UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations 1-1-1996 The Bharatiya Janata Party of India: A social movement striving for political dominance Joel Aaron Lauer University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/rtds Repository Citation Lauer, Joel Aaron, "The Bharatiya Janata Party of India: A social movement striving for political dominance" (1996). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 3284. http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/bw9o-jt80 processed, response: 201 This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. 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Further reproduction prohibited without permission. THE BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY OF INDIA: A SOCIAL MOVEMENT STRIVING FOR POLITICAL DOMINANCE by Joel Aaron Lauer A thesis sulm itted in partial fUlfiHnient of the requirements for the degree of M aster o f Arts in Communicatfon Studies Greenspun School o f Communication University of Nevada, Las Vegas Mayl 1997 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMX Number: 1385182 UMI IVficroform 1385182 Copyright 1997, by UMI Company. Ail rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 1997 Joel Aaron Lauer AH Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. The thesis of Joel Aaron Lauer for the degree of Master of Arts in Communication Studies is approved ) Chairperson, Richard Jensen, Ph D. Examining Cbmwtee Member, Gage Chapel, Ph D __________________ Examinmg Committee Member, B ëW n Pickering, Ph D. G f^uate Faculty Representative, Donald Cams, Ph D. Dean of the Graduate College, Ronald W. Smith, Ph D. University of Nevada, Las Vegas May 1997 u Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT There has been a rise in religious nationalism over the past two decades throughout the world. This study will focus on one political party that has gained much of its popularity through the appeal to Hindu nationalism: The Bharatiya Janata Party of India ( The BJP). This study will use James Darseys catalytic event model to study the events that have shaped the BJP, the rhetorical periods that these events spurred, and the values of the BJP during these periods. This study has also incorporated "The Evil" from Robert Frykenbergs model to attempt to show what group the BJP criticizes during each period. ui Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT...........................................................................................................................in ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS................................................................................................... v CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................... 1 Purpose....................................................................................................................... 2 Justification..............................................................................................................2-3 Literature Review.................................................................................................. 3-10 Methodology........................................................................................................10-12 CHAPTER 2: THE BJP IS BORN......................................................................................13 Historical Overview............................................................................................. 13-16 The Evfl. .....................................................................................................................16 Value Appeals......................................................................................................17-23 CHAPTER 3: THE BJP RETURNS TO ITS RADICAL ROOTS...................................24 Historical Overview............................................................................................ 24-38 The Evfl. ..............................................................................................................38-39 Value Appeals ..................................................................................................... 39-41 CHAPTER 4: RADICALIZATION CONTINUES: RAM RAJYA AND HINDUTVA.42 Historical Overview............................................................................................ 42-56 The Evfl ..................................................................................................................... 56 Value Appeal ...................................................................................................... 56-61 CHAPTER 5: THE MODERATION OF THE BJP .......................................................... 62 Historical Overview............................................................................................ 62-73 The Evfl. .................................................................................................................... 73 Value Appeals .......................................................................................................... 74 CHAPTER 6: A MOVEMENT SEARCHING FOR ITS SOUL...................................... 75 Looking to the Future ......................................................................................... 75-80 Implications......................................................................................................... 80-85 BIBLIOGRAPHY........................................................................................................... 86-93 IV Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express ity appreciation to Dr. Richard Jensen, Ph.D., Dr Barbara Pickering, Ph.D., Dr. Gage Chapel, Ph.D., and Dr. Donald Cams, Ph.D. for their assisstance and encouragement in the formulation and completion of this thesis. I would also like to express thanks to ny wife, Beclty, and James and Nancy Lauer for their encouragement and support. Finally, I would like to express thanks to the UNLV debate team and staff for their support during my two years working on this thesis. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION India is often referred to as "the country of tolerance” by world leaders around the world, but this label is actualfy a ntyth propagated by the Indian government many years ago in an attempt to maintain stability. This label has been shown to be opposite to anything that India has experienced since the beginning o f the 1980's (Mahmood, 1993). Until recently, the Indian government successfully maintained the appearance of stability. However, India has experienced more ethnic strife from 1980 to 1997 than it did from 1949, the year that India was recognized as a country, to 1979 (Swany, December 18, 1996). The BJP ( Bharattya Janata Party of India)