Odisha's darkening shadow: Hindutva, patriarchy, and the alarming rise of violence against women

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak

Odisha, once synonymous with peace and tranquility, is grappling with a disturbing surge in violence against women, a crisis exacerbated by the ideological underpinnings of Hindutva politics now at the helm of the state. The tragic self-immolation of a female student in Balasore, a leading member of the ABVP, following unchecked sexual and mental harassment, is not an isolated incident but a chilling symptom of a deeper malaise. Her desperate act, met with a powerful state-wide shutdown on July 17, 2025, underscores a systemic failure to protect women and deliver justice.

The Chief Minister, Mohan Charan Majhi, an RSS-nurtured tribal leader leading the BJP government, has pledged "exemplary" punishment. However, a glance at recent statistics paints a grim picture: seven rape cases in just seventeen days of June 2025, a staggering 30,943 cases of violence against women in 2024 (with 2,834 in June 2024 alone), 6,878 abductions, and 7,584 molestations. These figures shatter Odisha's reputation and expose the BJP-led government's profound inability to ensure women's safety.

This escalating violence, from campuses to workplaces, is not merely a series of individual crimes. It is the systemic outcome of a deeply entrenched feudal, caste-based patriarchal society, rooted in a Brahminical social order that, while glorifying women in their reproductive and domestic roles, consistently denies them equality. Such a society provides fertile ground for the rise of Hindutva politics, which, in turn, seems to legitimize and normalize gender-based violence.

The anti-women stance of the BJP-led government in Odisha finds disturbing resonance in the ideological roots of Hindutva. V.D. Savarkar, a key Hindutva ideologue, in his work Six Glorious Epochs of Indian History, chillingly posits rape as a political weapon, even questioning its "irreligious" nature when perpetrated against enemies. This disturbing justification echoes in the exoneration of rapists and murderers under the current BJP-led Government of India. The insidious Hindutva distinction – glorifying the rape of Muslim women while bemoaning the rape of Hindu women as a historical humiliation – further reveals a deeply problematic and selective approach to sexual violence. Within this framework, the inaction and incompetence of the Odisha government align perfectly with Hindutva's broader ideological stance, reinforcing a system that denies justice and normalizes patriarchal violence.

Despite widespread public dissent, the Government of Odisha and its Hindutva leadership remain eerily silent spectators to these heinous acts. This reflects not just patriarchal apathy but exposes Hindutva's fundamentally flawed approach to gender injustice. Hindutva's opposition to sexual violence stems not from a commitment to gender equality but from a concern for "women's honour, sexual integrity, and purity." This approach fundamentally undermines women's autonomy and dignity as equal citizens, instead perpetuating male privilege under the guise of safeguarding family and community honor within a deeply patriarchal social, political, economic, cultural, and religious order.

The Anjana Mishra rape case once marked the political downfall of the Congress government in Odisha. Today, the sexual harassment case at Fakir Mohan Autonomous College holds the potential to similarly shake the very foundations of Hindutva politics in the state. If public outrage continues to swell, this incident could become a critical turning point, exposing the deep failures of the BJP-led government and challenging the ideological grip of Hindutva.

Therefore, the struggle for women’s empowerment and egalitarian citizenship in Odisha is inextricably linked to the struggle against patriarchal Hindutva politics, its underlying ideology, and all forms of violence against women. Continuous mass mobilization and sustained resistance against the deeply unpopular BJP-led government are paramount for political change and economic progress. In the long run, the fight against patriarchy, caste hierarchies, reactionary cultural values, gender and class discrimination, and exclusionary Hindutva politics is essential to reclaim a peaceful and just Odisha. The political defeat of Hindutva is central to building an egalitarian, prosperous, and progressive state and society.

Comments

The soundtrack of resistance: How 'Sada Sada Ya Nabi' is fueling the Iran war

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* The Persian track “ Sada Sada Ya Nabi ye ” by Hossein Sotoodeh has taken the world by storm. This viral media has cut across linguistic barriers to achieve cult status, reaching over 10 million views. The electrifying music and passionate rendition by the Iranian singer have resonated across the globe, particularly as the high-intensity military conflict involving Iran entered its second month in March 2026.

