Hindutva

Political
Thought
Indian Political Thoughts
 01
Rise of
Communalism in
India
Communalism
• What is Communalism?
• Events in the History
Main Arguments of Hindutva Supporters:
1. Hindus had numbers, valour and resources but lost independence to
the foreign invaders because of lack of unity.
2. The Hindus had been losing their numbers due to the aggressive
conversion by the Christian Missionaries and the Muslims.
3. There was a need to protect the political interests of Hindus.
 02
Early Life and
Political Career
of VD Savarkar
Phases in Ideological Development:
1. He was influenced by the philosophy of the Italian nationalist
Joseph Mazzini and supported the concept of the composite Indian
Nationalism
2. After 1923, Savarkar became the supporter of Hindu Nationalism.
 02
Savarkar: Social
Change &
Reforms
Social Change
• Influence of: Gopal Ganesh Agarkar, Herbert Spencer, J. Bentham
and JS Mill.
• From the European philosophical tradition, he borrowed three
important ideas:
• 1. Survival of the Fittest
• 2. Violence was in-built in the creation of nature. Hence, man should
acquire strength and power to overcome the problems he faces.
• 3. No Absolute morality in the world. Morality is Subjective. Use of
weapon is allowed against the slavery and imperialism.
Social Change
• Supporter of Positivist Epistemology
• Rejected the paramountcy of religious scriptures
• Rejected the otherworldly philosophy of Shankara and Ramanuja.
• Focused on Worldly goals and for that use of Science and
Technology.
• Favored the pursuit of science and reason
• Criticized irrational and superstitious practices of Hindus.
Social Reforms
• Supporter of Modern Practices based on Science and Technology
• Critic of Chaturvarna and Caste System – Blamed it for degeneration
of Hinduism
• Supremacy of Machines and Technology should be accepted
• Break all bonds of blind faith and customs
 03
Savarkar: Hindu
Nationalism
Introduction
• Savarkar was the first systematic exponent of the Hindu Nationalism.
• Theory of Hindutva in his book ‘Hindutva’ published in 1924.
• Abandoned Nationalism borrowed from Mazzini in favor of Hindu
Nationalism.
• Rejected – Territorial Nationalism
Hindutva as Cultural Nationalism
• Supporter of Cultural Nationalism
• Indian Nationalism received identity from Hindu Religion.
• Differences only outwards but Hinduism is internally bound.
• Hindus: Homogenous and Organic Nations
• This homogeneity is more important because other sections in the
society had divergent cultural traditions.
• Cultural, racial and religious unity counted more in the formation of
the nation.
Hindutva as Cultural Nationalism
• Definition of Nation by Savarkar: Nation meant a political community
which had occupied a contiguous and adequate territory and
developed independent national identity. This community was
internally organized and was bound by cultural and racial affinities.
• Savarkar effectively excluded those people who did not consider
India as their holy land – because their sacred religious places were
not situated in India.
• He wanted Hindus to cultivate the affinities that encouraged national
consciousness and undermine the tendencies that divided the Hindu
Society.
 04
Savarkar: Hindu
Nationa and
Indian State
Hindu National and Indian State
What were the rights and positions of minorities in such a Hindu
Nation?
• Nation was a cultural category but state was a political category.
• Hindu: Part of Nation as well as State
• Non Hindus: Part of State
• Maintained that Hindus did not advance any claims, privileges and
rights over and above non Hindu Sections.
• He wrote, “Let Indian state be purely Indian, and let there be no
distinction as far as franchise, public services, offices and taxation
on the ground of religion was concerned. Let all citizens of the Indian
state be treated equally according to their individual worth
irrespective of their racial and religious percentage in the general
population”
 04
Critical Study of
Savarkar’s
Thought
Critical Study
• Could not properly define the concept of nationalism because
Hindus, Muslims and Christians shared common traditions and
affinities in India even in religious field.
• Reason and Science in the west were the culmination of the
development of social philosophy which fought against religious
prejudices and superstitions. The same could not be used to
strengthen the cause of religious nationalism.
• Distinction between the nation and the state was not convincing.
• All citizenship rights to non-Hindus except the membership of the
nation. This will create situation of us and they. This will destroy
national unity
 05
Golwalkar: Hindu
Nationalism
Nation as Motherland
• Outward differences but there existed basic unity in India
• Different Elements of Hindu Nationality:
• 1. Existence of Contiguous Territory
• 2. Characteristics of the people who inhabited that territory
• 3. Common economic interests of the people living in that particular
territory
• It is only through this that the nation could evolve into national
organism pulsating with the spirit of unity and oneness.
• It is only through this that the nation could evolve into national
organism pulsating with the spirit of unity and oneness.
Rejection of Territorial Nationalism
• Supporter of Cultural Nationalism
• Group of divergent people could not be called nation as they don’t
function as coherent unit.
• It is lifeless, unscientific and unnatural
• Principle of Territorial Nationalism: Country as ‘Dharmashala’
• Principle of Territorial Nationalism was reason for Partition of India.
Rejection of Territorial Nationalism
Five Principles of Golwalkar’s Cultural Nationalism
1. Common Religion
2. Common Race
3. Common Language
4. Common Culture
5. Common Country
Hindu Nationalism and Minorities
• Hindus as nations as they considered India as their motherland.
