A Hindu soldier and a Muslim poet show how religious identities overlapped in 19th-century India

A scholar of India explores how two 19th-century memoirs portray a land where different religious identities coexist.

By: Aishwarya Lakshmi, Rice University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: August 18, 2026

Words: 1,156

Last Updated: 5 hours, 21 minutes ago

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By Aishwarya Lakshmi, Rice University

The growing assertion of a majority Hindu identity is fueling debates about religious pluralism in India. A 2025 Washington-based research group report documented a steady, incremental increase in hate speech since 2023 targeting religious minorities in India, while Human Rights Watch reported a rise in religious and communal violence in 2024. Much of this rhetoric and violence has been justified as defending religious identity.

When India became independent in …

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