Hinduism is a religion and Hindutva a political propaganda. Hindutva is an ideology seeking to establish the hegemony of Hindus and the Hindu way of life. It is based on ostracism, discrimination, terrorism, racism and fascism. The Hindutva slogan nullifies Indian claim of secularism, and is tantamount to the annulment of their decades-old deceitful impression of the world’s largest democracy. Secularism means to safeguard all the segments of society and protect the life, property and honor of every citizen without racial and religious discrimination. On the contrary, presently and practically the Hindutva ideology of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) means genocide, plunder, plight and pillage of the non-Hindus living in India. 

BJP and RSS have not only disturbed the peace of the Muslims of India, they have also made lives of the Indian Christians, Sikhs and Dalits miserable. Actually, Narendra Modi has sown the seeds of dismemberment of India that is quite imminent given his pernicious policies of Hindutva.

It is important to understand the term in all its shades because of its past, present and particularly future significance since it poses a threat to the peace and economy of South Asia, which will consequently have adverse impact on world peace and economy.
In 1923, V. D. Savarkar coined the term in his essay, Hindutva: Who is a Hindu? He emphasized on the need for political mobilization of Hindus into one nation. Hindutva ideology splits the residents of the United India into “us” (Hindus) and “them” – followers of other religions – and discards Indian nationalism in favor of Hindu nationalism. 
Later, the RSS leader, M. S. Golwalkar, drew inspiration from Hindutva and coined its synonym, “cultural nationalism” in contrast to “territorial nationalism” in his book, A Bunch of Thoughts (1968). He emphasized that everyone born within the territory of India is not a nationalist; the nation is defined by a common “culture”. 
Presently, Hindutva is the ideology of RSS and the BJP – the party in power and political front of the RSS. For RSS and BJP, Hindustan is not only the fatherland of the Hindus but also the holy land, in contrast to the Muslims and the Christians born in Hindustan having their holy lands far off in Arabia or Palestine. The followers of Hindutva ideology perceive Indian Muslims and Christians as the descendants of foreign invaders. 
The ghar wapsi (return to your home) campaign by RSS and the demolition of renowned Babri Mosque are the results of Hindutva ideology. The RSS and BJP reject the concept of composite culture that Indian National Congress and others propounded. They are fueled by an extremist ideology that negates other religious minorities’ right to live peacefully in consonance with their way of life. RSS and BJP’s philosophy is contrary to coexistence and harmonious living, and rather preaches forcible submission. For instance, nowadays Muslims are tortured and even mercilessly killed for slaughtering cows. 
The empirical findings illustrate that religious extremism or notion of racial superiority have always led to antagonistic consequences for the humanity. Every state has its political impact on its neighboring states and unfortunately, an extremist fascist India is vigorously affecting the entire region with its hegemonic policies. 
In this age of civility and modernity, there should be no room for extremist and fascist ideologies and victims of such ideologies must be supported regardless of their religion or ethnicity. The current impasse leading to absolute curfew in Indian-occupied Kashmir after illegal revocation of Articles 370 and 35A from Indian Constitution is also a product of Hindutva ideology. Presently, despondent and destitute people of Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir are the perfect example of victims of Hindutva ideology adopted by BJP government led by Prime Minister Modi. 
A democratic state protects the weak and vulnerable individuals and segments of society. The future vision for South Asia should be to ensure the end of poverty and marginalization. Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah rightly realized that the Hindus are determined to obliterate the religion, culture, politics and economy of the Muslims of subcontinent. Therefore, under such circumstances, he said that the Hindus and the Muslims are two nations and cannot live together peacefully. He further maintained that for permanent peace in the subcontinent, a separate homeland for Muslims was the dire need of the time. Hence, he determinedly raised the clarion call for the creation of Pakistan. 
Today, due to Hindutva ideology which is akin to Nazi mentality, even the opponents of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah are saying that he was right. The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the murderer of thousands of Muslims of Gujarat. He is a religious extremist and has ignited the peaceful lives of Indian Muslims. He had set houses on fire and burned the Muslims alive in Gujarat which depicts his militant, peevish and pugnacious intent and ideology. 
Now he is repeating the same draconian drama in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. India has imposed indefinite curfew and it has been weeks that Kashmir Valley is incarcerated, which is unprecedented in history. The followers of Hindutva ideology are shedding the blood of Kashmiris who are fighting for their right to self-determination that was guaranteed by resolutions of the United Nations Security Council. In such circumstances, how can peace be maintained and the economy progress in South Asia? The detrimental policy of Hindutva promoted by RSS and BJP is a great menace that impinges upon the fate and future of the people of South Asia. The region is bound to remain volatile and conflict-stricken unless the hegemonic ambitions of India for grandeur are not stopped. If the strategic stability of South Asia keeps festering, the dream of economic prosperity cannot come true, security of the region will be put into peril and the quest for peace will remain elusive.  
However, there is an opportunity in the crisis created by BJP government. After decades Kashmir dispute is again before international bodies such as the United Nations Security Council and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Pakistan must act more vigorously in exposing the Hindutva ideology before the international community since it is a threat to the peace and economy of South Asia. 
BJP and RSS have not only disturbed the peace of the Muslims of India, they have also made lives of the Indian Christians, Sikhs and Dalits miserable. Actually, Narendra Modi has sown the seeds of dismemberment of India that is quite imminent given his pernicious policies of Hindutva. Hindutva ideology is sufficient for the dismemberment of India and the total demolition of the Indian national fabric. If it continues, nobody would be able to put a stop to the internal discord, division and destruction of India. It is only a matter of time that due to Hindutva ideology India will face serious internal and external crises.

The writer is an Advocate at the Supreme Court of Pakistan based in Islamabad and the author of book titled Kashmir and Human Rights (2016). 
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