The Rise of Hindutva in India A Militant Form of Nationalism Imperilling the Peace of South Asia

Abstract

The thesis examines the rise of Hindutva Ideology in India. It is qualitative research that incorporates primary and secondary data to access the medieval and current key factors behind the growing tide of Hindu nationalism and its implications on the security architecture of South Asia. It seeks to understand the basic tenets of Hindutva ideology. Through extensive historical analysis, the study seeks to prove how Hindutva has been a result of religious bigotry. The ideology is still premised on the idea of Hindu supremacy in India. Hindutva-inspired organizations have been operating in India since the early 1900s. Shortly after independence, Hindutva fanatics started advocating for a Hindu India and opposed the idea of secularism. Gradually the Hindu nationalist movements crept into the Indian political sphere. However, since Narendra Modi has assumed power, Hindutva outfits have become more violent and vocal. This thesis explores the rise of far-right politics in India and how the BJP government has institutionalized Hindutva. Focusing on the democratic and secular institutions of India, the spike in communal violence, shrinking space for dissent, and introduction of discriminatory laws have reduced India to an electoral autocracy. The research paper employs the theoretical paradigm of instrumentalism to analyze the outcomes of extreme far-right politics on the Indian polity. The thesis also examines the grave regional implications of growing Hindutva nationalism. The security dynamics of South Asia make it vulnerable to religious fundamentalism. India’s hegemonic aspirations are linked with the emergence of the Hindutva mindset within the state. India’s relation with neighboring states and its role as a key state of South Asia has been examined to assess its hegemonic posture.