Talk by Dr. Denzil Fernandes SJ on 22nd April, 2024 The Changing Nature of the Indian State: A Christian Perspective
About the Talk
India’s secular, democratic and federal fabric has been declining. The country is losing its secular character and becoming a state that is politicizing the Hindu religion for electoral gains. From a democratic state, India has created a legal framework that promotes authoritarian tendencies. Although Indian economic policy has profited from socialist policies and rights-based laws, India’s economy is now being led by a few corporates. Furthermore, India is moving from a federal union of states, towards a state, where the balance of power is increasingly in favour of the centre. In this context, the minority Christian community is being targeted by state and non-state actors by spreading false narratives on forced conversions.
About the Speaker
Dr. Denzil Fernandes SJ is a Jesuit social scientist, who was the former Executive Director of the Indian Social Institute, a premier Jesuit social research institute based in New Delhi (2015-2023). During the same period he was also the editor of the social science journal Social Action. He was conferred the Delhi Minorities Commission Human Rights Award 2019.