Thread by @shrikanth_krish

There are many many problems with this Jerry Rao interview

1. This whole "Ram Mohan Roy" school of "conservatism" is bogus. RMR kickstarts the liberal tradition in Indian politics. Can't bracket everyone from Bhandarkar to Rajaji in this wing

(Contd..)

thinkpragati.com/podcast/the-se…

2. Conservatism isn't just about constitutional gradualism which both Jerry and Amit Varma harp on

Much of modern right-wing politics across the world is about culture wars and "cultural conservatism"

Conserving one's culture against the onslaught of modernity

The debates over beef, and cow slaughter are linked to that. And very much legitimate

You cannot brush that aside, as something irrelevant or "dirty" in a discussion on Indian conservative politics

3. What's dubbed as "revivalism" here has a strong reactionary element to it.

You cannot comment upon the "othering" of minorities in isolation, without even once remarking upon the radicalization of muslims, or the demographic pressures contributing to decline in H numbers

When viewed that way, reactionary rhetoric has a conservative element. It is stemming from a desire to conserve one's bases.

One's religious and demographic base, which is perceived to be under threat

(whether the perception is exaggerated is a different matter)

E.g. the interviewer casually refers to the "cow" and "love jihad" as things that make the current political climate v v poisonous

But without engaging with these things seriously as one should in a talk on modern Indian conservatism

Both these issues are not to be taken at face value

They are linked to broader questions around loss of traditions and habits in the wake of urbanization

Demographic pressures

Conversion campaigns

among other things