The rise of digital technology has fundamentally transformed political discourse worldwide. In India, this transformation has provided fertile ground for the ideological entrenchment of Hindutva, an exclusionary nationalist movement that seeks to redefine Indian identity along religious lines.
Social media platforms such as WhatsApp, X (previously Twitter), and Facebook serve as critical arenas for Hindutva’s ideological proliferation, creating what can be termed “visualised communities.” These communities are not just imagined, as Benedict Anderson famously posited in his work on nationalism, but actively constructed through digital visuals, memes, and algorithmically amplified narratives.
The consequences of this digital Hindutva are far-reaching, fostering polarisation, shaping public consciousness, and even instigating real-world violence. This opinion piece examines how social media facilitates Hindutva’s rise, the mechanics of its digital mobilisation, and the broader socio-political implications of this phenomenon.