Indian Media and Caste: of Politics, Portrayals and Beyond Pranjali Kureel1 CASTE: A Global Journal on Social Exclusion Vol. 2, No. 1 The concept of Brahminical patriarchy serves as a foundational structure that shapes both the composition and the content of Indian media. According to the sources, Brahminical patriarchy is not a system exclusive to Brahmins, but rather a framework where privilege and deprivation are allotted based on caste , necessitating the control of women’s bodies to maintain caste boundaries . This framework influences media content through historical hegemony, biased portrayals, and the exclusion of marginalized voices. Dominance in Media Production and Ownership The sources argue that the media industry is characterized by the hegemony of dominant castes , which has existed since its inception. Because media houses are often privately owned and controlled by extended families, positions are frequently filled through exclusionary networks. Newsroom ...
The Architecture of Erasure: Decoding the Hegemonic Narratives That Gatekeep Political Power 1. Introduction: The Invisible Filter In the high-decibel arena of Indian public discourse, from prime-time television studios to viral social media threads, a specific pattern of delegitimization persists with clinical precision. When a leader from an Other Backward Class (OBC), Dalit, or minority background ascends to prominence, the narrative machinery often pivots instantly toward allegations of inefficiency or policy paralysis. These critiques are rarely applied with the same vitriol or permanence when directed at leaders from historically privileged backgrounds. This disparity is not a collection of organic observations but the product of "curated hegemonic discourses." These are strategically shaped narratives designed to maintain established power structures by casting doubt on the fitness of challengers from historically subordinated groups. The mechanism operates as an...