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...
1. Introduction to Curated Hegemonic Discourses In the contemporary Indian public sphere—spanning the high-decibel theater of television studios, the viral velocity of social media, the perceived gravitas of newspaper columns, and the formal sanctity of parliamentary debates—there exists a manufactured consensus regarding political legitimacy. This consensus is maintained through "curated hegemonic discourses": systematically engineered narratives that weaponize stereotypes to protect existing power structures. These discourses do not merely describe reality; they exert a form of epistemic violence by delegitimizing challengers from historically subordinated groups. By framing the occupancy of high office by marginalized individuals as an inherent deviation from "governance," these narratives ensure that the exercise of power remains the exclusive cultural and social capital of traditional elites. The primary groups targeted and preserved by these discursive str...