When the “West” Turns its Gaze to India
In a conference whose title was deliberately provocative, Rajeev Bhargava (2010) stated that India could serve as a model to the West regarding respect for religious diversity. This statement was founded on what makes India unique, i.e. the fact that intra- and inter-religious diversity are at the heart of secularism in India. Taking this observation as a point of departure, I examine how India is portrayed in the French language press in Quebec, in regard to how the country manages religious and cultural diversity, in terms of policies or concrete interethnic relations. What events are selected? How are they covered? Does this coverage reveal a Western-centric view? Does it echo events in Quebec/Canada? Finally, is the notion of “model” relevant?