Hindutva pop, often referred to as H-Pop, is a genre of Indian pop music that promotes Hindutva, a Hindu nationalist ideology. The music has become increasingly popular in the 2010s and 2020s and frequently includes Islamophobic lyrics. The songs have sometimes been played on loudspeakers by Hindutva groups during violent attacks on Indian Muslims.
History
Roots In the 1980s and 1990s, the Ram janmabhoomi movement distributed audio-cassette tapes that included Hindutva speeches intermixed with music. One was entitled "Mandir ka nirman karo" ("Build the temple"). Despite some of the tapes being banned by the authorities, many copies were sold. The tapes have been credited with contributing to anti-Muslim violence. Hindutva pop, including the music of Laxmi Dubey and Prem Krishnavanshi, became increasingly popular after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in 2014 and Narendra Modi became Prime Minister. A few years later, Yogi Adityanath, accused of inciting violence, and Sadhvi Pragya, accused of participating in the 2008 Malegaon Blasts, were elected to government office. Professor Anirban K. Baishya has pointed to these events as examples of the "mainstreamization" of Hindutva ideals and imagery that have contributed to the increasing popularity of Hindutva pop. Similarly, Professor Badri Narayan has stated: "Hindutva has changed in the common sense. People have a sense of history and it reaches more popularity through music.” In 2015, a Muslim man was lynched in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh for allegedly eating beef. The arrests of 18 men in connection with the crime were resented by many local residents. This incident and the 2017 election of Yogi Adityanath contributed to the increasing popularity of Upendra Rana, a local Hindutva pop singer. In February 2019, a suicide bomber killed 40 Indian paramilitary soldiers in the Pulwama area of Kashmir. Kavi Singh credits the attack with inspiring her Hindutva pop music career. She recorded a song, "Pulwama mein veeron ne jo jaan desh pe vaari hai" ("The Sacrifices by Our Martyrs in Pulwama"), which blamed Kashmiri Muslims for the attack and called to "finish off that traitor". After the song quickly went viral on WhatsApp, Singh recorded a music video which also went viral.
Communal Violence In April 2017, a Rama Navami procession in Gumla, Jharkhand stopped in front of a mosque and played a Hindutva pop song, leading participants to chant Hindu slogans and provoking Muslims in the area. The police prevented an immediate escalation by stopping the music. A few hours later, some Hindu men who had attended the procession lynched a Muslim man, Mohammad Shalik, after seeing him with a Hindu woman. In April 2022, a Hindutva pop song by Sandeep Chaturvedi was played in Karauli, Rajasthan, during a Hindu New Year celebration. The song threatens violence against "skull-cap wearers", i.e. Muslims. After the procession passed through a Muslim neighborhood, the worst communal violence in the city since Partition erupted, leading to damaged property, injuries of at least 35 people, and arrests of 29 people. Around the same time in Khargone, Madhya Pradesh, a Rama Navami procession played Hindutva pop outside a mosque before attacking and burning the homes of several Muslims. One of the music tracks was created for the event and mixed "Jai Shri Ram" chants with the sounds of a Hindu woman being attacked from the controversial film The Kashmir Files. More than 24 people were injured in the violence. In March 2023, a Rama Navami procession in Bihar Sharif, Bihar, burned several Muslim buildings, including a 110 year old library with historical texts. Local residents reported that the mob played Hindutva pop songs, including one with the lyrics: "Kill them or send them to Pakistan". According to the police, the attack was pre-planned via a WhatsApp group.
Themes and Content H-pop songs often feature catchy dance beats, violent lyrics, and low production values. The vocals are often auto-tuned and performed by untrained singers. H-pop music videos have been described as "garish", "amateurish", and "poorly-synced"; they often feature weaponry and Hindu gods. Typically Hindutva pop songs are in Hindi, but some have also been composed in other languages. Many songs feature the Hindu phrase: "Jai Shri Ram". Singers often wear Hindu symbols: including tilaka, marigold garlands, and saffron clothing. Hindutva pop features a range of Hindu nationalist and anti-Muslim themes. Some songs praise BJP leaders like Narendra Modi or Yogi Adityanath, including songs urging fans to vote for Modi in the 2024 elections. After Modi revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, there were songs celebrating the decision and songs about Hindus moving to Kashmir and marrying Kashmiri women. Other songs glorify historical Hindu leaders or promote casteism. Some songs encourage Hindus to take pride in their religion or call for a Hindu rashtra. Some songs threaten Muslims and mosques with violence, often accusing Muslims of loyalty to Pakistan or warning against love jihad or decrying the demographic threat of Muslims. One of Laxmi Dubey's most popular songs includes the lyric: "Hindustan me rehna hoga, Vande Mataram kehna hoga" ("If you want to stay in India, praise the motherland"). One popular song, Kavi Singh's "Agar chhua mandir toh tujhe dikha denge" ("Don’t Dare Touch the Temple"), threatens Muslims with violence if they touch or look at Hindu temples. Another popular song, Sandeep Acharya's "Aabar Babar Ke Naam se Awadh Me Savchalaye Banwaunga" ("I'll get a toilet made in the name of Babur in Awadh"), references Babri Masjid, a 16th century mosque that was destroyed in 1992. The video features images of people cleaning toilets and children defecating, while the lyrics threaten to make Muslims clean toilets. In one song, Prem Krishnavanshi addresses Muslims: "Insaan nahi ho saalon ho tum kasai, Bohot hua ab hindu muslim bhai bhai" ("You are not humans but butchers, enough of this Hindu-Muslim brotherhood”). In another song, Krishnavanshi praises BJP leader Yogi Adityanath. These two songs have been called "street anthems for right-wing supporters, who chant these verses while passing through Muslim dominated neighbourhoods".
Impact
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