Hindutva is an ideology that seeks to establish India as a Hindu state and has been influential in the rise of Hindu nationalist groups. It was originally formulated by V.D. Savarkar, an Indian independence activist, who drew inspiration from nationalist movements in Europe, including Nazi Germany.
Several prominent right-wing organizations in India advocate for Hindutva, including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and other groups collectively referred to as the Sangh Parivar. These groups promote the idea of India as a nation defined by three core principles: a shared nationality (Rashtra), a common race (Jati), and a unified culture or civilization (Sanskriti).
Hindutva has been described as a form of Hindu nationalism and is often criticized for its exclusionary and divisive nature. Anthropologist Thomas Hansen, in his book The Saffron Wave: Democracy and Hindu Nationalism in Modern India (1999), analyzed Hindutva as a political ideology that gained prominence in post-independence India. Critics have likened it to fascist ideologies due to its emphasis on cultural and racial homogeneity.
(WM)
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