Role of Social Media in Indian ‘Nationalism’ and ‘National Identity’ in Twenty-First Century: Case Study of India

Social media have afforded the masses once lacking a space to voice out their opinions an inclusive communicative platform. They bring information to the people instantly, making the latter aware of events unfolding in the moment. But, with every abundant resource comes a responsibility in terms of how to properly use it. This chapter explores the discourses and debates happening on social media about India’s nationalism and national identity. As the politicians debate in parliament or on traditional mainstream news channels, their followers, party–workers, sympathisers engage on social media to prove their narrative of nationalism is right and just. With the spread of ‘Hindu nationalism’, especially through social media posts which many a times have less fact and more emotional content, people in India (mainly the Hindu) are exaggerating their differences with others (especially Muslims). There have been instances of vandalisation of statues of activists and leaders and the lynching of people belonging to a particular religious community after social media posts spurred ‘nationalist ideas’. The keyboard warriors of particular identity groups come together on social media against the abject ‘others’ to propagate their own ideas of the nation-state and Hindu nationalism. This study highlights the effects of social media on the delicate weave of a post-colonial secular India where the public have started to participate actively in the political discourse through the spaces provided by social media. This chapter is essential as certain religious communities in India still feel the need for social recognition, justice and assimilation into the national imaginary.