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Media and ICT Systems, Globalisation, Militarism and Fundamentalisms by Anuradha M

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Media and ICT Systems, Globalisation, Militarism and Fundamentalisms by Anuradha M Media and ICT Systems, Globalisation, Militarism and Fundamentalisms By Anuradha M. Chenoy This paper was presented during the panel on globalised media and ICT systems and structures and their interrelationship with fundamentalism and militarism organised by Isis International-Manila during the World Social Forum in Mumbai, India in January 2004. \ he ICT systems, seen as a global 'open Such systems are replicated in many countries. In India, one ofthe leaders in ICTs, most ofus get three types i space' for information, have been a driv- of spam e-mail. The first is entitled something hke "Are -j ing force for globalisation. Do these you a true Indian?" or "Traitors ofIndia," etc. The second technologies promote global integration or seg type is generally a sex/pom site-related message or ad regation? Can they be used to advocate peace vertisement for Viagra,etc. The third is a commercial. This or militarism? Two aspects of their origins is neither coincidental nor unrelated. It is in keeping with the dominant ideological onslaught of our times that re should be remembered. First, they were es flect the intersecting ideologies of globalisation, sentially funded by the U.S. government as militarisation,fundamentahsm and patriarchy. part of military technology; and second, they "Media and ICT" has special meaning for fundamen were meant to be the cutting-edge precursor talist groups—they want to go back to 'tradition' but want and reason for neo-liberal globalisation that to use the latest technology to do so. In India, Hindu na- dissolves national barriers for the free flow of tionahst groups that comprise the Sangh Parivar^—the finance, technology and information. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh(RSS), Shiv Sena,Bajrang Dal, Durga Vahini, and the Bhartiya Janta Party at the helm of the outgoing ruling coalition^—use ICT and me In fact, one of Mikhael Gorbachev's reasons for glasnost and restructuring was the fear of being cut off dia at various levels. from new ICT systems. It was thus after the Soviet col Chauvinist nationalism is premised on the idea of an lapse that the ICT systems took on their more 'open and Indian nation identified primarily with the majority Hindu global' force (penetration, as they call it in the industry) religious community. The Sangh family has at its base and ushered in what the Americans call a unipolar world the ideology of Hindutva, which uses aspects of the Hin that has re-enforced militarisation, patriarchy and fun duism to collapse religion and culture as primary to a damentalism. Hindu identity and nation or Hindutva. The Sangh fam ily wants to carry out this project of homogenisation by While many of us are delighted by being able to de 'liberating brethren'fr om their cultural enslavement and velop alternate networks through e-mail and the Internet, using militant force for their cause. The Internet is in the largest users of the ICT systems continue to be mili creasingly used by the Sangh Parivar affiliates to propa tary and surveillance groups now being increasingly pri gate its message that used to be given in their traditional vatised such as the San Diego-hased Science Applications early morning shakas. Shakas are branches organised at International Corporation, which occupies the 294"' slot the grassroots level where training of cultural national in the Fortune 500 list oflargest companies. This dot com ism is given to cadres. company works primarily on surveillance for U.S. spy agen cies.^ It collects information by monitoring phone calls, e- At the topmost(national) level, the coverage of party mail and any electronic communication. Its programme issues by public and private TV networks and newspa Tera Text processes two billion documents every four sec pers are assessed daily at the RSS headquarters and at onds by identifying patterns and connections between the home of the senior minister. Per the narration ofjour names, terms and ideas. This is a classic example of the nalists, the group calls key players to influence the sto convergence of media, telecom and computing in enhanc ries. It cultivates "friendship" with some journalists who ing corporate power, demonstrated by the controls of the then become privy to important stories and receive news financial markets. 