Ullekh NP’s Post

Book Review: Aakar Patel's book "Our Hindu Rashtra" argues that India is already a Hindu nationalist state in practice, despite its secular constitution it's a democratic facade. Patel traces the rise of Hindutva ideology, a form of Hindu nationalism, and its growing influence in Indian politics and society. He examines legal rulings that have normalized Hindutva and the erosion of secularism. The book explores the development of these policies and the impact they have on minorities, particularly Muslims. While Patel offers a well-researched critique of Hindutva, his suggestions for resistance focus on a specific protest movement and may not encompass the broader fight for justice. Read the full review at: https://lnkd.in/d8xQZHdC #India #HinduRashtra #Kashmir #Sikh #Indians #ModiMaafiMaango #IndianAirForce #LokSabhaElections2024 #RahulGandhi #PMModi

Journalists covering religion face attacks from multiple fronts, making their work increasingly perilous. Extremist groups often target them for exposing radical ideologies or actions that conflict with the group's beliefs. State security forces, in some regions, suppress religious reporting to control narratives and maintain political power. Militant factions, driven by ideological zeal, also pose significant threats, viewing unbiased reporting as a challenge to their authority and agenda. These dangers display the complex and risky landscape religious journalists navigate to deliver their stories. Steps must always be taken to ensure safety while reporting on such touchy subjects as religion. But what to do? Here are some tips to keep in mind: https://conta.cc/3KMwafp #foreignpress #reporting #journalism #religion #bestpractices

Exploring the Timeless Relevance of The Hindu Newspaper In the bustling world of journalism, few publications stand as stalwarts of credibility and integrity like The Hindu newspaper Established in 1878, this venerable institution has consistently upheld the values of unbiased reporting, incisive analysis, and unwavering commitment to truth. What sets The Hindu apart is its steadfast dedication to quality journalism, eschewing sensationalism for well-researched articles and in-depth coverage of national and international affairs. Its editorial stance, known for its sober tone and balanced perspective, has earned it the trust of millions of readers worldwide. Beyond news, The Hindu offers a plethora of supplementary content, including opinion pieces, cultural critiques, and literary reviews, catering to a diverse range of interests. Its comprehensive coverage spans politics, economics, sports, and the arts, making it a one-stop destination for the intellectually curious. In an era of rapidly changing media landscapes, The Hindu remains a beacon of journalistic integrity, serving as a testament to the enduring power of print journalism. As we navigate the complexities of the modern world, The Hindu continues to be a trusted companion, providing insight, analysis, and perspective that stand the test of time. #legacy #TheHindu - Mahak Kharbas

Understanding Propaganda: Its Role and Techniques What is Propaganda? Propaganda is a premeditated set of messages aimed at influencing the thoughts and behaviors of large groups of people. Unlike impartial information, propaganda presents information that is designed to influence its audience, often emphasizing its own perspective. Manipulation in Similar Fields: While similar manipulations of information are used in advertising, the term propaganda carries a strong negative connotation compared to advertising. Propaganda vs. Public Relations: Both propaganda and public relations aim to persuade and use similar mass communication tools. However, they differ in purpose and principles. Public relations aims to present the truth, while propaganda often involves exaggeration and concealment of facts to make a significant impact. Propaganda as Psychological Warfare: In wartime, propaganda is a powerful tool aimed at dehumanizing the enemy and generating hatred towards them. Historical examples include the propaganda used by England against Germany during World War I and by Nazi Germany against Poland at the start of World War II. Religious Roots of Propaganda: The term propaganda originally had religious connotations, used by new religious movements to gain followers. It has been used both by the movements themselves and by their opponents. Classifications of Propaganda: Propaganda can be classified based on its source. White propaganda has a clear source, black propaganda appears to come from a friendly source but is actually the opposite, and grey propaganda seems to come from a neutral source but is actually from the opposition. Historical Context: The modern use of propaganda dates back to World War I, when techniques were first scientifically defined and applied by journalists like Walter Lippman and public relations pioneers like Edward Bernays. Techniques of Propaganda: Propaganda uses various techniques such as appealing to fear, referencing authority figures, giving direct commands, associating a disliked idea with a hated group, rationalization, and using glittering generalities. Methods of Dissemination: Propaganda is spread through news, government reports, rewritten history, pseudo-science, books, brochures, films, radio, television, and posters. It can appear in news programs, current events, talk shows, or as advertisements. Unity and Peaceful Development: Understanding the role and impact of propaganda is crucial for fostering a society that values unity and peaceful development. By recognizing these techniques, we can better navigate information and contribute to a harmonious and informed community. #Propaganda #PublicRelations #InformationManipulation #PsychologicalWarfare #HistoricalContext #Unity #PeacefulDevelopment This post provides an overview of propaganda, its techniques, and its historical context. It also emphasizes the importance of understanding propaganda to foster unity and peaceful development in society.

