| Publisher |
HarperCollins India |
| Publication Year |
2019 |
| ISBN-13 |
9789353029579 |
| ISBN-10 |
9353029570 |
| Binding |
Paperback |
| Number of Pages |
240 Pages |
| Language |
(English) |
| Weight (grms) |
299 |
From websites devoted to battling a 'Left-liberal' media ecosystem to the formidable internet army of Hindu Right volunteers, from online narratives of Hindu valour to Narendra Modi's impeccably-managed social media presence, new media is an integral part of present-day Hindu nationalism. The Virtual Hindu Rashtra examines the relationship of Hindu nationalism and new media across a range of internet spaces, including Twitter trends in support of the Bharatiya Janata Party's government policies, Facebook pages dedicated to the cultural project of establishing a Hindu state, and WhatsApp groups circulating jokes about Modi's critics. Situating online Hindu nationalism in a historical context, this book analyses the movement with respect to national and global political trends, such as the rise of authoritarian political personalities worldwide and the phenomenon of fake news. The book concludes with a reflection on the implications of the relationship of Hindu nationalism and new media for democracy in India
Rohit Chopra
Rohit Chopra is Associate Professor of Communication at Santa Clara University. His research centres on global media and identity, digital media, and the relationship between media, memory and violence. He is the author of The Virtual Hindu Rashtra: Saffron Nationalism and New Media(HarperCollins, 2019) and Technology and Nationalism in India: Cultural Negotiations from Colonialism to Cyberspace(Cambria, 2008), and co-editor of Global Media, Culture, and Identity: Theory, Cases, and Approaches(Routledge, 2011). Rohit also writes extensively in a journalistic capacity on media, politics and culture in global contexts. An expert on the role of social media in fomenting sectarian violence, he works with non-profits, think tanks, and technology and media firms on developing strategies to combat the negative effects of social media. Rohit is also the co-founder and co-host of the India Explained podcast, a biweekly conversation on matters related to India (www.soundcloud.com/indiaexplained).
Rohit Chopra
HarperCollins India