If you’ve ever tuned into the chaotic symphony of Indian politics, one thing becomes abundantly clear: religion isn’t just a subplot—it’s the entire script. From fiery speeches to street protests, the pulse of political discourse in India beats to the rhythm of communal tensions, hurt sentiments, and sacred cows (sometimes literally). Contrast this with a place like the United States, where people are currently up in arms over Trump’s proposed tariffs or socioeconomic policies, and you’ll see a stark divide. In India, it’s rare to see a protest that isn’t tethered to a temple, mosque, or a provocative remark about someone’s god. So, why is Indian politics so overwhelmingly consumed by religion, while the rest of the world seems to march for broader, more tangible causes?
The Indian Obsession with Religious Identity
Let’s start with a recent example. In February 2025, a politician’s offhand comment about a revered saint sparked outrage in Uttar Pradesh. Within hours, roads were blocked, effigies burned, and hashtags trended. The issue wasn’t unemployment, inflation, or crumbling infrastructure—it was a perceived slight to religious honor. This isn’t an anomaly; it’s the norm. Whether it’s the Babri Masjid-Ram Mandir saga, cow vigilantism, or debates over “love jihad,” Indian politics thrives on communal fault lines.
Compare that to the U.S., where protests in early 2025 have centered on Trump’s tariff threats against China and Mexico. Americans are worried about jobs, prices, and economic fallout—practical, bread-and-butter issues. Sure, religion pops up in U.S. politics, especially around abortion or LGBTQ+ rights, but it’s rarely the sole driver. Even in polarized times, the American public rallies around tax cuts, healthcare, or racial justice more than, say, a pastor’s sermon gone wrong.
In India, socioeconomic grievances—poverty, healthcare, education—exist in abundance, yet they’re sidelined. Protests over these issues, like the occasional farmer agitation, do happen, but they’re often overshadowed by the louder, more emotionally charged communal clashes. Why? Because religion in India isn’t just faith—it’s identity, history, and power, all rolled into one combustible package.
A Global Comparison: Protests with Purpose
Look beyond the U.S., and the contrast sharpens. In France, the Yellow Vest movement was about fuel prices and economic inequality. In Chile, mass demonstrations in 2019 erupted over subway fares and spiraled into demands for systemic reform. Even in authoritarian states like Russia, dissent often focuses on corruption or political repression, not just Orthodox Church dogma. These movements aren’t devoid of cultural or historical undertones, but they’re rooted in material concerns—things governments can measurably fix.
In India, though, the trigger is almost always symbolic. Someone insults a deity, a mosque loudspeaker blares too loudly, or a Bollywood film dares to reinterpret history—cue the outrage. The 2021 protests over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) were a rare exception, blending socioeconomic fears with religious identity, but even then, the narrative quickly devolved into Hindu-Muslim binaries. It’s as if India’s political imagination can’t escape the gravitational pull of faith.
Why Religion Reigns Supreme in India
So, what’s driving this? History offers some clues. India’s partition in 1947 left scars that still bleed, embedding religious identity into the national psyche. Decades of vote-bank politics have only deepened the divide, with parties like the BJP, Congress, and regional players mastering the art of stoking communal fires for electoral gain. Add to that a diverse population—Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, and more—each with their own festivals, grievances, and pride, and you’ve got a tinderbox ready to ignite at the slightest spark.
Then there’s the media. Indian news channels thrive on sensationalism, amplifying every religious controversy into a national crisis. A U.S. network might spend days debating tariff impacts on the auto industry; in India, it’s wall-to-wall coverage of a cleric’s fatwa or a temple’s consecration. Social media, especially WhatsApp, pours fuel on the fire, spreading rumors faster than facts.
Contrast this with the U.S., where economic debates dominate because the nation’s founding myth is tied to individualism and prosperity, not divine mandate. India’s story, from ancient epics to colonial resistance, is steeped in spirituality—making it fertile ground for religious politics to flourish.
The Cost of a One-Note Democracy
This obsession comes at a price. While the world protests for jobs, climate action, or equality, India’s energy is spent policing sentiments. Infrastructure crumbles, unemployment soars, and healthcare lags, yet the spotlight stays on the next communal flare-up. It’s not that Indians don’t care about these issues—surveys consistently show economic concerns top voter priorities—but the political machinery keeps redirecting the conversation to faith.
Imagine if the fervor of a religious protest were channeled into, say, fixing India’s broken education system. Or if the outrage over a blasphemous remark fueled a movement for clean water. It’s not impossible—look at the 2011 Anna Hazare anti-corruption protests—but it’s rare. Religion, with its emotional immediacy, drowns out everything else.
Can India Break the Cycle?
Breaking free won’t be easy. Religion’s grip on Indian politics is both a symptom and a cause of deeper fractures. Secularism, enshrined in the Constitution, feels more like a buzzword than a practice. Political parties have little incentive to pivot when polarizing pays off at the ballot box. And the public, conditioned by centuries of communal coexistence and conflict, responds viscerally to religious cues.
Yet, there’s hope. Younger Indians, especially in urban centers, are increasingly vocal about jobs, climate, and governance on platforms like X. The challenge is turning that chatter into street-level momentum—something religion has mastered but socioeconomic causes haven’t.
For now, though, Indian politics remains a theater of gods and grievances. While the U.S. protests tariffs and France riots over pensions, India’s streets will likely stay ablaze over the next hurt sentiment. It’s a democracy as vibrant as it is myopic—where faith isn’t just a part of life, but the only game in town.