1-aOQ4 29 corporatised media and ICT structures and systems «JEl[±xxd.'a.lijni^;y.ox*g fomattni 4 tfc« W*«te »l ti»g Urij leaks.' Throughout, there is an attempt to keep these re lationships subtle. The mass organisations of the Sangh Parivar, espe M«»lfa» t» Tr»wtrtt FMO to alta ■wH3» Ji cially the more militant wings like the Bajrang Dal, the AonLjmirriMUipw Shiv Sena and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, run a large number of special websites where the main theme is the SZNDOS 0 : ANTINATIONALS ] ^njsan ! BJP LOOSES. SONIA WDtS. construction of a Hindutva nation. Cadres committed to Tkfi rc#ii&3 af« bcrt tlcp*cWd in Uie ptcuae ixia^- Bh«rst tnflncxr blc«l eadittriy. Hindutva send out mass e-mail. These websites and mes sages generally contain: (1) a picture of India with either Hindu religious sites or symbols; -imm (2) press clippings on Muslims' involvement in violence against Hindus and Christians' conversion to Hinduism; (3) threats to known secular figures who oppose Hindutva J f* »r «>• FMiMe TcMb pohcies; la] (4) glorification of the Army; and (5) messages about women in Hindutva. Websites and mass Cyber-messaging from Hindutva e-groups like hinduunity.org, saffrontigers.org or hindunet. org systematically put out stories that highlight the In dian Muslims and the Christians as the 'other.' These minorities are linked to religions and cultures alien to Hindutva Hindu culture and therefore anti-Hindu and anti-nationaM Veer Savarkar and M.S. Golwalker, revered as the progenitors of the RSS ideas of Hindutva, believe only those who regard India as both their pitribhu (fa therland) and punyabhu (holy land) can be Hindus.® All others are thus excluded from citizenship. All other reli gious groups are viewed as outsiders that came to India to "rob and plunder."® A theory of citizenship is thus created on the Net. With this, the large Indian diaspora can re gain identity and contribute to this virtual and chauvinist nationalism via the Net. A number of websites are run by non-resident Indi ans (NRIs) in North America. These websites argue that although conversions were forcibly carried out, the "con I Clink hnm - got ovor 2,500 frc '4:f w ^ verts" remained loyal to foreign religions and nations. The fsanrfcea 1' Find ] f MytfinOuMa ) (" H>idiJle> and You ) [ Sa<a.'Acti^ni ] ( WergdhiB ] ( WhafgN^ "| Indian Muslims are special targets because of the coun try's long-standing dispute with Pakistan, considered In • VHP lo decide on Ayodhya issue on July 2 • Balhing Festrwi AJ Jagannalh Pun Temple HratuMel CiJfcig Cards ^ dia's main 'enemy' in public consciousness. The Sangh CaS IraSa from e eetdo • Hindu temple musi go, says JTC . em U)b SJyie per mffiuie • hten 'age and Fan*/ • Sengkang's new Hindu temple i From HMuWf • Afler Delhi. Lucknow plans 'monkey ashram' Parivar repeatedly stresses that Muslims were responsi Touism ' Hugging saint relume lo East Say worship cite • CoaaictY [ Mom . ble for the past excesses of Mughal feudal rulers that de I lindutler Canwnefltaty Sri Rama Havami Ff« Speech ana Secatolsni ^ > Cn Rsne Mavsn stroyed Hindu temples and violated Hindu women in or OyO A^y Sheh . Apr 1.2004 ' Races Hawd Rectn der to destroy Hindu culture. BamlatsniWioocnl 9 Comprehsnshei Shoppror SiVHiitfe tndia News Ccrrerage i WerthanaliK In their militant cultural essentialism, the Sangh '» lovyn btpgs, , Cj Send CRs lo todt WOO Forni Parivar not only targets the 'other' hut also homogenises Hinduunity.org, saffrontigers.org and hindunet.org the 'majority" community itself. For example, the move systematical ly put out stories that highlight the Indian ment clusters distinct religions like Jainism, Buddhism Muslims and Christians as the other. The aggregate effect of such both genders in traditional roles: the men are the protec tors and the women, the reproducers and nurturers of Gommunalism, however high the family and the nation who should be honoured. Those 1 who challenge such roles and even dare to many outside tech, is to encourage the religion are victims of attack now waged by e-mail stalkers. discrimination and fear based The statements ofSangh Parivar leaders,ideologues on an imagined threat. Right and cadres reflect the basic tenets of the Sangh philoso phy of cultural nationalism, militarism and masculinity. wing forces in civil society have The other part of this theory can be explained in Savarkar's words:"Our real national regeneration should to be fought by progressive start with the moulding of man, instilling in him the strength to overcome human frailties and stand him up forces within civil society. as a real symbol of Hindu manhood."'" Underlying these tasks is the message of a re-assertion of Hindu manhood, and Sikhism as mere offshoots of Hinduism. The purpose which is constantly present in documents, speeches and is to homogenise the divided and plural Hindu traditions, web messages. For instance, RSS writers argue that the assimilating or marginalising the minor and multiple tra dormant Hindu man needs to be awakened:"The lion ofa ditions into a false version called Hindutva that never man who has been caged for centimes has become oblivi existed at any time in history. The Sangh Parivar keeps ous of his own manhood."" such tensions rife, especially as an electoral strategy to mobilise and 'unify' the caste- and class-divided Hindu The official website ofthe Bajrang Dal calls upop the community, which they believe can become cohesive only five-lakh cadres and other "warriors ofthe Hindutva revo when confronted by an enemy nation with internal link lution" to protect Hinduism against its historic enemies.
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