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| Secular observers believe that Hindu nationalism is opposed to the Indian nationalism in the sense that it goes back to the Brahmanical roots and denies the 800 years of Muslim and British cultural assimiliation in India. | Secular observers believe that Hindu nationalism is opposed to the Indian nationalism in the sense that it goes back to the Brahmanical roots and denies the 800 years of Muslim and British cultural assimiliation in India. | ||
| ] is |
] is the oldest religion in the world, with over 900 million adherents. Ancient Hindu classics have been the foundation of religion, science, society, economy, philosophy and statecraft since ancient times in India. To Hindu nationalists, this exemplifies India as a '']''. | ||
| This article endeavors to explore the roots of religious nationalism in the ] and ], the political and cultural expression of nationalism of the mainstream Hindu population, as well as fundamentalism and the contemporary revival of ]. It must be noted that in ], there is no difference between ] and ], and both the words are used interchangeably; '']'' does not have a negative connotation in India, as it does in much of Europe and North America. |
This article endeavors to explore the roots of religious nationalism in the ] and ], the political and cultural expression of nationalism of the mainstream Hindu population, as well as fundamentalism and the contemporary revival of ]. It must be noted that in ], there is no difference between ] and ], and both the words are used interchangeably; '']'' does not have a negative connotation in India, as it does in much of Europe and North America. | ||
| ==Historical foundations== | ==Historical foundations== | ||
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| <!-- Unsourced image removed: ] --> | <!-- Unsourced image removed: ] --> | ||
| Hindu |
Hindu nationalist thinking takes roots with the days of the ], the ] and the ], when Muslim kingdoms governed the wider Hindu populations of India with the aid of small but elite Muslim communities. | ||
| The main inspiration of Hindu nationalism arises from the glories of the ] and the ], under whom India was politically and military dominant and prosperous, and Hindu religion and culture at its greatest heights. | The main inspiration of Hindu nationalism arises from the glories of the ] and the ], under whom India was politically and military dominant and prosperous, and Hindu religion and culture at its greatest heights. | ||
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| The main incitement of Hindu nationalist passions arise from the destruction of Hindu temples such as the ] Temple in ], the descretion of holy Hindu institutions in ], ], ], ] and ] and the killings, lootings and rape of an indeterminate but large number of Hindus during a series of Islamic invasions from ] and ], by Muslim kings like ], ], ] and ]. | The main incitement of Hindu nationalist passions arise from the destruction of Hindu temples such as the ] Temple in ], the descretion of holy Hindu institutions in ], ], ], ] and ] and the killings, lootings and rape of an indeterminate but large number of Hindus during a series of Islamic invasions from ] and ], by Muslim kings like ], ], ] and ]. | ||
| Hindu monarch-warriors like ], ] and ] are hailed today as heroes of Hindu society. Hindus draw inspiration and pride from the Hindu empires of the ], the ] kings of modern ], the southern ] empire of ] and the ] of modern day ]. The rise of the ] ] military order first arose to protect Sikhs and Hindus from the pogroms associated with fanatical Muslim rulers like ]. ] gave up his life to protect Kashmiri Hindus. This historical relationship with Sikhs has nurtured the pride of Hindu nationalists. | Hindu monarch-warriors like ], ] and ] are hailed today as heroes of Hindu society. Hindus draw inspiration and pride from the Hindu empires of the ], the ] kings of modern ], the southern ] empire of ] and the ] of modern day ]. The rise of the ] ] military order first arose to protect Sikhs and Hindus from the pogroms associated with fanatical Muslim rulers like ]. ] gave up his life in a battle to protect Kashmiri Hindus. This historical relationship with Sikhs has nurtured the pride of Hindu nationalists. | ||
| ==Hindu Renaissance == | ==Hindu Renaissance == | ||
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| ], ].)]] | ], ].)]] | ||
| What was perceived as deeply offensive propaganda of ] ], a Westernization of many educated Hindus, forcible conversion to ] and rising resentment against the practices of ] by orthodox Hindus gave rise to the reform and revival of ] by leaders like ] and ]. | What was perceived as deeply offensive propaganda of ] ], a Westernization of many educated Hindus, forcible conversion to ] and ] and rising resentment against the practices of ] by orthodox Hindus gave rise to the reform and revival of ] by leaders like ] and ]. | ||
| The ] was founded by Swami ] in the middle of the 19th century to revive Hindu ], which was entrenched deeply in the social |
