Editing Cult of personality (section)

===India===
{{Main|Mahatma Gandhi|Indira Gandhi|Narendra Modi}}

[[File:Mahatma Gandhi in the Lap of Bharat Mata a print from the 1940's.jpg|thumb|1940s print from North India showing [[Mahatma Gandhi]] as the son of [[Bharat Mata]].]]

During the days of the freedom struggle, [[Mahatma Gandhi]] had a cult-like following amongst the people of India. Congress leaders like [[Chittaranjan Das]] and [[Subhash Chandra Bose]] who opposed Gandhi's methods, found themselves sidelined within the party. The [[assassination of Gandhi]] in 1948 led to widespread violence against [[Marathi Brahmin]]s by his followers. After Gandhi's death, his cult was eclipsed by another personality cult that had developed around India's first [[Prime Minister of India|prime minister]] [[Jawaharlal Nehru]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Guha |first=Ramachandra |date=3 May 2014 |title=Dangers of hero worship – Reading Ambedkar in the time of Modi |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/opinion/dangers-of-hero-worship-reading-ambedkar-in-the-time-of-modi/cid/186946 |work=The Telegraph}}</ref> [[C Rajagopalachari]] criticized the personality cult surrounding Nehru, saying that there should be an opposition group within the Congress. Rajagopalachari later formed the [[Right-wing politics|economically right-wing]] [[Swatantra Party]] in opposition to Nehru's [[socialist]] economic view.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krishnan |first=Ravi |date=27 May 2014 |title=Nehru's India |url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/9x8RPd562DusWqVQQ91NfN/Nehrus-India.html |website=Mint}}</ref> The expression '[[Nehruvian socialism|Nehruvian consensus]]' reflects the dominance of Nehruvian ideals, a product of Nehru's personality cult and the associated statism, i.e. the overarching faith in the state and the leadership.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rise and Demise of Nehruvian Consensus: A Historical Review |url=https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/61434/1/MPRA_paper_61434.pdf}}</ref> However, Nehru himself actively discouraged the creation of a cult of personality around him.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sherman |first=Taylor |title=The Myths and Reality of the Nehru Years |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/75th-independence-day/politics/the-myths-and-reality-of-the-nehru-years |website=Hindustan Times}}</ref> He wrote an essay titled 'Rashtrapati' in 1937 published in the ''[[Modern Review (Calcutta)|Modern Review]]'' warning people about dictatorship and emphasizing the value of questioning leaders.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 14, 2016 |title=We Want No Caesars: Nehru's Warning to Himself |url=https://caravanmagazine.in/vantage/want-no-caesars-nehrus-warning |website=caravanmagazine}}</ref>

The [[Congress party]] has been accused of promoting a personality cult centered around Nehru, his daughter [[Indira Gandhi]] and the [[Nehru-Gandhi family]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 5, 2022 |title=Chacha's Musty Coat-Tails |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/chachas-musty-coat-tails/292513 |website=outlookindia.com/}}</ref> Indira Gandhi has also been described as having a cult of personality during her administration.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guha |first=Ramachandra |date=November 4, 2022 |title=The Cult of Modi |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/11/04/modi-india-personality-cult-democracy/ |access-date=2023-04-10 |website=Foreign Policy |language=en-US}}</ref> Following India's victory in the [[1971 Indo-Pak war]], Gandhi was hailed by many as a manifestation of the Hindu goddess [[Durga]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=DHNS |title=Did Vajpayee refer to Indira as Durga avatar? |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/did-vajpayee-refer-indira-durga-2051824 |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref> In that year, Gandhi nominated herself as a recipient for the [[Bharat Ratna]], the highest civilian award of the country. During  the [[The Emergency (India)|Emergency period]] the then Congress party president [[D. K. Barooah|Devakanta Barooah]], had remarked '''India is Indira, Indira is India''<nowiki/>'. [[Assassination of Indira Gandhi|Her assassination]] in 1984 by her Sikh bodyguards sparked a massive wave of [[public grief]] and [[1984 anti-Sikh riots|anti-Sikh violence]]. The Congress party led by her son [[Rajiv Gandhi]] utilised her death to win the [[1984 Indian general election|general elections shortly held after]]. [[Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi|His assassination]] while campaigning in the [[1991 Indian general election|1991 general elections]] also led to widespread public grief, which was utilised by the Congress to win the elections despite unfavorable circumstances.{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}

