[aprilthird2021]

I don't feel as if politics is a low stakes discussion in India, especially the religious end of political discussion. There are so many incidents of full blown riots and violence and killings over what people say about this and that religion or how you portray or don't portray this and that figure.

[binary132]

That’s because it’s an identity thing. And it’s not just religion, it’s also different groups (right?) who have different opinions about what territory belongs to those groups. Is that something which frequently comes up as a subject of debate at table stakes political discussions? I don’t know how common it is for those conflicting parties to interact, but something tells me they don’t discuss politics about it calmly together.

[aprilthird2021]

Identity, caste, religion, and ethno-linguistic grouping are the backbone of Indian politics, so yes these things come up whenever any political topics come up

[binary132]

and these debates happen peaceably between members of conflicting groups? doubt.

[aprilthird2021]

No I took the opposite position

[sunshowers]

Religion absolutely is very high stakes. But there is a very deep seated cynicism about electoral politics in much of the country.

[aprilthird2021]

Yeah I agree, especially as many politicians sort of buy off the right communities to basically have the vote finished before we go to the polls