4 ms·
It is one thing to argue for an Indian National identity -- I think that's immensely useful and agree that it acts as a thread that can unify diverse polities a
by lordleft 6y ago
It is one thing to argue for an Indian National identity -- I think that's immensely useful and agree that it acts as a thread that can unify diverse polities and cultures.
The problem is that the BJP is advancing a conception of Indian National Identity that flattens distinctions and is predicated on a caricature of Indian minorities. Hindutva sees Muslims, Christians and others as second-class citizens -- it is a nationalism that comes at the expense of diversity, and sometimes at the expense of the safety of Indian minority communities, free expression & speech, and democratic norms.
Creating an identity from a subcontinent filled with dozens (if not thousands) of languages and ethnic groups is an immense challenge, but the project of Hindutva is an unbelievably blunt attempt to resolve this tension.
I should add that I am an Indian American, and a St. Thomas Christian from Kerala. My community is ancient, thoroughly Indian, and yet is an affront to Indian Nationalism as conceived by the Hindu Nationalist right.
- sremani 6y agoI get what you are saying - but Hindutva in spite of a ham fisted approach is also effective at least in political sense that it is Simple and simplistic. India is layered with fragments like caste, region, etc. In some cases Hindutva replaces the more devious kinds of fragmentation. In spite of the rhetoric India under BJP has less communal strife than 80s or 90s. I hate to say it but I will say it anyway, you need to break eggs to make an omlet and I take no satisfaction in it, but there is going to be strife in some communities ending up being political losers. I am surprised to even hear Thomasites who are one of the socio-econmic mores facing persecution in a state where BJP has no footprint.
- polar 6y ago> I am surprised to even hear Thomasites who are one of the socio-econmic mores facing persecution in a state where BJP has no footprint. Perhaps you are surprised because he didn't say that!
- naruvimama 6y agoHindu is a label automatically applied to all Indian. Being a "Christian" is about actually accepting the bible, the first words that people hear from god is to kill the non-believers and idolators. I understand where you are coming from, but I am fairly certain 99% of the Hindutva groups would be fine as long as you do not hold such extreme views. So what is your take on the aggressive evangelism (mostly American) going on in India. And what do you think of the RSS definition of Hindu which includes all Christians & Muslims who consider India their cultural source.