Orange garments, violent hate speech against Muslims, multiple instruments and consistent chanting constitute the anatomy of a basic Hindutva pop song. Swaddled in gold and saffron, Laxmi Dubey, one of the most popular Hindutva pop artists has uploaded several music videos on YouTube with millions of views, where she engages in anti-Muslim sloganeering, direct attacks on Islamic injunctions, the state of Pakistan, hateful statements regarding the issue of Kashmir and Modi and BJP’s political aggrandization.
What’s concerning is not just that people like Laxmi Dubey are some of the most popular national icons in India at the moment, but also the fact that through her green screen music videos, YouTube monetization and public shows, she is estimated to be earning 68 Lacs per year. Dubey’s most-listened to song has more than 50 million views. But there is an ensemble of popstars just like her.
Following the 2014 election victory for Bharatiya Janata Party, the country has embarked on a journey of extreme polarization and radical hate against Muslims, Islam and Pakistan. Dubey’s words “Hindustan mein rehna hai tou vande matram kehna seekho” [Translation: If you want to live in India, learn how to say Vande Matram] epitomize perfectly the jingoistic philosophy of nationwide hatred for the Muslim community. In this political atmosphere, films, music, poetry and other forms of art all turned in service of the most influential political campaign of the time.
Krishnavanshi is another such musician whose songs often embody the strongly felt sentiment of expelling all Muslims from the India and sending them “back” to Pakistan, which is neither their home country nor where they want to live. These songs are akin to a full-fleged battle cry, announcement of an all out war against Muslims and Islamic identity formations, attacking historical symbols of the Mughal-era and contemporary national symbols of Pakistan, rallying violent support against the Muslims of India.
The famous juvenile Jamia shooter from India rose to prominence when he was apprehended on January 30, 2020 for opening fire at a crowd of unarmed protestors from Jamia. He is also an associated to the famous Hindutva militant leader Deepak Tyagi, who alleged that a 10 year-old Muslim boy, who had accidentally wandered into a temple, was a trained killer. This Jamia shooter and his friends have recorded videos of abduction and assault against Muslims in India which are played against the backdrop of the Hindutva ‘pop’ music. These videos are viral on Indian social media and are standing in to exemplify the far-reaching impact of music on politics and vice versa.
