Hindutva, an ideology that aspires to promote the Hindu way of life and establish Hinduism as the dominant culture in India, has been a strong political force in the nation for decades. It has been at the centre of various political debates and controversies, with some considering it as a danger to India's secular character and others seeing it as an integral component of Indian nationalism.
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Hindutva emerged as a political movement in India in the early twentieth century, with the formation of organisations such as the Hindu Mahasabha and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). These organisations aimed to promote Hindu nationalism and underline the Hindu community's supremacy in India. However, Hindutva did not emerge as a major political force until the 1980s, thanks to the efforts of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The BJP, which was created in 1980, adopted Hindutva as its main doctrine and exploited it to appeal to Hindu voters across India. The party's ascension to power was primarily due to its ability to capitalise on India's burgeoning feeling of Hindu identity and pride. The BJP's electoral triumph was especially visible in the 1990s, when it spearheaded a public effort to construct a temple dedicated to Lord Ram at Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. The campaign culminated in the destruction of a 16th-century mosque erected on Ram's birthplace, sparking widespread communal unrest throughout the country.
The BJP's advocacy of Hindutva has had serious political consequences for India. On the one hand, it has aided the BJP's rise to prominence as a significant political force in the country, with the party winning several elections at both the state and national levels. However, it has caused schisms within Indian society, particularly along religious lines. Many have criticised the BJP's aggressive promotion of Hindutva for inflaming communal tensions and promoting a narrow, exclusionary version of nationalism.
The Hindutva agenda of the BJP has also had a considerable influence on Indian foreign policy. The party's strong national security posture and stress on Hindu identity have shaped its approach to neighbouring nations, notably Pakistan and China. The BJP has been particularly vociferous in its criticism of Pakistan, which it regards as a security danger and backer of terrorism. The Hindutva ideology has also affected the party's stance to China, with the BJP pushing the concept of India as a powerful Hindu nation capable of countering China's expanding influence in the area.
Hindutva's political significance in India can also be observed in its influence on the country's social and cultural scene. The BJP's promotion of Hindu identity has sparked renewed interest in Hindu culture and customs in India. This has resulted in an increase in cow vigilantism, with crowds assaulting those accused of eating meat or murdering cows. The BJP's advocacy of Hindutva has also resulted in an increase in intolerance of religious minorities, notably Muslims, who are considered as a danger to Hindu dominance in India.
It is crucial to emphasise, however, that not all Indians support the BJP's Hindutva worldview. The party's advocacy of Hindutva has drawn criticism from a variety of sources, including secular organisations, human rights organisations, and political parties. Many have criticised the BJP's treatment of religious minorities, particularly Muslims, as discriminatory and unconstitutional. Many perceive the party's vigorous promotion of Hindutva as a danger to India's secular character, which is established in the country's constitution.
The Hindutva agenda of the BJP has encountered various hurdles in recent years. In several states, the party's electoral chances have suffered, and it has been chastised for its handling of crises such as farmer demonstrations, the COVID-19 epidemic, and the economic recession. Some have also questioned the party's approach to religious minorities, particularly in light of the Citizenship Amendment Act, which many saw as discriminatory against Muslims.
Despite these obstacles, Hindutva remains a powerful political force in India, with the BJP promoting it as its core ideology. The effectiveness of the party in tapping on India's increasing feeling of Hindu identity and pride has helped it establish itself as a prominent political force in the country. However, the BJP's aggressive promotion of Hindutva has exacerbated social and communal tensions in the country, raising concerns about India's secular identity's future.
For decades, Hindutva has been a prominent political force in India, with the BJP presenting it as its basic doctrine. The effectiveness of the party in tapping on India's increasing feeling of Hindu identity and pride has helped it establish itself as a prominent political force in the country. However, the BJP's promotion of Hindutva has caused divisions within Indian society and raised concerns about India's secular identity's future. As India faces the complex difficulties of the twenty-first century, it must find a balance between supporting cultural and religious diversity and safeguarding the country's secular spirit.
Source: EUROPEANS24 MEDIA LTD.