Abstract
Profound changes in an increasingly global world compel us to re-examine our notions of culture and identity. Preserving one’s heritage, and understanding one’s culture attains new significance; religious identity becomes an easy anchor in a rapidly changing world. Recently in India, violence particularly against religious minorities has raised questions about asserting one’s religious identity and citizenship. This paper will examine the intersection of religious identity, globalization, and media coverage as evidenced in the recent violence against Christians in some parts of India. In post-independence India, religious stirrings have been common, including violent conflagrations between members of Muslim and Hindu groups. However, in recent times, a new religious violence flared up—attacks on the Catholic minority in India. Because of the long history of peaceful relations between India’s Hindu majority and Catholic minority in Karnataka, the attacks on Catholics and their property were highly unusual. Thus, the Indian media reported the information through newspaper, magazine, and television coverage. The internet was another place where the attacks were recorded and discussed. The stories depicted not only attacks on Catholic churches, but also the subsequent community protests and peaceful engagement. Furthermore, the series of church attacks were ambiguous because they deviated from the previous pattern of Hindu- Muslim clashes, particularly in Mangalore, Karnataka. When the media are confronted with ambiguous situations, reporting the news becomes more challenging. Often, the circumstances are highly fluid, resisting neat resolutions. This paper will contextualize the religious violence and its reporting in a globalized India.
Keywords : Media and Globalization, Religious Voilence, Impact of Media Coverage on Society.
View PDF