1. Why “The Hindutva” is such a debated idea
In recent decades, the phrase the Hindutva has moved from specialist books into headlines, social media posts, and everyday conversation. For many people who respect or follow Hindu traditions, this can feel confusing. Hindutva sounds like a spiritual concept, yet it is usually discussed in the context of politics, law, culture, and power.
On a site devoted to Hindu culture and thought, it is important to be clear. Hindutva and Hinduism are linked, but they are not the same thing. Hindutva is a modern ideological project. Hindu dharma is an ancient and diverse religious and philosophical tradition. Recognizing this distinction helps us speak about both with honesty and care.
2. What does “The Hindutva” literally mean?
The term Hindutva comes from Sanskrit and is often translated as “Hinduness,” meaning the quality of being Hindu. (Wikipedia)
In the early twentieth century, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar used the term in a more precise way. In his work Hindutva: Who Is a Hindu? he presented Hindutva as a way to define national identity through three elements:
- Common nation (rashtra)
- Common race or people (jati)
- Common culture or civilization (sanskriti) (Wikipedia)
In other words, for Savarkar, the Hindutva was not primarily about personal worship, temple rituals, or philosophy. It was a framework for seeing a particular land and its people as essentially, and ideally, Hindu in character.
Modern reference works describe Hindutva as a right wing, ethno nationalist political ideology that seeks to define cultural identity in terms of Hinduism and related Indic traditions. (Encyclopedia Britannica)
So when we speak about “The Hindutva,” we are talking about:
A political and cultural ideology that uses Hindu identity as the core of a national project.
3. Hinduism vs the Hindutva
A key service Hindu communities can offer the wider world is clarity about the difference between Hindu dharma and Hindutva ideology. Scholars frequently emphasize this distinction: Hinduism is a religion; Hindu nationalism or Hindutva is a political ideology. (Association for Asian Studies)
3.1 Nature and purpose
-
Hinduism
- A family of spiritual paths, philosophies, rituals, and ethical teachings that evolved over millennia.
- Focuses on questions of dharma (righteousness), karma, liberation (moksha), and the nature of reality.
-
The Hindutva
- A modern project concerned with national identity, power, borders, and culture.
- Uses religious and civilizational language to define who truly belongs to the nation and whose values should guide public life. (Encyclopedia Britannica)
3.2 Diversity vs uniformity
Hinduism is famously plural. Within the dharmic umbrella there are schools that emphasize devotion, others that emphasize non dual philosophy, others that stress ritual and temple life, and still others that are almost agnostic or rationalist in tone.
The Hindutva tends to work with a more uniform image of “Hindu culture” and “Hindu society.” It often highlights certain scriptures, heroes, and symbols while downplaying other strands that do not fit the preferred narrative. (Wikipedia)
3.3 Attitude to other religions
Traditional Hindu thought includes powerful currents of pluralism. Many teachers have affirmed that truth can be approached through multiple paths.
In contrast, Hindutva writings frequently frame non Hindu communities as potential threats, competitors, or “outsiders,” especially when they are seen as linked to foreign centers of power. (Wikipedia)
Because of this, several Hindu organizations and thinkers argue that Hindutva conflicts with core spiritual values of Hinduism, such as ahimsa (nonviolence), compassion, and respect for many paths. (Hindus for Human Rights)
4. Historical roots of the Hindutva
Although the word Hindutva appeared in earlier cultural writings, it was Savarkar in the 1920s who gave it a systematic political meaning. (Wikipedia)
Key points in this development:
-
Late 19th to early 20th century
- Indian intellectuals wrestled with colonial ideas about “religion” and sought to articulate what made Hindu civilization distinctive. (Wikipedia)
-
Savarkar’s formulation
- Savarkar defined Hindutva as a bond of land, blood, and culture.
- Religion in the narrow sense was less important to him than shared ancestry and attachment to a sacred geography. (Wikipedia)
-
Institutional networks
- Over the twentieth century, volunteer and cultural organizations took up this vision of Hindutva and created training, publications, and social programs around it.
- This built a disciplined base of support for the ideology, long before it became a major force in electoral politics. (Wikipedia)
In this sense, the Hindutva is not simply “ancient tradition.” It is a modern response to colonialism, religious competition, and the search for identity in a changing world.
5. Why the Hindutva is so contested
From within Hindu communities and from outside observers, the Hindutva draws both strong support and strong criticism.
5.1 How supporters describe it
Supporters often see the Hindutva as:
- A recovery of civilizational pride after centuries of foreign rule and cultural humiliation. (Taylor & Francis Online)
- A way to protect dharmic traditions from what they see as aggressive proselytizing and cultural erasure.
- A unifying framework that can overcome internal divisions of caste, region, and sect by appealing to a shared Hindu identity. (Hindus for Human Rights)
They may argue that without some form of Hindutva consciousness, Hindu civilization will remain vulnerable in a global environment where other religious and national groups organize very tightly around shared identities.
