Brahma Prakash analyzes the cultural appropriation of Hindutva

In his work, Brahma Prakash, a theatre and performance studies teacher at Jawaharlal Nehru University, examines how Hindutva appropriates various cultural forms. He analyzes how symbols such as the sword, the bulldozer, and the act of lynching are transformed into expressions of violence and assertion.

Prakash explores the aggression embedded in cultural expressions like music and dance within the movement. He reflects on the personal trauma of witnessing Ram Navami festival celebrations in his home state of Bihar, noting the disconnect between his protests against violence and the participation of his own community in such processions.

Drawing on the revolution-counter-revolution paradigm established by B. R. Ambedkar, Prakash characterizes Hindutva as a counter-revolutionary movement intended to restore old Brahmanical hierarchies.