Background on Hindutva
Hindu nationalism, also known as Hindutva, is a political ideology that seeks to define Indian culture and identity in terms of Hindu supremacist values and beliefs. The primary organization promoting this ideology is the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), founded in 1925. The RSS and its affiliated organizations, collectively known as the Sangh Parivar, advocate for the primacy of Hinduism in India and often promote discrimination and organize violence against religious minorities, particularly Muslims and Christians.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), currently led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is the political wing of the Sangh Parivar. Modi himself has a long history with the RSS, having been a full-time worker (pracharak) for the organization before entering politics. Other major Sangh Parivar affiliates include the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP, the religious wing) and Sewa Bharati (the charitable wing).
Hindu nationalism
John Oliver
RSS and Sangh Parivar Violence
The Sangh Parivar is implicated in many acts of communal violence in India, particularly targeting religious minorities such as Christians and Muslims.
1992 Babri Masjid Demolition and Subsequent Massacre
One of the most significant events associated with the Sangh Parivar was the mob demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992. The VHP, along with other Sangh organizations, claimed the mosque was built on the birthplace of the Hindu god Ram.
A large group of activists, including members of the VHP, RSS, and BJP, demolished the 16th-century mosque, sparking widespread communal violence across India, resulting in the deaths of at least 2,000 people, mostly Muslims. The demolition was allegedly planned months in advance by top Sangh leaders.
2002 Gujarat Massacre
The 2002 Gujarat Massacre was the largest-scale anti-minority violence by the Sangh Parivar. The massacre, which lasted for several months, resulted in the deaths of up to 2,000 Indian Muslims.
Widespread allegations of state complicity in the violence included Modi, who was then Chief Minister of Gujarat. Modi was accused of condoning the violence and allowing police and government officials to direct attackers and provide them with lists of Muslim-owned properties. After the massacre, Modi was banned from the U.S., the U.K., and other Western nations.
2008 Odisha Massacre
In 2008, the state of Odisha (formerly Orissa) witnessed a series of attacks against Christians, primarily in the Kandhamal district. These attacks were led by the Sangh Parivar, including elected officials from the BJP. The violence resulted in the deaths of nearly 100 Christians, the destruction of hundreds of churches and homes, and the displacement of tens of thousands of people.
The Sangh Parivar is implicated in numerous other instances of communal violence across India. These include:
- The 1992-1993 Bombay riots, which followed the Babri Masjid demolition and claimed over 700 lives, mostly Muslims.
- The 1989 Bhagalpur violence in Bihar, where over 1,000 people were killed in riots allegedly instigated by VHP processions.
- Attacks on Christians in Gujarat and other parts of India, which intensified after the BJP came to power at the national level in 1998 and again in 2014.
Sangh Parivar organizations use communal violence to strengthen their political power base. Human Rights Watch, for instance classifies violence against Indian Christians and Muslims as a tactic used by the Sangh to encourage and exploit communal tensions for political ends.
The violence often follows a similar pattern: the use of hate speech and propaganda to inflame communal tensions, followed by coordinated attacks on minority communities. In most cases, there is evidence of state complicity, with police and local authorities either failing to intervene or actively participating in the violence.
Such violence occurs at a large-scale level every few years, but it also occurs on a daily basis via mob attacks on Church services, vigilante violence against people accused of not being “Hindu enough,” lynchings in the streets, and more.
The impact of this violence extends beyond the immediate loss of life and property. It has led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people, the destruction of places of worship and cultural heritage, and has deepened the divisions between religious communities in India.
Despite numerous investigations and commissions, most of those responsible for orchestrating and carrying out these acts of violence have not been brought to justice, contributing to a culture of impunity.