The ] was founded by Swami ] in the middle of the 19th century to revive Hindu ], which was entrenched deeply in the social schasms of ], ], as well as ], ] and ]. The Samaj prescribed a ''return to the ]'', to the basic tenets of Hindu religion with a ] pursuit of One God, instead of minor deities. | ||
| ] is praised by many Hindu nationalists as having defined the Hindu religion as the greatest glory of Indian civilization. Vivekananda hailed India's wealth in religion and philosophy. The ] he founded has grown into one of India's most important charities and community organizations. ] was a militant nationalist who was one of the first to embrace the idea of complete political independence for India, before giving up the struggle to adopt a life devoted to religion and such purposes. | ] is praised by many Hindu nationalists as having defined the Hindu religion as the greatest glory of Indian civilization. Vivekananda hailed India's wealth in religion and philosophy. The ] he founded has grown into one of India's most important charities and community organizations. ] was a militant nationalist who was one of the first to embrace the idea of complete political independence for India, before giving up the struggle to adopt a life devoted to religion and such purposes. | ||
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| Both Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo are credited with having found the basis for a vision of freedom and glory for India in the spiritual richness and heritage of Hinduism. | Both Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo are credited with having found the basis for a vision of freedom and glory for India in the spiritual richness and heritage of Hinduism. | ||
| However, the open and universally accepting ideals of these individuals contrasts heavily with the generally conservative viewpoint of modern Hindu |
However, the open and universally accepting ideals of these individuals contrasts heavily with the generally conservative viewpoint of modern Hindu Nationalists. | ||
| ==In the Independence movement== | ==In the Independence movement== | ||
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| Hindus wanted a free and united nation to result from the end of the war, with Indian heritage and consciousness liberated from foreign cultural and political intrusions. But owing to the separatist politics of the Muslim League, a different expression arose in the era that was specifically Hindu. Hindus desired freedom not only from European colonialism, but to avoid a return to over one thousand years of Muslim rule in India. Many millions of Hindus harbored negative emotions as many great Hindu temples, monuments and communities had been savaged by pogroms conducted by Muslim rulers like ], ], ] and ]. This freedom would not be achieved if Muslims were accorded special treatment as they demanded. | Hindus wanted a free and united nation to result from the end of the war, with Indian heritage and consciousness liberated from foreign cultural and political intrusions. But owing to the separatist politics of the Muslim League, a different expression arose in the era that was specifically Hindu. Hindus desired freedom not only from European colonialism, but to avoid a return to over one thousand years of Muslim rule in India. Many millions of Hindus harbored negative emotions as many great Hindu temples, monuments and communities had been savaged by pogroms conducted by Muslim rulers like ], ], ] and ]. This freedom would not be achieved if Muslims were accorded special treatment as they demanded. | ||
| National leaders like ] and ] instilled ] values, history, heritage and culture into ] and politics during the ]. Tilak and Gandhi connected with millions of ordinary Indians due to their espousal of Indian cultural values and traditions. Tilak is credited with |
National leaders like ] and ] instilled ] values, history, heritage and culture into ] and politics during the ]. Tilak and Gandhi connected with millions of ordinary Indians due to their espousal of Indian cultural values and traditions. Tilak is credited with having founded the ] festival of immersing Lord ]'s statue. The festival allowed millions of Hindus to congregate and celebrate their religion and culture. Gandhi transformed the ] from an ] organization of ], educated Indians to an organization committed to the service of the Indian masses, and empowered by the membership and participation of over 10 million ordinary Indians. His adoption of ], emphasis of Indian languages, Indian clothing and lifestyle, and Hindu religious values before Western influences and ] struck a strong chord with India's masses, who were mainly Hindu. | ||
| Hindu sentiments firmly rejected Muslim political demands for separate electorates and reservations. They rejected the notion that Muslims deserved a large role in national life despite their numerical minority owing to their rich history in India, anticipating that such an expanded role would come at the expense of the natural Hindu majority. | Hindu sentiments firmly rejected Muslim political demands for separate electorates and reservations. They rejected the notion that Muslims deserved a large role in national life despite their numerical minority owing to their rich history in India, anticipating that such an expanded role would come at the expense of the natural Hindu majority. | ||
