Hindutva for the Changing Times

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In Hindutva for the Changing Times, Shri Nandakumar argues that 'Hinduism' is not the correct term to represent the Sanatana Dharma, for 'ism' means a closed book of thought or a set of dogmas or a blind belief. Hindutva (Hindu-ness) is the apt expression that captures the spiritual, intellectual, religious, philosophical and political dimensions of the millennia-old Dharmic civilization. Hindutva does not believe in compartmentalization of human life and experiences. It has been one of the most vicious Left-Liberal prejudices that Sanatana Dharma and Hindutva are different and somehow incompatible interests. According to them, while the former is spiritual and inclusive, the latter is a political and exclusivist ideology that is intolerant and destructive. This is far removed from truth. This canard betrays the political motivations of the critics.

Compartmentalization is an alien idea, which traces its origin in the Marxian ideology, rooted in the Western thought. This idea is behind all modern problems facing the humanity - climate change, economical inequalities and ill-effects of technology. He argues that the cause of all environmental problems is the Semitic view of Nature.

J Nandakumar, the National Convenor of Prajna Pravah, a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-affiliated organization, is a multifaceted personality. He is an accomplished author, an eminent intellectual, a powerful orator, a gifted poet, and an able organization-builder. Born in Kerala's Pandalam, Nandakumar, an RSS pracharak who has dedicated his entire life to the nation's cause, unmasked the savage face of CPI(M) at the national level through his relentless campaign against the Marxist party's murder-politics in its Kerala strongholds. A tech-savvy pracharak, his incisive posts and thoughts are instantly lapped up by thousands of his followers on Twitter and other social media platforms. He was Editor of Kesari, the largest-read weekly magazine in Malayalam.

India gained its political independence in 1947 but still remained under the shadow of colonial and Marxist influences. Today India is struggling to develop its cultural independence which was not fully achieved in 1947. The recent Supreme Court ruling in favor of building a temple to Sri Ram in Ayodhya indicates a remarkable change and shows the new cultural awakening occurring in the country.

India as a civilization is rising again and cannot be circumscribed according to the political limitations of the Western idea of a nation state. Nor can it be reduced to modern ideas of politics, economics, culture or history that have a different foundation and do not address the greater human being or cosmic reality, such as occurs in Indic thought.

A new Indic or Bharatiya voice should be welcomed in the community of nations that has been lacking in a discerning guidance beyond an outer vision of life. India's civilizational wisdom can provide a deeper view of human needs, rights and values that is currently dominated by materialistic, political and commercial ideologies. Yet India's new presence and power on the world stage will naturally create some resistance or objection from the existing dominant cultures, at least because it questions their rule.

Hindutva refers to this voice of Indic thought along nationalistic lines, reflecting the older civilization of the region, the Bharatiya tradition or India as Bharat. Sadly, there has been a long-standing effort by Leftist forces in India, notably Communists, to discredit any Hindutva voice or any type of Hindu voice on national, political affairs or civilizational issues.