Media Narratives on Hinduism
A Study of Digital News Portals
Keywords:
Hinduism, Religion, Media Discourse, Hinduphobia, Left Leaning , Narratives, NewsAbstract
Mass media has become a vital source of information on religions, shaping how contemporary religious issues are understood. Religious ideas are now widely “mediated” across formats like print, audio-visual, and digital media, with both mainstream and social media commonly used by religious organisations to share their messages. In a diverse and complex society like India, examining the relationship between media and religion is essential, yet focused academic study on media portrayals of Hinduism remains limited. This paper, “Media Narratives on Hinduism: A Study of Digital News Portals”, examines the representation of Hinduism and Hindu-related issues in Indian digital news media, focusing on left-leaning platforms. It explores how portals like The Quint and The Wire frame Hinduism and Hindutva across various significant national events, including the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Supreme Court’s Ram Mandir verdict, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), and major Hindu festivals such as Diwali and Holi. By using Robert Entman’s theory of news framing, the study identifies four recurring frames applied by these outlets: (1) the militant aspect of Hindutva, (2) the potential threat of Hindu majoritarianism, (3) the marginalisation of minorities by perceived Hindutva forces, and (4) the cultural detachment of Hindu society from its heritage, or de-Hinduization. Through a content analysis of forty articles published from May 2019 to May 2020, supplemented by interviews with eight media and religious experts, the research explores the extent to which these frames contribute to an anti-Hindu or Hinduphobic sentiment. These narratives often label Hinduism and its adherents with terms like "extremist," "bhakts," "hostile saffron," and "communal Hindu." The study also considers whether this media portrayal is influenced by political motives, particularly in opposition to the ruling BJP government, which is seen as pro-Hindu. Overall, the findings highlight the influence of digital media on religious and political discourse in India, underscoring a need for balanced and inclusive representation of Hinduism to foster cultural understanding.