The instrumental politics of the Hindu right in Jharkhand

Abstract

Abstract Chapter 3 investigates the Hindu right’s vernacular and instrumental contours, focusing on how the right has accommodated Adivasi identity politics and those of other marginalized groups as part of a strategy for expanding its social base in Jharkhand. The chapter reveals that while instrumental accommodation may diversify ethnic representation within a party, it does not lead to positive group standing among marginalized members. Consequently, looking at the protests that followed the introduction of the Jharkhand Freedom of Religion Act 2017, which restricts religious conversion among Adivasis, the chapter reveals that while Jharkhand has a long history of such religious conversion as a survival mechanism in times of crisis, this has not changed the significance of assertions for Adivasi identity. The chapter therefore shows how the Hindu right’s assimilationist strategies have prompted new claims for recognition from Adivasi and non-Adivasi groups alike in Jharkhand.