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As an Indian who runs several political groups this is at best shoddy reporting by foreign media. Often NGOS in USA use this kind of news reporting to generate

As an Indian who runs several political groups this is at best shoddy reporting by foreign media. Often NGOS in USA use this kind of news reporting to generate more donations for themselves by showing this poverty porn to their rich donors. Lynchings do not get triggered by text. Indian people, even the poorest ones are not that stupid. Most often it is a case of genuine crime that the government fails to address. Recently two people of lower castes were badly beaten up for "using water of higher caste".[1] In reality the owner of the well was of even lower caste. The boys were swimming and pissing in the only well the entire region had of drinkable water. After several complains and requests the owner took matters into his own hands. For almost every single lynching that media reports as "whatsapp driven", the further detailed investigations point out either deep personal grudge, network of crimes such as cow thefts or pure political murder disguised as mob justice. I have not come across 1 single instance were people just killed someone for a whatsapp message. [1] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/2-dalits-caned-paraded-naked-in-maharashtra-for-swimming-in-well-of-upper-caste-man/articleshow/64595266.cms https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-natio...

thewarrior 8y ago
Whenever any criticism of India turns up online a vocal and combative section always turns up dismissing all criticism as some bizarre media conspiracy. Eventually the thread gets flagged and it goes off the front page. What are you even trying to argue ? That the lynchings might have legitimate reasons ? Doesn’t change the fact that they are lynchings. Many parts of rural India are quite lawless and mob justice is the rule. You can be killed for the mere suspicion of having killed a cow. Now fake videos circulating via WhatsApp have worsened the problem. Even a cursory google search can find evidence of WhatsApp lynchings https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-44435127 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-44435127
- eklavya 8y ago
  A lot of noise/hatred/fear is also generated for all sorts of reasons by hiding facts and portraying a very particular picture. But what you are saying is also true. Do you think it's only India/Indians though?
  - thewarrior 8y ago
    I’m Indian myself and I agree it doesn’t feel good to see your country constantly stereotyped by Westerners. But we don’t need to be defensive either. India is the largest functioning democracy on the planet and that’s nothing to sneeze at. Some international exposure on such problems might atleast convince those in charge to do a better job keeping things under control. If India wants to join the league of the US EU etc then we must be prepared to be judged on those metrics. China is getting more autocratic by the day and apart from the occasional post no one is as concerned because it isn’t really expected of them to hold up to democratic ideals.
    - Karishma1234 8y ago
      > If India wants to join the league of the US EU etc then we must be prepared to be judged on those metrics. Sorry. I do not agree at all. You think India can crawl on all 4 and these countries will give India a seat at the white people's club ? India will not win by playing into the hands of euro-us centrism. Our problems are ours to solve and US/UK etc. should butt out.
      - thewarrior 8y ago
        Well acknowledging actual issues isn’t crawling on all fours. This isn’t about a seat at the white peoples club either. International pressure has achieved many productive outcomes like the ending of Apartheid for example.
- Karishma1234 8y ago
  I am not claiming media conspiracy, I am claiming media incompetency. > Many parts of rural India are quite lawless and mob justice is the rule I am the one who is living in rural India, they are not lawless provinces of Afghanistan. Most Indian villages have strong social structures, local laws and ways to resolve disputes even outside government run courts. I am claiming that foreign media just dumbs down things that they can not understand without putting efforts to find facts. Are you going to trust BBC on issues that happen in India ? Is there any chance that the BBC rep himself is simply fabricating a story over phones ?
fortythirteen 8y ago
The headline of your linked article is: > 2 Dalits caned, paraded naked in Maharashtra for swimming in well of upper caste man and you said the two were boys, so is it true that this guy caned and paraded two boys naked around the village for messing with his well? If so, I think this only confirms the foreign media's narrative.
eklavya 8y ago
About your example: There is a group with a very strong desire to preempt all facts and evidences and paint a particular picture. If those people are to be believed Indian culture teaches rape, murder and intolerance and that we are proud of it. I don't understand how could anyone buy that but people do, both here and outside.

thewarrior 8y ago

Whenever any criticism of India turns up online a vocal and combative section always turns up dismissing all criticism as some bizarre media conspiracy. Eventually the thread gets flagged and it goes off the front page. What are you even trying to argue ? That the lynchings might have legitimate reasons ? Doesn’t change the fact that they are lynchings. Many parts of rural India are quite lawless and mob justice is the rule. You can be killed for the mere suspicion of having killed a cow. Now fake videos circulating via WhatsApp have worsened the problem. Even a cursory google search can find evidence of WhatsApp lynchings https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-44435127 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-44435127

eklavya 8y ago
A lot of noise/hatred/fear is also generated for all sorts of reasons by hiding facts and portraying a very particular picture. But what you are saying is also true. Do you think it's only India/Indians though?
- thewarrior 8y ago
  I’m Indian myself and I agree it doesn’t feel good to see your country constantly stereotyped by Westerners. But we don’t need to be defensive either. India is the largest functioning democracy on the planet and that’s nothing to sneeze at. Some international exposure on such problems might atleast convince those in charge to do a better job keeping things under control. If India wants to join the league of the US EU etc then we must be prepared to be judged on those metrics. China is getting more autocratic by the day and apart from the occasional post no one is as concerned because it isn’t really expected of them to hold up to democratic ideals.
  - Karishma1234 8y ago
    > If India wants to join the league of the US EU etc then we must be prepared to be judged on those metrics. Sorry. I do not agree at all. You think India can crawl on all 4 and these countries will give India a seat at the white people's club ? India will not win by playing into the hands of euro-us centrism. Our problems are ours to solve and US/UK etc. should butt out.
    - thewarrior 8y ago
      Well acknowledging actual issues isn’t crawling on all fours. This isn’t about a seat at the white peoples club either. International pressure has achieved many productive outcomes like the ending of Apartheid for example.
Karishma1234 8y ago
I am not claiming media conspiracy, I am claiming media incompetency. > Many parts of rural India are quite lawless and mob justice is the rule I am the one who is living in rural India, they are not lawless provinces of Afghanistan. Most Indian villages have strong social structures, local laws and ways to resolve disputes even outside government run courts. I am claiming that foreign media just dumbs down things that they can not understand without putting efforts to find facts. Are you going to trust BBC on issues that happen in India ? Is there any chance that the BBC rep himself is simply fabricating a story over phones ?

fortythirteen 8y ago

The headline of your linked article is: > 2 Dalits caned, paraded naked in Maharashtra for swimming in well of upper caste man and you said the two were boys, so is it true that this guy caned and paraded two boys naked around the village for messing with his well? If so, I think this only confirms the foreign media's narrative.

eklavya 8y ago

About your example: There is a group with a very strong desire to preempt all facts and evidences and paint a particular picture. If those people are to be believed Indian culture teaches rape, murder and intolerance and that we are proud of it. I don't understand how could anyone buy that but people do, both here and outside.