​The lost message: On shallow symbolism

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s participation in a Christmas morning service on December 25, at the Cathedral Church of the Redemption in the national capital, was one that was noticed globally. Mr. Modi has hosted or visited Christian leaders or institutions during festivals, but taking part in a complete worship service at a church was a first for him. Mr. Modi also shared greetings and good wishes for peace, compassion and harmony on his social media account, invoking the teachings of Jesus Christ. Amid numerous reports of intimidation and violence against Christians during the Christmas season and even prior to that, Mr. Modi’s church visit was meant as a gesture of reassurance for the minority community in India’s diverse social landscape. Such symbolism of Governors participating in diverse traditions has been a feature of political pragmatism and also a genuine reflection of the syncretism that characterises Indian nationhood. The RSS, Mr. Modi’s ideological cradle, has long considered Christianity and Islam as foreign to India. However, in recent years, it has sought to include these faiths also in its notion of national identity, and Mr. Modi’s participation in the Christmas worship could be seen as yet another step toward moderation and tolerance.

But if that indeed is the message that Mr. Modi wants to convey, he needs to do it stronger and clearer for State governments and police forces under the control of his party to hear. Vandalism and violence against Christian places of worship and festivities have been recurring. From Assam, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Odisha, and other places, reported cases include disruption of worship and physical violence against church leaders. Spurious charges of conversion — which anyway is a matter of personal liberty and freedom of religion protected by the Constitution — are often raised to justify this violence. Even commercial activities related to Christmas have been disrupted by mobs in various parts of the country. Most of these incidents are linked to Sangh Parivar-affiliated individuals or groups. Even after Mr. Modi’s Christmas message, no meaningful police action has followed against the mobs that indulged in the violence. On the contrary, intimidation and threats of violence against Christians and Muslims have continued, including by BJP leaders. All this points to the inadequacy of the symbolism of Mr. Modi’s church visit. It would have been meaningful had the troublemakers and the law enforcers been sent the message. There is no sign of that, and that means the BJP either does not want to, or cannot, do anything more than shallow symbolism in favour of pluralism in India.

Overall Analysis

The editorial critically examines Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s participation in a Christmas service as an act of political symbolism that lacks substantive follow-through. While acknowledging the global attention the visit received and situating it within India’s tradition of syncretism and pluralism, the author argues that such gestures lose meaning when they are not supported by concrete administrative and political action.

The language initially adopts a measured and contextual tone, presenting the church visit as potentially reassuring for a minority community amid reports of intimidation and violence. By referencing the RSS’s historical stance on Christianity and Islam, the editorial suggests that the visit could signal moderation and an evolving conception of national identity. This framing gives the government the benefit of doubt, at least at the outset.

However, the editorial then sharply pivots to critique. The phrase “stronger and clearer” underscores the author’s demand for accountability beyond optics. Detailed enumeration of incidents across multiple States gives the argument empirical weight and shifts the language from symbolic interpretation to hard political reality. The repeated contrast between message and action highlights the central thesis: symbolism without enforcement is hollow.

The concluding section intensifies the critique by asserting that the absence of police action and continued threats against minorities expose the limits of the BJP’s commitment to pluralism. The term “shallow symbolism” encapsulates the editorial’s core argument — that gestures of inclusion, when unsupported by governance and rule of law, risk becoming performative rather than transformative.

Important Vocabulary (5)

1. Syncretism – the blending of different religious or cultural traditions.
2. Pragmatism – a practical approach focused on results rather than ideals.
3. Intimidation – the act of frightening or threatening someone to force compliance.
4. Conflate – to combine two issues as if they are the same, often incorrectly.
5. Pluralism – coexistence of diverse religious, cultural, or social groups within a society.

Conclusion & Tone

The editorial concludes that symbolic gestures of inclusivity are insufficient unless backed by decisive action against violence and intimidation. It calls for governance that reinforces constitutional values rather than relying on optics.

Tone: Critical, analytical, and cautionary — questioning intent while firmly highlighting the gap between symbolism and substantive commitment to pluralism.