text: The rise of vicious bigotry and intolerance under Modi, especially towards Muslims, has been very disturbing to watch, though not unexpected. A Hindu nationalist party, like any nationalist party, is built on fomenting divisions. This is also characteristic of most conservative movements. Modi is India's version of Stephen Harper, except much more successful at actually gaining a majority and far worse in terms of the depths of hatred he is willing to plumb. India stands as one of the many countries in the world where liberal democracy is in retreat. Hopefully, this can turn around before Hindu chauvinism causes irreversible damage.