Article: Apart from Sangh, does BJP have any new definition of Hindutva?

Author: Hilal Ahmed
After the 2024 elections, a special section of political pundits started saying that BJP not being able to get an absolute majority is actually the defeat of Hindutva. It was believed that the new coalition government would deviate from the Hindutva agenda and perhaps a situation like the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government would arise again. But in the last few days, Hindutva politics has taken a new turn. Hindutva has not only re-established itself as a political force but its activism has also become more radical.intellectual ambiguity
This success of Hindutva is being seen as if there is no difference of opinion between BJP and other components of Sangh Parivar. We are being told that Hindutva is such an ideological force in itself, on the basis of which not only the Indian society can be redefined, but its electoral benefits can also be taken. This explanation rings hollow in many ways. In recent months, some contradictions in Hindutva politics have emerged. It is clear that an intellectual ambiguity still persists within the Sangh Parivar regarding Hindutva. This intellectual ambiguity is not only political, but also has many ideological aspects. To understand this, first we have to see what is the outline of Sangh Parivar.

undefined thinking
It is generally believed that the ideological thread connecting the components of the Sangh Parivar is Hindutva. If we look carefully, this broad meaning of Hindutva has never been fully defined. The first political definition of the term Hindutva is associated with Hindu Mahasabha and V.D. Savarkar, on the basis of which the idea of ​​Hindu nationalism was given. The use of the word Hindutva in the ideological discourse of RSS started after a long time. M.S. An objection towards the word Hindutva is also visible in Golwalkar’s famous book ‘Bunch of Thought’. But since 1980, various components of the Sangh Parivar not only accepted the term Hindutva, but also made an active beginning to tie their politics to its definition. This acceptance of Hindutva gave rise to many new questions after 2014. Now it became necessary that Hindutva be defined in the sense of state system or governance. In 2018, Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat gave three lectures in Delhi, in which he/she explained what present-day Hindutva is.

ideological backwardness
Interestingly, Hindutva is still undefined in the ideological activities of BJP. The party constitution of BJP does not indicate ‘Hindutva’ as its ideology. Big leaders of BJP also avoid disclosing the ideological meanings of the word ‘Hindutva’. On the other hand, new organizations are being formed every day in the name of Hindutva. The definition of Hindutva has no meaning for them. The most interesting example of this ideological hollowness are the new cases being registered under the Places of Worship Act, among which the cases of Sambhal and Ajmer are prominent.

mutual conflict
On one hand, RSS, especially Mohan Bhagwat, has made it clear that according to their definition of Hindutva, there is no justification for such an issue. In his/her 2018 lectures, Mohan Bhagwat tried to define the concept of Hindutva as a syncretic ideological perspective. Today’s struggle to find a temple under every old mosque does not match with the Hindutva of RSS. There are also Hindutva organizations which are rejecting what Mohan Bhagwat said. he/she believes that RSS should now define itself only as a cultural organisation. According to these components, RSS has no right to interfere in temple-mosque issues.

positive definition
One thing is clear from this entire incident that Hindutva politics and the definition of Hindutva are two different things. The RSS is trying to give a definition of Hindutva that goes with its agenda of governance and state building in the long term. This argument is important for the BJP because the intellectual politicians within the party are now almost marginalized and the party is completely dependent on the RSS to construct new political arguments. But when it is a matter of state power and social harmony, the promise of a developed India that BJP wants to carry, then it is necessary to give a positive definition of Hindutva so that the communalism and shallow politics in the name of Hindutva comes to an end. Could.