Mediatisation of a New Imperial Spirituality in Contemporary India

This study examines the following aspects: mediatisation and empire-building; mediatisation and a new emperor; the ethical implications of mediatisation in India; and concluding remarks. Through this analysis, the connection between the government, religion, and media is highlighted, as new imperial and majoritarian spiritual initiatives arise. While the Constitution of India grants the press the right to freedom of the press, the media in the country tends to align with the government as an ally and promote an authoritarian agenda. The media collaborates with the government and supports a new spirituality centred around Narendra Modi. Although there is an unethical spread of media in the country, risking the rights and privileges of marginalised communities, a new emperor and a new empire are introduced to the people. The political authority of India can be understood in relation to sacred symbolism through various strategies of Hinduisation. The process of ritualised media amplification repeatedly emphasises specific government events with emotional coverage, seemingly framing its involvement as a cultural ritual on several occasions. The media seeks to marginalise dissent by labelling protesters as deviant, while mostly projecting opposition leaders and parties as inefficient. Moreover, there are efforts to frame morality in majoritarian terms by emphasising the values, beliefs, and sentiments of the majority population.