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| ] formulated the '']'' ideology.]] | ] formulated the '']'' ideology.]] | ||
| ''Hindu Rashtra'', literally ''Hindu Nation'' is what Hindu nationalists describe India as - a nation of people whose culture, history is founded in the theology and traditions of ]. In this interpretation, a Hindu is connoted beyond just as an adherent of Hinduism |
''Hindu Rashtra'', literally ''Hindu Nation'' is what Hindu nationalists describe India as - a nation of people whose culture, history is founded in the theology and traditions of ]. In this interpretation, a Hindu is connoted beyond just as an adherent of Hinduism. | ||
| Some proponents have argued that even Muslim and Christian Indians are Hindus, as their ancestors were Hindu, and despite their religion, their culture and heritage is the same as that of India's natural Hindu majority. | Some proponents have argued that even Muslim and Christian Indians are Hindus, as their ancestors were Hindu, and despite their religion, their culture and heritage is the same as that of India's natural Hindu majority. | ||
| Many Hindu nationalists also prescribe to a vision of '']'' (''United India''), wherein the ] is reversed to found a nation based on what they consider as India's natural territorial extent in terms of the bonds of history, culture, economy and people |
Many Hindu nationalists also prescribe to a vision of '']'' (''United India''), wherein the ] is reversed to found a nation based on what they consider as India's natural territorial extent in terms of the bonds of history, culture, economy and people. | ||
| ===Hindutva=== | ===Hindutva=== | ||
| ''Main Article: ]'' | ''Main Article: ]'' | ||
| ], an ] freedom fighter and one of the earliest Hindu nationalists, wrote the treatise on ''Hindutva'', defining it literally as ''Hindu-ness'' |
], an ] freedom fighter and one of the earliest Hindu nationalists, wrote the treatise on ''Hindutva'', defining it literally as ''Hindu-ness''. The treatise identified India as a ''Hindu Rashtra'', or ''Hindu nation'' in terms of culture and heritage. It asserted that all of its people had in history adhered to Hindu religious values, and thus should be identified as ''Hindus'' not only for religious affialiation but also for nationality. | ||
| Although the RSS was founded before the conception of Hindutva, it drew closer to Savarkar's ideas in the 1950s and 1960s. | Although the RSS was founded before the conception of Hindutva, it drew closer to Savarkar's ideas in the 1950s and 1960s. | ||
Revision as of 21:14, 2 June 2006
Hindu nationalism is the political and cultural expression, histriographical and political theories of Indian nationalism distinctive to Hindu society in India, which asserts being Hindu as not merely a religious identity, but a national identity.
Secular observers believe that Hindu nationalism is opposed to the Indian nationalism in the sense that it goes back to the Brahmanical roots and denies the 800 years of Muslim and British cultural assimiliation in India.
Hinduism is the oldest religion in the world, with over 900 million adherents. Ancient Hindu classics have been the foundation of religion, science, society, economy, philosophy and statecraft since ancient times in India. To Hindu nationalists, this exemplifies India as a Hindu Rashtra.
This article endeavors to explore the roots of religious nationalism in the history of India and Hinduism, the political and cultural expression of nationalism of the mainstream Hindu population, as well as fundamentalism and the contemporary revival of Hinduism. It must be noted that in Indian English, there is no difference between patriotism and nationalism, and both the words are used interchangeably; nationalism does not have a negative connotation in India, as it does in much of Europe and North America.
Historical foundations
Main articles: History of Hinduism, Vijayanagara, Maratha Empire, Khalsa
Hindu nationalist thinking takes roots with the days of the Islamic empires in India, the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire, when Muslim kingdoms governed the wider Hindu populations of India with the aid of small but elite Muslim communities.
The main inspiration of Hindu nationalism arises from the glories of the Mauryan Empire and the Gupta Empire, under whom India was politically and military dominant and prosperous, and Hindu religion and culture at its greatest heights.
The main incitement of Hindu nationalist passions arise from the destruction of Hindu temples such as the Somnath Temple in Gujarat, the descretion of holy Hindu institutions in Ayodhya, Kashi, Mathura, Allahabad and Haridwar and the killings, lootings and rape of an indeterminate but large number of Hindus during a series of Islamic invasions from Afghanistan and Persia, by Muslim kings like Mahmud of Ghazni, Muhammad Ghori, Ahmed Shah Durrani and Nadir Shah.
