ABSTRACT
The fourth chapter focuses on the more “two-way interactions” that Web 2.0 brought with the advent of social media and smartphones. The call for cyber activism is made across a number of websites, highlighting the digital medium as a primary arena for this battle for “authentic” Hinduism. Looking again at the Doniger controversy, the ways in which user comments about the book banning were either “civil” or “uncivil” and how these comments may or may not affect a reader’s perception when reading a news article are evaluated. Cyber activism is also considered a venue for incendiary speech, with the case study of the “internet Hindus.” It is argued whether they are effective or not in promoting a particular view of Hinduism or Hindu nationalism, which these cyber activists clearly feel they have a stake in the conversation, and that it is incumbent upon them to participate in this very public forum. This chapter concludes with a consideration of “real life” consequences of social media (lynchings, e.g., motivated by a rumor on social media).
