estados-nación. Palabras clave Partición? la de consecuencia una esto ¿es palabras otras En exclusivas? cultura yuna religión una en apoyada étnica, nación-estado la de europeo modelo al asimilando está se subcontinente ¿El descomposición? en estado un en desarrollarse tural ymulticul multirreligiosa sociedad una ¿Puede drástica. forma de cambiado ha panorama momentos el estos oposición. En la capitalizara hindú que extremismo el permitido que ha lo no apoyoentre los musulmanes, perder para sentido ese en políticas acometer de inhibían se pero laicos, proclamaban se turno de gobiernos los tiempo y 1980. este de Alo largo 1970 de décadas las en política fuerza como consolidarse para “centro-izquierda” del fracaso al debe se Hindutva de preponderancia esta parte En cultural. uniformidad e imponer la poder del resortes los controlar hindúes, entre agitación la mediante persigue, Hindutva Resumen Keywords of India? Partition of the shadow’ ‘long to the attributed be this could aline, In religion? or single of amono-culture codes cultural by the underpinned nation-states ethnic of building model European to the ing return sub-continent the Is apart? coming polity democratic and into anation itself wield can society diverse culturally and a multi-religious that belief the Is drastically. changed has terrain political Now the in. to rush forces Hindutva for the space the opening thereby agenda implementation of asecular the postponed constantly they votes, Muslim of losing fear of the because practice, but actual in country asecular was India that claimed day of the governments the 1970s decades, the in 1980s. to emerge these and Over failed consolidation ‘left-of-centre’ much desired the because proportions such reached movement has Hindutva the post-Independent In India, Hindus. hegemony by mobilizing cultural its to impose ing try and power of state instruments to capture seeking movement now actively is Hindutva Abstract MOVEMENT OF HINDUTVA RISE THE AND PARTITION Revista Canaria de Estudios Ingleses Estudios de Canaria Revista : BJP, Cultural hegemony, Hindutva, RSS, Secularism, Two-nation theory. Secularism, : BJP, hegemony, RSS, Hindutva, Cultural : BJP, Hegemonía cultural, Hindutva, Laicismo, RSS, Teoría RSS, dos los de Laicismo, Hindutva, : BJP, cultural, Hegemonía DOI: https://doi.org/10.25145/j.recaesin.2018.76.13 DOI: IN CONTEMPORARY INDIA Jawaharlal Nehru University, Nehru Delhi Jawaharlal Bhagwan Josh Bhagwan , 76; April 2018, pp. 175-195;, 76; April e-2530-8335 ISSN: - - -

REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 76; 2018, PP. 175-195 175 REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 76; 2018, PP. 175-195 176 action to the trial court, embodying the frustration and anger of millions of Hindus: of millions anger and frustration the embodying court, trial toaction the his explained Godse Ram what is Nathu This Muslims. to the sympathetic being still as seen who was Gandhi, against leadership, especially Congress the against to up built be began of border, anger climate drawn political hurriedly anew the by crossing India in to pour began refugees of Sikh Hindu and millions As hatred. tremendous The fuel anti-Muslimsediment India provided of of Partition it a new Gandhi. M.K. and movement Congress National anti-imperialist led Indian by the mainstream to the parallel India’s movement running been independence, this has for complexion of nation. However, the struggle cultural the the during change born centuries ago. Twenty-five ago. born centuries ago, on 6 years supposed been sitetemple has where Hindu exact Ayodhya, idol at in the Ram Ram the of constructing issue longstanding motherland), the the above all, and song Vande of national conversions the Matram singing to other religions, Pakistan, tensions the with and Kashmir cow-slaughter, terrorism in beef-eating, of youth, the on issues the especially hegemony Hindus, by mobilizing cultural its to impose trying of power simultaneously state and instruments to capture ing seek actively been asupremacist vision) nation in has Indian to construct seeks that of Hindu nationalisms movement Hindutva centre, the variety (an exclusivist 20 the down. Throughout crashing came town Pradesh mosque a Uttar in a medieval Mughal emperor, the celebrations after the demolition appeared to settle multiple emperor, demolition the to settle Mughal appeared celebrations after the conquest of first of demolition the the name the of a mosque for carried them, which historians”. “secular the by In self-proclaimed history distorted and inaccurate as is dubbed which India’sof past understanding their haveown They “medieval” kings. of violence tradition by Muslim inheritors of are ahistorical Muslims Indian that movement of aHindu this be nation. Sections preach have continued and to believe nation, should a Muslim India was Pakistan since that Hindu nationalists tremist th century, extremist varieties of Hindu nationalism have to fought along battle of Hindu nationalism varieties century, extremist Since 2014,after it has been able to successfully form the Government form the at 2014,afterSince able been to it successfully has The Partition of the sub-continent along religious lines convinced the ex the convinced lines alongtheThe sub-continent religious of Partition 48) par. (Godse, Gandhiji. against action the me to take impelled my mind absolutely to myself, considered having After byside. its basis and faith religious blind on fanatically founded State a Union with to Indian prosperity bring never it will that realized have he should But State. atheocratic of Pakistan, establishment to the acquiescing in part ing a lead taken himself the has hon’ble that Nehruji to notePandit it significant is because out of and season; season in State secular about other, he when talks each to opposed attimes are deeds and actions his that quite forgets Nehruji Minister hon’ble the Prime that regret great with to word. say Ihave of the sense true the in State of asecular establishment now for open is the way the pressure of such absence the In of Gandhiji. presence due to the entirely was policy the that see clearly Icould time same the At Muslim. to the favourable unfairly was which policy to their owing Government present for the no respect Ihad that I do say I th December,1992, domes of three (hail (hail - - - from the very beginning, was cast in the form of a trial of strength between India’s between of strength form of the atrial in cast was beginning, very from the (Hindu astha of of Hindu belief masses on “fact” the based was demand the siteexact the at temple agrand movement to to Ram build Hindu the God with self seeking it align to fervor. actively It began Hindu up nationalist the to stir symbol a new supported Communists. by the also in time for Centre first at the the 1977,Governmentwas that centrist politically a theGovernment of part a as became it in fortunes its turn led to a sudden This life. of India’s to enter political mainstream the respectability political the acquire and murder of Gandhi’s for, stain the waiting to was wash moment the RSS the was that 1975.This in Gandhi by Indira Emergency opposed the and forstood democracy 1970s. force till political To movement of leaders this amarginal the its credit, as 1930s since Hindu nationalism movement the and it continued embodying to persist extreme agenda of the was This aHindu become, state. existentially must also and territory, considered Indian the comprising now must of state, logically the be half of Therefore,the religion. on basis leaders other the to Congress by the agreed been subcontinent. had The of Indian Partition the Muslims the of all on behalf and Islam of name the in demanded was of state Pakistan new the as citizenship to Indian right have forfeited their of Constitution, actuality, in the Partition, irrespective the after mattes. religo-cultural in neutral remain must state Indian the and intact to remain allowed mustbe India’s traditions, Congress multi-culturalism people. the Moreover, to and mislead colonial the devised tion and view in keeping of idea conversionsthe such to other non-Hindu blown is out religions of propor state). independentin cultural becomeThestate For a secularists India must (also economic development state’sthrough them to removeis notpoverty efforts enough. Hinduism’s by women young enclosures). to non-Hindu boundaries For cultural to stop conversions such awareness a strong (crossing and Hinduate over society in (reconversions below) “love-jihad”(discussed to to Hinduism) attempts cre and are 97-115). conversion 2009: (Josh Act,1968,of Religion to criminalize police allow Freedom Pradesh provisions Madhya the sweeping in Pradesh: cover Madhya in anti-conversion level. Thelegal be agenda, it remembered,has must grassroots the at violent activities form anti-Christian the takes police, complicity of the local with agenda, This creation of the a Hindu Rashtra. was threat this only way tothe handle and today even continue threat serious to pose Islam and Christianity nationalised violent Forpost-independent including de- them means. means, by various India in Islam and Hindu society. to stop Hence, conversions its agenda to Christianity evolution of natural and organic to the were forced conversions were inimical and movementof Hindutva conversions the those continue of past that the to believe sections historians, of secular opposedto view to Islam’s the of equality. As message about 9out of who 10 were Hindus attracted from low-caste converts of are them that home. believed their It India made generally is and from other countries came which aristocracy, not Muslim did from the India descend in Muslims the All scores. a network of Hindu organisations, sought sought 1980s, the In of anetwork Parivar, Hindu organisations, Sangh the back stayed who had Muslims the forces, HinduFor nationalist extreme the as groups such “ghar-vapsi” vigilante notionsthe ideological of The partisan where a Mosque built by the Mughal emperor Babur stood. In actuality, emperor actuality, In where stood. aMosque Babur Mughal by built the ), and - - -

REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 76; 2018, PP. 175-195 177 REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 76; 2018, PP. 175-195 178 at point-blank range on January 30 onat point-blank January range thrice shot and Gandhi 23 or to 24, Delhi before he on returned January Savarkar 1969, in constituted Report with along had of meeting Inquiry Godse Nathuram Commission Kapur to the it here, added be according Let Congress. the and Nehru not, not, did to could chose follow for India Gandhi, Savarkar Partition. with goal formed Two his Muslims and Hindus that realized believed Nations.had Jinnah Savarkar like Jinnah, politics. Just Indian of Centrethestage arrived on finally had by many, despised articulator its main and of Hindu nationalism, variety logical if ofnot hated, Theshunned, ideo India’s of greats the struggle. portraits freedom with along House’s Parliament in Hall, Savarkar’sdecided toportrait place Central It fulfillment. partial its towards been moving a Hindu finally nation had India adue order. ceremony in was ofrecognised, making By 2003, Savarkar’s dream for it V.D. and Centre decided that officially be i.e. Savarkar’s ideology Hindutva, (BJP) to power at the came Party demolition Janata of mosque, Bhataiya the the the movement this after have not Adecade then. leading since lookedbeen back moment first the movement.triumph this of had decisive forwho The politicians was not fiveThis years.” had donehundred last they the in which done something world to the by announced BBC the correspondent: was Mosque— “Hindus haveas of riots, in which thousands of innocent Indians lost their lives. No single event No single lives. lost their of Indians innocent thousands which of in riots, riots. Partition the since unsurpassed at levels journey,sentiments were to pitch afever roused this throughout peaking Anti-Muslim rulers. of Muslim 1024, crimes in the invader Ghazni symbolising temple, from Somnath atemple plundered been a chariot had Turk by the which in country the across travelled Advani later. BJP years L.K. leader ‘success’ two this October 1990, in before achieving Masjid tosought demolish unsuccessfully the of the volunteerarmy bands which forming call, of Advani’s mento young flocked identities. Thousands of politics caste over divisive the of Hindu nationalism primacy of denial and Hindu society of its organic ideology thereby undermining of caste, identity politics government, the attempt adeliberate perceived it to encourage as 1990. August The in recommendationthis of Report BJP, the of part was which Front National when the government under V.P. decided to implement Singh this contest political the site sharp of became Report The public undertakings. sector to government 27 percent of and jobs central reservations under the granted be (OBC) classes members of other recommended backward that Commission the nationalism. Hindu other extreme and secularism forces-one proclaiming broad cultural two The Mandal Commission was established in India India on 1 in established was Commission Mandal The Yatra other. of each 1990. Rath with Advani’s were linked closely Both L.K. and Commission developments as-Mandal known other political by two preceded acquitted. was but Savarkar penalty death Apte were awarded Narayan and conspiracy.Godse The foundconvict Savarkar. judge to it criminal “unsafe” prove to legally evidence no direct But was there Gandhi. to kill aconspiracy with Preceding and following the demolition the following Masjid of and Babri were the aseries Preceding On December 6 On December But the rise of forces of extremist Hindu nationalism were immediately were immediately Hindu nationalism of ofBut forces extremist rise the th 1992, demolition the mosque of —known adilapidated th 1948.Savarkar was arrested in connection connection in arrested was 1948.Savarkar st January 1979. January 1980, In - missionaries to run away). run to missionaries Christian the force and Hindus the (awaken bhagao Christi jagao, Hindu Dangs: district tribal ridden Gujarat’s conflict in temple of Shabri walls on the slogans the were these For example walls. on the A long quotation from the editorial of a very important daily will be in order in be here: will daily A long important of quotation avery editorial from the of elections 2019. temple Ayodhya agrand in parliamentary before the of building agenda of their of BJP government leaders the the the to mindful be and telling are newspapers leading the all Almost Muslims. Indian the gripped of terrora sense has are now nowhere of conflict seen. be to No issues wonder, on Hindus cultural with not leadership to on Muslim compromise the who were egging secularists those All citizens. of second-class that place, should their know Muslims that send message the the graveyard.) the or —Pakistan for Muslims qabristhan’(there ya places only two are Pakistan sthaan, do hee kay out: day ‘Musalman and in day slogans, the to raise continuing still are which of country the parts various groups in violence-orientedare vigilante young too. to much violence suffering and leading —and Today,groups of citizens there between widespread suspicionand hostility ground,the generating life on affected public opinion; event no polarized so adversely so single independentin has India Rajiv Gandhi came to power in 1984 after the assassination her mother Indira her mother Indira to power 1984 assassination in the came after Gandhi Rajiv toVarious monthly judgments maintenance. Bano upheld of court right Shah the Rs. 500. of to providemaintenance promised her herchildren and five refused Khan, triple talaq practice the 125, section to her her divorced under CRPC, by husband resorting maintenance sought Bano Shah house by out When her driven husband. of herwas matrimonial of Indore Begum Bano old Shah years 1978, In two case. Bano sixty Shah the with 1 the that led eventsdemolitionup to Theseries of December in began 1992, (“Old 2017). obessions” Pakistan. neighbouring to resemble come will India itself; democracy subverting anarchy, and principle of instability a become a notion will such enshrined, Once liberty. religious and equality as such values constitutional and of law rule over the precedence ment’ gain should senti ‘community hypothetical as such entities nebulous notion that mistaken the out of eye, ablind turned authorities political to which act acriminal was itself Masjid Babri the demolition The of costs. atall resisted be must therefore, past, of the ghosts the to disinter Attempts vikas.’ ka sab saath, ‘sab ka Modi: Narendra Minister of words Prime prosperity. development the and In of peace, a future 1947 the from towards Partition, stemming bloodshed, and of violence legacy this to move past striving is country the now and It’s of revenge. century politics anew by asimilar motivated are riots communal all —indeed Godhra after Gujarat in riots devastating caused already has of revenge politics But the in2002. Godhra in of Karsevaks deaths the of away ‘avenging’ as Masjid Babri demolished of the site temple atthe aRam to BJP to build ‘ultimatum’ an served have means, ality no spiritu notion have of what clearly who Ayodhya, in akharas of several Priests

At many religious places anti- Christian and anti-Muslim slogans could be found written written found be could slogans anti-Muslim and Christian anti- places religious many At 1 Stray incidents of mobs lynching Muslims do form a clear pattern to pattern do form aclear Muslims incidents Stray of mobs lynching (divorce). Ahmad her Not Mohammed husband only that, - -

REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 76; 2018, PP. 175-195 179 REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 76; 2018, PP. 175-195 180 marriage with another man) and polygamy. On August 22 polygamy. and man) another On with August marriage her consummate first must her husband, divorced to remarry she wants if woman talaq-e-biddat as such to practices end women majority of an Muslim wanted overwhelming Supreme An the in Court. 2017, August continued in and other four women and won case their ShayaraBano triple talaq temple. instant of The ofpractice foundation) Ram for construction the out Shilanyas the to carry allowed was (VHP) Vishav Hindu Prishad the later, years end at the of Rajiv’s three and, Masjid Babri were tenure,the unlocked of gates the of Hindus, the anger the “appeasement” order In to of pacify Muslims. the vote.judgmentcriticized Muslim of The strongly the losing had for BJP fear Bano Shash the overturned Gandhi Rajiv that believed widely It was secularism. of of hollowness its ideology the exposed and Hindu supporters of Congress the and manyMuslim offended This Constitution. the in made Code of Uniform Civil of promise of the implementation betrayal and orthodoxy ofappeasement Muslim an as widely seen was This to laws. governed be by its personal of community the judgment the protested encroached leaders that upon right Muslim the done after More divorce. was the importantly, this after days 90 of period iddat the or till ing only dur to woman a divorced maintenance Supreme judgment allowed and Court The case. 1986 Muslim Womenof Divorce)Rights the(Protection diluted on Act Bano Supreme judgment the Shah the in overturned Court Parliament that in Government aLaw his enacted Under hardliners, from Muslim pressure Gandhi. The Times of India Times The in another.” quite Quoted is competence the use to courage political the one thing, is competence legislative audibly, that somewhat whispered, case the in Acounsel so. do to competence legislative the it has unquestionably and, country of the citizens for code civil uniform of securing duty the with charged is which state the It is issue. on this concession gratuitous bymaking cat the bell to likely is community No ideologies. conflicting have which laws to loyalties disparate by removing integration of national cause help law.” will code “A personal civil of their common of reforms matter the in lead the take to community Muslim the for it is that ground gained have to seems A belief country. the for code civil common a framing for activity anyofficial of evidence India’.is no There of territory the throughout code civil auniform citizens the for secure to endeavor shall State the that It provides letter. adead remained has Constitution of the 44 Article that of regret amatter also is of triple talaq triple of practice the that declared Supreme of the India Court case, Bano Shah the after Congress Government, the BJP Government is expected to take the triple the talaq Government, to take BJP the GovernmentCongress expected is denounced it as a vicious ploy of the BJP government to criminalise Muslim men. Muslim ploy avicious denounced it as of BJP the government to criminalise have deterrent.” as a organisations Many Muslim afine “necessary and jail in years triple talaq whereby government to make the plans law stringent avery conclusion of Supreme to by the its logical framing dict Court 2

In the Shah Bano case [1985(2) SCC 556], the Supreme Court of India had aptly said: “It said: [1985(2) aptly had case of India Bano Shah Court 556], Supreme the SCC the In violates the right to equality and is thus against the law. the the Unlike against thus is and to equality right the violates , January 8 , January th 2017. (instant triple halala (instant talaq), a crime punishable with three three with punishable acrime nd 2017, years thirty-two (wherein aMuslim (to lay ver - - 2

history, to be challenged by the Hindu groups. Thus, towards the endthe of Hindu by groups. the towards Thus, history,19 to challenged be hegemony, medieval long the cultural of period so-called during Muslim built the for opened upspaces change massive This on modern scientific methods. based administration by centralised a new replaced was rulers Muslim of erstwhile the line.” “this with of bitter the group memories do not associated Indians remind fringe byor some some stupidity” extremist and statement utter “absurdity of an incident people when some of Indian “banal” the lives the in Hardly, passes aday theme. to this dedicated of amount poetry asubstantial is there of Also Partition. themethe andon enacted plays written made, havehavenovels been been of films session to “Memoriesdevoted aspecial of Partition”.In scores decades, few last the where thelive, I place in Gurgaon, festival literary latest The Amritsar. in launched being remembered in new ways. On 24 remembered ways. new being in is Partition year not subtle Each and subtle so ways. many in of Indians lives daily along shadow on continues the to cast which legacy unforgettable line”, an left has Moreover, year. that of today’s decisions taken the in “this region violence are the in poverty. in live The roots of millions much while military on their amounts massive Cold War the spending nations around both powersof and terrorism, polarization acts countless wars, subcontinent. the three for Thus led to has it plagues still and “1947” decades that cepted the resonated through has of that revenge a cycle created ac Retrospectively, now 12 universally it been million. has people displaced and one million explosion of an of killed violence cause that immediate the became Line”, which “Radcliffe as known line, it this is And Pakistan. and India between the borders up spentthe subcontinentdrawing in Radcliffe Cyril of five weeks the W.H. Auden’s ‘Partition’, poem unsparing criticism 1966, in written acaustic is Asia. South post-colonial world, ones the in the contemporary the including in 2017).Ganesh Yet continue explosive to wars create the “lines” power of these not may there... be Kath they why (Rajanit would you for up that?’’ give your life tomorrow sand, the in “nations the lines that are convinced feel who still viduals of indi promoting it, busy no is dearth there are parties governments and many course of democracy and mass representation, sections of the Hindus found in this representation, this found in of Hindus the sections mass and of democracy course adis within contests Hindu-Muslim cultural these to sought contain Congress longue duree this in communities, of two the sections confrontations between violent peaceful and continuouslythe occurring by created interstices the in were nurtured of ofborn forces and Hindutva the rise The India. in back stayed had number of Muslims large continued intermittently as has strife cultural Partition, power this Even relations. after cultural earlier the dismantling towards were forces geared Hindu cultural the and Muslim the tween be issues on contests various non-constitutional, cultural as well as constitutional violent,and peaceful These communities. two the between riots sectarian massive in revolt great the of 1857, after years to engulfed be century, thirty just began India With the arrival of a new type of modern colonial state the political power political the state of modern colonial of type anew arrival With the In today’s world, even when nationalism is once again asserting itself and and itself asserting today’sIn once is again world, when even nationalism In post-Independent India, while the nationalists in the Indian National National Indian the in post-IndependentIn nationalists the while India, th October, 2016, was Museum Partition the II history. th - - - -

REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 76; 2018, PP. 175-195 181 REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 76; 2018, PP. 175-195 182 the future Indian state: Indian future the the ‘we’ defined of had Golwalkar M.S. of ideologues Hindu nationalism, leading Hindu on hegemony Hindus amulti-pronged One of by the mobilizing agenda. strategy, to establish aggressive for an to argue opportunity an polity democratic the deeper cultural fault-line of cultural deeper the invoke them, instantly with associated indirectly some and other issues issues, three on contest centering these cultural the follows that that discussion the in would see we As strife. social prominent of durable contention three issues are sectarian and to protect ‘Gau-mata’(mother-cow)laws the imposed zealously and enacted recently (1985) Code’ Civil (1992), Controversy’ Janambhoomi ‘Ram and the with along ‘Uniform as come to called be has What of consensus. kind any undone through be to sediment idea now refuses this and nation one not as unified could seen be Muslims where and Hindus mindsets of psychological perpetuation creation and The papers. thelong-term is impact of of research hundreds Partition and studies subject the of of been scores academic has personalities and Hindu organisations various by ideology this of dissemination The big newspapers. and of small hundreds shakha into RSS organized cadres of committed by thousands country the throughout demands in society that are challenging the freedom of expression of poets, writers, writers, of freedom expression of the poets, challenging are that society in demands and agitations bottom complicit from by the being and mass with polices cultural designed Modi-led by the ways Government: top from the by carefully its own implemented Hindubeing is India many in project making of cultural The calm. uneasy of an tension and surface ridden under the surcharged remains country the atmosphere of cultural-political to day day the aresult, As of Indians. the mindsets existing the continues to influence media print social and channels, covered by TV Kashmir in happenings impact of The India. and Pakistan a ‘proxy between war’ it some call Army; Indian the and Kashmir groups in armed the ongoing between Josh 2013: vol 3). and “communalism” (Joshi as denounced by secularists and other labeled the and to secular be ideologies, one claiming nationalist of contesting to abattleground be 1980s, after continues post-independent strife, especially India, continued cultural (BJP)-into power party brought 2014. in apro-Hindu political of this aresult As finally has which trajectory India on to a contemporary set firmly which lizations mobi violent energies, mass and passions continued political to generate immense Josh 1994:and vol. 3, chp.fault-line,has 5,this the 6).of over years, Thestoking s (groups) through regular meetings, conferences, educational institutions, and and institutions, educational conferences, meetings, regular s (groups) through Since 1940, this theme/idea/ideology of Hindutva has been sought to sought spread been has 1940,Since of Hindutva theme/idea/ideology this 19, nation... Hindu (Gowalker to the 52-56, subordinated wholly 62). country, the in stay or may foreigners, to be cease must they race... national the of will sweet at the or to live adopt culture, its and race national the in themselves to either merge elements, theforeign to open courses two are only foreigners... There butbe only cannot they differences, cultural and religious racial, their maintain non-Hindus) other and (Muslims they nation...as long, Hindu but so the else nought and nation Hindu ancient the exist need must and exists Hindustan In Since 1990s, with the background of rising terrorism, a constant war has been been has war terrorism, aconstant of rising 1990s,Since background the with longue duree history of Hindu-Muslim relations (Joshi of Hindu-Muslim(Joshi relations history - Hindu beneficiaries of reservations (Dalits, tribals, and other backward castes). Thus and backward other tribals, (Dalits, of reservations Hindu beneficiaries existing government in jobs pits against reservations them Haryana-for Jats in and Gujjars Rajasthan in Maharashtra, in Gujarat, Marathas in —Patidars castes rural on employment the badly stumbled agitations front.by has dominant current The isthe andnoteasy, This BJP Dalits. as known lower the castes especially banks, of vote- wide variety to been obliged woo power The Centre. athas the win BJP to of vote-banks to acoalition create needs party Every coalitions. shifting and out divides of have these arisen region. Political parties and class religion, language, of Gujarat elections. the results the towards looking are Indians aware politically the all that context It this in lives. is where majorityof population the areas rural the in strife social apermanent towards whole the headed is of India decades, two coming the In areas. rural in especially to majority of Hindus, acceptable the itself Hindu hegemonyternative by making it not time is a position but al in yet same at to the an create Congress National the hegemonyeroded theIndian of successfully The has BJP India. throughout suicide have committed of poor peasants thousands crisis of a this result as sector: agricultural vast the in crisis to adeepening problem, linked pan-Indian inseparably a is this fact, cotton. In produce, for especially prices their high relatively jobs and the creation of of promises regarding BJP unfulfilled the with dissatisfied who are Gujarat rural in castes middle of lower the agrarian sections and by large posed of challenges the because unstable and continues but to shaky be it stage still vanced Government for the sixth time. time. Government for sixth the election results on 16 December results election The of have dubbed Hindutva. alaboratory it as some of journalists India, part this in base stablemass asolid and to acquire of BJP’s struggle Because longstanding consolidation. of cultural certainty and ofhegemonic stability adegree power with atrustworthy it to accept as disposition where majority of willing nation is the the andpolitical sagacity moral status, 2019.cultural a fromacquiring far The still is BJP of elections general the only after awhole concerned would clear as be is country for as road as that down travelled polity.democratic have actually they How far a liberal in Centre at the rule their to perpetuate them position allow that could women. Only especially of Muslims, the sections and over lower castes by winning hegemony into societal dominance problem: serious the this with how to translate faced power majorities in in governments But (29) are it states. still is of Indian the about 31 by country. getting the votes Their in percent dominance of total the litical of idea the ‘Hindu professing forces Nation’ the ago, aposition have of acquired po years Three not are considered above parties. suspicion political byindividuals the neutral most ideologically of visions the even ethical and moral the Muslims, and of secularism. banner under the years seventy last evolved the in has one that existing the dismantling by sought partly being State is of Cultural new sort a practices these multi-prongedof As a cultural result makers. film and artists The diversity of India is constituted by several divisions based on caste, caste, on based divisions constituted several by is diversity India of The It is in Gujarat that the project of Hindu Rashtra has reached a fairly ad a fairly reached has project the It of Gujarat that Hindu in Rashtra is In October 2001, Narendera Modi became Chief Minister of Gujarat. October 2001,In Minister Chief became Narendera Modi Hindus between divide today’s of In cultural due deepening to the India, th 2017, its forming be BJP will have shown that - - -

REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 76; 2018, PP. 175-195 183 REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 76; 2018, PP. 175-195 184 formulated the conflictual trajectory of in developmentstrajectory India in Political 1994: conflictual the formulated has Joshi is how Shashi This Congress. National of Indian leaders the state by the on other upheld and the proof stance as of dominance its ‘secular’ Hindu cultural termed ‘appeasement been of has minorities’ of what ideologues by is the tilt this domination over minority. the one On the cultural hand, to establish projects striving aggressive into culturally assertiveness of cultural majority to upswing convert the thethe to of attempts ideologues corrective by essential the as seen was This ties. self-representations the and of of minori leaders the culture to minority sensitivity extra tilt towards tophenomenon this theof necessity was corollary natural The outset. from the state of Indian the revealed was of amajority culture assertation Hindu BJP monolith the the would love that fragments to create. that rivalry employment, into inter-caste India economic like converted in issue, an gets even BJP assumption, the central plank of its project plank of Hindu hegemony,BJP central the assumption, it only is that the accepted has willy-nilly, of HinduCongress votes. the the Thus, chunk bigger get a to fighting was too Congress the time internality. This Hindu cultural within come politics’ to and BJP’s of ‘secular terrain terrain own toship abandon its earlier leader Congress the forced successfully the has Thus BJP of Muslims. the a Party actuality, in was, Congress that along, all Congress the who supporting have been Hindus, able liberal the BJP to the convince was because elections parliamentary 2014 lost the have Party come conclusion to their the that Party of Congress the The leaders credentials. of its ‘secular’ evidence tokenism, an as even candidates it Neither put has up of minorities/Muslims. Muslim the Party the dubbed as being of for fear the areas Muslim the in not campaigning was of ‘secularism’ name the over in India ruled has which society, aparty completely Congress, the invisible as ten percent of Gujarati Muslims, the made Gujarat has of in BJP rule years twenty violently over ‘Muslim other’. imposed was the the that indicate signs But many when dominance war of cultural a time Hindu Rashtra, to establish of campaign the The inability of any democratic state to withstand fully the or longfor fully very withstand any to state democratic of inability The For the Sangh Parivar, the 2002 post- Godhra riots marked the apotheosis apotheosis the marked riots post- Parivar, 2002 the Godhra For Sangh the 1994: Josh and vol. 3/360) (Joshi present. the in intervenes continually past the that It thus is future. the for forging astrategy itself- of in power act an becomes defining so of The process thepast. of struggles power revives India of defining ‘West’thetheand but‘India’ between be may of today world.struggles power The the ‘we’ apropos Western cultural a defining at to efforts corollary a natural becomes contests cultural to pre-colonial athrowback context, this In Western lifestyles. andemulate adjust to they as etc.)even Sikhs, Muslims, (Hindus, fluentIndians af of sections increasing grips the ‘west’ vis-à-vis significance cultural own their to assert However, history. desire the or to ancient medieval back hark that past of the contests old cultural the in or consciously actively not least involved-at be may segment This influences. global to post-colonial West-through colonialism the hegemony of cultural the in implicated is of Indians segment However, asizeable comprehend or not. are implications its all whether ‘communalism’ and larism’ ‘secu between of a confrontation banner the under swing full in is India Hindu culturally a define to Hinduisms, and dogmatic revisionist between battle The - - - - ‘ janeu-dhari Hindu’ he a‘janeu-dhari is that to establish photograph ajaneu with Rahul’s released on other hand, the questionable. are Congress, Hindu credentials his because rat Guja for in votes of Hindus the to the ask not does deserve Rahul that is message The implicit affiliation. religious his to declare openly him challenged BJPthe has is”— say who must identity he —“he actually before.did By Rahul’s questioning Hindu temples. He pooja offers on atemple-hopping small big was and twenty-eight visited Gandhi has spree and a“strategic Hindu turn.” Rahul to quick take been has Congress the of this, result a population. As Muslim the to disenfrenchise have agreed parties, the we, both from now onwards BJP proclaiming: openly the in with country. agreed Itthis has in rule of political to nature should decide the matter that Hindu communities the Gandhi had miserably failed to keep the Congress Party on its secular track and and track on its secular Party Congress the to keep failed miserably had Gandhi Rajiv to yoke of and consolidation it Hindu Rashtra. agenda to the its further was now needed, was that Hindu sentiment. All of organised the power aggressiveness and the time, potential as showed,it first the for victory its finest actuality in was defeat point 1984. from another in temporary ofmuster view, only 2seats this Looking responsiblealso the for waveBJP’swhen was defeat could This massive toit date. 411 able majority Sabha He to Lok win deceptive. was largest out the of seats 542, very was victory massive a him given had Hindu mobs.which wave The sympathy of organized by the killings to stop these nothing did Gandhi Rajiv Prime Minister November in 1984. Gandhi murder the ofthen Indira The after Delhi in Sikhs of of thousands massacre the was that internality. And Hindu cultural the within live. they which in times and society the mirror often politicians democracies, In society. Indian in at work polarization to religious create tion constantly have been identity. religious their to display openly The long-termthe consequences of Parti leaders their and parties the to blame exercise would afutile be decades.It two last the for urban ‘apartheid’ supreme this reigned The in has BJP areas. Muslim and in drawn line’ 1947, of ‘Radcliffe extension Hindu the an dividing invisiblean line opposing BJP’sis of brand soft-Hindutva. its own with Hindutva Congress experiment new this In Hindutva. defeat of and religion stranglehold the break can not and secularism only caste that view the around coming is Congress the that arecognition is Wooing community Patidar the or riots secularism. Godhara would only play into BJP’s the he mentions if Rahul 2002 ment hands that was argu 2017). (Desai tomanagers’ adopt line?” Hindutva haste Congress Party The its in of secularism meaning forgotten the Congress the Catholic...Has Christian and a and a Hinduis a Parsi Rahul Thus Catholic. and Italian who is Sonia, ried Parsi, mar half and father, (Brahmin) Parsi.half-Hindu His thus was grandfather paternal His pedigree. at his Look representative of India. multi-faith,true diverse a is Gandhi Party, Rahul “should that have loudly proclaimed aSecular to being claim view its in keeping some that Congress Party, The election. feel, an identity in one’s independence, one’s than after less identity matters religious years Indian There was another event which pushed the Congress to openly locate itself to locate openly itself Congress theeventanother pushed which Therewas Today, a“border”, Gujarat’s complete. is has city Every partition religious that people comemany 70 who had believe to disturbed debatehas This in an ostentatious way which Congress leaders never leaders Congress ostentatious way which an in -(sacred thread that is worn by Brahmins) worn is by Brahmins) that -(sacred thread . - - - -

REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 76; 2018, PP. 175-195 185 REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 76; 2018, PP. 175-195 186 1992: 15). from aset and to expand began But slowly sphere ‘hesitancy’ the of this (Gopal shadow told, of the we ‘hesitancy’ are fell practice, and theory Between state. of the considered on he part from what action to had desirable the be retreat was there and principles theoretical these implement not could Nehru crunch the to 1947 conclusion August to when the it us that came leads after immediately raised issues contentiousthe of cultural survey cursory A it. to effect ‘state politics’ than posited a priori the which atheory to proclaim easy (Gopal 1992: approach’ ‘modern ‘the but most practical outlook’ also 13). But it was the of not approach was part a only duties. This and rights on civil no bearing with for aprivate individual on matter the as religion insistence the faiths, of from all state theseparation tion to of but religion from public removal religion the sought affairs, attitudes, and considered it a manifestation of medievalism and ‘communalism’. and of medievalism considered it and amanifestation attitudes, such with followers, who disagreement were his serious in and Nehru Jawaharlal especially But Congress, of Hindus. the were there the in others pride glory and (Embree 160).of slavery’ amoment For cultural the also them, it of celebrating was end the of ideologue years ‘a of Hindu nationalism, thousand foremostthe cultural moment independence to but put of political also, words it of the in Vivekananda, ‘1947’ Congress, National Indian the and not meant only a ofable Indians sections munity despite their internal differentiation. internal despite their munity com aseparate of idea being the Hindus underlined inadvertently,which, further Bill Hindu Code the and language national on the slaughter, cow ban as Hindi of temple the Somnath, were as construction the issues Some of these maintained. be not could always acomplex separation professed one their was the politics and sphere the and of state nationalism political nationalism, Hindu cultural between of independent relationship the the showedestablishment nation-state that clearly the coincided with emerged and that issues of cultural But kind assumption. the this nation without upholding Indian all-encompassing up of shaping an the imagine to intellectuals early nationalist the diversity,for difficult it was cultural given the a priori its commitment to continued this to declare Congress movements ofperiod mass (1920-42) independence the Partition and after even and the subcontinent. the in During communities religious the ofembryonic form— all opposition order its in nation in acomposite tonationalism’ build —a anti-imperialist a posited priorihad an ways. many in contestants their always helped opponentsby andare power They do own. not of their capture parties political that Let be emphasized it efforts. its own through have achieved its ideology. tainted donepermanently He for has BJP BJP never the which could The Government of free India adopted an approach which was notin Government Thewas opposiadopted an approach which India free of Secular historiography has failed to note the important fact that for consider that fact to note important the failed historiography has Secular Congress National From of its of foundation Indian leaders days the the the III. PARTITION AND DILEMMAS AND PARTITION III. separation between ‘Hindu cultural nationalism’ and ‘political ‘political and nationalism’ ‘Hindu cultural between separation OF INDIAN SECULARISM OF INDIAN separation between ‘religion’ between separation and

separation. It separation. seems, - - - On Diwali day,On Diwali on 12 November 1947, and Saheb by Patel Jam accompanied Sardar project of political India’s the with linked independence. renovation umbilically was for temple impulse movement Congress cultural the for of national the asection that on freedom 15 1947 attained August fact country the the thereby underlining after industrialisation. and indoctrination ideological of combined of the onslaught secular ahead forging the with marginalised be and to recede expected of tide ‘communalism’ the was at least, project abig in way. this in intelligentsia the notinvolving If completely eradicated, media of mass education and domain the in systematically to elaborated be was of nation the pedagogy project state-sponsored the of secular fact, abandoned. In were not to society be asecular of creating goal ultimate the and ples of secularism the princi beginning, decisions.putthe Though thefrom and defensivevery on into ofstate’s the power, practices rituals policies state some of Hindu cultural the accommodating as well as by aHindu neutralising state to saved from be becoming ‘narrow communalism.’ of this eradication of would forces work modernisation the the hope towards the that with reconciled were not but to counterposed commitment be to principles to be the of secularism the andpowerin stay to power.the of political terms necessity Thus in Congress prove to the to costly also be could unwise, from being apart shades, of its various opposition sentiment without unmitigated to this comprehending meanings An the of ‘modern lack and outlook’. ‘backwardness’ as attacked frontally denounced and not it leadership to be was Congress the in others many and Munshi and Prasad contain and it. For people like Patel, diffuse to placate, response adequate an ing devis and shades its various sentiment, disentangling of depth this the understand to important very it for was him Nehru, unlike same, the All of Hindu state. the notion the opposed he nevertheless spectrum cultural Hindu the within located be could Patel Sardar considerable of Hindu population. the Though with sections communication not could establish aresult sentiment as and Hindu cultural the ‘mad that idea’ 1990: as (Gandhi with Raj’ 497). tune not in emotionally was Nehru ism, no Patel 1949, proponent was February In of Hindu rule. he spoke of ‘Hindu seldomhe Though spoke secular of goals. political and responses strategic their in widely differ could sentiment they cultural same the groups shared and individuals sentiment. Even when of common cultural generated aspectrum which internality cultural same the operated within Congress National Indian the and RSS the bha, Hindu Mahasa the like we context, pointmust 496). organisations out this that In 1990: (our (qtd. to RSS understood be brethren) Gandhi the needs and us”) R. In (“one Patel’s that sense above of quoted assassin It about this in Gandhi’s is remark following. its mass and ranks into Congress out, extensively etched the penetrated other end, the more sharply less subtle and RSS, the and Hindu Mahasabha the as such organisations by political articulated sentiment was of this of spectrum the ‘hesitancy’? of roots this But social wherein into lay the ideals. retreated secularism principles interventions, of these and policies state of principles, guiding actively The campaign to renovate the temple of Somnath had started immediately immediately to renovatethe templestarted had campaign TheSomnath of was India emerging newly the of partition backdrop the against Meanwhile, complex continues one. to avery and be, Hindu one sentiment If was, end - - - -

REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 76; 2018, PP. 175-195 187 REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 76; 2018, PP. 175-195 188 We We monument. ancient an of as old the temple ruins should the maintained be point that the ofpressed view some Munshi, persons,beginning’, writes of temple. the “In reconstruction the the with of emotion the associated meanings for public contributions xxii temple to the rebuild (Das of Somnath the temple precisely mooted? K.M. Munshi records for us the ‘birth’ of this idea: of this ‘birth’ the for records us temple Munshi the mooted? precisely K.M. of of idea reconstruction the the was When went to Junagarh. Gadgil, Saheb, Kaka the form of temple. ofthe the money for reconstruction the scheme, government Patel contribution the any should decided that not in make of cow protection is old, widespread and deep-seated... It was almost impossible to of almost protection deep-seated... cow It old, and is was widespread number 1987: of people’ (Chodudhary 7/91-92).Hindu sentiment favour ‘The in large very and provinces all ‘practically reached had and tremendous‘with speed’ spreading on was slaughter cow a ban demanding agitation the that him informed 1947, on 7August to Nehru letter of slaughter. cow alengthy In Prasad Rajendra issue the was leadership of Congress the minds the agitated which issue cultural Hindu public” My the with emphasis). 64. of apointbe sentiment of (Munshi honour restoration of temple the or by prolonging its life. by mere satisfied be sentiment will that that, present the In conditions, it unlikely is temple widespread. and strong both to is this Hinduviews:” sentiment the regard in his Patel expressed Department, Archaeological by the pressed was tion of ruins the for preserva proposal the the When taken. actually was decision for reconstruction My emphasis). 64. pledge” (Munshi anational was reconstruction its and ancient not nation monument; an whole of was the sentiment in the it lived manatha Sardar Patel, K.M. Munshi and their other friends were fully aware of the aware were otherfully friends their and Patel, Munshi K.M. Sardar 3 Government the sponsored of the India though to Munshi, According Apart from the construction of the Somnath temple, the other important temple, other of important Somnath the the construction from the Apart ‘some ‘we’ between the persons’Clearly, before and the a tussle was there the Junagarh administrationfollowed 51,000.(Munshi withrupees 61) Samaldas for the construction. donation Gandhiof one-lakh rupees representing best. This is a holy task in which all should participate’. Jam Saheb gave the first that Somanath shouldbereconstructed. You, peopleofSaurashtra, shoulddoyour Sardar inhisspeech,said:‘Onyear, thisauspiciousdayofthenew we have decided Fifteen minutes later, ahugepublicmeetingwasheldinAhalyaBai templewhere mediately —afterthis,theJam Saheb announcedadonationofonelakhrupees. has cometofulfilandnotdestroy. Theageof is reconstruction now on’. Im- of India hasdecidedtorebuild thistempleandinstalthedeity. This Government temple andthere inthepresence ofabout500people,Iannounced:‘Government temple’. He said‘Well, goahead’. Then we twoandthe Jam Saheb cametothe the beach,IsaidtoSardar: ‘IthinktheGovernment ofIndia oughttorebuild this We sawthetemple,whileSardar andI(KakaSaheb) were havingalittlewalkon

This suggestion was first mooted by Gandhi at a prayer meeting on 28 November on 1947. meeting prayer ata Gandhi by mooted first was suggestion This were, however firm in our view, that theview, temple in were,that howeverour firm So of more fond of dead stones than live values, more values, live fond stones of than dead The restoration of the idol would would idol the of restoration The 3 In 1949, In Patel appealed ). - - its meeting held onits 29 meeting Bombay, Sabha, Prachar at of Hindustani the Committee the Gandhi, Mahatma by suggested of republic. the As ‘composite of language the issue culture’, the was fromother.each different fundamentally being of communities conception pre-partition the maintained and of idea common citizenship very the implementedNehru notion the of ‘composite went away which in against culture’ ‘secular’. as practice, In characterised for being not did qualify community Muslim opinion of the not did articulate to conform which the of state or the policy act any other,contend each over one with and, time, of tended them to become atruism: of could ambiguity. Now multiplegenerated a discourse interpretations of secularism thereby and secularism it it. as he Not labelled only that, never felt to need clarify the 190-191). no Hindus, doubtwhich predominate” Parthsarthy (qtd and Gopaland in acomposite but aHindu state in as “we as state not must choice squarely: function of ‘logic’ their the face must they that he insisted and by to denied Nehru them was choice or not possibility to third its irreconcilable ‘Hindu’was But this character. of asimple terms in ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ For ‘composite’ the them of country the character above the answer questions to followers difficult it their and was of Congressmen number it For acomposite Or was alarge Was country? aHindu country? India answers: contradictory gave they though same, the was India— —called reality evolved question about Savarkar’s the historically way of the and posing His sures. pres one of was of Nehru’s resignation party threat inner the the to resist ways 24). Holding out Parthsarthy and (Gopaland of it practice in came nothing that to ensure he was did constitution. All the principles in of policy state directive the We imagine.’more than rapidly can strength movement, to movement gain the ‘bound this like was Hindi, favour Of in and he clarified, much on of agitated, very ‘recent account feeling was happenings’ due consideration’. adecision it whatever after is we take must and, Hindu The now consideration require ignore does it.’ matter ‘that the he Suggested ‘I think’, Nehru said frankly that the move to oust Hindustani was unfortunate and unde and unfortunate was move the Hindustani to oust that frankly said Nehru of Congress.’ the tradition spirit and national to the ‘suicidal of and Constitution ‘violation of Congress the act would an be language national the as Hindi decision the to make that Congress point of view.’ communal and a narrow the It take warned Congressmen leading if harmony and unity of blow national it cause to the would ‘a be that disastrous brought be could together. ThefeltSabha of Indians millions which through dium the me only thewas scripts both in Hindustani that stated definitely had Gandhi of India’ (Chodudhary). It Mahatma noted that language national should the be script, Devanagri in written Hindi, have decided that of Constituent Assembly the members Party Congress the memorandum, the ‘to that learn declared surprised’, sent President: to adoptedSabha the was amemorandum which ‘We much very are the of meeting This of India. language national script the adopted being as Devnagri The third important issue, and this was a clear blowclear a to Nehru’swas this and notion issue, of important third The by meant ‘composite ‘compositeBut and was what country’ Nehru state’? one of as of slaughter cow of banning the not did oppose listing Nehru the On the question of Hindi-Hindustani, in his letters to concerned friends, to concerned friends, letters his in questionOn of the Hindi-Hindustani, th July 1947, with Hindi considered resolution the regarding - - -

REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 76; 2018, PP. 175-195 189 REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 76; 2018, PP. 175-195 190 Congress while the strong voices came to be articulated through the Jana Sangh. Sangh. Jana the through to articulated be voices strong came the while Congress moderate complex the of Hindu identity continued within underground to stay The nationalism. of Hindu cultural spectrum the in division party unwittingly, the though identity, deepened, of further cultural purely on aprogramme Sangh, Jana movement. the in mobilised whoof are Thereforethe those birth between relations power and issues class and caste with to intertwined be of identity begin issues we know,point, as cultural the Beyond a particular Congress. to the compared as development of national programme it social not could that evolve a more radical Party, Janata Bharatiya the its form in as continues today to even be and was, party 1971; (Baxter 1990). Sangh Jana the Graham as such But problem the a such with an organisation to gave which birth the background was This Congress. the in place no was there for him, people that like realised President of Hindu Mahasabha, the identity. erstwhile the Mukherjee, of People Hindu cultural Prasad Shyama like self-imposedBut not censorship. could now as but they have attitudes perceived such this. demanded Muslims the with of uniting policy of need Congress the pragmatic the of ‘culture’ as underground discourse of the keeping rationale the understand could Congressmen of these many Partition vehicle expression. for Before the their not adequate could possibly an be of Congress ‘communalism’ the name the in were underground driven aspirations it. But with in-hand once cultural hand- the nationalism’, i.e., went of nationalism, ‘cultural nationalism’ ‘political and a part much very was pride one’s traditions alegitimate in having eyes, cultural their own conscience. In guilty of without pangs thepride Hindus having of thecultural reflect should now legitimately and could Congress the that convinced were equally many of hearts, heart their in Because, of secularism. discourse Nehruvian by the required andbetween as ‘culture’ division ‘politics’ strict the maintain to difficult it finding were number of Congressmen large that was happening was No.Nehru? What century Congress liberals. of nineteenth ‘politics’ ‘culture’ and propounded as discourse bytion the between continued separa to uphold individual original the an as Partition, Nehru after it’ (Gopal 2: patient 92). not the does and realise even Even paralysis a creeping is Itwrote to 1950. G.B. Pant past. April the in in of Congress the ‘who were pillars of those’, hearts Nehru and minds the (Gopal 2: invaded 92). has ‘Communalism to adopt upon ‘Hindu Muslims the culture’ calling Tandon was Pradesh Uttar in Government’s on other, the Bengal to of migrate, Hindus forcing the policy P.D. East the against measure aretaliatory as from Bengal’ ‘equal number of Muslims of expulsion the Patel Roy and wereIf, suggesting Bidhan on both one the hand, careers.’ our to finale curious is a mentality. This RSS the or worse still, mentality September in 1949, Saxena refugee the with Mohanlal infected ‘seem to getting be us’, to unpalatable of Nehru. werewhich trends very ‘All he told reflecting tion, was acting in a narrow short-sighted way in many respects. in way many short-sighted in anarrow acting are they and Hindus the among passions roused has business partition this Unfortunately to say. sorry I am to combat it, success not great with sirable. ‘I trying have been Under Nehru, Congress as an organisation ceased to become a vehicle ceased organisation an as Under Congress Nehru, by asserted as organisation into acommunal turning Was Congress the The Congress Party, under the psychological pressures generated by thegenerated parti by pressures theunder psychological Congress Party, The ’ (Nehru 1987:’ (Nehru 3/186). - - up the complex nature of this ‘split’: of complexup this the nature sums Paul number Brass of Congressmen. not to alarge acceptable was spirituality of agnostic view Nehruvian the that fact the by underlining discourse Congress official the identity within for Hindu cultural the respectability and recognition Patel Tandon and between attempt to should looked seek be an upon as alliance ‘split’. logic the of this embodied which a struggle The primarily was Kripalani, P.D. between Congress, National ofelection Tandon Indian the Acharya and Therefore,the number of Congressmen. ofup’ alarge lives the in 1950 Presidential make- ’emotional the asplit created ‘intellectual by between and Nehru make-up’ modernisation. and of economic industrialisation progress, adevelopmental agenda with them replaced and agenda, national from the issues communal he what called removing in resolved. But been he had succeed did sues is the problemthat did cultural notof mean This of secularism. banner under the to led favourable be by forces to him the was which country the within equilibrium ideological an by Tandon, establishing in staged succeeded had Nehru withdrawal of Patel political death the the and complicated one. and to After along be drawn out complexion nation-State to the turned acultural foron-going imparting battle Therefore,the of policies state. the the and other on ofence administration each theinflu limit and circumscribe to came they theirstruggle, other. the Through aposition in to completely was marginalise contending currents and defeat of two the to show, was Congress the none within struggle of ideological/political later history the government. new formed the over and As state the taken had which Congress, National Indian the within country, the especially tendencies within ideological Obviously, ofnities India? unleashed to newly decided by be the question was the commu religious and cultural various arbiter between an as act and of secularism Was model it imperial to adilemma. continue the with with faced was state Indian independent newly the Muslims, of Indian name the in demanded state separate of India. unity political and Veda, Mahabharata, Ramayana were or references given from Rig Indians’. Similar Bharatiyas it called born in are ‘all and Bharat called is of Ocean the north and south of Himalayas the country the that argument the to support thequotedfrom Purana Vishnu Affairs External of (Embree 67). Division of Ministry the Paper Historical by prepared the AWhite ‘India’s with tradition’ associated and India’s was culture and traditional frontier was that to assert was Nehru China with war the After politics. secular with thologies a party of the cultural minorities. of cultural the a party it as it to of Congress’s compete with by the accusing use It inability should make a position ‘sole to the be of power it then of spokesman’ claim must Hindu identity. acquire to if was that it dictated party logic Theof formation very political of a new The censorship on the articulation of Hindu cultural sentiment imposed Hinducultural of articulation the censorship Theon a as formation the of Pakistan and of partition the backdrop the Against In fact, at moments, even for Nehru it was difficult to not mix cultural my cultural mix to not at moments, difficult it fact, forIn even was Nehru leaders and saw no incompatibility between them. Congress in Uttar Pradesh intel Pradesh Uttar in Congress them. between no incompatibility saw and leaders Tandon and their Nehru as both accepted Pradesh Uttar in Congressmen Most and other Sanskrit texts pointing to the cultural cultural to the pointing texts other Sanskrit and - - - - -

REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 76; 2018, PP. 175-195 191 REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 76; 2018, PP. 175-195 192 the ‘caste’ and ‘class’ codes towards an open or tacit alliance with the ideologues of ideologues the with open or alliance tacit an towards ‘class’ codes ‘caste’ and the but tendencies lead cannot intentionsinto Despite best being. anti-Congress their have come could S.P. Mukerjee,and governments no Congress to alternative the of Savarkar Hindu nationalism the inherited ofpresence BJP-type which the party, conclusionthewithout theus to that leads This of nationalism. code overarching the codes sectarian upon these to bear brings group which without apolitical uniteeven cannot codes these alternatives. that, Not only notlevel national offer can themselves reality, in social of be Indian might they characteristics important or BJP (community code). Sangh (caste code) Jana however and codes, But these code), (class of brand ideology on Lohia groups parties based Communist rivulets: thesplit oppositionhas intothree This regionalism. and of nationalism code the especially codes, with other flirting simultaneously while codes one single of these from more or opposition less the strength have derived their gress, groups/parties order in to into bind codes together Con aunity. them the Unlike sectional these community. cut across and vision of Its developmental encompassing nationalism class i.e., consciousness, caste, of mass codes sociological three representing and to secularism. of ideology professed its thechallenge with longer confidentwhen faced by doubts no and assailed being was Congress the that a publicsending message thereby, continuedRajiv Gandhi, was by vacillation of policy This discourse. their of parts gestures into and her speeches incorporating even temples sometimes and misnomer. In order to paper over this ambiguity many began to call “Indian Secularism.” “Indian call to began many ambiguity this over paper to order In misnomer. be would it ‘Secular’ but call to of non sectarianisms spirit the with imbued is Constitution Indian Act, 1976Act, Preamble to of 42nd constitution by the Amendment the the ‘socialist’ and ‘secular’ words she one poles. On the added the hand, two the between to vacillate began Gandhi Mrs. of secularism, attention practice on Congress’ the mass the focusing ‘split’ psychological by contradiction into ideological this a‘sharp sought toism turn cultural needs of ‘emotional the needs make-up’.cultural the denies which to uphold is frame modernity and psychological the secularism them Forto many of uphold individual. liberal definition of a modernized very the to to central be ‘split’ intellectualls of this held is westernised by the maintenance unself-conscious an fact In Hindus. the among especially, classes, on educated the simple one. Its complex of it westernisation impact composition the within embodies ‘Hindu “split” sentiment’. not not this mention is called and a was of athing Actually Historically speaking, the Congress has remained in power in by adjusting remained has Congress the speaking, Historically 4 of ideologues Hindu of Emergency, the cultural when the aftermath the In the by mortified and followers of were his many embarrassed and Nehru 87; cfr.Weiner (Brass religion. their and 4). ch culture, their language, their with Pradesh in Uttar Congressmen of identification emotional Tandon to the but development country, it ofthe the was appealed who for necessary as ideas of Nehru’s most political accepted and recognised lectually

4 The fateful word ‘Secularism’ did not exist in the Constitution of India before before 1976.The India of Constitution the in exist did not ‘Secularism’ word fateful The , while, on other, the , while, over Hindu opinion to the win she tried by to going - - - to read into her ‘words’ and ‘departures’ an effort at pandering to Hindu critics who Hindu to critics pandering at effort an intoto read her ‘words’ ‘departures’ and note wave of begun Hindu of sentiment. rising had the Many taking and ognising of attempt, however rec to move an direction belated, the as in interested quarters not could tilt’ but perceived by have ‘historic been the by correcting of neutrality But her neutral. aposition attempt to to perceived as be have acquire may wanted she communities the hegemony between contest for the in cultural possible, that It is community? Muslim the with Congress’s relationship the continuing special no longer interested in groups. Was and Gandhi Mrs. parties by secular appeals by helicopter, away minutes from Delhi a few she just would not despite there go onlywas condole to the bereaved. Though Moradabad with conflagration munal major com of scene to every the of rushing style normal from the departed Gandhi career,Indira in political hertime of for have her first notedMany the critics that atoll of 144 awhole lives. month, lasted at Moradabad taking strife communal community. her considerable of Muslim the The and sections between relationship the strained fury, full months erupted in of 1980 early the in once again had which 1980. Emergency,in the Hindu-Muslim killings happened the during and What who, however, to Congress her from the support again Harijans rallied and Muslims stage. centre the in of Hindutva opposition votaries the placed rendered which anti-Congress by the help the and provided Gandhi parties’. by Mrs. opportunity Ironically, the it was of ‘one thereby it reducing status to the political of many legitimacy the its moral of party Moreover, secular politics. robbed main the stream had Emergency the main in codes) themselves helped to place them class (caste and allies secular their From aposition marginality, of of Mahatma. political the killer the inspired had which ideology the of sharing stigma the to aconsiderablebles, and erase extent untoucha of political of democracy, being champion cause the rid status of get their them to helped this time, For first the nationalism. Savarkarite representing forces to come. years the thenation-statein of thenature to going define is articulation for mass its search and nationalism into a Savarkarite nationalism to convert Gandhian struggle the Today, to time. from time have varied of forms itsment the articulation though senti overlapped Hindu cultural with always has nationalism Indian nationalism. of umbrella overarching the within limited adjusted be remain but they can that country sidethis or other. the in andare forms politics of Thepolitics of ‘class’ ‘caste’ one with of‘class’ to align ‘caste’would and under pressure be codes the sharpens struggle of people the this on not ‘national and on issues’ As ‘caste’ or ‘class’ issues. mobilisation theactual through nationalism Indian of thenature redefining and defining in engaged organisations continues to between be, and is, struggle real the Congress. the towards them pulls perspectives egalitarian and to uphold desire their while developmental Congress to the alternative for an search their the in BJP are incline towards forced to They dilemma. apermanent with faced are consciousness andmass of codes The ‘class’ Hindu nationalism. ‘caste’ sectarian Mrs. Gandhi’s debacle in 1977 owed a great deal to the alienation of both of both 1977 debacle alienation in to the Gandhi’s Mrs. deal owed agreat impositionThe theEmergency proved for of goldenbe a to opportunity then politics Indian of contemporary appraisal arealistic as accepted is this If - - - - -

REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 76; 2018, PP. 175-195 193 REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 76; 2018, PP. 175-195 194 the rules of the ‘game’ must be changed. And this they did on did 6 they this And changed. of ‘game’ be must the rules the Hence rules. the of played seat power within the long so to ‘game’ occupy was the would them not allow Congress the and them loaded against ‘game’ were heavily the rules themdifferent of conclusion: to a amongst the many led This of its cadre. and’ the of intominds the slowlyto BJP leadership sink The began question stage? advanced at to this outmaneuver them sentiment. Congress Would the allow they Hindu consolidating fast emerged and newly the to articulate them with competing ideology, actually was of its secular constraints the notwithstanding Congress, the temple agrand at Ayodhya, brought home that idea the favour ofin constructing 1970s monopoly. considered BJP by the its combine political was as sentiment the in Hindu cultural From aggressive emergence of the outset, an the BJPorder the combine? to outmanoeuvre surrender? Or, it athoughtless just was in discourse Congress the Hindu sentiment the incorporate and within recognise disputable. Was move something it strategic to aconscious as date considered till been had what legitimising and Masjid Babri thereby the recognising of unlocking move sharply, very to he other this side Once now the reacted thought Case. Bano on Shah the aretreat opinion Muslim by dominant staging the ofthought pleasing complexion the nation-state thefirst political of he to influence communities the contest between of cultural cleft the in Caught to state. ‘its’ challenge aserious as to lookdevelopmentsthese upon begun had population.Hinducommunity The of Hindu the sections large in memories and of partition up anxieties deeper stirred Punjab had and developments that Kashmir in of fact the unaware totally He to moves to seemed be buy helped peace. his him long so as things tradictory doing con in wrong he nothing saw experience national burden of accumulated of Hindu majority. the cost at the minorities her father, she, like other tendedthat long and tohad ‘pamper’ grumbled Muslims by demolishing the Babri mosque. Babri the by demolishing Narasimha Rao’s declaration from the Red Fort that the Congress was was Congress the Fort Rao’s that Red from the declaration Narasimha from the free modernist anaive simple. Being was case Gandhi’s Rajiv India can never be the same again. same never the be can India Revised paper accepted for publication: 27 February 2018 February 27 publication: for accepted paper Revised Reviews sent to author: 16 2017 author: to November sent Reviews th December 1992 December - Weiner Nehru Munshi A History of the Indian Communists: A Critique of the Discourses of Communalism and Secular and Communalism of Discourses the of ACritique Communists: Indian the of —— AHistory Joshi Josh Baxter Das Graham Ganesh Chodudhary Brass The Godhra.” site avenge to masjid at temple institute to call refuse must Government “Old obsessions: Gopaland India in Politics Communal of Rise the and Ayodhya aConfrontation: of —— Anatomy Gandhi Desai Gopal Golwalkar Godse Gandhi Embree Sardar Patel: Sardar ed. Correspondence , Durga - Bau India”, Julius in post-Independent in state the and complicity “Conversions, , Bhagwan. , Shashi and Bhagwan Josh Bhagwan and , Shashi . Paul. Factional Politics. Paul. in an Indian State: Uttar Pradesh , Meghnad. “Out of my mind: Does it matter?” The Indian Express, 3 December 2017. December 3 Express, http:// Indian The it matter?” Does “Out of my mind: , Meghnad. , Sarvepalli. Jawaharlal Nehru: A Biography , Sarvepalli. , Nathu Ram. “Why I Assassinated Gandhi?” Forsight Publishers and Distributors, 1948. Distributors, and Publishers Forsight Gandhi?” IAssassinated “Why Ram. , Nathu Selected Works Selected , Jawaharlal. The Jana Sangh Jana The , Craig. Oxford University Press, 1989. Press, University Oxford History. Indian on Essays T. India: Imagining , Ainslie Party Politics in India: The Development of a Multiparty System of a Multiparty Development The India: in Politics Party , Myron. , Narayani. “ , Narayani. Patel: ALife Patel: , Rajmohan Collected Works Collected K. , Mohandas , K.M. Jaya Somanatha , K.M. Hindu Nationalism and Indian Politics: The Origins and Development of the Bharatiya Bharatiya the of Development and Origins The Politics: Indian and Nationalism , B.D. Hindu ism pp. 97-115. pp. Asia in State the and Christianity eds. Lim Gee Khek Francis and tista Cambridge University Press, 1990. Press, University Cambridge Sangh, Jana details/in.ernet.dli.2015.463267 Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, Occasional Paper No. Paper xii Occasional Library, and Museum Memorial Nehru that?’ for life up your give godhra/ old-obsessions-government-must-refuse-call-to-institute-temple-at-masjid-site-to-avenge- India of Times there-why-would-you-give-up-your-life-for-that/ indiatimes.com/treasurehunt/nations-are-lines-in-the-sand-tomorrow-they-may-not-be- cwmg.htm 2017-out-of-my-mind-does-it-matter/ indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/rahul-gandhi-gujarat-assembly-elections- , S. and G. Parthasarthy G. and , S. We OR Our Nationhood Defined Nationhood We OR Our , M.S. . Sage, 3 vols., 2013. 3vols., . Sage, , Valmiki ed. Dr.Rajendra ed. Prasad: Correspondence, Valmiki and Documents . Accessed 20 February 2018. February 20 . Accessed . ‘Nations are lines in the sand, tomorrow they may not be there ... why would you you ... would why there not be may they tomorrow sand, the in lines are ‘Nations , 8 December 2017., 8 December https://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/toi-editorials/ : A Biography of a Indian Political Party. Oxford University Press, 1971. Press, University Oxford Party. Political of aIndian : ABiography The Shrine Eternal, Bombay, 1952.Eternal, Shrine : The . Navjivan, 1990. Navjivan, . Struggle for Hegemony in India in Hegemony for . Struggle (New Series). Oxford University Press, 1987. Press, University Series). Oxford (New ” The Times of India, of India, Times The REFERENCES . . Ganshi Serve Foundation. http://gandhiserve.org/e/cwmg/ Foundation. Serve . Ganshi Jawaharlal Nehru and India’s Quest for a Secular Identity aSecular for India’s Quest and Nehru Jawaharlal . . Ahmedabad, 1973. . Ahmedabad, . Accessed 20 February 2018. February 20 . Accessed . 3 vols. Oxford University Press, 1979. Press, University Oxford . 3vols. , Nagpur, 1947, Nagpur, (1939). 13 October 2017.13 October Accessed 20 February 2018. February 20 . Accessed . Bombay, 1966. . 3 vols. Sage. 1994. Sage. . 3vols. https://blogs.timesofindia. , May 1987., May . , Princeton, 1957. Princeton, , https://archive.org/ , Routledge, 2009, 2009, , Routledge, . Zed, 1992. . Zed, - .

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