Freya Thakur
Radicalization arises from a sense of injustice and a desire for belonging, often fuelled by marginalization and deprivation. In India, historical events like colonialism, partition, and communal tensions contribute to this process. Extremist groups exploit identity crises, socioeconomic disparities, and political uncertainties, appealing to youth alienated from mainstream life. Cognitive dissonance, charismatic leaders, and social networks also play significant roles. Religion is often used to legitimize actions, while digital media aids in spreading radical ideologies. Counter-extremism efforts should focus on inclusive identities, addressing grievances, and leveraging psychological insights to create equitable societies, thus reducing extremist threats.
Radicalization is a complicated process by which individuals engage in extremist loyalties against mainstream societal norms and values. Born from a sense of injustice and a deeper desire to belong or identify. The experience of marginalization, or deprival or perceived deprivations tends to grow these individuals into the corners where they are catered to with an ideology that gives them a sense of purpose and unity. India is a region where many forms of extremities blossomed due to many ranks and types that define its teeming society. Colonialism, partition, and a history of communal tensions have left deep wounds in the subcontinent. in the post-independence situation, were unresolved questions of identity, in respect of a multilingual and multi-regional society, massive economic imbalances that led to grave social injustices and inequities, and political uncertainty.
People who usually fall prey to these extremist groups suffer from an identity crisis. Traditional identities, whether religion-based, caste-based, or region-based, are under threat in a fast-globalizing world. Extremist ideologies are attractive to those seeking mental clarity due to their penchant for offering simple, black-and-white answers to complex problems. The role of charismatic leadership in the recruitment and retention of members within extremist groups is also huge. The leaders have an articulate way of expressing grievance, painting a vision of a future better than the present, and an unwavering loyalty towards them. Charismatic leaders, such as Bhindranwale in the Sikh separatist movement or Burhan Wani in the Kashmiri insurgency, amply illustrate the strong influence exerted in India. Religion is usually aligned with identity and politics in India.
Most extremist groups take advantage of religious language to legitimize their actions and to recruit new members. This can be seen in the cases of Hindu nationalist groups, Islamist militants, and Sikh separatists. All these aforementioned organizations capitalized on religion to gather support. Social networks and peer influence are of much more importance in the transmission of extreme ideologies. In India’s closely-knit communities, as stated, the impact of social networks is very high. The advent of digital media has also changed the game for extremist groups in their dissemination of ideology. The ease of spreading any form of radical content is very easy and quick with the aid of social media platforms, encrypted messaging applications, and online forums. In India, with rising internet penetration, this has turned out to be a significant channel for recruitment and propaganda.
Certainly, one of the most common myths that people have is that terrorists are mentally ill or innately violent. Most terrorists do not suffer from psychological derangement, and such actions most often find their basis in issues of social and political context rather than individual psychopathology. The Maoist or Naxalite insurgency has been one of India’s toughest internal security problems. Stemming from the underprivileged tribal communities, born out of their sense of grievance, it feeds on socio-economic disparities and state neglect. The psychological factors of this quest for justice, combined with the influence of various charismatic leaders, have held this insurgency together.
Another variant of extremism is the rise of Hindu nationalist groups. They drew their inspiration from the vision of a Hindu nation of India, whereby communalism led to tensions and violence. The appeal lies in the strong identity and redress of perceived historical wrongs against Hindus. The situation in Kashmir has offered fertile ground for Islamist militancy. Some of the reasons are political disenfranchisement, human rights abuses, and the role of global jihadist narratives that offer a hospitable climate for the radicalization of youth in Kashmir. Here, the psychological need to belong and find an identity becomes a strong motivation.
Counter-extremism efforts should pursue inclusive identities that transcend narrow sectarian lines. This thus gives way to the notion that commonalities and shared values can be highlighted in educational curricula, community programs, and even media campaigns. The drivers for grievances should be addressed. Economic development and equal distribution of resources, with transparent governance, would provide a sense of fairness in society, which again cuts down on fuel for extremism. Successful counter-radicalization programs need to incorporate the lessons that can be learned from psychology. In this context, giving a platform for discussion, encouraging critical thinking, and offering support networks can reduce extremist ideologies’ appeal.
By attending to the root causes of extremism and building inclusive, just, and equitable societies, India will be able to reduce the threats of extremism and face a more peaceful and harmonious future. It combines cognitive, emotional, and social factors to become very complex, so one can thus imply that developing effective prevention and intervention strategies would involve addressing such dynamics holistically. Among the most critical steps towards curbing the incidence of terrorism in India are nurturing more inclusive communities and reducing the attraction of extremist ideology by tackling its core drivers of radicalization.
Freya Thakur is a student pursuing English Literature from Jamia Millia Islamia.
Edited by: Sana Faiz
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of The Jamia Review or its members.
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