Throughout the text, Savarkar is subtley pushing for a politically charged Hindutva and Hindu Rashtra as opposed to a diverse, polymorphous Hinduism. With reference to his perception of India or as would have called it, Hindustan, Savarkar claimed that “Hindus formed a nation that had existed since antiquity”6 Romila Thapar in her essay “Perceptions of the Past”, talks about how one's notion of race influences their ideology. Max Mueller, for instance, while studying Sankrit tried to explain that race has given birth to caste and the four major varnas represent four major racial groups. This is in contrast to the unity advocating Savarkar who says that we all have a common race and in all castes, the same blood runs. Also, the section of Thapar's …show more content…
The present government, much like Savarkar, is subtley, or not-so-subtley, trying to create a Hindu rashtra. This leads to many asking the question – “is mainstreaming Savarkar as a national hero and propagating his work a part of the BJP's unfinished agenda?”9 Echoing Savarkar's thoughts, the BJP claims that “Hindutva is not a religious concept, but rather, it is cultural nationalism.”10 However, it is evident that the phrase “cultural nationalism” is a mere euphenism to cover the ideology of promoting a Hindu rashtra. Ghar Wapsi – an attempt to re-Hinduize converts, or convert non-Hindus to Hinduism is rampant, even more so after the new rightist government came to power. Consumption and posession of beef has been criminalized in a bid to protect the Hindu 'gow mata', and please the elite Hidutva propagating Hindus who form a considerable share of the vote bank. Government officials have been caught saying that all non-Hindus are 'illegitimate children', bringing to mind Savarkar's claim that all Hindus have common blood. Intolerance today is not as subtle as Savarkar's disregard for those who converted to Islam and Christianity. Rationalists such as Kalburgi are being killed for offending 'Hindu sentiments.' Education is being saffronized in order to indoctrinate the Hindutva ideology into young minds. Despite critisicm from rationalists, the government continues to do so and defends their actions by stating that “we must value everything that is 'Indian', as it is our inherent strength.”11 History is being re-written to glorify the Golden Age of Hinduism. This re-written history, talks about how 'outsiders' (Muslims and Christians) infiltrated the land, diluting the purity of the nation. This goes hand-in-hand with Savarkar's explanation of a Hindu being one who considers the land to be his pitrubhumi and punyabhumi, and that once upon a
“India has never been a symbol of unity of Hindu-Muslim civilization. It is not possible for the British Government to create homogeneity between Hindu and Muslim culture and civilization as the two systems are distinctively opposed to each other. There is no way other than the partition of India”
The Caste system has aroused much controversy than any other feature of India’s society. Every day, Dalits are butchered, assaulted, abused, raped, lynched, shot or openly mutilated without considering any consequences of the offenders. The deaths of pregnant women who are not able to pay the bribes at government hospitals, some boys with eyes raised completely out for falling in love with a girl of a superior caste, and horrid stories of employees boiled to death because of spewing out arguments with the boss are continuously reported in mainstream newspapers. After years of democracy, the social structure stands to practice the caste system disregarding abolishment laws. Every international or national effort to abolish caste differentiation and segregation has been proven ineffective. The caste system of India is a deeply inculcated social problem requiring immense commitment domestically and internationally in understanding what has stopped the measures to get rid of this ancient system and what measures are needed to complete elimination of the system.
As India’s modernization developed, the entire civilization of India improved remarkably. The country’s improvement of civilization is exemplified through it’s establishment of schools and law. Western education was introduced by Britain and laws were well made with courts that enforce them. (Doc 3). One should take into account the speaker of this document because Romesh Dutt is an Indian like any other, yet he praises the British for what they have done to contribute to the development of India. In addition to these establishments is Britain bringing finer ideals of humanity to India. Infanticide, the killing of female babies, was brought to a halt as well as participation in the slave trade (Doc 5). Without the interference of Britain, these inhumane actions would be prevalent throughout India and the country would suffer from a bad reputation. These
about in it by legislations and judicial decisions did not fulfil the desired ends and remained hardly acceptable to a dynamic Hindu society of contemporary era
q. This shows that Nationalism still plays a large role in keeping India together, regardless of their diverse religious identities. Secularism
The caste system has been extremely stable in India for over two thousand years. It is only since the more modern, independent state of India was formed that the system has come under any scrutiny at all. It is presently outlawed, but many of the practices, attitudes and traditions remain ingrained in Hindu society (University of Wyoming, 1997).
