Hindu Nationalism and Hindu Nationalism and Right Wing Extremism in Right Wing Extremism in

IndiaIndia

Meha LodhaMeha Lodha

May 2011May 2011

University of WroclawUniversity of Wroclaw

Roadmap Indian History and Demographics Indian Politics Hindu Nationalism Contemporary Right Wing Activities Right Wing Extremist Party Hindu Nationalism Vs Democracy Indian Left Wing Extremism

Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism

10th century Mughal/Muslim rule

18th century British rule

Indian Demographics

1.21 billion 1.41%

22 official

72% 28%

82% 13% 2%

28 states, 7 UT Secular democratic

republic Parliamentary

system Multi party system National Parties – 6 State Parties - 50

Indian Political Spectrum (National)

Far Left Centre Left Centrist Centre Right Right

CPI INC BSP BJP __

CPI (M) NCP

CPI – Communist Party of IndiaCPI (M) – Communist Party of India (Marxist)INC – Indian National CongressBSP – Bahujan Samaj PartyNCP – National Congress PartyBJP – Bharatiya Janata Party

Hindutva/Hindu Nationalism

Hinduism does not preach Hindu Nationalism

True India = Hindu India Hindu cultural

dominance Reaction to an imagined

threat Sangh Parivar

Popularity of Hindu Nationalism

Anti colonial

movement Emergency Rule

in India

Babri Masjid

Demolition

1920

1930

1940

1950

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

Time Period

Po

pu

lari

ty

Anti colonial

movement

Emergency Rule

in India

Babri Mosque

Demolition

Gandhi's

assasination

Re-emergence

of INC

Sabarmati

Babri

Contemporary Events

1992 Babri Mosque Demolition by Hindu activists

2002 Burning of Sabarmati Express train by Muslim mobs prompting massacres by Hindus

Sabarmati

Shiv Sena

BabriSri

Ram S

ene

Shiv Sena Pro Marathi Hindu nationalist Anti Muslim, anti West Elected to form local

Govt. in 1995 Action through violence Moral Policing Called for ban of burqa in

2010

‘Golden’ Words

'I am a great admirer of Hitler, and I am not ashamed to say so! I do not say that I agree with all the methods he employed, but he was a wonderful organizer and orator, and I feel that he and I have several things in common.... What India really needs is a dictator who will rule benevolently, but with an iron hand.'

‘If the Muslims of India behave as the Jews in Germanydid, they will deserve the same treatment’

-Bal Thackeray

Anti-West, Anti-Muslim

2009 Mangalore Pub Attack

Sri Ram Sene and the Chaddis

Hate Speech from a Hindu Right Wing Website

“Jesus luvs lil boys”

“Nun Rapes Truth”

“Pope’s Sex Crimes”Mother India

Attacks against Christianity

Against conversions from Hinduism

Violent attacks against Christian missionaries

Reconversion

“Harvesting souls of India”

2009 Elections

INC 5 (5) 262 seats

BJP 5 (5) 159 seats

Hindu Nationalism Vs Democracy

Aversion to liberal democracy Anti-constitutional Associates contemporary minorities with alleged

injustices in history LIBERALISM considered as tolerance to minorities SECULARISM considered as diversity DEMOCRACY considered as Hindu majoritarianism

Left Wing Extremism

Naxals/Maoists/ CPI (Maoist-Leninist)

Violent Struggle Class struggle Redistribute land to

landless Advocates peasants and

tribals overthrow government by force

2010 attack

?