Political studies of Islamic world

Current Issue

By Issue

By Author

By Subject

Author Index

Keyword Index

cost

About Journal

Aims and Scope

Editorial Board

Publication Ethics

Indexing and Abstracting

Related Links

FAQ

Peer Review Process

Journal Metrics

News

Forms

Guide for Authors

The Rise of Hindu Nationalism and the Spread of Conflicts with Muslims in India

    Authors

    1 PhD student in International Relations at Tarbiat Modares University

    2 Department of Islamic Studies, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, University of Sistan and Baluchistan, Zahedan, Iran

,

Document Type : Research Paper

Abstract

Objective: Since the 1990s, the conflicts and tensions between Muslims and Hindus have increased, and by entering the 21st century, it has increased. For this reason, the aim of the research is to investigate the cause of the spread of the conflicts and tensions between Hindus and Muslims since the 1990s and especially in the 21st century.
Method: The research is based on Hypothetical-Deductive method, and the hypothesis is investigated by applying the concepts of Ethnic and Religious Nationalism. The method of data collection is based on Documentary Research.
Results: Anti-Muslim sentiments have increased in India with the spread of influence and power of extreme Hindu nationalists. By increasing their influence in the political and social arena and by emphasizing the vulnerability of Hindus, Hindu nationalists falsely represent Indian Muslims as a threat to the unified Hindu values, population and unity of India. This distorted and promoted view of Muslims has caused the escalation of conflicts and tensions between Muslims and Hindus, and justification of misconducts and malfeasances towards Indian Muslims.
Conclusion: Extreme Hindu nationalism or Hindutva emerged as a contemporary phenomenon with the aim of defending the values ​​of Hinduism, and institutions related to Hindutva are gaining more influence and popularity in the society. For Hindu nationalists, the defense of the Hindu national identity is a priority and they consider the Hindu identity equal to the national identity of India. In other words, the criteria for evaluating the citizenship of Muslims is measured based on the nationalist values and standards of Hindutva. This type of view of Muslims has questioned pluralism and coexistence between religions in India and can affect the entire political atmosphere of India.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References
Banaji, Sh. (2018). Vigilante publics: Orientalism, modernity and Hindutva fascism in India. Javnost-The Public, 25(4), 333-350.
BJP (2019). “Bharatiya Janata Party: Sankalp Patra Lok Sabha 2019, Central Library of Bharatiya Janata Party.” April 8.  http://library.bjp.org/jspui/handle/123456789/2988.
Brosius, Ch. (2002). “Hindutva Intervisuality: Videos and the Politics of Representation.” Contributions to Indian Sociology 36 (1 & 2): 265–95.
CAA (The Citizenship Amendment Act), (2019). “The Citizenship Amendment Act, No. 47” December 12. https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2019/214646.pdf .
Chowdhury, K. (2022). “Contrary to Hindutva Claims, India’s Muslim Fertility Rate is Declining Sharply.” The Diplomat, May 31. https://thediplomat.com/2022/05/contrary-to-hindutva-claims-indias-muslim-fertility-rate-is-declining-sharply/.
Fukuyama, F. (1989). The end of history? The national interest, (16), 3-18.
Ghosh, P. (2014). Partition and the South Asian diaspora: extending the subcontinent. Routledge India.
Golwalkar, M S. (1939). We, or Our Nationhood Defined, Nagpur: Bharat Publications.
Gupta, Ch. (2009). ‘Hindu women, Muslim men: love jihad and conversions’, Economic and Political Weekly, vol. 44, no. 51.
Hajianpour, H; Taheri, E. (2012). The Role of Indian Mosques in Islamization and Indian Architecture, Parse Quarterly, Year 13, Number 21, pp. 1-22. (In Persian).
Human Right Watch, (2019). “India: Vigilante ‘Cow Protection’ Groups Attack Minorities, Human Right Watch.” February 19. https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/02/19/india-vigilante-cow-protection-groups-attack-minorities.
Indus (2016). “Census India 1931: Religion, last modified July 27, 2016.”  July 27 http://indpaedia.com/ind/index.php/Census_India_1931:_Religion,
Jaffrelot, Ch. (1998). The Hindu nationalist movement and Indian politics, New York: Columbia University Press.
Jaffrelot, Ch. (2021). Modi's India: Hindu Nationalism and the Rise of Ethnic Democracy. Princeton University Press.
Jensen, L. (2016). The Roots of Nationalism: National Identity Formation in Early Modern Europe, 1600-1815. Amsterdam University Press.
Kasturi, Ch. (2022). “The Truth Behind Indian Extremists’ Anti-Muslim Great Replacement Theory.” May 30. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2022/may/30/the-truth-behind-indian-extremists-anti-muslim-great-replacement-theory.