New papers! ..................................... Paper 1 Title: "Social media users’ engagement with religious misinformation: An exploratory sequential mixed methods analysis" Journal: Emerging Media Abstract: As the world's fourth-largest Muslim country with a growing community of social media users, Bangladesh has been experiencing frequent online religious misinformation, inspiring violence against minorities and threatening interreligious harmony. Following an exploratory sequential mixed-methods analysis combining a qualitative thematic analysis and a quantitative content analysis, we answer two pertinent research questions. We found three ways users engage with misinformation: their topics of discourse, reactions, and appraisal. Users’ discourse revolves around religious, radical, and political issues. Radical issues (60.4%) dominate users’ discourse, followed by political issues (37.1%). Users’ reactions are primarily negative (94.1%), exhibiting different destructive behaviors. Alarmingly, the negative reactions are more than seventeen times the positive reactions (5.5%). Results for misinformation appraisal suggest that 69.3% of users believe misinformation, and only 25.9% can identify and deny misinformation. Nearly half of the users (48.21%) concomitantly talk radical, react negatively, and trust misinformation. This research suggests that religious misinformation-led violence may have more political connections than religious ones. Full paper: https://lnkd.in/gN3aKtqH ..................................... Paper 2 Paper title: "Corporate branding and crisis management in Bangladesh: an analysis of situational crisis communication theory and image repair theory" Conference: 107th Annual Conference of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) Date & Location: 8-11 August 2024 in Philadelphia, US Authors: Khairul Islam, PhD, Najma Akhther, Md. Sayeed Al-Zaman ..................................... #socialmedia #Bangladesh #misinformation #online #research #crisis #management #corporate #brand #communication #AEJMC

>>In this insightful essay, journalist and scholar Pradip Phanjoubam examines the vexed issue of identity, and the intractable nature of its capacity to persist and then metamorphose as society and power relations within it change. This constant forming and reforming of identity is what defeats every attempt to harness it for political projects or attempts to resolve simmering conflicts. Phanjoubam states: "The problem is evident in the ambiguity in the answer to the question of who is an Assamese, Tripuri or Manipuri, for these identities generally point to their once-ruling communities, often at the neglect of the newly awakened identities within them." >>In former colonies or other subjugated peoples, as power is transferred to new elites, identities that had lain dormant begin to coalesce and harden, taking shape even as the new state and rulers struggle with the challenges of running a country. India already had defined identities going back in some cases to more than a millennium at the turn of independence, and has somehow been able to manage them within the fabric of nationhood. Of course, strains are always there, and the need for statesmanship was never more important than today, but identity simmers just below the surface. >>The North East region of India, especially Assam, Manipur, and Tripura show signs of identity becoming a problem, and challenging governance and societal relations. As we are discovering, these conflicts are not easy to resolve. Media coverage of such conflicts have been casual, not based on local ground realities, and usually filed by journalists sitting in Kolkata or Guwahati. Scholars pontificate about 'ancient' and 'primordial' instincts being aroused and difficult to put back into the bottle. >>Phanjoubam suggests different ways of looking at identity, and this quote of his expresses well what I found intriguing and insightful: "The middle-class, which generally cuts across community lines, and is united by professional pursuits and driven by a desire for achievement and excellence, can be the hope in this project of striking a balance between nationalism and a consensual, constitutionally-determined identity even in the most diverse nations." We need to look at identity from every angle possible, if we are to get closer to a solution. Souvik RoyShalini WarrierDr. Tejaswini Mulay (She/Her)Arun KumarViju ParameshwarRashmi PoojaraNamitha PeterNirmala PadmanabhanDr.Sreekumar PillaiParan BalakrishnanSarada Muraleedharanvikram balagopalVikram NehruPushpendra RaiAnand MSGopinathan AchamNaved Masood

