Deconstruction and reconstruction of political discourse
How does an orientalist narrative exacerbate the exclusion of muslims in contemporary india
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 8130229 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Jianyun Zhao (0009-0006-5167-5237, University of Cambridge, corresponding author), Yuwei An (University of Oxford) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 61 |
| Issue | 6 |
| Pages | 4648-4661 |
| Publication date | 2026-03-11 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Asian and African Studies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0021-9096 • E-ISSN: 1745-2538 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/00219096261421576 |
| OpenAlex | W7135052211 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 55 |
This paper explores how Orientalist narratives underpin the exclusion of Muslim communities in contemporary India within the context of BJP’s Hindu nationalist policies. Since Narendra Modi’s ascent to power in 2014, a shift towards cultural homogenisation rooted in Hindu nationalism has been evident, purportedly to foster national unity and independence from colonial legacies. However, such narratives often echo Western Orientalist tropes, positioning Hindu civilisation’s origins in Aryan-centric Vedic traditions as central to India’s rise and identity, while marginalising indigenous Muslim populations through ideological othering. This discourse, characterised by anti-Orientalism and a nascent Indian New Orientalism, informs state political narration, influencing public societal discourse and shaping individual identities. The paper delineates the components of Orientalist discourse, illustrating its role in constructing exclusionary national identities and facilitating organised violence. It critically examines how state-sponsored narratives, propagated by bureaucrats and activists, exploit Orientalist tropes to rationalise and reinforce social hierarchies, particularly targeting Muslim communities. Moreover, the study analyses the societal repercussions of such narratives, emphasising the mutual reinforcement of stereotypes, othering and exclusion. Ultimately, this research highlights the enduring impact of Orientalist frameworks on the societal fabric of India, contributing to ongoing intergroup tensions and violence grounded in identity-based stereotyping and marginalisation
Context (archaeology · Deconstruction (building · Hinduism · Ideology · Independence (probability theory · Narrative · Nationalism · Orientalism · Politics · Postcolonialism (international relations · Diaspora, migration, transnational identity · Indian History and Philosophy · South Asian Cinema and Culture
Memory, Trauma, Asia
Vigilante Publics
In Search of Pedagogy Volume I
Social Exclusion of Muslims in India and Britain
The lasting impact of colonial trauma in India
Caste Patriarchy and the Dehumanization of Dalit Women in Indian Society
The rise of Hindu nationalism in historical perspective
The debate between secularism and Hindu nationalism – how India’s textbooks have become the government’s medium for political communication
Love-Jihad (Muslim Sexual Seduction) and ched-chad (sexual harassment)
Towards a Hindu Rashtra
The Limits of Decolonisation in India’s International Thought and Practice
Edward W. Said
Histories of Indian Citizenship in the Age of Decolonisation
Reading Orientalism
"Orientalism and the Modern Myth of "Hinduism
Strong leaders’, authoritarian populism and Indian developmentalism
Hindu Nationalism
From Orientalism to neo-Orientalism
Orientalism's Hinduism, Orientalism's Islam, and the Twilight of the Subcontinental Imagination
Rethinking Orientalism
Citizens, Infiltrators, and Others
The Politics of Language in India and Ceylon
Shades of Orientalism
The Narrative Construction of Reality
| Highly cited | No |
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