The Politics of Soft Hindutva

The Politics of Soft Hindutva

Author: Amod Damle

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2023-06-16

Total Pages: 223

ISBN-13: 3031325699

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This book examines the rise of two contrasting variants of Hindu nationalism—the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) divisive cultural nationalism and the softer, less threatening variant of Hindutva espoused by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Trinamool Congress (TMC). Historically, the overlaps between Hinduism and Islam bolstered the narrative that the Muslims were culturally inferior to the Hindus and that Hinduism was India’s unifying tradition. As a result, for many Hindus, emphasizing the distinctiveness of a minority group, especially the Muslims, represents a threat to Hindu superiority and India’s cultural integrity. With the rise of the BJP, AAP, and TMC, we witness a tussle between two strains of Hindu nativism. The BJP attempts to attract the Hindu vote by heightening the differences between Hindus and Muslims and portraying itself as the restorer of national integrity. The AAP and TMC revive a much older form of cultural nativism by downplaying the separateness of the Muslims, indicating that India is already a Hindu nation and that there is no need to persecute religious minorities. Comparing the two variants of cultural nationalism provides valuable insights into how culture matters in Indian politics.


Book Synopsis The Politics of Soft Hindutva by : Amod Damle

Download or read book The Politics of Soft Hindutva written by Amod Damle and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2023-06-16 with total page 223 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book examines the rise of two contrasting variants of Hindu nationalism—the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) divisive cultural nationalism and the softer, less threatening variant of Hindutva espoused by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Trinamool Congress (TMC). Historically, the overlaps between Hinduism and Islam bolstered the narrative that the Muslims were culturally inferior to the Hindus and that Hinduism was India’s unifying tradition. As a result, for many Hindus, emphasizing the distinctiveness of a minority group, especially the Muslims, represents a threat to Hindu superiority and India’s cultural integrity. With the rise of the BJP, AAP, and TMC, we witness a tussle between two strains of Hindu nativism. The BJP attempts to attract the Hindu vote by heightening the differences between Hindus and Muslims and portraying itself as the restorer of national integrity. The AAP and TMC revive a much older form of cultural nativism by downplaying the separateness of the Muslims, indicating that India is already a Hindu nation and that there is no need to persecute religious minorities. Comparing the two variants of cultural nationalism provides valuable insights into how culture matters in Indian politics.

Hindu Nationalism

Hindu Nationalism

Author: Christophe Jaffrelot

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2009-01-10

Total Pages: 424

ISBN-13: 1400828031

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Hindu nationalism came to world attention in 1998, when the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won national elections in India. Although the BJP was defeated nationally in 2004, it continues to govern large Indian states, and the movement it represents remains a major force in the world's largest democracy. This book presents the thought of the founding fathers and key intellectual leaders of Hindu nationalism from the time of the British Raj, through the independence period, to the present. Spanning more than 130 years of Indian history and including the writings of both famous and unknown ideologues, this reader reveals how the "Hindutuva" movement approaches key issues of Indian politics. Covering such important topics as secularism, religious conversion, relations with Muslims, education, and Hindu identity in the growing diaspora, this reader will be indispensable for anyone wishing to understand contemporary Indian politics, society, culture, or history.


Book Synopsis Hindu Nationalism by : Christophe Jaffrelot

Download or read book Hindu Nationalism written by Christophe Jaffrelot and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2009-01-10 with total page 424 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Hindu nationalism came to world attention in 1998, when the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won national elections in India. Although the BJP was defeated nationally in 2004, it continues to govern large Indian states, and the movement it represents remains a major force in the world's largest democracy. This book presents the thought of the founding fathers and key intellectual leaders of Hindu nationalism from the time of the British Raj, through the independence period, to the present. Spanning more than 130 years of Indian history and including the writings of both famous and unknown ideologues, this reader reveals how the "Hindutuva" movement approaches key issues of Indian politics. Covering such important topics as secularism, religious conversion, relations with Muslims, education, and Hindu identity in the growing diaspora, this reader will be indispensable for anyone wishing to understand contemporary Indian politics, society, culture, or history.

Why I Am a Hindu

Why I Am a Hindu

Author: Shashi Tharoor

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2018-05-22

Total Pages:

ISBN-13: 1787380459

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Hinduism is one of the world's oldest and greatest religious traditions. In captivating prose, Shashi Tharoor untangles its origins, its key philosophical concepts and texts. He explores everyday Hindu beliefs and practices, from worship to pilgrimage to caste, and touchingly reflects on his personal beliefs and relationship with the religion. Not one to shy from controversy, Tharoor is unsparing in his criticism of 'Hindutva', an extremist, nationalist Hinduism endorsed by India's current government. He argues urgently and persuasively that it is precisely because of Hinduism's rich diversity that India has survived and thrived as a plural, secular nation. If narrow fundamentalism wins out, Indian democracy itself is in peril.


