Hindutva Under the Modi Regime: Genesis, Resurgence and Implications for Regional and Global Peace and Security

Abstract

Hindutva is a political ideology that advocates supremacy of Hindus in India and the re-establishment of Akhand Bharat, a mythological homeland, exclusively for the Hindus. The belief in the hegemony of Hindus and the political mainstreaming of ultranationalist, right-wing Hindu extremist organizations has transformed India from a secular democratic state into an extremist Hindu Rashtra and resulted in the marginalization of religious minorities, especially Muslims. This paper aims to trace the historical and philosophical foundations of Hindutva and its manifestation under the Narendra Modi-led government and to evaluate its impact on regional and international peace and security. Additionally, the research aims to trace the history of Hindutva and juxtapose it with Hinduism in terms of their socio-political manifestations. The paper will also involve examining the implications of the resurgence of this radical ideology on Indian minorities and its impact on regional and global peace and security.