‘HINDUTVA’

 

 

 

 

THE third World Hindu Congress at Bangkok has adopted a path-breaking declaration -- that the word ‘Hinduism’ will be shunned from now on, and will be replaced by word ‘Hindutva’. The meet also adopted a declaration that the word ‘religion’ would be replaced by ‘Hindu Dharm’. This is not a change of just nomenclature. It indicates a change of approach to what was popularly described as Hinduism until now. The Bangkok meet asserted that the word ‘Hindutva’ represents a greater range of connotations -- which the word Hinduism lacks. Hence the new nomenclature. When a world body adopts the change, the spread of the thought across the world gets guaranteed. It can be surmised that the words ‘Hindutva’ and the word ‘Hindu Dharm’ will come into greater use the world over. That will also mark a freedom from an anglicised word ‘Hinduism’. However, it appears that the World Hindu Congress did not think of shunning ‘Hinduism’ because of this reason. It has pondered over the ‘ism’ part and has felt that it has a narrow connotation -- whereas ‘Hindutva’ is vast and deep and high.

 

Hence the nomenclature. The past few years have seen an unsavory debate between ‘Hinduism’ and ‘Hindutva’. Opposition parties have shown utter disregard to the different shades of meaning of ‘Hindutva’, building a negative and deriding narrative to make their point. Let alone all that political stretching by some political parties, the common people have begun understanding the different and deeper nuances of ‘Hindutva’ and are realising that practice of ‘Hindu Dharm’ means opting for a better and finer way of life. The adoption of the declaration by the third World Hindu Congress about ‘Hindu Dharm’ and ‘Hindutva’ indicates favourable change of attitude of the Hindu people across the globe. This is going to have a positive effect on their commitment to their faith not as a sect but as a way of life that goes beyond any fixed norms and frames. When the Hindu community starts understanding the wider connotation of ‘Hindutva’ an d ‘Hindu Dharm’, its overall conduct with itself and others will undergo a positive transformation -- for the good of the larger human community. Over the past some time, the word ‘Sanatan’, too, is being increasingly used to suggest ancientness of the Hindu way of life.

 

For most, ‘Sanatan’ and ‘Hindu’ or ‘Hindutva’ are synonymous -- which is right as well to a large extent. The concept of ‘Hindutva’ embodies in itself the core idea of individual’s freedom of choice about his or her own conduct as a Hindu. This wide choice is the essence of Hindu Dharm or Hindu civilisation or culture -- as highlighted by ancient rishis and modern sages, intellectual and spiritual thinkers. Historically speaking, it is this freedom that kept the Hindu faith alive against the aggression of faith by the followers of other faiths weighed down by narrow definitions. For, that freedom ensures flexibility of thought and action about what constitutes ‘Hindutva’ and how it is lived. And that flexibility has ensured over centuries survival of the Hindu civilisation despite repeated attacks by others. Though the media did not pick up the Bangkok conference for a big coverage, the development is slated to leave behind a positive impact on the conduct the Hindu civilisation. This will prove to be a beginning of a new era.