ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the dynamics of political protests in India, emphasizing the influence of group identities and the role of technology in shaping narratives. Focusing on the 2020–2021 Indian farmers’ protest, it delves into the dichotomy of ‘support or protest’ that polarized the nation, framing individuals as either ‘nationalist’ or ‘anti-nationalist.’ The chapter examines the impact of such identity-based activism on public discourse, particularly in the context of social media, where misinformation and bias transformed platforms into hostile spaces. Highlighting the minimal space for objective debates in the farmers’ protest, it explores how populist desires shaped opinions, sidelining fact-based reality politics. The chapter employs theories of groupthink and collective intelligence to analyze how narrative constructions contribute to dichotomized opinion-making, overshadowing truths with collective brainwashing based on presuppositions. The study underscores the challenges of navigating a politically charged landscape influenced by emotional contexts and external interventions.
