Savarkar Flashcards
Why was Savarkar arrested
• After murder of Curzon Wyllie, a British official by Madan Lal Dhingra in London, was arrested in 1910 on various charges relating to subversion and incitement to war and was sent to India for trial
India during Savarkar’s time
After Swadeshi movement, militant nationalism was on rise. Dialogue on nature of Indian nationalism, fate of Hindus and Muslims in independent India.
Savarkar was influenced by whome
His elder brother Ganesh,
Joseph Mazzini,
western Enlightenment
Who was Savarkar
Revolutionary freedom fighter, poet, writer, lawyer, social reformer, political
thinker, political activist
Creations of Savarkar
• “The Indian War of Independence-1909 ;
Mera Aajewan Karawaas – 2007
• Hinditva: Who Is a Hindu? -1923 ;
Kaala Pani’ -2007 ; Mopla- 1967
Critical Evaluation of savarkar’s conception of Hindutva
• His Hindutva was Not Religious, it was cultural bracket, has political dimension
• It was inclusive, accommodative- included all Indian religion, even allowedother religions to coexist with equal rights
• But Hindutva as Hindu nation fueled the notion of Muslim nation, which led to two-nation theory. Hindutva had overtones of militant cultural nationalism
• His Hindutva seemed to be antagonistic to the composite Indian Culture
• His slogan “Hinduise politics and militarized HinduDom” was problematic for
many, including Gandhji
Difference between Hinduism and Hindutva according to Savarkar
Savarkar differentiated Hinduism and Hindutva
• Hinduism as a religious system of a section of Hindus
• Hindutva as a cultural community of people following religions of India- Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, etc.
• Hindutva is political ideology- Hindu nation (Hindu Rashtra)
• Hinduism only a part of Hindutva;
• Thus, Hinduism, like Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, etc. is only a part of larger political-cultural community called Hindutva.
Savarkar’s hindutva
• To him, Hindutva coveys 3 common identities:
1. Territorial identity: Hindu nation (Rashtra)- Hindus of the Bharatvarsha
2. Racial Identity (Jati): through centuries of historical existence of living together,
Hindus have certain racial features which distinguish them from other races
3. Cultural Identity: a distinct Hindu culture- way of life, worldview, rituals, customs, social practices, traditions, festivals, art/craft, literature; can easily be distinguished from Muslim or Christian culture
Features of savarakar’s hindutva
• Much broader concept than Hinduism
• Denotes cultural identity, cultural nationalism, inclusive of all Indian
Religions- those which originated in India.
• Hindutva is not religious concept; it is cultural & political concept
• On the religion-culture and nation-state axis, Hindutva aligns with culture and nation
• Hindutva is secular, it allows all religion to coexist in Indian state, in which Hindu nation will be the dominant component
• makes a difference between a Hindi nation (Hindu Rashtra) and Hindu State (Hindu raj)
• Hindutva allows Indian people of other religion (such as, Islam, Christianity, Jews, etc.) to be part of it by following the Hindu culture- NOT Hindu Religion-Hinduism
• Hindutva ideology opposed minority appeasement, any special privileges to minorities, and partition of India.
Savarkar’s definition of Hindu
• Savarkar defined Hindu as one who
1. Who regards the Land from Indus to the seas, Himalaya to cape Comorin - Bharatvarsha- as his or her fatherland ( Ptribhumi)
2. Is descended of Hindu parents, that is whose forefathers have settled in Bharatvarsha for centuries.
3. Considered this land Holy (Punyabhumi)
• Thus, to him, Indian people following Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism or any religion originated in India are Hindu
• To him, Hindus are a Nation in all modern sense:
• They have common culture, civilization, history, way of life, worldview, race,
hopes, aspirations, destiny, etc.
• He linked Hindu nation to his conception of Hindutva, that is Hinduness.
“Hinduise politics and militarized HinduDom” who gave this slogan
Savarkar
Why did Savarkar come up with idea of hindutva
On the wake of rising national consciousness against the British rule, he felt the continued meekness, weakness, and passivity of Hindus as distinct people- nation. He wanted to revive, unite, and strengthen Hindu Nation by giving it widest possible meaning, including maximum numbers of Indian people in its fold.
He wanted united and strong Indian state, in which Hindu nation would be the dominant but equal part, in which all religion would co-exist with equality & dignity.
He was also participating in the political dialogue of his time. It was his response to Gandhiji’s views on Hinduism and Indian nationalism, Muslim Leagues views of Muslims in Indian state, British political design of divide and rule, etc.
Hindutva was his attempt to contribute towards a united, strong, Indian nation based on cultural and civilisational unity of people living in India for centuries and following multiple religions originated here.
Savarkar’s Hindutva as Hindu nation fueled the notion of Muslim nation, which led to two-nation theory. Try or false
True
