India’s new normal

Religious harmony and social cohesion have long been the bedrock of India’s progress. As one of the most diverse nations in the world, India is home to nearly every major faith-Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, and the Bahai faith-alongside countless indigenous traditions. With over 3,000 castes and 25,000 sub-castes tied to specific occupations, India’s pluralism is both its strength and its challenge. Yet, recent developments reveal a troubling drift away from the secular ideals enshrined in the Constitution. The controversy surrounding Vande Mataram is emblematic of how cultural symbols are weaponized to advance a majoritarian agenda. Instead of fostering unity, such debates deepen divides and expose the inability of opposition parties to mount a coherent response beyond rhetorical outrage. The result is a political landscape where communal narratives dominate, leaving little space for genuine dialogue on inclusivity. The ethnic violence in Manipur stands as one of the darkest chapters in recent memory. Sparked on May 3, 2023, by a High Court directive to grant Scheduled Tribe status to the Meiteis-a move later criticized by the Supreme Court-the conflict pitted Meiteis against the Kuki-Zo tribal community. The toll has been devastating: by November 2024, official figures recorded 258 deaths, 60,000 displaced, over 1,000 injured, and nearly 5,000 homes destroyed. More than 300 churches and close to 100 temples and other religious structures were vandalized. Unofficial counts suggest even higher losses. The resignation of Chief Minister Biren Singh in February 2025, after months of intermittent violence, underscored the state’s failure to contain the crisis. What is most disturbing, however, is the communal undercurrent that surfaced amid the ethnic strife. Churches belonging to Meitei converts were deliberately targeted, revealing an anti-Christian agenda that had little to do with the original dispute. This pattern mirrors other incidents across India, where communal forces exploit local conflicts to advance sectarian goals. Equally alarming has been the muted response of mainstream media. For months, national outlets were conspicuously slow to highlight the scale of the Manipur tragedy. Observers argue that since 2014, many news channels have normalized anti-minority rhetoric, framing minorities as internal threats while amplifying partisan narratives. Such coverage not only distorts public perception but also erodes the role of media as a watchdog of democracy. The legal framework has also tilted against minorities. Eleven states have enacted anti-conversion laws, ostensibly to prevent conversions by “force, fraud, or allurement.” In practice, these laws disproportionately target Christian evangelism, criminalizing outreach and placing the burden of proof on pastors or churches. Meanwhile, Hindu nationalist groups openly conduct “ghar wapsi” campaigns to reconvert Christians and Muslims, often using inducements or threats, with little legal consequence. This asymmetry undermines Article 25 of the Constitution, which guarantees the freedom to profess, practice, and propagate religion. The cumulative effect of these trends is unmistakable: communalism is no longer sporadic but systemic. It manifests in violence, in legislation, in media narratives, and in the silencing of dissent. India’s secular promise is being steadily eroded, replaced by a climate of fear and exclusion. If India is to remain true to its democratic ideals, it must reaffirm the principle that no faith enjoys privilege over another. Religious freedom cannot be conditional, nor can justice be selective. The path forward demands courage-from institutions, from civil society, and from citizens themselves-to resist the normalization of communalism and to restore the pluralism that has always defined India’s soul.