Book Synopsis Why I Am a Hindu by : Shashi Tharoor

Download or read book Why I Am a Hindu written by Shashi Tharoor and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2018-05-22 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Hinduism is one of the world's oldest and greatest religious traditions. In captivating prose, Shashi Tharoor untangles its origins, its key philosophical concepts and texts. He explores everyday Hindu beliefs and practices, from worship to pilgrimage to caste, and touchingly reflects on his personal beliefs and relationship with the religion. Not one to shy from controversy, Tharoor is unsparing in his criticism of 'Hindutva', an extremist, nationalist Hinduism endorsed by India's current government. He argues urgently and persuasively that it is precisely because of Hinduism's rich diversity that India has survived and thrived as a plural, secular nation. If narrow fundamentalism wins out, Indian democracy itself is in peril.

Secularism and Its Critics

Secularism and Its Critics

Author: Rajeev Bhargava

Publisher:

Published: 1999

Total Pages: 550

ISBN-13: 9780195650273

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This book puts together the most important contemporary writings in the debate on secularism. It deals with conceptual, normative and explanatory issues in secularism and addresses urgent questions, including the relevance of secularism to non-Western societies and the question of minority rights.


Book Synopsis Secularism and Its Critics by : Rajeev Bhargava

Download or read book Secularism and Its Critics written by Rajeev Bhargava and published by . This book was released on 1999 with total page 550 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book puts together the most important contemporary writings in the debate on secularism. It deals with conceptual, normative and explanatory issues in secularism and addresses urgent questions, including the relevance of secularism to non-Western societies and the question of minority rights.

Republic of Hindutva

Republic of Hindutva

Author: Badri Narayan

Publisher: Viking

Published: 2021-08

Total Pages: 240

ISBN-13: 9780670094042

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For many years, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has been working towards social reconstruction in India, which is then used by the Bharatiya Janata Party for political benefit. Contrary to popular understanding, the RSS has transformed to become more technologically savvy and socially inclusive, making the message of Hindu nationalism appealing to a large section of Indians. It has been actively mobilizing Dalits, tribals and other marginalized communities to assimilate them into the Hindutva metanarrative. Instead of wiping out caste from electoral politics, the RSS plays up the identity of disadvantaged groups, which translates into votes for the BJP. Drawing on extensive field research in the heartland of Uttar Pradesh, this path-breaking book shows how through well-planned strategies of appropriation and social work, Hindutva forces are radically reshaping Indian democracy.


Book Synopsis Republic of Hindutva by : Badri Narayan

Download or read book Republic of Hindutva written by Badri Narayan and published by Viking. This book was released on 2021-08 with total page 240 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For many years, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has been working towards social reconstruction in India, which is then used by the Bharatiya Janata Party for political benefit. Contrary to popular understanding, the RSS has transformed to become more technologically savvy and socially inclusive, making the message of Hindu nationalism appealing to a large section of Indians. It has been actively mobilizing Dalits, tribals and other marginalized communities to assimilate them into the Hindutva metanarrative. Instead of wiping out caste from electoral politics, the RSS plays up the identity of disadvantaged groups, which translates into votes for the BJP. Drawing on extensive field research in the heartland of Uttar Pradesh, this path-breaking book shows how through well-planned strategies of appropriation and social work, Hindutva forces are radically reshaping Indian democracy.

Neo-Hindutva

Neo-Hindutva

Author: Edward Anderson

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2020-05-21

Total Pages: 395

ISBN-13: 1000733467

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Neo-Hindutva explores the recent proliferation and evolution of Hindu nationalism – the assertive majoritarian, right-wing ideology that is transforming contemporary India. This volume develops and expands on the idea of ‘neo-Hindutva’ –– Hindu nationalist ideology which is evolving and shifting in new, surprising, and significant ways, requiring a reassessment and reframing of prevailing understandings. The contributors identify and explain the ways in which Hindu nationalism increasingly permeates into new spaces: organisational, territorial, conceptual, rhetorical. The scope of the chapters reflect the diversity of contemporary Hindutva – both in India and beyond – which appears simultaneously brazen but concealed, nebulous and mainstreamed, militant yet normalised. They cover a wide range of topics and places in which one can locate new forms of Hindu nationalism: courts of law, the Northeast, the diaspora, Adivasi (tribal) communities, a powerful yoga guru, and the Internet. The volume also includes an in-depth interview with Christophe Jaffrelot and a postscript by Deepa Reddy. Helping readers to make sense of contemporary Hindutva, Neo-Hindutva is ideal for scholars of India, Hinduism, Nationalism, and Asian Studies more generally. This book was originally published as a special issue of Contemporary South Asia.


