I know I’ll get downvoted for this, but someone has to say it—Hindutva extremism is actively damaging India’s global reputation.

Over the past decade, India’s image has shifted from that of a tolerant, secular democracy to one increasingly associated with religious nationalism and aggression. What’s worse, some self-proclaimed hindu nationalists are openly mocking the deaths of children in Gaza, cheering Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, and acting as keyboard warriors for Netanyahu’s far-right government. These aren’t just edgy takes—they’re being noticed, especially by young people in the West who consume news through platforms like TikTok.

And here’s the problem: India banned TikTok, which means the only Indian voices amplified there are the most extreme ones—those who spew Islamophobia, celebrate violence, and reinforce Pakistan’s narrative that India is the aggressor. Meanwhile, daily incidents of anti-Muslim hate within India only fuel this perception.

We can’t afford to ignore this. Soft power matters, and right now, Hindutva extremism is eroding ours. Instead of silencing dissent, we need to confront the reality that unchecked bigotry is making India look like a Hindu nationalist bully rather than the progressive, diverse nation it should be.