• Others did not consider India as their motherland or holy land.
• Non Hindu can become part of nation if they abandon their
separatist tendencies and accept all the traditions as their own
• Urged Muslims and Christians to join the Hindu national tradition.
• Others should adopt Hindu way of life without leaving their religion
• Golwalkar said that he did not want to do this with the help of
coercion or force, but through love and persuasion.
Hindu Nationalism and Minorities
• He held that the minorities would enjoy all social and political rights
but they would not be given any privileges.
• Golwalkar was highly critical of the so called progressive, democratic
and secular Hindus for encouraging the process of identity formation
among the minorities and backward castes.
• Instead of promoting the process of integration, they were
encouraging the divisive tendencies to grow.
 06
Golwalkar: Social
Organization
Golwalkar on Social Organization
• Supporter of Hindu way of life.
• Criticism of Varna System was baseless. Present system is
degenerated and the untouchability and inhuman practices are
because of foreign invaders.
• According to him, Varna System was a scheme of employment
insurance without the state intervention.
 07
Golwalkar:
Political Ideas
Political Ideas of MS Golwalkar
Capitalism
• Based on greed and exploitation
• Exploitation of weaker section
• Misuse of Right to Vote
• Caused miseries to the working classes
Political Ideas of MS Golwalkar
Communism
• It offered materialist interpretation of history.
• Materialist interpretation of Marx proved wrong because his
prediction of inevitability of revolution did not materialize.
• Power in name of freedom, peace and prosperity of working class
but in reality it is dictatorship
• Example – Situation of Russia and China
• Their attitude was materialistic because they tried to measure
pleasure in satisfying basic physical needs and wants of the body.
Political Ideas of MS Golwalkar
Hindu Spiritualism
• Superior to both Capitalism and Communism
• Hindus did not approve of the materialistic perspective of life.
• Hindus believed that human life was homogenous which was
permeated by the supreme spirit.
• A man lived not to maximize his pleasures and powers but to help
and assist others.
• Every human being was a part of society and their mutual interests
were not contradictory.
• The ultimate goal of life was the establishment of a society where
there would not be any punishment, or any punisher, and people
would protect each other by the principles of Dharma.
 08
Golwalkar:
Negative and
Positive Hindutva
Negative Hindutva
• Developed as a reaction to the Muslim communalism or the Congress
Secularism.
• Based on Hatred
• Not recommended
• Because of their fierce opposition to Muslims in their minds
culturally they became Muslims.
• He said that negative Hindutva was a means to capture political
power.
Positive Hindutva
• Not developed as a reaction to any adversary
• No Objective of Political Power
• The secret resilience of Hindu community could be found in their
attitude towards life.
• Hindus built their social and political organization not on the basis of
force but on the basis of Dharma.
• Goal: To remain outside the seat of political power but control it
from outside so that it would work in the interest of the society.
• He pleaded for developing a strong and well organized society which
would work as bedrock for nation.
 09
Golwalkar: Critical
Study
Criticism
1. Indian Spiritualism did not make distinction between Hindu and
Non-Hindu Souls.
2. Tried to reject the concept of territorial nationalism but his own
concept of cultural nationalism was based on territoriality of
motherland.
3. Exclusion of Muslims and Christian communities from nation on the
grounds of extra-territorial loyalties was questionable – Traitors are
in every community
4. Wanted to build strong nation state but at the same time wanted to
stay away from political power.
 10
Early Life of
Deendayal
Upadhyaya
Sources of Political Ideas of DDU
1. The Problems of National Life, 1960
2. Integral Humanism, 1965
3. The Direction of National Life, 1971
4. Political Diary, 1968
 11
DDU: Intergal
Humanism
Integral Humanism
• Humankind consists of four parts: Body, Mind, Intellect and Soul
• Diversity exists in Humans but the soul or atman is common among
all.
• Thus, World may look diverse but it is the idea of ‘Ekatmata’ that
pervades the world
• It is important to develop all the elements of humankind for the
progress of society.
• Both material and spiritual development are important.
Integral Humanism
Comparison with the West
• ‘Bharitya Culture’ had placed four objectives, Purusharthas i.e. Artha,
Kama, Dharma and Moksha.
• Whereas, Focus of western society is just on Artha and Kama.
• Unlike West, Ekatmata ensures that individual and society are
mutually complementary.
 12
DDU: Idea of
Nationalism
Idea of Nationalism
• Criticized Western Idea of Nationalism
• A nation is not a geographical unit.
• The primary need of nationalism is the feeling of boundless
dedication in the hearts of the people for their land.
• Sense of My-Ness
• Western Idea of Nationalism emerged from French Revolution.
• Basis: Common Race, Religion, Land, Traditions, Shared Experience of
Calamities, Means of Transport, Common Political Administration and
so on.
• Missing Elements: Love for the Motherland
Idea of Hindu Nation
• “There Exist only one Culture”
• Every community including Muslims and Christians must identify
themselves with the age-long national cultural stream that was
Hindu Culture.
• Unless all the people become part of the same cultural stream,
national unity or integration is impossible.
• Upadhyaya even said that Muslims and Hindus relates differently to
India’s part.
Assignment
• Read Article ‘Merchant of Hate’ by AG Noorani (Frontline)