Hindutva, Hindu Organizations, and the Hindu Diasporas

Abstract This chapter seeks, first, to clarify the discourse surrounding ‘Hindutva’ by discussing several distinct definitions of this term which are presupposed by various contributors to this discourse: a discourse which has both popular and scholarly iterations. Four such definitions are presented and analysed. Concerns are raised about the essentialist deployment of this term in scholarship. The focus then shifts to one specific definition which has gained the most currency in scholarly discourse, namely, Hindutva as Hindu nationalism, a form of ethno-nationalism which identifies India as a Hindu nation. A brief overview of the history and character of Hindu nationalism is presented, including a discussion of the polarized nature of the discourse that surrounds this ideology, as well as the fact that it includes both moderate and extremist formulations. Following this discussion, the focus of the chapter shifts again to the Hindu diasporas. After a broad overview of diasporic Hinduism, the presence of Hindu nationalism as a diasporic Hindu phenomenon is explored, mainly via the various organizations that have emerged amongst diasporic Hindus, many of which have ties to this ideology. The degree to which specific Hindu organizations express a current of Hindu nationalism is explored, as well as reasons for the appeal of Hindu nationalism for diasporic Hindus.