Pornosexualizing “The Muslim”

Abstract

While the “Muslim terrorist” is constructed as a grave threat to the national security of India as well as to the personal security of Hindus by the Hindu nationalists, this is not the biggest danger. In the long term, what is seen as even more lethal to the existence of the Hindu nation is the specter of “overpopulating Muslims.” Islam is said to pose a threat to Hindus not only through tools of fear, but also through attraction. Muslims seduce the Hindus through propaganda, lies, money, and the promise of a better life. To repeat my disclaimer—I do not imply that Muslims seduce Hindus or have launched demographic warfare. I am identifying and critically analyzing stereotypes marshalled within Hindu nationalism and for the sake of uninterrupted flow, I avoid peppering the text with “according to Hindutva” or “in the Hindu nationalist view”; but these qualifiers are implied in all Islamophobic statements here. Another warning is about language—impolite quotations from hate-filled pamphlets or lascivious views from Hindutva activists are being used. Without quoting them, the offensive strand of Hindu extremism cannot be identified or challenged.