THE IMPACT OF HINDUTVA IDEOLOGY ON INDIA`S DEMOCRACY AND SOCIAL COHESION

Authors : Yucel Bulut

Pages : 201-222

View : 16 | Download : 4

Publication Date : 2024-12-25

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Communal conflicts have shaped India\\\'s modern history, with post-independence struggles to establish a secular republic. India\\\'s constitution guarantees equal opportunities and freedoms to all citizens without discrimination. However, the influence of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its political arm, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has cast a shadow over the government\\\'s neutrality, with calls for a Hindu Rashtra (Hindu state) excluding other religious groups. The government\\\'s silence on violations of the law against non-Hindus is seen as encouragement by Hindu nationalists, leading to increased hostility towards Muslims. The current policy involves the government\\\'s tacit endorsement of violence, contributing to an increase in hate crimes and threats against non-Hindu minorities. This approach elevates Hinduism as the main feature of nationalism and denies the existence and rights of minorities, which has the potential to become a threat to the internal peace of the country. This study aims to assess the societal impact of Hindutva policies through the lens of grievance theory, drawing on primary sources such as reports from international human rights organisations, official US government reports, and relevant news articles and books. The analysis uses a correlational approach and assesses the potential for communal conflict in the future if these policies continue to be implemented in India.
Keywords : Hindutva, Hindu Devleti, Müslümanlar, Azınlıklar, Kast Sistemi