Asif Mahmood
The Indian NGO RSKS recently launched its book “The Soul of Bharat”. The book dresses India in the language of secularism, constitutional values, and communal harmony. Yet the reality within India tells another story. Under the Modi government, secularism has been hollowed out by the advance of Hindutva ideology. Religious minorities face persecution and violence, making a mockery of the lofty ideals showcased abroad.
India also uses tragedy as a tool. By citing the April 2025 Pahalgam attack, the book’s narrative pushes India’s victimhood to the international stage. The aim is to deflect attention from its own role in sponsoring terror in Pakistan and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Instead of addressing the political roots of the Kashmir conflict, New Delhi clings to militarization and propaganda against Pakistan.
The projection of India as a defender of human rights is equally hollow. Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and UN reports have documented custodial deaths, media censorship, and systematic discrimination. Bulldozer politics targeting Muslim communities, mass arrests of journalists, and suppression of dissent cannot be concealed by international book launches.
Cultural diplomacy becomes a smokescreen. Themes of women’s empowerment and heritage preservation were highlighted at the launch, but the record at home tells another story. India has one of the highest rates of crimes against women in the world, and heritage is used as a political weapon to erase Muslim identity. The demolition of Babri Masjid and the ongoing disputes over Gyanvapi are prime examples of how culture is turned into an instrument of Hindutva.
Equally misleading is the portrayal of India as a peacebuilder. Its actions show the opposite. From interference in neighboring countries to being accused of sponsoring militancy abroad, India has played the role of a regional destabilizer rather than a stabilizer. The image projected at international gatherings is simply not supported by reality.
“The Soul of Bharat” is, therefore, not a tribute to unity or peace. It is a well-polished attempt to rebrand India globally while concealing authoritarianism at home and aggression abroad.
The soul being projected is not one of tolerance or diversity. It is one of Hindutva dominance dressed up in cultural language. The international community must not be misled by propaganda packaged as literature. True peace and harmony cannot come from staged showcases, but from justice, equality, and respect for all communities.