Disputas pela memória em Ayodhya : a destruição da Babri Masjid e as narrativas do jornal The Indian Express (1992-1993)

Abstract

This article analyzes the coverage of the Babri Masjid demolition in India by The Indian Express. Built in the 16th century, the mosque was destroyed in 1992 by militants linked to Hindu organizations, marking a moment of religious and political tension in the Indian territory. The study sought to understand how the past was used in narratives constructed and published by the newspaper in the year following the event. The methodology consisted of a thorough reading of the available editions to locate news, editorials, or essays about the episode; cataloging of these materials in tables; and subsequent analysis. Examination of the selected texts allowed the identification of thematic axes, highlighting three: archaeological disputes over the site; legal disputes; and communal violence. The investigation revealed that, although the newspaper sought to maintain an appearance of neutrality, its editorial choices reinforce certain narratives aligned with the Hindu discourse. It is concluded that, even without explicit alignment with Hindu ideology, The Indian Express’ stance contributes to reinforcing symbolic inequalities between Hindus and Muslims.