Q. Examine the concept of ‘Hindutva’ . Is it against secularism? [BPSC-2018]
The concept of Hindutva is very complex and there have divergence views regarding its exact meaning.Hindutva literally means ‘Hinduness’ e.g. quality of being Hindu. It refers to the ideology of Hindu nationalists, stressing the common culture of the inhabitants of the Indian subcontinent. Since 20th century, as V. D. Savarkar defined, it is viewed as an ideological basis of Indian (in his language also Hindu) nationhood. The term “conflates a geographically based religious, cultural, and national identity: a true ‘Indian’ is one who partakes of this ‘Hinduness‘. It is championed by the Hindu nationalist volunteer organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other organisations, collectively called the Sangh Parivar.
The concept of ‘Hindutva:
- For Savarkar, in Hindutva: Who Is a Hindu?, Hindutva is an inclusive term of everything Indian.
- The three essentials of Hindutva in Savarkar’s definition were the common nation, common race, and common culture or civilisation (sanskriti).
- The word hindu were at the foundation of his Hindutva, as geographic, cultural and ethnic concepts. Savarkar used the words “Hindu” and “Sindhu” interchangeably. Those terms were at the foundation of his Hindutva, as geographic, cultural and ethnic concepts, and “religion did not figure in his ensemble. I.e the term has less to do with religion.
- His elaboration of Hindutva included all Indian religions, i.e. Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. Savarkar restricted “Hindu nationality” to “Indian religions” in the sense that they shared a common culture and fondness for the land of their origin.
- Fro him a Hindu is “first and foremost someone who lives in the area beyond the Indus river, between the Himalayas and the Indian Ocean”.
- Some believes that Savarkar composed his ideology in reaction to the “pan-Islamic mobilization of the Khilafat movement”, where Indian Muslims were pledging support to the Istanbul-based Caliph of the Ottoman Empire and to Islamic symbols, his thoughts predominantly reflect deep hostility to Islam and its followers.
- Savarkar’s notion of Hindutva formed the foundation for his Hindu nationalism. Scholars believes that it was a form of ethnic nationalism.
- It basically meant that to be members of the Indian nation, everyone must not only accept India as their ‘fatherland’ (pitrubhu) but also as their holy land (punyabhu).
- Believers of ‘Hindutva’ argue that a strong nation can be built only on the basis of a strong and united national culture. They also believe that in the case of India the Hindu culture alone can provide this base.
- The Hindutva movement has been described by many as “almost fascist in the classical sense”, adhering to a disputed concept of homogenised majority and cultural hegemony.
- Some dispute the fascist label, and suggest Hindutva has been an extreme form of “conservatism” or “ethnic absolutism”.
- Some Indians insist, however, that Hindutva is primarily a cultural term to refer to the traditional and indigenous heritage of the Indian nation-state, and they compare the relationship between Hindutva and India to that of Zionism and Israel.
- This view holds that “even those who are not religiously Hindu but whose religions originated in India — Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs, and others — share in this historical, cultural, and national essence.
- Those whose religions were imported to India, meaning primarily the country’s Muslim and Christian communities, may fall within the boundaries of Hindutva only if they subsume themselves into the majority culture.
- However, others have stressed that it reflects the inclusiveness of the Indian identity.
- The term Hindutva, according some major political parties, refers to “cultural nationalism” and it is “not a religious or theocratic concept”.
- Gradually the concepts has been transformed to include non-Hindus, in order to widen their social base, and for political mobilization.
- The use of Hindutva and its relationship with Hinduism has been a part of several court cases in India.
- In 1966, the Court judged that Hinduism historically has had an “inclusive nature” and it may “broadly be described as a way of life and nothing more”.
Is it against secularism?
- In 1995 the SC ruled that “Ordinarily, Hindutva is understood as a way of life or a state of mind and is not to be equated with or understood as religious Hindu fundamentalism … it is a fallacy and an error of law to proceed on the assumption … that the use of words Hindutva or Hinduism per se depicts an attitude hostile to all persons practising any religion other than the Hindu religion … It may well be that these words are used in a speech to promote secularism or to emphasise the way of life of the Indian people and the Indian culture or ethos, or to criticise the policy of any political party as discriminatory or intolerant.”
- According to Jethmalani, the Supreme Court has properly explained the “true meaning” of the term, and “Hindutva is not hostility to any organised religion nor does it proclaim its superiority of any religion to another”. According to him, it is unfortunate that “the communal propaganda machinery relentlessly disseminates “Hindutva” as a communal word, something that has also become embedded in the minds and language of opinion leaders, including politicians, media, civil society and the intelligentsia”.
- The Hindutva leaders have sought a Uniform Civil Code for all the citizens of India, where the same law applies to all its citizens irrespective of the individual’s religion. Followers of Hindutva have questioned differential religious laws in India which allows polygamy and “triple talaq” divorce among Muslims and thereby compromises on the status of Muslim women and “marginalises” them.
- The supporters of Hindutva sought to protect the native Hindu culture and traditions especially those that symbolised the Hindu culture. They believe that Indian culture is identical with the Hindu culture. These include animals, language, holy structures rivers and medicine.
- Some political parties began to emphasise the Hindu nationalist element in its ideology. The BJP pursued the politics of ‘Hindutva’ and adopted the strategy of mobilising the Hindus.
Thus, different views exists regarding the meaning of the terms Hindutva. Some people think of it as a threat to the secularism. While others think it as a broad ideology which can unite in India as a nation and as epitome of secularism because it accepts everyone living in India. The Supreme court of India has also gave a benign meaning to this term. So whatever is the origin of the term, now it should be understood in broad sense which accepts all and not exclusionist to any religion. At the same time people should be aware enough to question those who use the term for political mobilization based on religion.
