Hinduism

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Bakti

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literally meaning ‘devotion’, ‘love’, or ‘honor’; a system of religious practice in which the practitioner worships the deity through devotion and love, often using song or poetry, emphasizing intimacy and whole-hearted love rather than prescribed ritual and texts.

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Puja

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ritual performed at home or temple, giving offerings to the deity. Steps may include: washing of the deity, dressing or adorning the deity, ‘feeding’ the deity, applying perfumes or flowers, burning incense, and bowing.

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Masjid

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mosque (muslim)

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Mandir

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temple (hindu, sometimes jain)

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Gurudwara

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temple (sikh)

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vedas

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body of texts believed to been written by non-humans (divine origin) and are therefore ‘timeless’…this is called śruti (‘what is heard’). The canon includes the ṚgVeda, AtharvaVeda, SamaVeda, and the YajurVeda. Oldest known sacred texts, estimated to begin 1500 BCE.

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Manu

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text in the smṛti category (‘what is remembered’, as opposed to śruti). Part of the collection of dharmashastras, considered to be the text which codifies the varna system, as well as other oppressive elements of Hinduism. Used by the British as a ‘bible to Hinduism’, which contributed to its foregrounding in Hinduism today.

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varnas

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text in the smṛti category (‘what is remembered’, as opposed to śruti). Part of the collection of dharmashastras, considered to be the text which codifies the varna system, as well as other oppressive elements of Hinduism. Used by the British as a ‘bible to Hinduism’, which contributed to its foregrounding in Hinduism today.

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Dalit

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the proper term for ‘untouchable’; considered to be outside the four varnas and therefore ‘outcastes’. Scheduled Castes (SC) and Other Backwards Castes (OBC) also fall into this category.

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zamindir

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perso-arabic term, meaning wealthy landowner, gentry

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saivism

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school of devotion to Siva with strong influence in the south

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vaisnavism

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school of devotion to Vishnu

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dharma

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multiple meanings, but usually either "religion" or "duty" or "law"

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atman

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soul, that which is shaped by karma and reborn

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moksa

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liberation, freedom from samsara

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samsara

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cycle of rebirth

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hartal

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strike

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swadeshi

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homespun movement, literally "of one's own country

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khadi

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homespun cloth

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swaraj

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self rule

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harijan

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children of god, Gandhi's term for untouchables

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ahimsa

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non-violence

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Sepoy Mutiny or Indian Rebellion of 1857

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Began inside the British EIC Army, spread to other major states across India; instigated by caste/religious tensions, presence of missionaries, renumeration (people not being paid properly)

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Tallow incident

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bullets greased with tallow couldn't be used by Indians, pissed em off

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Government of India Act 1858

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India is part of England, not a trade company

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Lucknow Pact 1916

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Agreement between Indian National Congress and Muslim leadership, negotiate to give Indians more authority in their own country -- alliance between Muslims and Hindus

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Defense of India Act

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Nationalistic/revolutionary people can be arrested without trial -- becomes Rowlatt Act 1917

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Sikh Massacre 1919

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1200 Sikhs wounded, 400 killed during peaceful demonstration

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Jawaharlal Nehru

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first Indian prime minister, known for moderate, pacifist, secular positions. Saw India as diverse, a quilt of cultures

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Muhammad Ali Jinnah

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"Father of Pakistan", opposed Gandhi's hinduistic approach, wanted partition

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B.R. Ambedkar

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Untouchable leader, converted to Buddhism. Disagreed with Gandhi. Author of Indian constitution

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Brahmo Samaj

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Group that attempts to reform Brahmanic influence, sati, dowry, education, etc. They wanted to create a form of Hinduism that could compete with modernity

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Arya Samaj

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Religious organization "Back to the Vedas"
critical of caste/jati system, tried to purify caste system to make it more flexible. Admired Europeans
Anti-Muslim

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Shuddi

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if a Brahmin is ritually defiled, he can reconvert to Hinduism through Shuddi

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Hindu Mahasabha

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starts as umbrella organization, fizzles out, reeemerges in 1920s
known for radical ideology, wanted India to be a Hindu country, not a melting pot

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Swami Vivekananda

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member of Brahmo Samaj, philosopher

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Sri Aurobindo

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one of the first nationalists to push for independent India, saw Hinduism as a beacon for the whole world

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Gandhi

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Studies law in England, lives in South Africa, returns to India in 1915. Pacifist, nationalist, leads many protests like the khadi (homespun movement) and the salt satyagraha (nonviolent protest against monopoly)

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Subhas Candra Bose

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Bengali nationalism, wanted independence. Conflicted with Gandhi but did not like Gandhi's emphasis on nonviolence. Fixated with fascist ideology

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Vinayak Damodar Savarkar

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Organized Indian-Muslim student movement in England and India, was imprisoned. Wrote Hindutva: Who is a Hindu?
Ethno-nationalist, loyalty to race, nation, and culture

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Abhinav Bharat "Modern India"

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modeled on Young Italy, dissolved after independence; anti-Muslim, radical

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Nathuram Godse

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Against partition and Gandhi, eventually assassinated him

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Indian National Congress (INC)

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focus on secularism, democratic socialism, social liberalism, Indian nationalism
free but "modern" India
Parliament with two houses, Westminster style of gov

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Indira Gandhi

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daughter of Nehru, shared her father's views and became 3rd PM of India. Spearheaded Green Revolution, authorized development of nuclear weapons, sided with USSR in Pakistan dispute
Leader during Emergency, abandoned most of her liberal crap then
Assassinated by Sikhs after Operation Blue Star

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Operation Blue Star

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Massacre of Sikhs

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Rajiv Gandhi

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Indira's son, became prime minister; modernized telecommunications, science, and research; assassinated in 1991

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Janata Party (JP)

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a mix of parties coming together under Emergency, sweep 1977 elections; investigated Indira Gandhi's role in Emergency, dissolved in 1980

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BJP

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Indian People's Party, formed from JP; ideology of positive secularism, cultural nationalism

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VHP

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World Hindu Council, religiously Hindu nationalist group

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Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh

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"National Volunteers Organization" , banned by Indian gov but not British; radical, secretive, authoritarian; against subcastes but in favor of varna system

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Keshav Baliram Hedgewar

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Apolitical, did not join anti-colonial movements, felt that the fundamental reason for domination of Hindus by foreign powers was the result of Hindu disunity/failings

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Shakas

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Disciplined volunteer corps, emphasis on physical and military training, propaganda

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Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar

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RSS leader; xenophobic and racist, rejects view of nation as culturally varied, wanted Hindus to forcefully convert people