Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
Date of Degree
9-2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A.
Program
Political Science
Advisor
Uday Mehta
Subject Categories
Ethics and Political Philosophy | History of Philosophy | South and Southeast Asian Languages and Societies
Keywords
India, Early Romantics, Gandhi, Hindutva, Decolonization, Modernity
Abstract
The economic and political ascent under the leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Narendra Modi has not only increased interest in Indian politics but also highlighted the dominance of Hindu nationalism (Hindutva) as a political ideology in contemporary India. Many scholars and journalists have drawn parallels between European fascist movements of the past and reactionary movements in today's political landscape to understand the rise and dominance of Hindutva. However, this paper takes a different approach by tracing the intellectual roots of Hindutva through the political philosophy of the Early German Romantics, particularly Johann Gottfried Herder, and the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi.
The paper views Herder, Gandhi, and the Hindu nationalists as respondents to the advent of modernity and the resulting alienation in Indian (and German) society. While one of the key founders of Hindu nationalism Vinayak Damodar Savarkar employs the arguments, methods, and language of these thinkers, and thus, not those of European Fascists of the 1930s, but his solutions to the problems of modernity diverge significantly. Rather than asserting that scholars who draw connections with European fascists are entirely wrong, the purpose of this paper is to enrich the debate and enhance our understanding of Hindutva by providing an alternative perspective on its intellectual roots. The paper argues that whereas Herder and the Early German Romantics sought to reform and enrich modernity, and Gandhi aimed to completely reject modern civilization to create unalienated forms of political and social organization, Savarkar sought to embrace modernity and transform India into an imperial force.
Recommended Citation
Scheuer, Johannes, "The Intellectual Roots of Hindutva: Influences
from Early German Romantics and Mahatma Gandhi" (2024). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/5944
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Included in
Ethics and Political Philosophy Commons, History of Philosophy Commons, South and Southeast Asian Languages and Societies Commons