“Arani Basu has done an excellent job in excavating the ‘propaganda infrastructure’ and instruments used in Indian media and its desired consequences. One of its best features is that it provides the tools for students and policy experts to acquire a critical view of the far-ranging impact of media in contemporary times.” (Biswajit Das, Professor (Retd.) & Founding Director, Centre for Culture, Media& Governance, Jamia Millia islamia, New Delhi)

“The book powerfully documents the instrumentalization of propaganda in contemporary India. Through Islamophobia’s imprint on media, religious processions, elections, popular culture, and diaspora digital practices, he unpacks affective speech and identity politics. A challenging yet essential book, it offers critical insights into the entanglements of media, power, and politics today.” (Christiane Brosius, Professor, Heidelberg Centre for Transcultural Studies, Heidelberg University)

“Arani Basu’s fascinating analysis in “Understanding Propaganda” uncovers how India’s media landscape breeds hate and normalizes authoritarianism. A powerful guide for anyone seeking to grasp the mechanics of propaganda today.” (Frank Welz, Former President of the European Sociological Association and Professor, University of Innsbruck)

“Basu’s book incisively shows how “propaganda” and “manufacturing consent” remain vital for analyzing India under the BJP, 2014–2024. It unpacks how television and digital platforms together sustain state power and shape political communication, offering a critical lens on democracy, media, and consent in transitional regimes.” (Nadja-Christina Schneider, Professor, Gender and Media Studies for the South Asian Region, Institute for Asian and African Studies, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin)