Return of the Muslim

Old secularism hasn't broken out. But from Modi and Bhagwat to Rahul and Shah Rukh, straws in the wind signal change

The headline of this week’s National Interest isn’t inspired only by the spectacular success of Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan, although it is a key factor. Much as we enjoy entertaining cinema, we look at politics first. Let’s pick up some signals from there.

First, there was Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leaked sermon to his key party people at the BJP’s national executive meeting. The PM upbraided his party people for creating too many unnecessary controversies over trivialities like films. The word “Muslim” wasn’t spoken but, as we say in Hindi, aqalmand ko ishara kaafi hai (for anybody with elementary wisdom, just