Professor Rattan Lal Hangloo*
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar articulated the concept of Hindutva, outlining who is a Hindu in a pamphlet in 1923. “For whatever reasons, Savarkar’s vision was rooted in the idea that India should be a nation primarily defined only by Hindu values and identity. His ideas gained traction with the rise of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), founded by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in 1925, and later through its organization Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).
Hindutva tried to establish its tentacles as a political ideology and reaction to British colonial rule and their perception of the marginalization of Hindu culture. Hindutva’s proponents also found in it a response to the injustices faced by Hindus in the Muslim-dominated medieval period as intentionally characterized by the British colonial historians too.
In recent times Hindutva politics grew out of and was caused by the incongruity of the invoking Hindu sentiment by the BJP/RSS focusing on how the radicalization of Hindus could help their politics of expansion with the Ram Janam Bhoomi/Babri masjid controversy. The Kashmir crisis of which the uprooting and suffering of more than five lakh Kashmiri Pandits was the worst outcome, also threw itself as a welcome development for BJP/RSS, for it helped them to make Hindutva ideology and Hindu vote bank cohesive in the rest of India.
In retrospect, one is tempted to look upon the last few decades as the time span during which the Hindutva most jockeyed for position in a competitive struggle for political predominance in more or less the same regions in which the Indian National Congress had ruled before.
Today, Hindutva, as an ideology, is rooted in the promotion of mythical interpretations and misrepresentations of Hindu cultural and religious traditions as the core of Indian identity and governance. Unfortunately, it displays its distinctiveness away from secular nationalism while emphasizing Hindu identity and its aim to shape national policies and cultural norms in accordance with Hindu ideals.
However, when we look at its future viability in India’s political life, there are several reasons why Hindutva cannot sustain as a dominant ideology in Indian politics and society, despite its brutish struggle to be lasting.
Several controversies surround Hindutva ideology, politics and. nationalism. It advocates a nation-state that reflects traditions, and myths surrounding Hindu religion and culture, as cultural nationalism, with emphasis on only Hindu culture as the core of Indian identity and national character.
It portrays religious exclusivism: which is often and mainly associated with the marginalization of non-Hindu communities, particularly Muslims, Christians, and others. India is one of the most ethnically, culturally, and religiously diverse countries in the world. It is home to significant populations of Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and other communities, each with their own distinct identities.
Hindutva is a modern construct that is aimed at consolidating political power and sidelining India’s pluralistic traditions. There are concerns about the undermining of democratic institutions and norms.
Critics claim that Hindutva’s agenda poses a threat to the independence of the judiciary, media freedom, and institutional and academic autonomy. In pluralistic Indian society, the Hindutva ideology has begun to face resistance from within and by these diverse groups, who seek to preserve their own identities and rights. This tendency is dangerous because the Hindutva exclusivism undermines India’s secular principles enshrined in its Constitution and popular culture.
Proponents of Hindutva often engage in revisionist history to selectively highlight and glorify Hindu achievements while downplaying or demonising the contributions and roles of other communities. The political manifestation of Hindutva is evident in the policies and rhetoric of the BJP. This includes legislative moves that critics argue are discriminatory, such as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.
The push for a singular Hindu identity threatens India’s rich diversity. Because this homogenization disregards the diversity of cultures, languages, and traditions that coexist in India. Hindutva has significantly polarised Indian politics, with the BJP leveraging religious sentiment to consolidate its voter base rather than to resolve some of India’s complex problems.
This has led to a more contentious and fragmented political landscape with the alienation of other communities. The human rights implications of Hindutva policies are also a major concern. The policies underpinned by Hindutva have led to the persecution of minorities and the suppression of dissent. One of the most significant concerns is the erosion of India’s democratic and secular fabric.
The Indian Constitution guarantees equal rights to all religions, but Hindutva’s focus on Hindu majoritarianism challenges this principle. Hindutva has been associated with increased religious conflicts, discrimination violence, and communal riots which are mainly targeting minorities and are seen as byproducts of the divisive rhetoric promoted by Hindutva groups.
India’s Constitution enshrines secularism as a fundamental principle, guaranteeing equal rights and protection for all religions. This legal framework is designed to ensure that no single religion dominates public life or policy. While political ideologies may seek to challenge this framework, the Constitution remains a strong institutional barrier to any such ideology that seeks to undermine secularism.
India’s historical and cultural legacy is deeply rooted in secularism and tolerance. The country’s freedom struggle and its post-independence trajectory have been marked by efforts to foster unity among its diverse population. The secular values that underpin Indian democracy have been crucial in maintaining social harmony and political stability. This historical commitment to secularism continues to influence public sentiment and political discourse.
India’s focus on economic development and social progress often takes precedence over religious or ideological concerns. There is a need to address issues like poverty, unemployment, and infrastructure development tends to overshadow ideological debates. As the country continues to prioritize economic growth and development, the appeal of any ideology that might distract from these goals could diminish and produce constant, systematically determined tensions and conflicts.
Generational shifts in values and perspectives also influence the longevity of any ideology in the Indian context. Younger generations of Indians, who are increasingly exposed to global scientific ideas and progressive values, may not resonate with or support the exclusivist aspects of Hindutva.
The evolving attitudes of younger people towards secularism, diversity, and inclusivity could contribute to the gradual decline of Hindutva’s influence. There is significant political and social resistance to Hindutva from various quarters, including opposition parties, civil society organizations, and activist groups. These groups work to promote and protect secular values and the rights of minority communities too.
Such resistance contributes to a dynamic political landscape where Hindutva’s influence is contested and moderated by other ideological forces.
India’s international relations and the way India positions herself globally from time to time, also play a very important role. The international community has expressed concerns about the rise of Hindutva and its impact on India’s global image.
Human rights organizations and foreign governments have critiqued India’s handling of religious tensions and the treatment of minorities repeatedly as India engages with the global community, there are pressures to adhere to internationally recognized norms of pluralism, human rights and secular governance, etc. The need to maintain positive relations with various countries and international organizations can act as a moderating force against any ideology that seeks to promote religious exclusivity.
While Hindutva has made significant inroads into Indian politics and society, its potential for long-term dominance is mitigated by India’s diverse demographics, secular constitutional framework, historical commitment to pluralism, political resistance, economic priorities, generational shifts, and global influences. These factors collectively inhibit Hindutva’s role in India’s complex future.
Hindutva nationalism represents a contentious and polarising force within India’s socio-political landscape. While it draws on a sense of cultural revival and historical grievance, its implications for secularism, social cohesion, and democratic values are deeply contradictory and controversial.
As India continues to navigate its identity and future, the debate over Hindutva underscores the ongoing struggle between different visions of nationalism, democracy, and the role of religion in the public sphere. BJP’s perception of the relationship between Hindutva and the national consensus is simply an assumption rather than a verified truth.
*Professor Rattan Lal Hangloo has been Professor of History at Hyderabad Central University He is former Vice-Chancellor of Kalyani University West Bengal and University of Allahabad. He is currently an Honorary Vice-Chancellor at Noble International University Toronto Canada. (He originally belongs to Village Hangalgund Kokernag Kashmir but is at present in Raliegh, North Carolina USA.)
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