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“Anti Hindu Stereotypes in the Media” - this was the topic of Dr. @Koenraad_Elst ’s talk yesterday.
He narrated with clinical precision, not only how the media -western and Indian- is hostile to Hinduism but also and more importantly - why.
#Atlanta
“Anti Hindu Stereotypes in the Media” - this was the topic of Dr. @Koenraad_Elst ’s talk yesterday.
He narrated with clinical precision, not only how the media -western and Indian- is hostile to Hinduism but also and more importantly - why.
He stated that whilst the general impression in the West a few decades back was quite redpectful towards Hinduism but hostile to India - now it is the other way round - India might be seen in a positive light now but Hinduism is made a sharp focus of negative impressions.
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The latest issue of the Time magazine calling Modi the Divider-in-Chief was bound to came up, which it did as the chief exemplar of what is going on.
Dr @Koenraad_Elst used this as a case study to discuss at length and illustrate the anatomy of the problem.
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Dr @Koenraad_Elst used this as a case study to discuss at length and illustrate the anatomy of the problem.
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@Koenraad_Elst explained why he thought the Time magazine might have used Modi as a bashing boy to really attack the US domestic right wing.
He also used the two central articles of the issue - one by Aatish Taseer and the other by @ianbremmer - to show the irony that 4/n
He also used the two central articles of the issue - one by Aatish Taseer and the other by @ianbremmer - to show the irony that 4/n
on one hand a Western writer is generally positive about India, Modi, Hindu nationalism, and on the other the reporting emerging from South Asians themselves is so hostile - contrary to the ordinary Hindu notion that westerners are more hostile to them.
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He explained how and why media - both Western and Indian - gives space to writers like Taseer and chases away the voices like his own.
He narrated how he was treated at Ideas India Conclave a while back for speaking honestly about what he thought of ISIS’ place in Islam.
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He narrated how he was treated at Ideas India Conclave a while back for speaking honestly about what he thought of ISIS’ place in Islam.
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Dr @Koenraad_Elst used several other examples like the episode on Aghoris in the @CNN documentary ‘Believer’ by Reza Aslan, to dissect and explain the techniques media uses to systematically create and nurture the anti Hindu Stereotypes.
He then advised the Hindus to
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He then advised the Hindus to
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write in bulk and react to editors, and use social media to demolish such stereotypes. He explained how media being a business is very susceptible to public reaction - if only the reactions are voiced properly.
Wide ranging Q/A followed.
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#ElstInAmerica
Wide ranging Q/A followed.
8/8
#ElstInAmerica
