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Abstract
The relationship between religion and nationalism is explored in this paper which takes Vinayak Damodar Savarkar as its core focus of analysis. Given the incomplete process of nation-building in the case of India and the intrinsic challenge of how to cultivate a nationalism when the sense of a nation and nationality is lacking, Nandy discusses Savarkar’s idea of Hindutva and the use of religion as a vehicle of nation-building. This, despite Savarkar’s being a non-believer. Nandy explores parallels with Muhammad Ali Jinnah, whose project of nation and state-building is also seen in terms of political categories that were drawn from the Western experience and ideal of the Westphalian state. Exploring the love-hate relationship with Savarkar that is prevalent in contemporary India, Nandy probes the concerted attempt to demonise Savarkar and asks whether this is yet another means by which a young nation seeks to exorcise its past?
Document type: | Working paper |
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Series Name: | Heidelberg Papers in South Asian and Comparative Politics |
Volume: | 44 |
Number: | Februa |
Date Deposited: | 24 Feb 2009 09:34 |
Date: | 2009 |
ISBN: | 1617-5069 |
ISSN: | 1617-5069 |
Faculties / Institutes: | Service facilities > South Asia Institute (SAI) |
DDC-classification: | 320 Political science |
Uncontrolled Keywords: | Nation-Building , Savarkar , Hindutva , Political Hinduism |