Current Indian Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] is often criticized for creating a personality cult around him.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vaidyanathan |first=Rajini |title=The 'personality politics' of Narendra Modi and Donald Trump |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-48332141 |access-date=September 29, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Chatterjee |first=Manini |date=May 13, 2019 |title=I, me, myself: The Modi cult could threaten the BJP too |publisher=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/opinion/i-me-myself-the-cult-of-narendra-modi-could-threaten-the-bjp-too/cid/1690410 |access-date=September 29, 2019}}</ref> Despite some setbacks and criticism,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vaishnav |first=Milan |date=May 25, 2019 |title=Opinion: If it's 'the economy, stupid,' why did Modi win? |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/05/25/if-its-economy-stupid-why-did-modi-win/ |access-date=July 31, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Khare |first=Harish |date=November 25, 2016 |title=The Cult of the Leader: Demonetisation and Modi Worship |publisher=The Wire |url=https://thewire.in/economy/demonetisation-modi-stalinism |access-date=September 29, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Safi |first=Michael |date=May 23, 2019 |title=India election results 2019: Modi claims landslide victory |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/23/india-election-results-narendra-modi-bjp-victory |access-date=July 31, 2021}}</ref> Modi's charisma and popularity was a key factor that helped the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) return to power in the [[2019 Indian general election|2019 general elections]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ghosh |first=Ambar Kumar |date=May 19, 2019 |title=Decoding the Modi personality cult |publisher=QRIUS |url=https://qrius.com/decoding-the-modi-personality-cult/ |access-date=September 29, 2019}}</ref> [[Shivraj Singh Chouhan]], the chief minister of the country's [[Madhya Pradesh|second largest state]], said in 2022, "He is superhuman and has traces of God in him."<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Dhillon |first=Amrit |date=February 2, 2022 |title=Narendra Modi has traces of god in him, says BJP minister as personality cult grows |language=en |work=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/asia/article/narendra-modi-has-traces-of-god-in-him-says-bjp-minister-as-personality-cult-grows-thr5nj637 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref> The Opposition often accused Modi for spreading propaganda using popular media such as movies, television and web series. Modi is often accused of having narcissist traits.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bose |first1=Adrija |title=11 Times Prime Minister Narendra Modi Proved That Camera Is His First Love |url=https://www.huffpost.com/archive/in/entry/narendra-modi-camera_n_8212142 |access-date=May 22, 2022 |publisher=HuffPost |date=July 14, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Staff |first1=The Wire |title='Narcissist', 'A Hint of Megalomania': What Observers Have Said About Narendra Modi |url=https://thewire.in/politics/narendra-modi-arun-shouri-tavleen-singh-ramachandra-guha |access-date=May 22, 2022 |publisher=The Wire |date=February 18, 2020}}</ref> In 2015, Modi wore a suit which has his name embroidered all over it in fine letters while greeting US president [[Barack Obama]] during his bilateral visit to India.<ref>{{cite news |others = HT Correspondents |title=Modi wears Modi: PM's suit has his name on it |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/modi-wears-modi-pm-s-suit-has-his-name-on-it/story-MhTATY2c26GSWCbGfxp1JJ.html |access-date=May 22, 2022 |publisher=Hindustan Times |date=January 27, 2015}}</ref> This suit was auctioned that year, selling at a record amount of 43.1 million Indian rupees, thereby earning the [[Guinness World Records]] for the most expensive suit.