Kaushal, N. (2021). “View: Irony of Ironies – Indian ‘love Jihad’ laws are modelled on Islamic laws.” May 5. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/et-commentary/pupils-of-islamic-bigotry.
Kramer, S. (2021). “Religious Composition of India, Pew Research Center.” September 21. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2021/09/21/religious-composition-of-india/.
Leidig, E. (2020). Hindutva as a variant of right-wing extremism. Patterns of Prejudice, 54(3), 215-237.
Marx, Anthony W. (2005). Faith in nation: exclusionary origins of nationalism. Oxford University Press
Mehta, P B. (2022). Hindu Nationalism: From Ethnic Identity to Authoritarian Repression. Studies in Indian Politics, 10(1) 31–47.
Movahhedi, M. (2011), Islam in India, Tehran, Al-Mustafa International Translation and Publishing Center. (In Persian).
Movssaghi, A. (1995). Contemporary Islamic Movements, Tehran: Samt. (In Persian).
Mylonas, H; Tudor, M. (2021). Nationalism: what we know and what we still need to know. Annual Review of Political Science, 24.
Palshikar, S. (2015). ‘The BJP and Hindu nationalism: centrist politics and majoritarian impulses’, South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies, vol. 38, no. 4, 719–35.
Pargari, S; Javadi-Nia, H. (2013). The role of Muslim merchants in the spread of Islam to the Indian subcontinent (in the first years of the Hijri), Scientific Quarterly of History, Year 6, Number 22, pp. 51-72. (In Persian).
Quraishi, Sh Y. (2021). The Population Myth: Islam, Family Planning and Politics in India. HarperCollins.
Rao, S. (2008). India and the Threat of Radical Islam, Strategic Analysis, Vol. 32, No. 5. 721-728.
Rehman, M. (Ed.). (2018), Rise of saffron power: Reflections on Indian politics. Taylor & Francis.
Sadeghi Alavi, M. (2016). History of Islam in the Indian subcontinent (from the beginning of the arrival of Muslims to the end of the Mughal Empire rule), Qom: Hawza and University Research Center. (In Persian).
Sahgal, N; Evans; Salazar; Starr; Corichi, M. (2021). “Religion in India: Tolerance and Segregation.” June 29. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2021/06/29/religion-in-india-tolerance-and-segregation/.
Savarkar, V D. (1969). Hindutva, who is a Hindu, Mumbai: Sadan.
Shah, A. (2021). “BJP will enact laws to check 'love and land jihad', says Amit Shah at Assam poll rally.” March 26. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/assembly-elections/assam/bjp-will-enact-laws-to-check-love-.
Singh, B. (2020). “BJP will start struggle against Love Jihad in Assam: Himanta Biswa Sarma”. October 12. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/bjp-will-start-struggle-against-love-jihad-in-assam-.
Smith, A D. (2003). Chosen peoples: [sacred sources of national identity]. Oxford University Press.
Stambamkadi, R N. (2021). “Positioning the Resistance Front (TRF) in Kashmir’s Militancy landscape.” December 15. https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/positioning-the-resistance-front-trf-in-kashmirs-militancy-landscape/.
Stokes, B; Manevich;  Chwe, H. (2017). “Indians satisfied with country’s direction but worry about crime, terrorism.” November 15. https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2017/11/15/indians-satisfied-with-countrys-direction-but-worry-about-crime-terrorism/.
Sumra, A. H (2020). Muslims and Islam in Indian English Press: Exploring the Islamophobic Discourse. Islamophobia Studies Journal, 5(2), 226-237.
Shraddhanand, S. (1926). Hindu Sangathan: Savior of the Dying Race, Delhi: Arjun Press.
Swamy, S. (2006) Hindus under Siege: The Way Out, New Delhi: Har-Anand.
Tharoor, Sh. (2018). Inglorious empire: What the British did to India. Penguin UK.
Tudor, M; Slater, D. (2020). Nationalism, authoritarianism, and democracy: historical lessons from South and Southeast Asia. Perspectives on Politics, 19(3), 706-722.
Varshney, A. (2003). Ethnic conflict and civic life: Hindus and Muslims in India. Yale University Press.
Waikar, P. (2018). Reading Islamophobia in Hindutva: An Analysis of Narendra Modi's Political Discourse, Islamophobia Studies Journal, 4(2), 161-180.
Yadav, Sh. (2019). “Article of faith: History of the RSS and BJP opposition to Article to Article 370.” August 6. https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/article-of-faith-history-of-the-rss-and-bjp-opposition-to-370-kashmir-special-status-5881052/.
Yari, S; Nemati, N. (2008). Spreading the Influence of Islam in the Indian Subcontinent from the First to the Fifth Century AH, Historical Research Quarterly, Number 1, pp. 129-142. (In Persian).
Yari, S. (2014). History of Islam in India (from the beginning to the 5th century AH), Qom: Nashr Adyan. (In Persian).
 
Political studies of Islamic world
Volume 12, Issue 1 - Serial Number 45
April 2023
Pages 107-127
Files
Share
How to cite
Statistics