Book Synopsis Neo-Hindutva by : Edward Anderson

Download or read book Neo-Hindutva written by Edward Anderson and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2020-05-21 with total page 395 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Neo-Hindutva explores the recent proliferation and evolution of Hindu nationalism – the assertive majoritarian, right-wing ideology that is transforming contemporary India. This volume develops and expands on the idea of ‘neo-Hindutva’ –– Hindu nationalist ideology which is evolving and shifting in new, surprising, and significant ways, requiring a reassessment and reframing of prevailing understandings. The contributors identify and explain the ways in which Hindu nationalism increasingly permeates into new spaces: organisational, territorial, conceptual, rhetorical. The scope of the chapters reflect the diversity of contemporary Hindutva – both in India and beyond – which appears simultaneously brazen but concealed, nebulous and mainstreamed, militant yet normalised. They cover a wide range of topics and places in which one can locate new forms of Hindu nationalism: courts of law, the Northeast, the diaspora, Adivasi (tribal) communities, a powerful yoga guru, and the Internet. The volume also includes an in-depth interview with Christophe Jaffrelot and a postscript by Deepa Reddy. Helping readers to make sense of contemporary Hindutva, Neo-Hindutva is ideal for scholars of India, Hinduism, Nationalism, and Asian Studies more generally. This book was originally published as a special issue of Contemporary South Asia.

Amartya Sen's Hindu Bash

Amartya Sen's Hindu Bash

Author: V.S. Sardesai

Publisher: Readworthy

Published: 2007-10-16

Total Pages: 108

ISBN-13: 9350181193

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The volume is an erudite work on Nobel Laureate Prof. Amartya Sen's perception of Hinduism and the Hindus as evident in his books The Argumentative Indian and Identity and Violence. It examines Sen's stinging views on Hindutva and Hindu culture. The author argues that the works engage in Hindu-baiting and scrutinizes certain discrepancies that have crept in as a result of accepting theories, such as Sri Rama was a myth and Ramayana is a parable, uncritically. The book also comments on Prof. Sen's allegations that Hindu political activists nowadays pay little heed to the 'tolerant' Hindu tradition and are bent upon rewriting history to suit their own ideologies. This painstaking analysis will prove extremely interesting to a wide variety of readers: the scholars of Indology and religion, historians and to the general readers as well.


Book Synopsis Amartya Sen's Hindu Bash by : V.S. Sardesai

Download or read book Amartya Sen's Hindu Bash written by V.S. Sardesai and published by Readworthy. This book was released on 2007-10-16 with total page 108 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The volume is an erudite work on Nobel Laureate Prof. Amartya Sen's perception of Hinduism and the Hindus as evident in his books The Argumentative Indian and Identity and Violence. It examines Sen's stinging views on Hindutva and Hindu culture. The author argues that the works engage in Hindu-baiting and scrutinizes certain discrepancies that have crept in as a result of accepting theories, such as Sri Rama was a myth and Ramayana is a parable, uncritically. The book also comments on Prof. Sen's allegations that Hindu political activists nowadays pay little heed to the 'tolerant' Hindu tradition and are bent upon rewriting history to suit their own ideologies. This painstaking analysis will prove extremely interesting to a wide variety of readers: the scholars of Indology and religion, historians and to the general readers as well.

The Hindu Nationalist Movement in India

The Hindu Nationalist Movement in India

Author: Christophe Jaffrelot

Publisher: Columbia University Press

Published: 1996

Total Pages: 624

ISBN-13: 9780231103350

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Using techniques similar to those of nationalist groups in other nations, Jaffrelot contends, the Hindu movement polarizes Indian society by stigmatizing minorities - chiefly Muslims and Christians - and by promoting a sectarian Hindu identity.


Book Synopsis The Hindu Nationalist Movement in India by : Christophe Jaffrelot

Download or read book The Hindu Nationalist Movement in India written by Christophe Jaffrelot and published by Columbia University Press. This book was released on 1996 with total page 624 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Using techniques similar to those of nationalist groups in other nations, Jaffrelot contends, the Hindu movement polarizes Indian society by stigmatizing minorities - chiefly Muslims and Christians - and by promoting a sectarian Hindu identity.