Check your biases at the door Today, four states in South-West Nigeria - Lagos, Ogun, Osun and Oyo - are commemorating Ìsèse (Yoruba traditional) Day with a public holiday for all public workers. Those who have a clue of the decades of institutional mischaracterisation, religious tyranny, political bias and social alienation that have been weaponised against indigenous religious practitioners in Nigeria, will understand why this official holiday declared last year, is pivotal. Informed people would agree with me that there has been a sustained agenda by mainstream ideologies in Nigeria to obliterate Ìsèse and simultaneously extract its body of knowledge for altruistic ends. Conversely, in civilised countries, institutions are continuously extending their hands of inclusion to marginalised citizens as part of the tenets of diversity. A subculture or identity group may not have political clout or a significant population, but their rights must matter just like everyone else. Democracy in its true essence, is not about the dominance of the majority, it must equally ensure civil recognition, participation and respect for marginalised persons. This is why in civilised cultures, public officers, policymakers, teachers, academics, journalists, and every other professional who regularly interfaces with the public are made to undertake diversity training. Part of the reason for these trainings is to screen out offensive, inaccurate and derogatory terms which might constitute a social barrier and further harm marginalised groups. As someone who works in the media, I always look forward to such training. Some of the verbiage that proceeds out of some newsrooms in Nigeria is not only cringe-worthy and is globally an eyesore, but it also indicates socially transmitted ignorance. For instance, in June, I saw a newspaper story use the word "hermaphrodite" several times. The internationally acceptable word is "intersex." The term "hermaphrodite" is medically inaccurate, outdated and derogatory. On a global stage, having such a term on a media's website is two thumbs down. The same applies to Ìsèse. It appears that many journalists have not expanded their vocabulary and tend to use words like "fetish," "rituals" or "cults" for Indigenous religious practices. This language fallout can sometimes be blamed on the interference of editors who have failed to update their knowledge of Yoruba culture. Yet, the fact remains that several journalists still write their stories which make it to print or online as if they are writing for a church or mosque periodical. This is wrong! There should be capacity training for journalists on how to report on religions and derogatory terms to avoid when reporting on indigenous religions. If you are a Christian or Muslim reporter or editor, stick to the facts and mind your language when reporting on Isèse. Don't import your biases into a report about minority religions.

Maintaining a clear separation between religion and politics, and sustaining a media free of pressure, is essential for pluralism, democracy, and social harmony, writes #VintaNanda Here 👇 https://lnkd.in/dyqz7mkt

"Having Hair is NOT a Crime!" #FreeSepidehRashnu #سپیده_رشنو 👉 Many thanks to Mona Soleymani PhD for first sharing this video from Sepideh Rashnu. In July of 2022, Sepideh, an Iranian writer and graduate student, was arrested for riding a bus bareheaded in Tehran. A fascist Islamist regime's court ultimately sentenced her to 3 years and 11 months in prison, which the authorities have now announced is to begin on July 27. ✍ Sepideh has shared the following message with PEN America: 🙌 "The literature of struggle is sometimes a poem by Mohammad Mokhtari murmured under one’s breath, sometimes a song sung by Víctor Jara, sometimes the carvings of a former prisoner on the walls of a solitary cell so that the new inmate knows someone has been here before. In a totalitarian regime like the Islamic Republic, the literature of struggle is sometimes a “simple narrative.” In such regimes, where media, press, and books are always censored to present a false image as truth, narratives play a significant role in the struggle these days. The Islamic Republic, like any other totalitarian regime, greatly fears the narrators, and even more so, the fighters who narrate. Narratives draw a red line through all these lies, especially in a regime that denies the disappearances and imprisonments of dissidents. The fighter records everything that has happened to them honestly, to serve as a document in history. To serve as evidence of decades of human efforts against tyranny and totalitarianism. Narration is always a part of the struggle, and the narrator is a fighter. Narration is a great “no” to lies. A great “no” to silence. 🙏 As a writer, I have never thought that literature and narration are separate from the struggle and resistance for human rights." 💢 Over 20,000 human rights activists, writers, journalists, educators, ethnic & religious minorities, lawyers, and artists are political prisoners in Iran. According to The "2023 Freedom to Write Index", the diabolic Islamist regime continues to be the world’s second-largest jailer of writers, second only to China. Evil can NOT be Reformed. Silence is NOT an Option. Long Live the Brave Women of Iran. Long Live a Free, United, and Democratic Iran. پاینده باد ایران آزاد و متحد و ایرانیان وطن پرست ژن، ژیان، ئازادی #زن_زندگی_آزادی #WomanLifeFreedom #JinJiyanAzadî #FreePoliticalPrisoners #StopExecutionsInIran