Religious Dimensions and indian nationalism -A Study of Rss

Religious Dimensions of Indian Nationalism A Study of RSS In this groundbreaking effort, Shamsul Islam takes a thorough look into the actions of those proponents of the two-nations theory who have escaped being blamed for India's Partition in 1947. While the culpability of Muslim League led by Jinnah is known, the role of many other equally important organizations and people remains under wraps. Although the Muslim League's version of the two-nations theory has banished, the equally insidious RSS" two-nations theory remains part of mainstream discourse. This book attempts to know the RSS, as the Partition of India in 1947 is not a finished story as yet. Powerful forces in India continue to live by this theory and are working overtime to undo a democratic-secular India. Shamsul Islam has spent over three decades collecting original and until now inaccessible and unavailable RSS documents in order to demonstrate that its ideology amounts to a system of religious apartheid, where nationalism is intertwined with a particular notion of religion. Islam also investigates at length how Savarkar's Hindutva (1923) and Golwalkar's We or Our Nationhood Defined (1939) continue to determine the discourse of Hindu nationalism today. The publication of Shamsul Islam's study of the ideology of the 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 j It is an in-depth study of the origin of RSS and the two-nations 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 i character of Indian nationalism forward and to locate it in the nature and character of the I 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. I_____._________ Professor imtiaz Ahmed j It is an execellent work, politically very important and academically brilliant. Dr. Ram Puniyani Dr. Shamsul Islam teaches Political Science in Satyawati College, University of Delhi. As an author, columnist and street theatre activist he is known for his unrelenting opposition to religious intolerance, dehumanisation, imperialism and persecution of women and Dalits. Preface and Introduction by Professor Richard Bonney Author's Preface Author's Introduction Chapter 1: The Origins of Indian Nationalism Impediments in the Growth of Indian Nationalism 82 The Origin of Racial Nationalism How Natural is Nationalism? Modernist Debate over the Nature of Indian Nationalism Chapter 2: 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 146 Jallianwala Bagh Massacre and Hindu-Muslim Unity Hedgewar: Early Years Hedgewar's Links with 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 Golwa/kar Chapter 4: The RSS and the Freedom Struggle The Search for a Role in the Freedom Movement Problems of 'Constructing' a Role Rewriting History Hatred for the Revolutionary Tradition Hatred towards the Tricolour RSS' Support to Hindu Princess The RSS Dilemma Chapter 5: The Strategy of Hegemony: The Changing RSS Concept of Hindu Nationalism Part 1 Savarkar's Hindutva Savarkar's Early Phase Road to Hindutva Hinduism and Hindutva Only Hindus constitute Indian Nationality Fundamentals of Hindutva: Racism, Casteism and World Domination Part 2 Golwalkar's Nationhood 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 Aside from the Freedom Movement Controversy over We or Our Nationhood Defined Part 3 Deendaya! Upadhyaya's Hindutva Finding Fault with Composite Nationalism Remodelling Hindu Nationalism Imperialistic Ambitions of Hindu Rashtra Attitude Towards Minorities Defence of Casteism Madhok's Indianization Chapter 6: Conclusion: Casteism at the Core Some of the 'Constructed' Myths 254 The Real Design of Hindutva 258 Appendix One: List of Organizations created by the RSS Appendix Two: Nana Deshmukh's 'Moments of Soul Searching' References and Notes Bibliography Index