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Hindu Nationalism in Indian Literatures
Authors: Dr. Sanmathi Kumar

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Nationalism is a sense of identification with the Nation. It is a belief, creed or political ideology that involves an individual identification with, or becoming attached to one’s nation. It involves national identity, in contrast with the related construct of patriotism, which involves the social conditioning and personal behaviors that support a state’s decisions and action. Nationalism is subjective, a way of living, feeling and thinking. British rule was the harbinger of Nationalist upsurges in India. Hindu Nationalism is the child of British Raj.
The Hindu nationalism has been collectively referred to as the expressions of social and political thought based on the native spiritual and cultural traditions of historical India. It is a political ideology that encompasses different groups. Some scholars have argued that the use of the term ‘Hindu Nationalism’ refers to Hindu Raastravaada, is a simplistic translation and is better described by the term “Hindu Polity”.
Swami Viveknanda was a patriot to the core. He has been rightly called “The father of Modern Hindu Nationalism”. He roused national consciousness by his forceful call “Arise awake and stop not till the goal is reached”. Hindu renaissance in the nineteenth century gave importance to Hindu nationalism and encouraged the growth of literatures. These literatures help the growth of Nationalism against British colonial rule.
One of the most revered leaders of the Raashtriya Swayamsevak Sangha, Baba Saheb Apte’s lifelong pet sentence was “Vivekananda is like Gita for the RSS”. Indian historians have observed that through literary works during colonial and post colonial period solidarity to Hindu Nationalism is provided. Today BJP, Janasangh, RSS, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Sanga Parivar highlighting the Hindu Nationalism in its Propaganda, articles, texts, journals and its literary works.