Department of International Relations, Jahangirnagar University, Savar,

Dhaka, Bangladesh

Course: IR-208: Problems and Theories of Ethnicity and Nationalism

Course Teacher: Md. Rashidul Islam Rusel, Assistant professor,

Department of International Relations, Jahangirnagar University

Submitted by: Sadi Mohamod Sadi

BSS(honors), Third Year(49th Batch)
Roll:1194

A short research titled: The rise and development of Hindutva in India

from 2014 to 2023: an instrumentalist approach
Abstract
This research explores the rise of Hindutva in India from 2014 to 2023 through an
instrumentalist lens, examining it as a pragmatic tool rather than an inherent ideology. The
study delves into the historical roots, political mobilization, and socio-cultural factors
contributing to the ascendancy of Hindutva. It investigates how Hindutva is strategically
deployed for political objectives, including electoral success, coalition building, and
governance. Findings reveal a dynamic and adaptable nature of Hindutva, challenging fixed
ideological perceptions. The research concludes by discussing potential future implications,
emphasizing the need for a balanced approach that respects cultural diversity while upholding
democratic principles. Recommendations include inclusive education, interfaith dialogue, and
responsible governance to navigate the complex socio-political landscape shaped by the rise of
Hindutva in India.

Keywords: Hindutva, Instrumentalist, Modi, India, Religion

Introduction

India, a diverse and culturally rich nation, has undergone a transformative political landscape
from 2014 to the present, characterized by the regeneration of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
and the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This period witnessed a departure from the
coalition government era, marked by the BJP's decisive victory in the 2014 general elections,
granting the party a clear majority in the Lok Sabha. As the political landscape evolved, so did
the ideological contours, with the BJP embracing Hindutva as a central theme, intertwining
nationalist fervor with governance objectives.This research endeavors to scrutinize the intricate
relationship between the political developments of this period and the concurrent rise of
Hindutva, employing an instrumentalist lens to understand how political actors strategically
deploy Hindutva for their objectives. The BJP's electoral strategies, policy initiatives, and the
ideological shifts that accompanied its ascendancy will be explored within the context of India's
socio-political dynamics. As we navigate this exploration, it is imperative to understand the
nuanced interplay between politics and ideology, recognizing the multifaceted nature of
Hindutva's role in shaping contemporary India. By adopting an instrumentalist perspective, we
aim to unravel the strategic deployment of Hindutva by political actors and its consequential
impact on Indian society. This research draws upon a diverse range of scholarly sources to
provide a comprehensive understanding of the complex interconnections between politics and
ideology during this pivotal period in India's recent history.

A brief historical context of Hindutva

Hindutva is a far right political ideology that promotes Hindu nationalism as a Way to achieve
Hindu state in India1, it is a fascist ideology that advocates Hindu supremacy, especially over the
Muslims and champions an outlandish vision of how scientific modernity flourished in early
India with an inherent objective of transform India from a secular into an ethno-nationalist state,
dubbed the Hindu Rashtra (Hindu nation)2. In India Hindutva as a political ideology can be
traced back to the British period when a politician named Vinayak Damodar Savarkar published
a book titled Hindutva: Who Is a Hindu? in 1923 while he was in jail. Since then it has been the
ideology of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh(RSS) which was established in 1925 and has a
strong affiliation with current ruling party of India Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) 3. It may also be
known that the current prime minister Narendra Modi was also a member of RSS youth Wing
during his younger years. Since it's inception RSS and it's other similar organizations have been
working to create a Hindu nation only consisting of Hindus, reflection of which we can in the
current situation see in many government policies like Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA),
National Register of Citizens (NRC) and in the recent making of Ayodhya Ram Mandir in the
place of Babri Mosque which was also demolished by Hindutva followers during the BJP
government on December 6, 1992. So the current Hindutva that we are witnessing has been a
long time in the making.
1 Institute of Strategic Dialogue. (2023, June 26). Hindutva - ISD. ISD.

https://www.isdglobal.org/explainers/hindutva-hindu-nationalism/#:~:text=The%20word%20Hindutva

%20means%20'Hindu,the%20means%20to%20achieve%20a

2 Truschke, A. (2020). Hindutva’s dangerous rewriting of history. South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic

Journal, 24/25, 1. https://doi.org/10.4000/samaj.6636

3 Sharma, A. (2020). Hinduism and Hindutva. Education About ASIA, 25(1).

Political landscape (2014-2023)

