8/12/2019 Hindutva and Liberalism - The Twain Shall Meet - Shantanu Bhagwat

1/2

May 15, 2014, 12:02 pm ISTShantanu BhagwatinReclaiming India|Politics

Hindutva and liberalism: The twain shall meet

In Lutyens Delhi hushed tones speak of a new bugbear in town. Such is the fear that even ardent and

otherwise proud Hindus will try and avoid uttering the wordlest they be shunned and ridiculed. The

word is Hindutva.

But fear was not what prompted this post. It was a question triggered by an email from a friend (who

shared this fear). He asked, is Hindutva really appropriate in a liberal context? That question pretty

much summed up all that is wrong with our understanding of the word. It also explains the fear.

But is Hindutva really anti-liberal? Or does it denote one of the most tolerant faith/belief system, a

tradition that can provide moral order and an ethical compass for the planet? How did a word that

literally means the essence of Hinduism become so mangled?

Can Hindutva really become the basis of a liberal government? Can we reconcile Hindutva with modern-

day classical liberal thought? Can Hindutva become the basis of an inclusive non-denominational,

national identity? Turns out it can. But first we need to remove the blinkers. And understand the

essence of what we call Hinduism (which in itself is a misleading, incomplete and lazy description of

the great traditions of our civilisation).

What is the essence of these traditions? I believe the essence is freedom. Freedom of thought, of

belief, of practice. Freedom is what underpins this great belief system. So deeply ingrained is this idea

that Swami Vivekananda, famously asserted, All of Vedanta is the assertion of freedom. Indeed the

liberal ethos in India owes its very existence to the long traditions of tolerance of the other in Sanatan

Dharma. Pluralism is inherent to Indic traditions; being different is normal. So how can Hindutva be

exclusivist?

Is this strong undercurrent of freedom enough to make Hindutva a short-hand for liberal ideology &

polity in India? Not quite.

What about the politics of Hindutva, you may ask? How can it be relevant in the context of

governance? Here, I shall borrow from the grand tradition of Raj-Dharma, the tradition that states quite

unambiguously that the state exists to ensure prosperity and security for its citizens; that national

interest lies in the well-being of all; that kings who perform Raj-Dharma selflessly, following the

prescribed code of crime and punishment, and who treat their subjects even-handedly get the highest

position that may be available to a true sanyasin; that DandaNiti requires state power be used toprotect the weak against coercion and exploitation by the mighty.

Here are the seminal concepts of rule of law and equality before lawclearly enunciated in texts that

date back to several millennia. Only the stubborn will doubt that the philosophy of Hindutva

encompassing Raj-Dharma can be an excellent guide in matters of governance and statecraft.

What about the liberal stance on economic matters?

http://liveblogs.indiatimes.com/author/shantanubhagwat/http://liveblogs.indiatimes.com/author/shantanubhagwat/http://liveblogs.indiatimes.com/author/shantanubhagwat/http://liveblogs.indiatimes.com/reclaiming-india/http://liveblogs.indiatimes.com/reclaiming-india/http://liveblogs.indiatimes.com/reclaiming-india/http://liveblogs.indiatimes.com/politics/http://liveblogs.indiatimes.com/politics/http://liveblogs.indiatimes.com/politics/http://liveblogs.indiatimes.com/politics/http://liveblogs.indiatimes.com/reclaiming-india/http://liveblogs.indiatimes.com/author/shantanubhagwat/

8/12/2019 Hindutva and Liberalism - The Twain Shall Meet - Shantanu Bhagwat

2/2

Here, I quote Mario Gmez-Zimmerman writing about The Capitalist Structures of Hinduism: (In

India, throughout the centuries) the play of particular economic forces was not over regulated and,

more significantly, the individual was considered to have rights before the state.The socialist concepts

of equality and a classless society are completely rejected by the Varna systemHinduism never denies

the right to property The attainment of wealth, although embodied with a social function, is

considered a praiseworthy personal achievement.

Gmez-Zimmerman is hardly alone. Numerous others have commented on this aspect of Hindutva. And

how can I ignore the concept of Artha one of the four Purushaarthas in Hinduism? or the second

line in the Chanakya Sutra: Dharmasya moolam Arthah meaning the basis of all Dharma is Artha or

wealth (also resources, means).

There is much more of all thisand far more insightsin our ancient wisdom & traditions. It is time we

stop feeling embarrassed about our heritage. Time instead, to start feeling proud of the civilisational

continuity. Time to start feeling proud of the essence of this tradition. Time to start feeling proud of

Hindutva.

DISCLAIMER : Views expressed above are the author's own.