India, June 2 -- The right to die with dignity-and to be laid to rest in accordance with one's faith-is not just a constitutional guarantee. It is the most basic mark of a civilised society. When a grieving family is denied that right and a dead body becomes a battleground for religious supremacy, what is being truly buried is humanity.

What is unfolding all over India, especially in tribal dominant areas, over the past few years is not an anomaly. It is part of a deliberate, organised, and deeply shameful campaign to reduce religious minorities-particularly tribal Christians-into second-class citizens, even in death. This is the true face of Hindutva.

It should be called by its proper name: communal fascism. When villagers are mobilise...