S1E27: India is now a ‘Hindu nation’

  • 5 Feb 2024

The sociological and political implications of the temple to the Hindu God Rama that was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India on Jan 22, 2024. 

Synopsis: Join The Straits Times' associate editor and senior Asia columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distils his experience from four decades of covering the continent.

In this episode, Ravi speaks with the respected sociologist and head of Indian Century Roundtable Salvatore Babones, an Associate Professor at the University of Sydney.   

They discuss the consecration of the temple, its likely effect on voters in the coming election, unease felt by minority groups and talk by some elements in the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party about a ‘Hindu Vatican’.

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:11 Indian state endorsing religion; ‘secularism’ was added to the Constitution later

8:15 Why temple inauguration is unlikely to affect voters

14:00 Birth of a second Republic?

19:13 How minorities feel

21:47 Some Muslims do vote BJP, says Prof Babones

22:45 The Hindu ‘Vatican’?

Produced by: Ravi Velloor (velloor@sph.com.sg) and Fa’izah Sani

Edited by: Fa’izah Sani

Follow Speaking Of Asia Podcast every second Friday of the month here:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

Ravi Velloor's columns: https://str.sg/3xRP

Ravi Velloor on X: https://twitter.com/RaviVelloor

Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters

---

Discover more ST podcast channels:

COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

---

Special edition series:

True Crimes of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i4Y3 

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

---

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

#STAsianInsider

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.