Book Review: Love Jihad and other Fictions by Sreenivasan, Mariyam, and Supriya
- Print length: 208 pages
- Publisher: Aleph Book Company
- Publication Date: 15 January 2024
The subtitle says it all: Simple facts to counter Viral Falsehoods
India is rife with conspiracy theories, and for those who follow the news, terms like Love Jihad and Forced Conversions are all too familiar. These narratives are not just propagated by politicians and the media but have also been embraced by majority population.
In this meticulously researched work, the authors—Sreenivasan Jain, Mariyam Alavi, and Supriya Sharma, distinguished journalists associated with NDTV and Scroll—undertake the task of scrutinizing the pervasive notion that “India’s minorities are plotting to weaken the majority Hindu Community.”
The 4 main Claims take shape of the 4 chapters in the book “Love Jihad and other Fictions”
- Love Jihad
- Population Jihad
- Large scale forced Conversions
- Muslim Appeasement
Book Review: Love Jihad and other Fictions by Sreenivasan Jain, Mariyam Alavi, Supriya Sharma
The book systematically debunks each assertion. Drawing on extensive fieldwork, including interviews with stakeholders from both sides, and mining decades of archival material from television and print media, coupled with historical records, the authors meticulously dissect the fabrications.
Upon close examination, all claims crumble under the weight of evidence. The book exposes how these narratives are constructed, perpetuated, and wielded for political gains, regardless of their truthfulness.
Inventing new Conspiracy Theories
I got to know that now the people in power are not just borrowing Hindutva conspiracy theories – they are not inventing them. During covid we heard of term ‘Corona Jihad’, there is also something called ‘Land Jihad’. And in 2023 a Chief minister claimed that his govt is working against ‘Fertiliser Jihad’.
The book “Love Jihad and other Fictions” end with these lines:
“It is hard to predict how many more such fictions will be spawned by those in power. What is easier to predict is the impact of the hateful lies: an India that no longer belongs equally to all its citizens.”
Book#: 255
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