Hindutva

Book
Book Review

Challenging Hindutva: Voices of Resistance in India

Three new books reveal how Hindutva exploits every lever of power—the BJP’s political sway, state machinery, the judiciary, Aadhaar, police, and investigative agencies—to crush dissent. Though they…
▶05-May-2025
Nirupama Subramanian

The ‘Spectacle’ of the ‘Mahakumbh’

The “MahaKumbh” is crafted to secure the consent, not only of the traditional pilgrims who went following the truly sanatana seasonal rhythm, but also that of the well-heeled “holy-dippers”, who flew…
▶17-Apr-2025
Alok Rai

The Public Hindu Pilgrimage

Pilgrimages are now more than mere religious acts: they are vast moving spectacles where scale becomes proof of sanctity. The call to become part of a moment eternal yet fleeting draws in devotees to…
▶17-Apr-2025
Amitanshu Verma
Book
Book Review

Savarkar's Poems, the Sharp Edge of Hindutva

Savarkar's Marathi writings are key to understanding his political thought. His literary work laid the groundwork for his ideas of Hindutva and devastatingly magnified the popularity of his…
▶10-Feb-2025
Surajkumar Thube

In Campaign 2024, the BJP's Hindutva Contends With the Congress Party's Nyay

After floundering for a new identity the Congress has hit on 'Nyay': justice for 90% of the people. The BJP recognises the danger of this promise to reorder current privileges resonating…
▶25-Apr-2024
Suhas Palshikar
Book
Book Review

Down a Devious and Dangerous Road

An analysis of Hindutva popular culture in the small towns of north India explores its performers, audiences, and the resources supporting it. Seemingly simple songs by ordinary people fuel powerful…
▶28-Feb-2024
Manjari Katju

'Hinduphobia': How the Language of Social Justice Works to Serve Hindu Nationalism in the US Diaspora

Accusations of Hinduphobia that are made in the US have become an easy way to silence criticism of Hindu nationalism. Challenging this agenda requires both active condemnation of the Hindu right as…
▶01-Dec-2023
Sravya Tadepalli, Sunita Viswanath

The Politics over California’s Anti-Caste Bill

Anxiety amongst upper-caste diaspora that their narrative about a benign Indian culture would be undone lies at the heart of the opposition to California’s bill to ban caste discrimination.
▶30-Aug-2023
Prabodh Jamwal, Anuradha Bhasin

Understanding Verdict Karnataka 2023: Between the Past and the Future

The BJP was soundly defeated in the Karnataka Assembly election because the poor in the state decided enough was enough and voted for the Congress. However, the voting numbers show that the BJP’s…
▶05-Jun-2023
A. Narayana
Book
Book Review

History in the Service of Hindutva

For Savarkar, history was a critical tool in a war to protect the Hindu nation. A new book examines the relationship between history and politics in Savarkar's thought and braids together the…
▶27-Feb-2023
Srinath Raghavan