Везде
The new historical politics and criticism of Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi in contemporary Indian press
Table of contents
Annotation Estimate Publication content
References Comments
Share
QR
Metrics
The new historical politics and criticism of Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi in contemporary Indian press
Annotation
PII
S032150750017717-0-1
DOI
10.31857/S032150750017717-0
Publication type
Article
Status
Published
Authors
Olga Solodkova 
ORCID: 0000-0002-6734-4989
Occupation: Associate Professor
Affiliation: HSE University
Address: Russian Federation, Moscow
Mariia Antasheva
ORCID: 0000-0002-5255-8773
Occupation: Student
Affiliation: HSE University
Address: Russian Federation, Moscow
Edition
Issue 4
Pages
20-28
Abstract

To successfully modernize the country and mobilize Indian society and to eventually implement ambitious plans for economic development, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sets itself the task of achieving national unity. The BJP in the face of its leader Narendra Modi is forced to conduct constant polemics with their main political opponent - the Indian National Congress. Having come to power in 2014, the BJP representatives use a number of management methods aimed at changing the historical memory of the peoples of India, which can be characterized as "historical politics". The authorities are trying to back up their actions to mobilize Indian society with a new historical rationale, using Hindutwa as a "new ideology".

A new official version of the past is being formed, history and historical mythology are actively used to solve political problems of the present. The historical memory of society undergoes transformation and becomes an arena for the struggle against a political enemy. In the Indian press, every memorable date, every historical event becomes the basis for broad discussion and polemics with its historical predecessors and political competitors. After coming to power, Bharatiya Janata Party constantly refers to recent historical events, considering them from a certain ideological angle. This controversy, which has spilled over into the pages of the Indian press, allows us to talk about the BJP pursuing a new historical policy aimed at creating comfortable interpretations of controversial historical events for itself.

Keywords
India, historical politics, historical memory, criticism of Indira Gandhi, Nehru's mistakes, Bharatiya Janata Party, Indian National Congress
Acknowledgment
The article was supported by the grant from the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs, HSE University.
Received
29.12.2021
Date of publication
22.04.2022
Number of purchasers
11
Views
1305
Readers community rating
0.0 (0 votes)
Cite Download pdf
Additional services access
Additional services for the article
Services benefits
100 RUB / 1.0 SU
Additional services for the issue
Services benefits
970 RUB / 16.0 SU
Additional services for all issues for 2022
Services benefits
8730 RUB / 150.0 SU

References

1. Safronova Y.A. 2018. Memory studies: evolution, problems, and institutional development. Methodological issues of Memory Stu-dies. Moscow. Pp. 12-27. (In Russ.)

2. Safronova A.L. 2019. The Broken Mirror of South Asia: The 1947 Partition of British India in the Collective Memory of Contemporary Indian Society. Aziya i Afrika segodnya. № 6. Pp. 64-69 (In Russ.). DOI: 10.31857/S032150750005168-6

3. Solodkova O.L. 2020. The historical policy and the changing of historical memory in contemporary India. Russia in Global Affairs. № 6. Pp. 48-61. (In Russ)

4. Venu G.N. How Nehru’s ‘Forward Policy’ Worked And Its Lessons Look From The Vantage Point Of 2020. Swarajya. 09.06.2020. https://swarajyamag.com/ideas/how-nehrus-forward-policy-and-its-lessons-look-from-the-vantage-point-of-2020 (accessed 08.10.2020)

5. Maxwell N. 2014. China's Borders: Settlements and Conflicts: Selected Papers. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. 289 p.

6. Dalvi J.P. 1968. Himalayan blunder; the curtain-raiser to the Sino-Indian war of 1962 (1st ed.). Bombay, India: Thacker. 506 p.

7. Bartrop P.R., Totten S. 2007. Dictionary of Genocide. ABC-CLIO. 576 p. https://www.google.ru/books/edition/Dictionary_of_Genocide_2_volumes/rgGA91skoP4C?hl=ru&gbpv=0 (accessed 03.05.2021)

8. Balakrishnan U. A lost opportunity in 1971: where Indira Gandhi erred. The Hindu. 20.11.2019. https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-lost-opportunity-to-build-a-lasting-peace/article30019352.ece (accessed 04.05.2021)

9. Bhutto Z., Gandhi I. Agreement between the Government of India and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on bilateral relations (Simla agreement). 02.07.1972. https://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/5541/Simla+Agreement (accessed 04.05.2021)

10. Menon V. New book claims Indira Gandhi wanted to recapture Pak-occupied Kashmir after 1971 war. The Print. 24.03.2018. https://theprint.in/defence/book-reveals-indira-gandhi-pak-occupied-kashmir-1971-war/44399/ (accessed 06.05.2021)

11. Dimbleby J. An interview with Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by Thames Television [video interview]. 16.11.1978. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8aETK5pQR4 (accessed 06.05.2021)

12. Gupte P. 2017. India: “The Emergency” and the Politics of Mass Sterilization. Demographics, Social Policy, and Asia. Part I. Vol. 22. Pp. 40-44. https://www.asianstudies.org/publications/eaa/archives/india-the-emergency-and-the-politics-of-mass-steriliza-tion/ (accessed 08.05.2021)

13. Shah Commission, Shah J.C. 1978. Shah Commission of Inquiry: third and final report. Delhi: Controller of Publications. 287 p. http://library.bjp.org/jspui/handle/123456789/743 (accessed 08.05.2021)

14. Amberish K.D. Operation Bluestar was most traumatic, most painful / Lieutenant General Kuldip Singh Brar (retired). The Rediff Interview. 08.06.2004. https://in.rediff.com/news/2004/jun/08inter2.htm (accessed 10.05.2021)

15. Puneet S.L. The New York Times on Operation Blue Star. The Sikh Times. 02.06.2004. http://www.sikhtimes.com/news_060204a.html (accessed 10.05.2021)

16. Joshi A. India’s Congress Party Needs to Ditch the Nehru-Gandhi Family. Foreign Policy. 09.12.2020. https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/12/09/indian-national-congress-party-ditch-nehru-gandhi-family/ (accessed 13.05.2021)

Comments

No posts found

Write a review
Translate