Hindu monarch-warriors like Shivaji, Maharana Pratap and Prithviraj Chauhan are hailed today as heroes of Hindu society. Hindus draw inspiration and pride from the Hindu empires of the Gupta Dynasty, the Rajput kings of modern Rajasthan, the southern Vijayanagara empire of Karnataka and the Maratha Empire of modern day Maharashtra. The rise of the Sikh Khalsa military order first arose to protect Sikhs and Hindus from the pogroms associated with fanatical Muslim rulers like Aurangzeb. Guru Tegh Bahadur gave up his life in a battle to protect Kashmiri Hindus. This historical relationship with Sikhs has nurtured the pride of Hindu nationalists.
Hindu Renaissance
Main articles: Sri Aurobindo,Swami Vivekananda,Arya Samaj
What was perceived as deeply offensive propaganda of Christian missionaries, a Westernization of many educated Hindus, forcible conversion to Islam and Christianity and rising resentment against the practices of untouchability by orthodox Hindus gave rise to the reform and revival of Hinduism by leaders like Dayananda Saraswati and Swami Vivekananda.
The Arya Samaj was founded by Swami Dayananda Saraswati in the middle of the 19th century to revive Hindu society, which was entrenched deeply in the social schasms of untouchability, suttee, as well as poverty, xenophobia and illiteracy. The Samaj prescribed a return to the Vedas, to the basic tenets of Hindu religion with a monotheistic pursuit of One God, instead of minor deities.
Swami Vivekananda is praised by many Hindu nationalists as having defined the Hindu religion as the greatest glory of Indian civilization. Vivekananda hailed India's wealth in religion and philosophy. The Ramakrishna Mission he founded has grown into one of India's most important charities and community organizations. Sri Aurobindo was a militant nationalist who was one of the first to embrace the idea of complete political independence for India, before giving up the struggle to adopt a life devoted to religion and such purposes.
Both Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo are credited with having found the basis for a vision of freedom and glory for India in the spiritual richness and heritage of Hinduism.
However, the open and universally accepting ideals of these individuals contrasts heavily with the generally conservative viewpoint of modern Hindu Nationalists.
In the Independence movement
Main articles: Indian Independence Movement, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Purushottam Das Tandon
In the Indian Independence Movement, the Indian National Congress was recognized by the vast majority of the people of India as their representative against the British Raj. And most Hindus, being the vast majority of Indian peoples, drove the movement, especially owing to the existence of the Muslim League from 1907 as a specifically Muslim party.
Hindus wanted a free and united nation to result from the end of the war, with Indian heritage and consciousness liberated from foreign cultural and political intrusions. But owing to the separatist politics of the Muslim League, a different expression arose in the era that was specifically Hindu. Hindus desired freedom not only from European colonialism, but to avoid a return to over one thousand years of Muslim rule in India. Many millions of Hindus harbored negative emotions as many great Hindu temples, monuments and communities had been savaged by pogroms conducted by Muslim rulers like Nadir Shah, Muhammad Ghori, Mahmud of Ghazni and Aurangzeb. This freedom would not be achieved if Muslims were accorded special treatment as they demanded.
National leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Mahatma Gandhi instilled Hindu values, history, heritage and culture into Indian nationalism and politics during the Indian Independence Movement. Tilak and Gandhi connected with millions of ordinary Indians due to their espousal of Indian cultural values and traditions. Tilak is credited with having founded the Ganesh Chaturthi festival of immersing Lord Ganesha's statue. The festival allowed millions of Hindus to congregate and celebrate their religion and culture. Gandhi transformed the Indian National Congress from an elitist organization of liberal, educated Indians to an organization committed to the service of the Indian masses, and empowered by the membership and participation of over 10 million ordinary Indians. His adoption of ahimsa, emphasis of Indian languages, Indian clothing and lifestyle, and Hindu religious values before Western influences and English struck a strong chord with India's masses, who were mainly Hindu.
Hindu sentiments firmly rejected Muslim political demands for separate electorates and reservations. They rejected the notion that Muslims deserved a large role in national life despite their numerical minority owing to their rich history in India, anticipating that such an expanded role would come at the expense of the natural Hindu majority.