Kolkata dialogue flags policy and finance deficit in wetland sustainability

By A Representative Wetlands were the focus of India–Germany climate talks in Kolkata, where experts from government, business, and civil society stressed both their ecological importance and the urgent need for stronger conservation frameworks.

Beyond Lata: How Asha Bhosle redefined the female voice with her underrated versatility

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The news of iconic Asha Bhosle’s ‘untimely’ demise has shocked music lovers across the country. Asha Tai was 92 years young. Normally, people celebrate a passing at this age, but Asha Bhosle—much like another legend, Dev Anand—never made us feel she was growing old. She was perhaps the most versatile artist in Bombay cinema. Hailing from a family devoted to music, Asha’s journey to success and fame was not easy. Her elder sister, Lata Mangeshkar, had already become the voice of women in cinema, and most contemporaries like Shamshad Begum, Suraiya, and Noor Jehan had slowly faded into oblivion. Frankly, there was no second or third to Lata Mangeshkar; she became the first—and perhaps the only—choice for music directors and all those who mattered in filmmaking. Asha started her musical journey at age 10 with a Marathi film, but her first break in Hindustani cinema came with the film "Chunariya" (1948). Though she was not the first choice of ...

Maoist activity in India: Weakening structures, 'shifts' in leadership, strategy and ideology

By Harsh Thakor* Recent statements by government representatives have suggested that Maoism in India has been effectively eliminated, citing the weakening of central leadership and intensified security operations. These claims follow sustained counterinsurgency efforts across key regions, including central and eastern India. However, available information from security agencies and independent observers indicates that while the organizational structure of the CPI (Maoist) has been significantly disrupted, elements of the movement remain active. Reports acknowledge the continued presence of cadres in certain forested regions such as Bastar and parts of Dandakaranya, alongside smaller, decentralized units adapting their operational strategies.

From Manesar to Noida: Workers take to streets for bread, media looks away

By Sunil Kumar* Across several states in India, a workers’ movement is gathering momentum. This is not a movement born of luxury or ambition, nor a demand for power-sharing within the state. At its core lies a stark and basic plea: the right to survive with dignity—adequate food, and wages sufficient to afford it.

Midnight weeping: The sociology of tragic vision in Badri Narayan’s poetry

By Ravi Ranjan* Badri Narayan, a distinguished Hindi poet and social scientist, occupies a unique position in contemporary Indian intellectual life by bridging the worlds of creative literature and critical social inquiry. His poetic journey began significantly with the 1993 collection 'Saca Sune Hue Kaï Dina Hue' (Truth Heard Many Days Ago). As a social historian and cultural anthropologist, Narayan pioneered a methodological shift away from elite archives toward the oral traditions and folk myths of marginalized communities. He eventually legitimized "folk-ethnography" as a rigorous academic discipline during his tenure as Director of the G.B. Pant Social Science Institute.

Why link women’s reservation to delimitation? The unspoken political calculus

By Vikas Meshram* April 16, 2026, is likely to be recorded as a special day in the history of Indian democracy. In a three-day special session of Parliament, the central government is set to introduce a comprehensive package of three historic bills: the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026; the Delimitation Bill, 2026; and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The stated purpose of all three is the same: to implement the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (106th Constitutional Amendment) passed in 2023. However, the political intent concealed behind these measures — and their impact on the federal balance — is far more profound. It is absolutely essential to understand this.

'It's power grab, not reform': Uttarakhand hills fear marginalization under new delimitation

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The proposed delimitation bill, coupled with the women’s reservation bill, is a calculated attempt to divert attention during state elections while laying the groundwork for long-term power consolidation through a north Indian hegemony. India’s constitution-making process was arduous, but it was guided by leaders deeply committed to unity and integrity. They ensured no community felt betrayed, and the foundation of modern India was laid on inclusivity. Any attempt to alter this balance must be approached with caution and respect for that legacy.

Catholic union opposes FCRA amendments, warns of threat to Church institutions

By A Representative The All India Catholic Union (AICU) has raised serious concerns over what it describes as growing threats to religious freedom, minority rights, and constitutional safeguards in India, warning that recent policy and legislative trends could undermine the country’s secular and federal framework.

Search This Blog