Shri Narendra Modi was sworn in as Prime minister of India in 2014. Before his stint at PMship
he was the Chief minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014 during which he was responsible for the
Gujarat riots between the Hindu-Muslim community although he was proven innocent by the
high Court but is still known as the man responsible for the riots. During his stint as PM Modi
has worked magic in Indian politics and his governance is marred with both success like the
worlds largest healthcare programme “Ayushman Bharat” 4 and controversies like the new
Citizenship Amendment Act(CAA)-2019. Modi who is a staunch supporter of Hindutva. The
current political scenario of India is a bit complex to be analyzed. India since its independence
has been a secular state but in recent times the country has been very much fragmented specially
among the minority Muslims and the majority Hindus who have been persecuting Muslims for
many reasons like killing cows which is deemed sacred to the Hindus. So the secular view that
the world had seen is now nowhere to be seen. The rise of Modi has given the spotlight to many
other leaders like Amit Shah, Yogi Adityanath who like modi capitalizes on the feelings of their
fellow Hindus. The RSS and cow Vigilantes are running rampant more than ever. In this scenario
Modi who is a very skilled orator using the sentiments of the voters is now in his second term.
Currently BJP is ruling 12 Indian states whereas the opponent party congress is in only 3 states 5.
The Indian society is now currently going through a saffronisation as a result it is open and
poisoning the very gist of liberal democracy and secular Indian state. Equilibrium in Indian
society is disrupted and saffron terrorism is on rise6.

Factors contributing to the Rise of Hindutva

4 Know the PM | Prime Minister of India. (n.d.). https://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/pms-profile/

5 TIMESOFINDIA.COM. (2023, December 3). BJP rules 12 states, Congress 3: India’s political landscape

after assembly election results. The Times of India. https://m.timesofindia.com/india/bjp-rules-12-states-

congress-3-indias-political-landscape-after-assembly-election-results/articleshow/105701523.cms

6 Hayat, M. U., Khan, N., & Abbasi, S. N. (2021). Rise of Hindutva Mind-Set and Saffronisation of Indian

Society. International Review of Social Sciences, 9, 9-21.

The current rise of Hindutva can be explained through historical, political, socio-cultural and
economic factors. These are discussed below.

1. Historical factors: As discussed before Hindutva has its Root since the British period
but it was not until the 1990s when we saw the full fledged ascension of this ideology in
the political sphere. During the demolition of Babri Mosque in 1994. Ayodhya which is
said to be the birthplace of Ram is a sacred place for Hindus so they thought that through
this place should the struggle for a Hindu state or Ram Rajya by building a Ram temple
in the place of Babri Mosque. This movement was dubbed as ‘Ram janmabhoomi’
movement. And since to than it has been the main goal of BJP and their so called ‘Sangh
Parivar’ to create a Ram Rajya7.
2. Political Factors: Being a Hindu majority country there has always been a hindu
sentiment among the people specially among the uneducated and poorer portion of the
citizenry. BJP capitalized just on this sentiment. If we look at the rise of BJP we can see
that it had only 2 seats in the parliament in 1984 consisting only 7.2% vote's but currently
it has majority in the parliament and has 37.4% share of vote. This just shows that
tapping in the majority sentiments have done miracles in the rise of BJP as well as rise of
Hindutva8. Also the failure of the Congress party, which has been in power most of the
time since India's independence, has created a fertile situation for BJPs success. The
rampant corruption as well as inequality has created a dissent among the people.
3. Socio-cultural factors: Hindus are a majority in India and its culture is influenced by
Hindu mythology as well as Muslim too because India was once ruled by Muslim. But
despite being ruled by Muslims most of the grassroot level people of India were Hindu
and their cultural development was through their Hindu religious practices like if you go
to Kolkata you will see their largest festival is Durga Puja. In many regions we can see
7 Sahgal, G. (2020). Hindutva Past and Present: From Secular Democracy to Hindu Rashtra. Feminist

Dissent, (5), 19-49.

8 TIMESOFINDIA.COM. (2019, May 30). From 2 to 303 seats: How BJP has grown over the years. The

Times of India. https://m.timesofindia.com/india/from-2-to-303-seats-heres-how-bjp-has-risen/

articleshow/69538718.cms
 the religion's effect on cultural development and diversities, so this cultural factor has
been a catalyst in the development of Hindutva by promising to go back to the ancient
Hindu roots.
4. Economic Factors: Today BJP uses a popular narrative to show the economic downturn
of India and that is the fault of the Muslim rulers. Many Hindutva scholars or shall we
say propagandists argue that during the Mughal period or during the Muslim rule the then
rulers looted India and created their empire in the middle east or in Persia, but this is a
false narrative. The Muslim rulers true came from outside but when they started to rule
here they became Indian there heirs were in fact born here in India so this is a false
narrative rather it the Britishers who exploited India most 9. But using this sorts
propaganda BJP and their ‘Sangh Parivar' is creating a Muslim hate. Also the long stint
of Congress rule did not exactly carry India out of poverty so the tactics that BJP uses is
promise to elevate the people specially lower class Hindu out of poverty thus creating a
breeding ground for Hindutva.

