Exposing the Fabricated Narrative: Debunking "The Kerala Story" Movie

On April 26th, 2023, the trailer for a movie titled "The Kerala Story" was released, claiming to expose certain aspects of Kerala and the Muslim religion based on real-life incidents. As a Hindu from Kerala, it is crucial to clarify that this movie portrays a fabricated narrative. The girls depicted in this movie do not exist in real life, and neither do they face any form of harassment or violence. We must understand why and how such misinformation has spread.

The Manipulation of Painful Stories for Political Gain

For many years, political parties have exploited painful stories like these to gain electoral advantage without providing concrete evidence to support their claims. One such narrative is "love jihad," a provocative term that links love with violence. This term gained popularity in 2009 and suggests that non-Muslim boys convert Hindu girls to Islam through feigned love, leading them to engage in acts of violence as companions of militants.

The BJP's Stance on Love Jihad

When the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power at the central government level in 2014, they actively campaigned against love jihad. This issue became a focal point during state elections, particularly in South Indian states. Mr. Sudarshan, the president of the BJP district unit in Karnataka, expressed the party's stance against love jihad and terrorism, emphasizing their commitment to protecting Hindu girls from conversion to Islam.

Unveiling the Truth Behind Love Jihad

But what is the truth behind this concept of love jihad? Are non-Muslim girls genuinely being converted and coerced into terrorism? Or is there a different story behind all of this? Let's delve into these matters and examine the facts and evidence.

Approaching the Topic without Religious Bias

I implore you, along with my team, to approach this topic without religious bias. Our team respects all religions and believes in the importance of love and respect for all individuals. Therefore, please refrain from viewing this issue from a religious perspective. Instead, let us focus on understanding the facts and evidence objectively. I want to clarify that our intention is not to target any specific religion.

The Fabrication of Love Jihad

Love jihad, also known as Romeo jihad, is a conspiracy theory fabricated by Hindutva groups against Muslims. It suggests that Muslim boys convert Hindu girls to Islam through deceptive love. This theory is portrayed as a Muslim war against India, aiming to establish Muslim dominance in the country. However, it is crucial to understand how this narrative originated.

Historical Origins of Love Jihad Narrative

In 1920, the Arya Samaj initiated the Suddhhi movement in Uttar Pradesh (UP) with the aim of converting people who had converted to Islam back to Hinduism. To gain support for their cause, they used the term "love jihad" to incite the Hindu community against Muslim boys, alleging that they were taking Hindu girls away from their religion. This emotional manipulation tactic continues to be exploited even today.

Propagation of Love Jihad Concept

In 2009, Hindutva publications began using love jihad as a propaganda campaign. Organizations such as Sanatan Prabhat and Hindu Janajagruti Samiti actively propagated this concept. New organizations, including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Vishva Hindu Parishad, were formed to amplify this conspiracy further.

The Political Significance of Love Jihad

It is worth noting that the focus on love jihad primarily emerged in Uttar Pradesh, a state with significant political importance due to its large population and number of seats in the legislative assembly. Winning elections in Uttar Pradesh is vital for securing a majority in the general elections. When a party attains a majority