The article addresses the challenges faced by Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) in India, particularly within the context of a Hindu majoritarian state under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It highlights how varying regulations aimed at limiting dissent and infringing on the activities of religious and civic groups have evolved, particularly since the BJP came to power in 2014.
The authors explore how FBOs from different religious traditions navigate this constricted civic space. While many FBOs adopt similar strategies emphasizing secularism and apolitical service, their experiences differ based on their historical and social contexts. The research explicitly examines organizations from five faith traditions—Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Christianity, and Buddhism—illustrating that while these groups share concerns about state repression, their interactions with the state vary widely.
The Hindu nationalist government’s ideology fosters selective marginalization of non-Hindu groups, affecting how FBOs operate. Many minority-led FBOs hesitate to be critical of the state due to fears of backlash, focusing instead on service delivery to establish their legitimacy and gain support. In contrast, certain Dalit Buddhist organizations have taken a more confrontational stance against the government, criticizing its casteist policies, highlighting a diversity of tactics among different faith groups.
The article underscores the intersection of secularism and politics in India, where FBOs navigate these complexities while holding onto their religious convictions. Despite attempts to remain apolitical, many FBOs see advocacy as essential to their missions. The authors call for an enhanced understanding of the nuanced roles that FBOs play within the framework of a repressive regime and note the need for contextually grounded approaches in studying the interaction between faith and civic spaces globally.