Such sentiments led to the Congress rejection of the League's offer of coalitions in 1937: the League is said to have asked for its recognition by the Congress as the representative of Muslims. Congress rejected this idea due to its strict and natural adherence to secularism, and also to reject League demands for inflated representations in provinces it had won few seats in.
Though normally remembered simply as leaders of the freedom struggle, Lala Lajpat Rai, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Purushottam Das Tandon, Srinivasa Iyengar, Sarojini Naidu and others were amongst the first to express Hindu nationalistic sentiments and ideas.
Hindu Rashtra
Main article: Hindu RashtraHindu Rashtra, literally Hindu Nation is what Hindu nationalists describe India as - a nation of people whose culture, history is founded in the theology and traditions of Hinduism. In this interpretation, a Hindu is connoted beyond just as an adherent of Hinduism.
Some proponents have argued that even Muslim and Christian Indians are Hindus, as their ancestors were Hindu, and despite their religion, their culture and heritage is the same as that of India's natural Hindu majority.
Many Hindu nationalists also prescribe to a vision of Akhand Bharat (United India), wherein the partition of India is reversed to found a nation based on what they consider as India's natural territorial extent in terms of the bonds of history, culture, economy and people.
Hindutva
Main Article: Hindutva
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, an Marathi freedom fighter and one of the earliest Hindu nationalists, wrote the treatise on Hindutva, defining it literally as Hindu-ness. The treatise identified India as a Hindu Rashtra, or Hindu nation in terms of culture and heritage. It asserted that all of its people had in history adhered to Hindu religious values, and thus should be identified as Hindus not only for religious affialiation but also for nationality.
Although the RSS was founded before the conception of Hindutva, it drew closer to Savarkar's ideas in the 1950s and 1960s.
The Sangh Parivar
The Sangh Parivar is a collection of public, religious and political organizations that are Hindu nationalist in character and purpose, and often exponents of Hindutva and other forms of Hindu expression. It is today the largest organized foundation of Hindu nationalist expression and activity in India.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
Main Article: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was founded in Nagpur, Maharashtra in 1925 by K.B. Hedgewar, a physician who felt that Hindu social unity was a deeply important foundation for a free India. The RSS stayed out of the freedom struggle as such, but promoted a brotherhood amongst its membership, working to erase caste distinctions, and for the upliftment of backward Hindu communities. To this day, the RSS claims to stand for the Hindu nation in terms of culture and social heritage, which it believes Muslims and Christians are naturally a part of, despite their religion, as their ancestors were Hindus and their basic culture and lifestyle is Hindu.
During the 1947 riots and population exchange the RSS organized relief camps for Sikhs and Hindus coming to India from Pakistan. The RSS under its second leader Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar developed a reputation as a socio-cultural organization whose selfless volunteers were always at the forefront of several patriotic endeavors in India.
Vishwa Hindu Parishad
Main Article: Vishwa Hindu Parishad
The RSS also sponsored the creation of independent organizations to open different avenues in forwarding its main mission. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad was organized in 1967 by Hindu religious leaders and RSS members to focus exclusively on reviving the Hindu religion, religious tradition and expanding community unity. The VHP has adopted the Ram Janmabhoomi issue as its own, while preaching against religious conversions and advocating a ban on cow slaughter. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad is one of India's major student organizations, while some labor and farmer unions have also been formed.
Bharatiya Janata Party
Main Article: Bharatiya Janata Party
The Bharatiya Janata Party and its predecessor the Bharatiya Jana Sangh are considered by observers and critics as the political wing of the RSS. Founded by Syama Prasad Mookerjee in 1953, the Jana Singh transformed into the BJP in 1980, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Lal Krishna Advani, both proteges of Mookerjee have led to become one of the largest political parties in India.
World vision
Main Article: Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh
The RSS and associated Hindu nationalist bodies founded the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh in the 1980s, to foster a sense of common heritage and community discipline amongst expatriate Hindus living in North America and Western Europe. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad also maintains major branch organizations in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, United Kingdom, the Netherlands and France.
The activities of these bodies are largely de-politicized, and mainly work to bring Hindu communities together by sponsoring temple programs, pujas and festivals, and conducting camp programs for young Hindus to learn religious literature, Indian languages and history, to cultivate a sense of identity.
