Hindu nationalism is a political ideology which refers to Hindu religious values. The Sangh Parivar, or “family of organizations,” is a group of Hindu nationalists, which emerged from bitter confrontations with European colonists, who sought to establish their own national identity in India. In the 1920s, the Hindu nationalist movement gained support amongst Hindus who felt oppressed by the British colonists and desired a return to India’s pure roots. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), or the Indian’s People Party, identified the nationalist movement as “not just a religion, but a way of life.” While this idea sounds welcoming for many in the Hindu community, Indians who identify themselves as Sikh, Christian, or Muslim, have found this notion
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The result of British imperialists who ruled over major areas in India, created a series of inter-state conflicts and increasing hostility amongst the native Indian population. “The British colonial state controversially ruled India in a way that deteriorated religious significance, and encouraged many Indians to live a life through Western values”(Jaffrelot, 16). This created dispute amongst local Hindus, who began partaking in activist campaigns to discuss how Hindu society could be reorganized and revived. One of the issues discussed in the campaigns was how Hindu unity could part from Western development over Hinduism that was created by British colonial rule. Many activists associated with Hindu Vedas groups such as Arya Samaj and Shraddhanand, argued for a meritocratic caste system as a way to reunite Hindus. However, Hindu unity was later built on a more conservative, symbolic level by activists, which called for the development of boundaries that would take place between …show more content…
In the 1920s, the Hindu nationalist movement gained support amongst Hindus of the lower castes who felt oppressed by the ruling Hindu elite and desired a return to India’s “pure roots.” Certain Hindu groups including the Sangh Parivar, emerged as a result of British control in India and oppression from elite Hindus, who were controlling the lives of many in India. Hindu nationalism eventually formed into both a political and cultural movement that became defined in terms of Hindu religious values. In fact, Hindu nationalist received so much support that India’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) identified the movement as “not just a religion, but a way of life for the average citizen.” This, however, created much controversy especially amongst Indians who identified themselves as Muslim, Sikh, or Christian, and became oppressed in Indian
The result of British imperialists who ruled over major areas in India, created a series of inter-state conflicts and increasing hostility amongst the native Indian population. “The British colonial state controversially ruled India in a way that deteriorated religious significance, and encouraged many Indians to live a life through Western values”(Jaffrelot, 16). This created dispute amongst local Hindus, who began partaking in activist campaigns to discuss how Hindu society could be reorganized and revived. One of the issues discussed in the campaigns was how Hindu unity could part from Western development over Hinduism that was created by British colonial rule. Many activists associated with Hindu Vedas groups such as Arya Samaj and Shraddhanand, argued for a meritocratic caste system as a way to reunite Hindus. However, Hindu unity was later built on a more conservative, symbolic level by activists, which called for the development of boundaries that would take place between …show more content…
In the 1920s, the Hindu nationalist movement gained support amongst Hindus of the lower castes who felt oppressed by the ruling Hindu elite and desired a return to India’s “pure roots.” Certain Hindu groups including the Sangh Parivar, emerged as a result of British control in India and oppression from elite Hindus, who were controlling the lives of many in India. Hindu nationalism eventually formed into both a political and cultural movement that became defined in terms of Hindu religious values. In fact, Hindu nationalist received so much support that India’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) identified the movement as “not just a religion, but a way of life for the average citizen.” This, however, created much controversy especially amongst Indians who identified themselves as Muslim, Sikh, or Christian, and became oppressed in Indian