Meena Kandasamy on decoding the Indian incel
Author Meena Kandasamy discusses the unique characteristics of the 'Indian incel' phenomenon, distinguishing it from Western counterparts by highlighting its integration with political power and organized troll farms. She also addresses the challenges women face online, including misogyny, AI-driven harassment, and the struggle for agency in the digital age.
Why it matters
It sheds light on the intersection of digital culture, gender-based violence, and political extremism in the Indian context.
The Indian incel is fundamentally different from the conventional definition of the word. In the West, the incel is someone who does not want to have sex, is a loner, and despises ‘chads’ (internet slang for a confident ‘alpha male’). The far-right manosphere in India, though, is full of ‘chads’. They operate in a corporatised manner with coordinated attacks and troll farms. Much of it becomes about the political capture of power,” said poet-author Meena Kandasamy.
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