An instrumentalist approach to understanding the rise of Hindutva

Instrumentalist approach maintains that nations are made and challenges the view that nations
are inscribed into the nature of things and manifestation of a nation state is the ultimate destiny
of ethnic or cultural groups10. Nation-state is an imagined political community 11and nationalism
is the general imposition of a high culture on a society 12. Hindutva in this case in recent times
has been used as a political tool by the politicians, they show the general public that creation of a
Hindu state is the ultimate destiny of the Hindus. During the election times the politicians reach
to voters by aligning themselves with Hindu cultural and religious values. The earlier

9 Tharoor, S. (2017). Inglorious Empire: What the British did to India. C.Hurst & Co.

10 Hutchinson, J., & D.Smith (Eds.). (1994). Nationalism. Oxford University Press.

11 Anderson, B. (1994). Theories of Nationalism: Imagined communities. In J. Hutchinson & D.Smith (Eds.),

Nationalism (p. 89). Oxford University Press.

12 Gellner, E. (1994). Theories of Nationalism: Nationalism and High culture. In J. Hutchinson & D.Smith

(Eds.), Nationalism (p. 65). Oxford University Press.

manifestations of Hindutva never acquired the political clout of the BJP in the late 1980s.
Created after a regrouping of the main political organizations sustaining Hindutva, the BJP rose
to power at a remarkable pace13. In recent times we have throughout the world have seen the rise
of far rights and populist politicians and they are in power in many states, so it is expected that in
a country like India which has a large majority of its population in poverty and illiteracy to
adhere to Hindutva and the politicians are just capitalizing on it by imposing their views which is
as we know is the imposition you of High culture and thus creating an ethno-national sentiment
among the general mass. The instrumentalist view recognizes the adaptability of Hindutva, as
political actors may modulate its prominence based on electoral cycles, societal shifts, or
international relations, revealing a pragmatic and dynamic use of the ideology to navigate the
multifaceted landscape of Indian politics.

The apparent surge of Hindutva in India raises concerns about its potential impact on minority
communities and the democratic fabric of the nation. While it's essential to acknowledge the
cultural and historical roots that shape the diverse identity of India, the instrumentalist use of
Hindutva in politics can contribute to social divisions. The emphasis on a singular cultural
identity, at times, may marginalize minority groups, posing challenges to the principles of
inclusivity and secularism embedded in India's democratic ethos. It becomes crucial for
policymakers to strike a balance between preserving cultural heritage and safeguarding the rights
and well-being of all citizens. Encouraging open dialogue, promoting education that fosters
inclusivity, and ensuring that political agendas prioritize unity over division are vital steps to
address these concerns and uphold the democratic ideals upon which India was founded.
Recommendations and opinions

The continued rise and influence of Hindutva in India may have significant influence in the
country's socio-political landscape. If the instrumentalist deployment of Hindutva persists, there
is a risk of exacerbating religious and cultural divisions, potentially undermining the pluralistic
ethos that has long defined India. In the near future we may see heightened social tensions,
challenges to the rights and security of minority communities, and potential shifts in the nature of

13 Bose, A. (2009). Hindutva and the politicization of religious identity in India. Journal of Peace, Conflict

and Development, 13(1), 5-35.

India's democracy. Addressing these problems requires a careful and inclusive approach,
emphasizing dialogue, education, and policies that prioritize unity and respect for diversity.
Additionally, the trajectory of Hindutva could impact India's international image which we can
already see diminishing by accusations of Human Rights violations and many other accusations
like repression of minority groups. Monitoring and responding to these accusations will be
crucial in shaping a harmonious and inclusive future for India.

Conclusion
In conclusion, the rise of Hindutva in India, viewed through an instrumentalist lens, reveals a
complex interplay of political strategy, cultural identity, and socio-economic dynamics. The
instrumentalist approach highlights Hindutva as a pragmatic tool wielded by political actors for
diverse objectives, from electoral success to cultural mobilization. The potential future
implications of this rise underscore the importance of balancing cultural preservation with
democratic values to prevent social divisions and safeguard the rights of minority communities.
As India navigates its path forward, a concerted effort towards inclusive education, interfaith
dialogue, and responsible governance is imperative. The future hinges on the ability to reconcile
diverse identities within a framework that upholds the nation's rich cultural tapestry while
preserving the democratic principles that define its foundation.