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 22, 2016 |title=PM Narendra Modi's Rs 4.31 crore suit enter Guinness Book record |url=https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/EgxmYlGFQFVcLBZTwp4QGP/PM-Narendra-Modis-Rs431-crore-suit-enters-Guinness-Book-re.html |work=livemint.com}}</ref> In 2019, a [[biographical film]] of Modi was released, which was heavily criticized for its [[hagiographical]] nature.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ray |first=Saptarshi |date=April 13, 2019 |title=How Narendra Modi has tried to co-opt Bollywood to push his cult of personality |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/04/13/narendra-modi-has-tried-co-opt-bollywood-push-cult-personality/ |access-date=September 29, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tharoor |first=Shashi |date=May 28, 2019 |title=India's Cult of Modi |url=https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/narendra-modi-india-election-personality-cult-by-shashi-tharoor-2019-05?barrier=accesspaylog |access-date=September 29, 2019 |website=Project Syndicate}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sohini |first=C |date=February 5, 2019 |title=The triumph of Modi propaganda in Bollywood |newspaper=[[South China Morning Post]] |url=https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/society/article/2184614/triumph-modi-propaganda-bollywood |access-date=September 29, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ghosh |first=Samrudhi |date=June 25, 2019 |title=Vivek Agnihotri: PM Narendra Modi did not even run for 7 days. This is what happens to propaganda films |publisher=India Today |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/vivek-agnihotri-pm-narendra-modi-did-not-even-run-for-7-days-this-is-what-happens-to-propaganda-films-1555977-2019-06-25 |access-date=September 29, 2019}}</ref> In 2021, Modi named the [[Narendra Modi Stadium|world's largest cricket stadium]] after himself. During the [[2014 Indian general election|2024 general elections]], Modi tried to divinise himself in an interview, in which he stated that he viewed himself to be sent directly by [[God in Hinduism|God]] to serve a special purpose on Earth.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-23 |title='God has sent me, convinced that my energy is not biological': Prime Minister Narendra Modi |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/india/story/god-has-sent-me-convinced-that-my-energy-is-not-biological-prime-minister-narendra-modi-430606-2024-05-23 |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=Business Today |language=en}}</ref> BJP spokesperson [[Sambit Patra]] while campaigning in the [[Tirtha (Hinduism)|Hindu holy city]] of [[Puri]] stated that even [[Jagannath]] (the form of the Hindu god [[Vishnu]] which is venerated there) worships Modi.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Service |first=Statesman News |date=2024-05-20 |title=Lord Jagannath is devotee of PM Modi: Sambit Patra |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/india/lord-jagannath-is-devotee-of-pm-modi-sambit-patra-1503302208.html |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=The Statesman |language=en}}</ref> The BJP is also stated to have created a cult of personality around [[Hindu Mahasabha]] leader [[V. D. Savarkar]] and Gandhi's assassin [[Nathuram Godse]] to oppose the dominance of [[Gandhian philosophy]] in Indian society.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Guha |first=Ramachandra |date=22 September 2019 |title=Creating a cult of anti-Gandhis |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/columns/creating-a-cult-of-anti-gandhis/story-V97A411ikjlN64kBqiBFzL_amp.html |work=Hindustan Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Serhan |first=Yasmeen |date=2022-06-02 |title=What the Veneration of Gandhi's Killer Says About India |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2022/06/godse-cult-gandhi-assassin-india/661154/ |access-date=2024-07-07 |website=The Atlantic |language=en}}</ref>

