The Rise and Rise of Hindutva: Narratives, Visualised Communities, and the Hindu Nation
9 Pages Posted: 17 Jun 2020
Date Written: May 23, 2020
Abstract
In recent times, there has been a significant rise of Hindutva ideology in India. Hindu nationalists argue that India should become a ‘Hindu nation’. As a result, there has been a significant increase in anti-Muslim rhetoric and growing intolerance towards minorities. In some ways, Hindu nationalism, as a political ideology, guides the ruling nationalist party BJP in the national politics. The introduction of the Citizenship Amendment Act and the subsequent normalization-of-hate, which culminated into horrific Delhi riots, enable one to rethink on the question of understanding Hindutva just as an ideology. In this paper, I have outlined the process through which a Hindutva narrative has been created. I have argued that there is an emergence of a new form of community, known as ‘visualized communities,’ which are created based on an individual’s affinity for a particular narrative. In this paper, I will attempt to connect the concept of narratives and visualized communities in relation to Hindu nationalism.
Keywords: Hindutva, Narratives, Visualized Communities, Citizenship Amendment Act, Hindu Nationalism, BJP
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