Fear of majoritarianism not unfounded: US historian

Events unfolding in India in the past six months, including the "rise of Hindutva politics", is a stark reminder that the fears of rise of majoritarianism were not entirely unfounded, according to noted US historian and author David Lelyveld.
The scholar, who delivered a lecture at Aligarh Muslim University, today said it would be a mistake "to indulge in euphoria" regarding any major dividends from US President Barack Obama's visit to India.
He also felt a large section of opinion in the US "does not agree with the haste with which President Obama has revoked the denial of a US visa to Prime Minister Narendra Modi" and said his decision to visit India would have damaged President Obama's image "as a champion of human rights in the world."

"I am sorry to say that the events which have been unfolding in India during the past six months in which religious fundamentalism and the rise of Hindutva politics are stark reminder that the fears of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan regarding the rise of majoritarianism were not entirely unfounded," he said referring to the AMU founder.
In reply to a question regarding the fallout of Obama's upcoming visit to India, Lelyveld said, "It would be a mistake to indulge in euphoria regarding any major dividends from the President's visit to India. I think that a select group of corporates, both in India and the US, could reap the harvest of President Obama's visit. But for the common people of the two countries, to gain anything substantive, remains a moot point".

He said, "there is a large section of opinion in the USA, which does not agree with the haste with which President Obama has revoked the denial of a US visa to Prime Minister Narendra Modi".
"We may disagree with former President George Bush on many issues but on this, his stand was correct. Mr. Modi was denied the US visa because of US government's unequivocal regard for the cause of human rights in the world. President Obama's hasty visit to India, disregarding the concerns which President Bush had rightly addressed to, have certainly damaged President Obama's image as a champion of human right in the world," he added.