Hindu Nationalism: From genesis to present ruling dispensation

By Ram Puniyani As per the Indian Constitution, India is a secular democratic country. Lately, Hindu nationalism has started impacting the nature of state and citizenship in a very strong way. As Indian Nationalism developed during the freedom movement, Hindu nationalism and Muslim Nationalism came as opposites of Indian Nationalism.
The origin of Hindu nationalism and also Muslim Nationalism can be traced to the colonial period, when the rising freedom movement was articulating the concept and values of Indian nationalism. A section of Hindus, from the kings of princely states and upper-caste elite, to begin with, kept aloof from freedom movement asserted the concept of Hindu Nationalism.
Hindu nationalism is politics and a category with a specific meaning which is the agenda of RSS-BJP. Similar were the roots of Muslim nationalism.
Hindu Nationalism: Historical roots During colonial period, the rising classes of industrialists, businessmen, workers and educated classes came together and formed different organizations, Madras Mahajan Sabha, Pune Sarvajanik Sabha, Bombay Association etc.
These organizations felt for the need for an overarching political organization so went in to form Indian National Congress in 1885. (1) The declining sections of society, Muslim and Hindu landlords and kings also decided to come together to oppose the all inclusive politics of Congress, which in due course became the major vehicle of the values of freedom movement.