“Hindutva” is not only a mere religious ideology but also a political extremism ingrained in the charter of responsibilities for the revivalist Hindu community. Its historical vision of a ‘United Bharat’ bears a striking resemblance to the Zionist concept of ‘The Greater Israel.’ The adoption of Hindutva draws inspiration from the militant ethos of Mussolini’s Fascism and Hitler’s Nazism. Currently, the governance under the Hindutva-inspired BJP mirrors the approach of an exclusively Hindu nationalist state, akin to the trajectory of Jewish Israel. India, originally founded as a secular state, is undergoing a transformation into an extreme Hindu nationalist state entity harboring aspirations of expansionism rooted in their religious scripture, the ‘Puran.’
This imperialistic maneuver mirrors historical precedents set by Italian Fascists and German Nazis, echoing the present-day trajectory of Jewish Israel. It is evident that such an imperialistic hegemony leads to chaos and conflict, as seen in World War II and the ongoing Palestine-Israel conflict. There is a tangible concern that the BJP’s Hindutva movement may instigate a new era of chaos and confrontation in the South Asian region.
The Hindutva ideology is not embraced by the majority of Hindus but has gained popularity in India under Narendra Modi’s leadership. The intellectual legacy advocated by early Hindu reformists, Ram Mohan Roy (born in 1772), was the pioneer of today’s Hindu extremists. In 1875, Hindu guru Swami Dayananda Saraswati established the ‘Arya Samaj,’ a movement aimed at reviving Hindu traditions. Dayananda was a staunch critic of various faiths, including the Abrahamic religions. He introduced the concept of converting Hinduism, named ‘Shuddhi’ or purification, and ‘Swaraj’ advocating for a self-ruled Hindu state in opposition to British colonial rule.
Although Dayananda passed away in 1883, the ‘Arya Samaj’ continued to take a more active role with the establishment of the “Hindu Sabha” and “Hindu Mahasabha” in 1915. The term ‘Hindutva’ was stamped by V.D. Savarkar in 1923, marking a pivotal moment in the ideological landscape. Political activist Keshav Baliram Hedgewar founded the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in 1925, contributing significantly to the grassroots expansion of the Hindutva ideology across the Indian subcontinent.
The RSS’s direct involvement in politics came after Indian Independence. In 1948, the organization faced a ban following the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi by one of its members, Nathuram Godse. Subsequently, in 1951, the RSS collaborated with the Hindu Mahasabha to establish the Bharatiya Jana Sangha political party- the precursor to the formation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Presently, the RSS boasts 65 affiliated organizations and an additional 100 subsidiary groups, collectively recognized as the “Sangh Parivar” or the Sangh family.
In 1980, the BJP was founded as a distinct political entity. Initially securing only two seats in the 1984 general election, its political landscape dramatically shifted in the subsequent 1991 election, where it garnered a notable 120 seats. This significant rise was notably influenced by two pivotal movements, namely the “Ram Birthplace Movement” and the “Rath Journey,” orchestrated by the Bishwa Hindu Parishad from 1983.
Narendra Modi’s ascent to power with the BJP in 2014 further solidified the party’s standing, gaining even more popularity in the 2018 elections. A significant turning point brought about by the extremist Hindutva ideology in India’s secular politics transpired with the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992. The seeds for this act were sown in 1949 when the Hindu Mahasabha secretly placed a Krishna idol inside the mosque in the hours of darkness. BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani portrayed the Babri Masjid as a symbol of defeat by the Muslims and advocated the construction of the Ram Mandir on its site as a collective atonement for all Hindus’ sins.
The Hindutva movement was influenced by Italian Fascism and the German Nazi movement. Its initial pioneers drew profound inspiration from figures like Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler. The paramount impact on Hindutva leaders emanated from the establishment of militant societies and the inception of fervently aggressive fascist youth-oriented organizations. In the year 1931, BS Munje, the mentor of Hedgewar, undertook a visit to Italy where he encountered Benito Mussolini. Subsequently, commencing in 1938, the Nazi forces in Germany emerged as a wellspring of inspiration for the Hindu Mahasabhas. The adherents of Hindutva assimilated the German Nazi methodology employed against the Jews, adapting and applying it to the context within Hindustan. The effectiveness of armed organizations was a common thread in the ascent of Fascism in Italy and Nazism in Germany. The deployment of the ‘Black Shirt’ forces in Italy and the ‘Brown Shirt’ forces in Germany proved instrumental in propelling Mussolini and Hitler to power. Their aggressive and tumultuous activities significantly shaped the political landscape of that time. The ‘Saffron’ forces within Hindutva organizations have assumed a parallel role, persisting in their unwavering activities following the historical Black Shirt and Brown Shirt forces.
The Nazi ascent to power in 1933, but SA(Sturmabteilungen) forces persisted in assaulting the opposition. Interestingly, these atrocities often garnered support and endorsement from the common Germans. Cruelty, harassment, beatings, killings, looting, and the destruction of residences and offices became routine activities against political adversaries. Presently, India witnesses a strikingly similar strategy and approach, evident in numerous incidents of violence under the guise of cow vigilance, NRC, or CAA implementation – all representing distinct forms of Nazism. The propaganda employed by the Hindutva movement bears a resemblance to that of the Nazis. Modi initiated strategically designed campaigns to heighten the perception of insecurity among Hindus, employing recurrent references to minority Muslims as a purported threat to the majority Hindus. This portrayal, framing Hindus as local and Muslims as ‘external aggressors,’ echoes the divisive strategy employed by Hitler, who singled out Jews as the exclusive target of animosity.
The consolidation of control by the BJP and RSS across India parallels the modus operandi employed by Hitler’s Nazi Party. A BJP reminiscent of the Nazi party ascended to power through democratic elections. Subsequently, they methodically infused extremist ideology into the governmental apparatus. Analogously, the BJP is executing the Hindutva agenda within cultural and educational spheres. The resounding electoral victory of the BJP and Modi in 2019, surpassing their 2014 mandate, serves as tangible evidence of this ideological implementation. Notably, both Fascism in Italy and Nazism in Germany espoused the concept of expansionism. Similarly, this ambition finds a legacy in the Hindutva’s aspiration for a “United Bharat.”
The motives of the Hindutva-inspired BJP exhibit heightened aggression towards India’s minorities, particularly Muslims. The escalating radicalism and extremism within Hindutva movements foreshadow a surge in hostilities. The dissemination of hate-driven content against Muslims by the media is anticipated to intensify when the alignment of the judiciary and administration with the Hindutva movement becomes visible. The future portends an increase in attacks on Muslims orchestrated by armed organizations affiliated with the Hindutva movement.
Recently, heightened tensions resembling the Babri Masjid demolition have been exacerbated by the leaders of the Hindu Mahasabha. They have explicitly threatened to install an idol of Krishna within the Shahi Eidgah Mosque in Mathura. It was a conspiracy of the Hindu Mahasabha who surreptitiously placed the Krishna idol within the confines of the Babri Masjid in the hours of darkness in 1949. This act paved the destructive trajectory towards the mosque’s eventual demolition. Notably, the audacious act undertaken clandestinely in 1949 is now threatening to be carried out overtly in 2021. This development holds profound significance, portending a challenging political crisis on the horizon for South Asia.
