With reference to the editorial, "Misinterpreting nationalism" (March 22), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is returning to its Hindutva roots. This is clear from its political resolution, adopted at the recently concluded national executive meeting. The shift of emphasis from "development" to "nationalism" perhaps became necessary for the party, as its support base seemed to be dwindling.
By consciously shedding the prefix "Hindu" from its core ideology of "Hindu nationalism", the BJP is trying to hide its real face. But given its adherence to the Hindutva ideology, it cannot repudiate "Hindu nationalism" replacing it with "Indian nationalism". The party of "hyper-nationalism" has now made chanting "Bharat Mata ki Jai" the marker and test of patriotism without expressly acknowledging or highlighting the depiction of the fair-skinned, multi-armed goddess as Bharat Mata in Hindutva iconography.
A secular country, varied and explosive in its mix of race and religion, should be able to avoid being personified as a goddess. "Jai Hind" is as good a nationalist chant as "Bharat Mata ki Jai". The state must remain neutral on matters of how its citizens express their love for the country.
There is nothing patriotic about calling fellow citizens unpatriotic. The kind of nationalism systematically espoused by the Sangh Parivar seeks to homogenise India's heterogeneous society. India's rich diversity is what makes it unique. The Sangh Parivar should accept the representation of the country as a dark-skinned tribal woman and shed its upper class image.
Empty platitudes of patriotism relegate bread-and-butter issues to the background where they are not addressed. It will be difficult for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to pursue his "vikas" agenda at a time when the president of his party as well as party workers have opted for Hindutva under the cloak of "nationalism". Who knows what will happen if the the Sangh Parivar succeeds in equating Hindu revivalism with patriotism.
G David Milton Maruthancode
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