A Hindu soldier and a Muslim poet show how religious identities overlapped in 19th-century India

When India became independent in 1947, its constitution affirmed a commitment to religious diversity and pluralism. Photo by Indranil MukherjeeI/AFP via Getty Images The growing assertion of a majority Hindu identity is fueling debates about religious pluralism in India. A 2025 Washington-based research group report documented a steady, incremental increase in hate speech since 2023 targeting religious minorities in India, while Human Rights Watch reported a rise in religious and communal…