Hindu Nationalism: A Reader

Hindu nationalism came to world attention in 1998, when the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won national elections in India. Although the BJP was defeated nationally in 2004, it continues to govern large Indian states, and the movement it represents remains a major force in the world's largest democracy. This book presents the thought of the founding fathers and key intellectual leaders of Hindu nationalism from the time of the British Raj, through the independence period, to the present. Spanning more than 130 years of Indian history and including the writings of both famous and unknown ideologues, this reader reveals how the Hindutuva movement approaches key issues of Indian politics. Covering such important topics as secularism, religious conversion, relations with Muslims, education, and Hindu identity in the growing diaspora, this reader will be indispensable for anyone wishing to understand contemporary Indian politics, society, culture, or history.

Author: Christophe Jaffrelot
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Published: 08/19/2007
Pages: 424
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.04lbs
Size: 8.41h x 5.67w x 0.98d
ISBN: 9780691130989

About the Author
Christophe Jaffrelot is director of the Centre d' Etudes et de Recherches Internationales (CERI-Sciences Po/CNRS) in Paris. His books include India's Silent Revolution: The Rise of the Lower Castes in North India.