2020/01/01 by Audrey Truschke · 2 citations
Arts and Humanities · Social Sciences · #Indian History and Philosophy #South Asian Studies and Diaspora #Anthropological Studies and Insights #Hindutva #Hinduism #Politics #Ideology #Hindu nationalism #Sociology #Gender studies #Political science #Nationalism #Religious studies #Law #Philosophy
paper · pdf · doi:10.4000/samaj.6636
openalex publication_date 2020/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/02
Hindu nationalists are heavily invested in rewriting Indian history to advance their modern and unrepentantly hateful political agenda. Hindu nationalism or Hindutva is a political ideology that advocates Hindu supremacy, specifically over Muslims who comprise around fourteen percent of modern India’s population. The similarity in name notwithstanding, Hindutva is distinct from Hinduism, a broad-based religious tradition, although Hindutva ideologues seek to constrict and flatten Hindu traditions. In this article, I describe some of the contours of the Hindutva investment in remaking the past as a means of advancing a modern political project. I also offer some thoughts on why Hindu nationalists care so much about history and explore some of the implications of Hindutva’s growing political influence for the field of South Asian history and academics who work therein.