The rise of Hindu nationalism, known as Hindutva, in India has fueled a disturbing wave of communal violence and intolerance, emboldened by state support.
Hindutva, rooted in a desire for Hindu supremacy, has cultivated a toxic environment where religious minorities, particularly Muslims, Christians and Dalits, have become frequent targets of violence. The majority Hindu community increasingly believes that such violence is morally justified under this ideology.
This evolution of thought can be likened to the Nazi mindset that developed in Germany. Today, the erosion of empathy towards religious minorities in India mirrors that historical tragedy, with violent acts against Muslims normalized by Hindutva rhetoric. Hindutva's portrayal of Hindus as eternal victims of historical injustices has created an environment where retribution against minorities is perceived as both acceptable and moral imperative.
Hindutva’s political strategy taps into a narrative that condemns past Muslim invasions and the atrocities they inflicted on Hindus, reigniting centuries-old tensions. The scars of the 1947 partition only intensify these anti-Muslim sentiments, making it a fertile ground for political manipulation. The RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh), a militant Hindu organization, has played an important role in creating the aggressive form of nationalism that now governs Indian politics.
Madhav Sadashivrao Golwalkar is an example of ideologues who have openly advocated for the treatment of India's minorities like that of the Nazis in Germany. Through the BJP, the political wing of the RSS, this ideology has gained unprecedented influence over the Indian state.
The Hindutva agenda has flourished under Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was forged in the fires of communal violence and has also shaped the national discourse. This rhetoric of victimhood and thirst for revenge has resulted in a political atmosphere where violence against minorities is not only disregarded but also encouraged by those in power.
The normalization of violence under the Modi regime has been facilitated through a combination of state-sanctioned impunity and relentless propaganda. The government's role in fostering communal discord can be seen through a series of significant incidents. The Gujarat riots of 2002, which saw the brutal killing of over a thousand Muslims, were among the earliest indicators of the state’s willingness to overlook such violence.
Following this, the demolition of Babri Masjid, an act that has been a focal point of religious strife, set a precedent for further aggression. The enactment of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in 2019 deepened the crisis by legally differentiating between Muslims and other religious communities, thus institutionalizing religious discrimination.
The abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 further exacerbated tensions, stripping the region of its special status and fuelling unrest. More recently, the ethnic violence in Manipur in 2023 and Karnataka have demonstrated the ongoing and escalating nature of state-endorsed intolerance.
The ongoing cycle of violence and discrimination demonstrates a wider approach to portraying Muslims as enemies of the state, rationalizing lynchings and mob attacks, and suppressing dissent. Despite the constitutional promise of secularism, the reality is that the nation is becoming more religiously divided, with the government actively participating in and perpetuating the persecution of its own citizens.
The Hindutva ideology has a strong influence on India's mainstream media, which has become a powerful tool for spreading hatred and animosity towards religious minorities. With its unrelenting focus on vilifying Muslims and portraying them as a threat to national security, the media has played a crucial role in shaping public opinion and reinforcing the idea that violence against minorities is both necessary and justified.
This steady drumbeat of hate has seeped into the collective consciousness of the Hindu majority, allowing the Nazi mindset to take hold. The media’s role in stoking these flames of hatred is not just passive; it actively promotes a narrative that aligns with the Hindutva agenda, ensuring that the persecution of Muslims and other minorities remains both visible and widely accepted. As long as mainstream media acts like the Hindu nationalist government, systemic discrimination and violence against religious minorities will only get worse.
The trajectory of Hindu nationalism in India signals alarming consequences for the future of the country. International organizations and human rights advocates have already raised concerns about the potential for mass violence against Muslims.
As long as public institutions, the judiciary, and the media are complicit in the Hindutva agenda, these warnings could be ignored. The Nazification of the Hindu majority, fueled by both state propaganda and the insidious influence of Hindutva ideology, threatens to tear apart the very fabric of Indian society.
Without any significant action, India runs the risk of a path of irreversible moral decay, where the lives and rights of religious minorities are ignored with indifference, and violence becomes an inescapable reality.
The writer is a freelance contributor and writes on issues concerning national and regional security. She can be reached at: omayaimen333gmail.com