(Document 5) This shows that even though Britain gave education to Indians they only gave it to who could afford it and hardly anyone could. Lalvani claims that over the 200 year span of British imperialism, India’s religions felt safer and less discriminated against. ( According to Dr.Lalvani) Although the British thought this was true it actually was not. Christians were mocking and discriminating against Muslims and Hindus. (Gandhi) Similarly Hinduism believes in nonviolence so when the protest at Amritsar took place the Indians were brutally slaughtered while being unarmed. (Gandhi) Because of their non-violence beliefs the Hindus had no defense and were killed by what they thought was their
As a society many are not aware that development can be more compelling through knowledge about other society’s life experiences. Even when becoming aware, societies continue with the lack of knowledge. This results in consequences in these societies and with international relations. There are tremendous forms of ethnocentrism that can cause crucial social problems, such as ethnic cleansing, colonialism, and racism. Many of these views are destined by world communities, however many frequently see the cases.
The question of origin- In order for us to completely understand Hinduism, we must first understand that this a philosophical system of beliefs. To give a definite origin of Hinduism would be very hard to address because there are no known origins. There are no beginning points or a name of a founder. Hinduism can be traced all the way back to around 1500 B.C in what we now call India and has a lot of different beliefs, philosophies and views that contradict each other. All Hindus believe in one God, a supreme being known as Brahma. Brahma is an entity believed to live in every single facet of reality and existence throughout the whole universe. Brahma is both impersonal and unknowable and is often believed to exist in three separate forms: Brahma, the Creator, Vishnu, the Preserver, and Shiva, the Destroyer.
Throughout the years many historians have compilated and examined why Indian people were so desperate to gain back their independence from the British Empire during their rule over India, from 1612 to 1947. The reasoning can most definitely be found as the British discriminated against Indian people as they believe that they were inferior; it is no surprise that Indian people fought so hard for their independence. Throughout the British Raj, they placed and put forward unbelievably racist acts and laws which discriminated against Indian people. Which of course led to Indians to rebel against the British rule and which the British reacted with causing massacres. Explaining the nationalistic many India’s felt during the British Raj.
Historically, India was under British rule until 1950. Many people in India felt that during British rule they were powerless (Beteille, 2010). All of the problems in the country were blamed on this helplessness (Beteille, 2010). When India became independent and developed its own constitution, a large amount of emphasis was placed on the role of government in solving social problems (Beteille, 2010). During British rule, many customs and practices in India were based on the Hindu religion (Beteille, 2010). The British left those in place, neither making them unlawful nor supporting them (Beteille, 2010). When the new government was established, the caste system that had so sharply defined India was declared unlawful (Beteille, 2010). While this was a step in the
This is because so much of the visible aspects of Indian culture has diminished or disappeared and so much was borrowed from that we have lost sight of the origin; there is little wonder that awareness is lacking in some circles concerning the extent of "counteracculturation" upon the "numerically and politically dominant race."
This French article discusses the current cultural and religious conflict in India. The author cites various individuals who argue that Muslims are purposely blamed for violence that affects both communities. As well, it stresses that the government is lacking actions in order to resolve the conflict. This article applies to psychology.
Something is very interesting that I learn from the lecture, is about not realizing what they should have realize until then. Only the indian nationalist always ask, why do our people are enslaved by foreigner. Like since they came to india, they pretty take control without putting up a fight to occupy the country. Not only that, they don’t know if they any proper religious, or any proper founder, either church, books or any place to worship. All they to find is what it is made for them, by them and not the foreigner. Because india is having trouble, having anything that is made proper to them. They only get any of those from foreigner that already made it for them. like if they want religious, they’ll give them religion, if they want church, they’ll them church, and if they want to learn about their history, they’ll give them history that is
Religion in India continues to assert its political authority in certain matters like the personal law of where the