One study claims that India's political culture since the decline of the Congress' single-handed dominance over national politics from the 1990s onwards as a fallout of the [[Ram Janmabhoomi movement]] and [[Mandal Commission protests of 1990|Mandal Commission protests]] has paved way for personality cults centered around leaders of the small regional parties,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sircar |first=Neelanjan |date=2022-02-04 |title=From Modi to Mamata, how did Indian politics become so dependent on the cult of personality? |url=https://scroll.in/article/1016267/from-modi-to-mamata-how-did-indian-politics-become-so-dependent-on-the-cult-of-personality |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=Scroll.in |language=en}}</ref> derived from [[celebrity worship syndrome|hero-worship]] of sportspersons and film industry celebrities<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-02-13 |title=The cult of the leader |url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-cult-of-the-leader/article5685768.ece/ |access-date=2024-12-31 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> and the concept of ''[[bhakti]]'',<ref>{{Cite news |last=Guha |first=Ramachandra |date=4 December 2016 |title=Why bhakti in politics is bad for democracy |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/columns/why-bhakti-in-politics-is-bad-for-democracy/story-wiZUVhmmY9exCStaATBSqK.html |work=Hindustan Times}}</ref> which in turn has fostered [[Political families of India|nepotism]], cronyism and sycophancy. Among these leaders, [[Tamil Nadu]] [[Chief minister (India)|Chief Minister]] [[J. Jayalalithaa|J. Jayalalitha]] had one of the most extensive ones. She was widely referred by leaders and members of [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|her party]] as ''Amma'' ('mother' in [[Tamil language|Tamil]], also used to refer to Hindu goddesses) and would prostrate themselves before her.  She would be regularly publicly applauded with Tamil titles like ''Makkalin Mudhalvar'' (people's chief minister), ''Puratchi Thalaivi'' (revolutionary female leader), ''Thanga Thalaivi'' (golden female leader) etc by her cadres. Her government provided various kinds of subsidised goods under the brand name of ''Amma''. Widespread violence broke out throughout the state when she was arrested on [[Disproportionate assets case against J. Jayalalithaa|charges of corruption]]. A huge wave of public grief swept all over the state, with some even committing suicide, following her death in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Deconstructing Jayalalithaa's Cult of Personality |url=https://thewire.in/politics/deconstructing-jayalalithaas-cult-of-personality |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=The Wire |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-12-05 |title=Jayalalitha: The 'goddess' of Tamil Nadu politics |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-37503616 |access-date=2024-07-06 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-09-14 |title=‘Bhakti cult’ |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/politics/bhakti-cult/article9103720.ece |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=Frontline |language=en}}</ref> Another leader, [[Mayawati]], was also known for attempting to foster a cult of personality during her tenure as the Chief Minister of India's [[Uttar Pradesh|most populous state]] by getting constructed large statues of herself and the elephant (which was the electoral symbol of [[Bahujan Samaj Party|her party]]) that were installed in public parks at the cost of government exchequer.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sardesai |first=Rajdeep |date=20 October 2011 |title=Idolatry Ambedkar Wouldn't Have Liked |url=https://www.navhindtimes.in/2011/10/20/opinions/opinion/opinion-idolatry-ambedkar-wouldn-t-have-liked/?amp |work=Navhind Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=DHNS |date=2009-07-09 |title=Ambedkar loathed idolatry, but Mayawati loves it |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/archives/ambedkar-loathed-idolatry-mayawati-loves-2551322 |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref>

Historical personalities are also deified to the level of cult worship long after their lifetimes which is utilised by politicians to woo their followers for electoral purposes. Prominent examples are the cult of [[Shivaji]] in [[Maharashtra]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Joshi |first=Yogesh |date=15 Jan 2020 |title=Why is Shivaji so very important for every party in Maharashtra |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/opinion/why-is-shivaji-so-very-important-for-every-party-in-maharashtra-opinion/story-sTVujpQj5rSsSFFack1cxL_amp.html |work=Hindustan Times}}</ref> and the cult of Dr. [[B. R. Ambedkar]] among [[Dalit]]s.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ramachandran |first=Narayan |date=18 April 2016 |title=Ambedkar and idle worship |url=https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/dr55MGOs2TQwZNpLFwNABM/Ambedkar-and-idle-worship.html |work=livemint.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-19 |title=Why Ambedkar issue has got BJP scrambling |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/br-ambedkar-dalit-icon-bjp-amit-shah-statement-opposition-congress-rahul-gandhi-kharge-firefighting-mode-explained-2652479-2024-12-19 |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref>