Hindu Nationalism

ABOUT THE BOOK This book traces the history of Hindu nationalism with a special focus on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as its prominent flag bearer. Through an in-depth study of archival sources and more recent documents, the author challenges the claim of Hindu nationalism as being primordial. He argues that in addition to being a modern construct, it laid the foundation of Hindu separatism or a two-nation theory which was later adopted by Muslim separatists like Mohammed Ali Jinnah. This book describes the growth of Hindu nationalism and its appearance as Hindutva which glorifies Casteism, Racism and totalitarianism. This work also investigates how the book Hindutva authored by VD Savarkar (1923) and MS Golwalkars We or Our Nationhood Defined (1939) continue to determine the discourse of Hindu nationalism. The author has spent more than three decades collecting and scrutinizing original RSS documents from different parts of the country, especially the ones relating to pre-Independence India. These documents are the foundation for the direction which RSS was destined to take as a sectarian Hindu separatist organization opposed to democratic, secular and egalitarian ideals. This publication of Shamsul Islam's study of the ideology of Hindu nationalism and RSS is very timely because the ideological challenge of Hindutva remains a potent threat to the Indian constitution and a pluralistic and harmonious ordering of Indian society. Professor Richard Bonney It is an in depth study of the origin of RSS and the two-nation theory and the evolution of Hindutva ideology in India. For the first time certain sources have been used and that makes it a unique work of scholarship. Professor Manoranjan Mohanty It is a careful and thought provoking study of the RSS. It seeks to carry the debate over the character of Indian nationalism forward and to locate it in the nature and character of the RSS both as an organization and as a movement. It is written after extensive research on the source materials and reflects a deep and long engagement with the subject. Professor Imtiaz Ahmed CONTENTS Author's Preface to the First Edition Author's Preface to the Second Edition Preface Emeritus Professor Richard bonney Introduction Emeritus Professor Richard Bonney Annexure One Leaders (Sasanghchalaks) of the RSS Annexure Two The Sangh is my Soul Atalbehari Vajpayee Annexure Three Role of the RSS Author's Introduction Chapter 1 The Origins of Indian Nationalism The Birth of Nationalism Impediments in the Growth of Indian Nationalism The Origin of Racial Nationalism How Natural is Nationalism? Modernist Debate over the Nature of Indian Nationalism The Making of the Hindu and Muslim Variants of Nationalism Two Primordial Nations? The Nature of 'Muslim' Rule Composite Nationalism Bifurcation of Nationalism: Rise of Hindu Separatism Characteristics of Hindu Nationalism Myth Making and Hero Creation Constructing Muslim Nationalism Chapter 3 The Institutionalization of Hindu Nationalism: The Origins of the RSS Divide and Rule Jallianwala Bagh Massacre and Hindu-Muslim Unity Hedgewar: Early Years Hedgewar's Links with the Congress Disillusionment with Hindu—Muslim Unity The Formation of RSS The Functioning of RSS The Spread of RSS The High Caste Bias Anti-Muslim Activities Participation in Politics Opposition to the Designs of the RSS The RSS under Golwalkar Chapter 4 The Indian Freedom Movement and the RSS The Search for a Role in the Freedom Movement Problems of 'Constructing' a Role Rewriting History The RSS Confession of Keeping Aloof from the Freedom Movement Hatred for the Revolutionary Tradition Hatred towards the Tricolour RSS' Support to Hindu Princess; the Stooges of the British Rulers The RSS Dilemma Chapter 5 The Strategy of Hegemony: The Changing RSS Concept of Hindu Nationalism The RSS Ideologues Masters of Doublespeak Part 1: Savarkar's Hindutva Savarkar: The Early Phase Road to Hindutva Hinduism and Hindutva Only Hindus constitute Indian Nationality: Defence of Two-nation Theory Fundamentals of Hindutva: Racism, Casteism and World Domination Part 2: Golwalkar's Nationhood Definition of the Nation Defence of Casteism Defence of Racism Idolizing Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy Hindu Nationalist Ideology and Race Theory The Superiority of the Hindu Race Reasons for Standing Aloof from the National Movement Controversy over We or OurNationhood Defined Part 3: Deendayal Upadhyaya Revises Hindutva Finding Fault with Composite Nationalism Remodeling Hindu Nationalism Imperialistic Ambitions of Hindu Nation Attitude Towards Minorities Defence of Casteism Part 4: Madhok's Idianization: Remodeling Hindutva Chapter 6 Conclusion: Casteism at the Core Constructed Myths Examined The Real Design of Hindutva Annexure One List of Organizations Created by the RSS Annexure Two lustifying 1984 Massacre of Sikhs: Nana Deshmukh's 'Moments of Soul Searching' Bibliography Index