrella of Hindutva. Jaffrelot argues that caste-based inequalities remain entrenched, despite efforts to build a broader Hindu identity. He says a caste census could become a significant political issue, particularly amid growing economic inequalities and limited employment opportunities.The discussion also examines why the BJP has struggled to expand its electoral presence across southern India. Jaffrelot points to strong regional identities, particularly Tamil Nadu’s Dravidian identity, as potential obstacles to the spread of Hindutva.Towards the end, Jaffrelot cautions against using the term fascism loosely to describe the RSS. He argues that the organisation’s focus extends beyond capturing state power to transforming society through its ideology, institutions and networks.Tune into this discussion here. Audio timecodes:00:00:00 - Introduction00:01:36 - Headlines00:08:20 - The BJP, RSS and the spread of Hindutva01:10:34 - Recommendations ReferencesTN school recognition scam: How a safety mechanism was turned into a money making scheme RecommendationsDhanya RajendranPedagogy of the Oppressed Pooja PrasannaSpectacle State: How Hindutva Shapes Feeling and CultureThe Diplomat Prof. Christophe JaffrelotSantoshEssentials Of HindutvaAnnihilation of Caste Check out the recommendations and references from this episode.Check out the list of headlines discussed in South CentralSupport South Central: https://pages.razorpay.com/south-centralSend your thoughts, suggestions, and criticism as well.Contribute to our reporting fund. Click hereTo check out our other shows, Click here To not miss any updates, join TNM's WhatsApp Channel! Click hereYou can also let us know what you think by filling out our quick feedback form. Your suggestions help shape future episodes of South Central. To not miss any updates, join TNM's WhatsApp Channel! Click here Producer - Akshay Lal, Editor -Jaseem Ali, Camera - Ajay R, Social Media - Riya T T and Anakha CJ