The Great Hindu Civilisation

The Great Hindu Civilisation

Author: Pavan K Varma

Publisher:

Published: 2023-07-12

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9789395073288

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A SUCCINCT ACCOUNT OF THE PROGRESS OF THE HINDU CIVILISATION AND ITS CURRENT CRISIS What do we mean by the Hindu civilisation? What are the texts and legacies that moved it forward from one century to another? How much of it has to do with inherited religious beliefs and how has the politicisation of these beliefs changed the prism through which Hindus view themselves and others, especially those identifying with different belief systems? These are the questions the author sets out to answer with this potted history of the Hindu world, in the context of changing empires and leaderships, through colonisation and conquest, leading up to the present challenges presented by the proponents of Hindutva. Direct, hard-hitting and wise, this is an invaluable treatise for our times. About the Author Pavan K. Varma is a writer-diplomat and was till recently an MP in the Rajya Sabha. He was earlier Advisor to the Chief Minister of Bihar, with the rank of Cabinet minister. He has been India's Ambassador in several countries, also Director of the Nehru Centre in London, Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, and Press Secretary to the President of India. Author of over a dozen successful books, Pavan K. Varma was conferred an honorary doctoral degree for his contribution to the fields of diplomacy, literature, culture and aesthetics by the University of Indianapolis in 2005. He was also conferred the Druk Thuksey, Bhutan's highest civilian award, in 2012.


Book Synopsis The Great Hindu Civilisation by : Pavan K Varma

Download or read book The Great Hindu Civilisation written by Pavan K Varma and published by . This book was released on 2023-07-12 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A SUCCINCT ACCOUNT OF THE PROGRESS OF THE HINDU CIVILISATION AND ITS CURRENT CRISIS What do we mean by the Hindu civilisation? What are the texts and legacies that moved it forward from one century to another? How much of it has to do with inherited religious beliefs and how has the politicisation of these beliefs changed the prism through which Hindus view themselves and others, especially those identifying with different belief systems? These are the questions the author sets out to answer with this potted history of the Hindu world, in the context of changing empires and leaderships, through colonisation and conquest, leading up to the present challenges presented by the proponents of Hindutva. Direct, hard-hitting and wise, this is an invaluable treatise for our times. About the Author Pavan K. Varma is a writer-diplomat and was till recently an MP in the Rajya Sabha. He was earlier Advisor to the Chief Minister of Bihar, with the rank of Cabinet minister. He has been India's Ambassador in several countries, also Director of the Nehru Centre in London, Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, and Press Secretary to the President of India. Author of over a dozen successful books, Pavan K. Varma was conferred an honorary doctoral degree for his contribution to the fields of diplomacy, literature, culture and aesthetics by the University of Indianapolis in 2005. He was also conferred the Druk Thuksey, Bhutan's highest civilian award, in 2012.

The Politics of Religion in South and Southeast Asia

The Politics of Religion in South and Southeast Asia

Author: Ishtiaq Ahmed

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2011-05-04

Total Pages: 338

ISBN-13: 1136727027

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The notion of a ‘politics of religion’ refers to the increasing role that religion plays in the politics of the contemporary world. This book presents comparative country case studies on the politics of religion in South and South Asia, including India, Pakistan and Indonesia. The politics of religion calls into question the relevance of modernist notions of secularism and democracy, with the emphasis instead on going back to indigenous roots in search of authentic ideologies and models of state and nation building. Within the context of the individual countries, chapters focus on the consequences that politics of religion has on inclusive nation-building, democracy and the rights of individuals, minorities and women. The book makes a contribution to both the theoretical and conceptual literature on the politics of religion as well as shed light on the implications and ramifications of the politics of religion on contemporary South Asian and South East Asian countries. It is of interest to students and scholars of South and South East Asian Studies, as well as Comparative Politics.


Book Synopsis The Politics of Religion in South and Southeast Asia by : Ishtiaq Ahmed

Download or read book The Politics of Religion in South and Southeast Asia written by Ishtiaq Ahmed and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2011-05-04 with total page 338 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The notion of a ‘politics of religion’ refers to the increasing role that religion plays in the politics of the contemporary world. This book presents comparative country case studies on the politics of religion in South and South Asia, including India, Pakistan and Indonesia. The politics of religion calls into question the relevance of modernist notions of secularism and democracy, with the emphasis instead on going back to indigenous roots in search of authentic ideologies and models of state and nation building. Within the context of the individual countries, chapters focus on the consequences that politics of religion has on inclusive nation-building, democracy and the rights of individuals, minorities and women. The book makes a contribution to both the theoretical and conceptual literature on the politics of religion as well as shed light on the implications and ramifications of the politics of religion on contemporary South Asian and South East Asian countries. It is of interest to students and scholars of South and South East Asian Studies, as well as Comparative Politics.