Hinduism vs Hindutva

Most scholars feel that far from protecting Hinduism, a structured Hindutva movement is a blow to the
very essence of the religion. Hinduism embraces an eclectic range of doctrines and practices, from
pantheism to agnosticism and from faith in reincarnation to belief in the caste system. But none of these
constitutes an obligatory credo for a Hindu... Hindutva seeks to impose a narrow set of beliefs, doctrines
and practices on an eclectic and loosely-knit faith, in denial of the considerable latitude traditionally
available to believers, says Tharoor.

There are six main schools of philosophy of Hinduism Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya, Yoga, Mimamsa
and Vedanta. But people often identify with sects such as Vaishnavites or Shaivities or worshippers of
Shakti. There are innumerable local gods and goddesses who have a cult following in specific areas.

It is, in fact, commonly said that there are 330 million gods and goddesses in the Hindu faith. But you can
choose not to believe in any of them and still be Hindu, scholars explain. The Nirguna sect is a very
prominent sect which worships a formless god. There are schools of atheists among the Hindus, says
Mukhia. The Carvaka philosophy in ancient India was explicitly atheist, and many Hindus believe in the
divinity of the sacred texts rather than in that of a Supreme Being, says Tharoor. Read Ishwar Krishans
Sankhya Karika, the most authoritative book on Sankhya darshan, and you will find it rejects the idea of
creator. Then we have Vigyan Bhikshus text (Sankhya Pravachana Bhashya) that makes the same point.
Purva Mimansa also questions the concept of god, says Mukul. And the Bhakti movement of the
medieval era preached an intense devotion in which the worshipper realised that he was a fragment of
gods being and dependent on him.

But the Hindutva narrative, in order to achieve its larger goal of Hindi, Hindu, Hindustan, has no
appetite for multiple voices, schools of philosophy and even traditions from within the Hindu religion,
says Mukul, a thought that is shared by Tharoor. They also do not recognise the resistance of lower-
caste Hindus and adivasis against the dominant Brahmanical tradition, adds Mukul. The idea of
Hindutva is to Hinduise everyone and make them read one history that glorifies the ancient Hindu
past...

It finds easy targets, among the substantial portion of Hindus who are now urbanites and out of touch
with their roots. Many have very localised faiths. So, when they migrate they need a different version of
Hinduism, a laptop version, that began in the 19th century. It helps the political needs of the RSS and the
BJP.
The way forward, feels sociologist Dipankar Gupta is to decide what is democratic and what is not. He
says, To argue that certain political practices are against the essence of Hinduism, Sikhism, Islam or
Christianity is certainly not the way to argue for democratic rights. Religion should not be brought in
when one discusses issues of citizenship.

Not everyone will agree. In an unsigned online article Hindutva: The Great Nationalist Ideology, the
writer declares The future of Bharat is set. Hindutva is here to stay. It is up to the Muslims whether
they will be included in the new nationalistic spirit of Bharat... But what of Hindus who dont identify
with the Hindutva movement?