Hindu fundamentalism
Fundamentalism in Hindu nationalism arose in the 1940s, when Muslim separatism was increasing in popularity. Vinayak Savarkar publicly endorsed the Two - Nation theory of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, but opposed any partition of Indian territory to create a Muslim nation. Savarkar stated that if Muslims wanted a separate country from Hindus, there existed many in the Middle East.
There were also small groups of extremist Hindus, such as Savitri Devi who condemned Mahatma Gandhi's secularism, and praised Adolf Hitler's racist ideologies of a master Aryan race. The likes of Savitri Devi also praised the caste system, as a perfect tool to distinguish the pure from the polluted. But Savitri Devi (who was an European citizen) is today no longer recognised by Hindus and practically had no role to play in Hindu history or in the Independence struggle. While most Hindu nationalists did not praise Hitler (Sri Aurobindo was an outspoken enemy of Hitler in India; Savarkar had endorsed Indians fighting for the British in World War II), extremism and anti-Muslim feelings were on the rise, as is evidenced by Syama Prasad Mookerjee, a prominent Bengali politician leaving the Hindu Mahasabha in 1948 over its political extremism and involvement in the murder of Mahatma Gandhi.
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar however never endorsed racist or racialist ideas, and was known to work against untouchability and the caste system. Savarkar was perceived, however, by many as having endorsed violent retaliation against Muslims at the time of partition.
Partition riots
Main Article: Partition of India
The Partition of India outraged many Hindu nationalists, especially as millions of Hindus and Sikhs were forced to leave their homes in West Pakistan and East Pakistan, and hundreds of thousands of Hindus and Sikhs were killed during the process of migration and on the streets of cities by murderous mobs. The lack of aid and protection from the Government of Pakistan created an impossible atmosphere of insecurity for non-Muslims in Pakistan.
Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi
Main Article: Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi
V.D. Savarkar and members of the Hindu Mahasabha were extremely critical of Gandhi's leadership. They accused him of appeasing the Muslims to preserve a unity that did not exist in their opinion (Savarkar endorsed the Two-nation theory). Hindu extremists also blamed Gandhi for conceding Pakistan to the Muslim League via appeasement. And they were further inflamed when Gandhi conducted a fast-unto-death to bring communal harmony across India, and for the Indian government to give Rs. 55 crores which were due to the Pakistan government, but were being held back due to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947.
After the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of India's freedom movement plunged the Sangh Parivar into infamy, as the RSS was seen as responsible for organizing his murder. Along with the conspirators and his assassin, Nathuram Godse, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was also arrested. The Court acquitted Savarkar on lack of evidence, and the RSS was found be to completely unlinked with the conspirators.
However, many writers and intellectuals recognized Godse as Savarkar's protege, and believe Savarkar to have masterminded Gandhi's killing. The Hindu Mahasabha, of which Savarkar had been president and Godse a member, lost membership and became infamous. The effects of public outrage would hurt the growth and sustainance of the Sangh and political Hindu nationalism for many decades.
Recent episodes of violence
See Also: Babri Mosque, 2002 Gujarat violence
On December 6, 1992, a large procession of VHP activists destroyed the Babri Mosque in Ayodhya. Communal riots following the demolition killed over 10,000 people across India, in the worst episode of violence since 1947. The RSS and VHP were banned and several BJP leaders arrested. The RSS was found un-involved, and while the ban on the VHP was lifted, an investigation is on-going.
In February 2002, a train compartment carrying VHP activists was burned in Godhra, Gujarat, killing 59 people. While the blame is pinned on a Muslim mob at the railway station, the VHP and the BJP are blamed by many for organizing retaliatory attacks on Muslim civilians across the state of Gujarat. The BJP Chief Minister Narendra Modi is blamed by many for preventing the police from stopping the violence. VHP leader Praveen Togadia described the attacks on Muslims as a natural reaction to Islamic terrorism. The cause of the violence, the attack on the train, and even the number of victims remain hotly disputed in India. It is estimated by the National Human Rights Commission that over 2,000 people (including a large number of Hindus) were killed, and tens of thousands of Gujaratis displaced.
See also
- Arrow of the Blue-Skinned God by Jonah Blank
- Hindutva by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
- Patel: A Life by Rajmohan Gandhi
