Hindu nationalism: a reader

Christophe Jaffrelot

Princeton University Press, 2007 - History - 391 pages

Hindu nationalism came to world attention in 1998, when the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won national elections in India. Although the BJP was defeated nationally in 2004, it continues to govern large Indian states, and the movement it represents remains a major force in the world's largest democracy. This book presents the thought of the founding fathers and key intellectual leaders of Hindu nationalism from the time of the British Raj, through the independence period, to the present. Spanning more than 130 years of Indian history and including the writings of both famous and unknown ideologues, this reader reveals how the "Hindutuva" movement approaches key issues of Indian politics. Covering such important topics as secularism, religious conversion, relations with Muslims, education, and Hindu identity in the growing diaspora, this reader will be indispensable for anyone wishing to understand contemporary Indian politics, society, culture, or history.

Contents

• The Invention of an Ethnic Nationalism: 3
• The Hindu Sabhas Movement: 10
• The Sangh Parivar Takes Shape: 17

About the author

Christophe Jaffrelot is director of the Centre d' Etudes et de Recherches Internationales (CERI-Sciences Po/CNRS) in Paris. His books include "India's Silent Revolution: The Rise of the Lower Castes in North India.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Hindu nationalism: a reader
• Author: Christophe Jaffrelot
• Editor: Christophe Jaffrelot
• Contributor: Christophe Jaffrelot
• Publisher: Princeton University Press, 2007
• Original from: the University of Michigan
• Digitized: Jun 19, 2009
• ISBN: 0691130973, 9780691130972
• Length: 391 pages
• Subjects: History / Asia / India & South Asia; Political Science / Comparative Politics; Political Science / Political Ideologies / Nationalism & Patriotism; Political Science / World / Asian; Political Science / World / General; Religion / General; Religion / Hinduism / General; Religion / Religion, Politics & State