Hindutva

Posted by Harsh Nevatia Nov 19, 2007

Hindutva, which translates as Hindu nationalism, was a term coined by Savarkar during India’s freedom struggle against the British. Before the British established rule over India, much of the country was ruled by a succession of other Muslim invaders. Hence Hindutva meant getting rid of the stigma of the rule by Muslims as well. According to the proponents of Hindutva, the Hindu prestige could be redeemed only by creating a Hindu motherland that included all territories to the south of the Himalayan Mountains. Hence Akhand Bharat or undivided India was their call. It was for this that they opposed the partition of India and assassinated Mahatma Gandhi for agreeing to the partition.

Religion and nationalism is a dangerous mix, more now than ever before. Hence the revival of Hindutva is ominous. Opposing Hindutva does not mean opposing Hinduism or opposing the legitimate rights and grievances of the majority religion in India. Opposing Hindutva means opposing the concept that non-Hindus have no space in India. Speaking to a world audience over a hundred years ago, and implicitly addressing the Christian community, Vivekananda had said the world peace cannot be achieved by one religion trying to subjugate all others. There is no alternative to coexistence. What applies to the world applies to India as well, and the proponents of Hindutva would do well to heed the words of one of the most famous leaders of Hinduism, and to eschew the model of the Islamic state.