5.2 Concerns raised by critics
Critics, including many devout Hindus, scholars, and human rights groups, raise several concerns:
-
Majoritarianism They argue that Hindutva politics can weaken commitments to equal citizenship and secular law, by implying that some religious communities are more “at home” in the nation than others. (Encyclopedia Britannica)
-
Historical simplification Textbooks, popular media, and public memory can be reshaped around a single narrative of victimhood and heroism, which leaves little room for nuance or shared histories. (Association for Asian Studies)
-
Use of religious symbols for political gain When sacred images, deities, and rituals are heavily used in electoral or ideological campaigns, some Hindus worry that the depth of the tradition is reduced to slogans and spectacle. (Hindus for Human Rights)
-
Relations with minorities There is concern that labeling others as “outsiders” or “inherently suspicious” can normalize prejudice and, in extreme cases, inspire harassment or violence. (Journal of Democracy)
From a dharmic perspective, the central question becomes:
Can a political project that turns neighbors into permanent “others” truly reflect the spirit of sanatana dharma, which sees the same divine presence in all beings?
6. The Hindutva in a global and digital age
In the twenty first century, conversations about the Hindutva no longer stay within one region. Migration, digital media, and online communities have carried Hindutva narratives into many parts of the world.
Scholars of communication and diaspora studies describe Hindutva today as a transnational ethnonationalist project, supported and debated in global networks rather than only in local gatherings. (Oxford Research Encyclopedia)
Some patterns that observers note:
- Diaspora organizations that blend religious activities with explicitly political messaging.
- Online spaces that spread memes, videos, and talking points about Hindutva themes, sometimes in very polarizing ways.
- Counter movements, often led by Hindus themselves, that emphasize pluralism, interfaith harmony, and a clear distinction between their spiritual practice and any political agenda. (Rutgers Security, Race & Rights)
For a culture focused platform, this global context matters. A young person discovering Hindu philosophy through yoga or the Gita may encounter Hindutva linked content in the same feed without realizing that they are seeing two different kinds of discourse: one spiritual, one ideological.
7. How to approach “the Hindutva” from a Hindu culture perspective
On a site like HinduCultureHub, the aim is not to tell readers which political position to take. Instead, it is to offer tools for thoughtful discernment rooted in dharma.
Some guiding principles:
-
Keep the categories clear Treat Hindu dharma and Hindutva ideology as related but distinct. Use the word “Hinduism” when speaking about spiritual paths, scriptures, and practice. Use “the Hindutva” when you specifically mean the modern political project. (Association for Asian Studies)
-
Honor Hindu diversity Remember that there are Vaishnava, Shaiva, Shakta, Smarta, and many other traditions, alongside Dalit, Adivasi, and regional practices. No single ideology can fully represent this range.
-
Listen to multiple Hindu voices Hindus who support the Hindutva and Hindus who oppose it both often base their views on sincere readings of dharma, history, and lived experience. Understanding their arguments helps create a more mature conversation. (Hindus for Human Rights)
-
Stay rooted in core values Concepts such as ahimsa, satya (truthfulness), karuna (compassion), and vasudhaiva kutumbakam (the world as one family) offer a yardstick. Any political message, including the Hindutva, can be tested against these values.
-
Avoid stereotyping others When discussing Hindutva, it is easy to slip into hostile language about entire communities, whether Hindu or non Hindu. A dharmic approach avoids blanket judgments and focuses on specific ideas and actions.
8. Short FAQ about the Hindutva
Q1. Is the Hindutva the same as Hinduism? No. Hinduism is a religion and philosophical tradition. The Hindutva is a political ideology that uses Hindu identity as the foundation of a national project. Many Hindus do not identify with Hindutva, while others actively support or oppose it. (Association for Asian Studies)
Q2. Is it wrong for Hindus to feel pride in their civilization? Feeling gratitude and pride in one’s heritage is natural. The question is how that pride is expressed. Is it expressed through respect for all beings, service, and deeper study of dharma, or through hostility toward others and a desire to dominate? That ethical distinction is central in Hindu teachings.
Q3. Why do some Hindus support the Hindutva strongly? Supporters see it as a protective shield for dharmic traditions and a response to historical and present day injustices. They feel that without organized self assertion, Hindu culture might be sidelined or weakened. (Hindus for Human Rights)
Q4. Why do some Hindus criticise the Hindutva? Critics fear that tying Hindu identity too closely to a political project can damage both democracy and the spiritual depth of the tradition. They point to examples where Hindutva rhetoric has accompanied discrimination or violence, which they see as a betrayal of dharmic values. (Hindus for Human Rights)
9. Concluding reflections
The Hindutva is a powerful and sometimes polarizing idea that sits at the meeting point of religion, culture, and politics. For anyone who cares about Hindu heritage, it is worth understanding in a clear and nuanced way.
By separating the timeless questions of dharma from the very modern debates around ideology, we can create space for honest discussion. We can acknowledge pain, pride, and fear without letting them erase compassion. And we can keep returning to the heart of Hindu teachings, which invite each of us to see the divine in all, act with responsibility, and seek truth with humility.