What Is Hindutva? A Civilizational Explanation

The Problem of Misunderstanding

Few terms in contemporary Indian discourse are as widely used and yet as deeply misunderstood as Hindutva. In popular debates, Hindutva is often reduced either to religion or to politics. This reduction creates confusion, misrepresentation, and intellectual distortion.

To understand Hindutva meaningfully, it must be approached neither as a religious doctrine nor as a political ideology alone, but as a civilizational concept rooted in India’s historical and cultural continuity.

This article attempts to explain Hindutva in a calm, academic manner, free from slogans or partisan claims.

Hindutva Is Not the Same as Hinduism

A common misconception is that Hindutva and Hinduism are identical. While the two are related, they are not the same.

Hinduism refers to a wide and diverse set of spiritual traditions, philosophies, rituals, and ways of life. It is primarily concerned with metaphysical questions, ethical living, and spiritual liberation. Hindutva, on the other hand, addresses a broader civilizational identity that has evolved around the Indian subcontinent.

Hindutva does not prescribe religious practices, nor does it impose theological beliefs. Instead, it refers to the cultural and historical framework within which Hindu civilization developed. Confusing Hindutva with religion limits its scope and distorts its original meaning.

Civilization Versus Religion: A Necessary Distinction

A civilization is not defined only by faith. It is shaped by geography, shared memory, language, customs, social institutions, and collective values. Indian civilization developed over thousands of years through interaction between diverse communities, philosophical traditions, and social systems.

Hindutva, when understood civilizationally, refers to this continuity of Indian cultural life, not to religious conformity. It encompasses art, literature, social organization, moral ideas, and collective consciousness that predate modern political categories.

Thus, Hindutva should be studied as a civilizational self-understanding rather than as a religious label.

The Colonial Lens and Conceptual Confusion

Much of the confusion surrounding Hindutva arises from colonial interpretations of Indian society. Colonial scholarship often tried to fit Indian realities into Western conceptual frameworks, especially the European idea of religion as a centralized, doctrinal system.

Indian civilization did not evolve in this manner. Its traditions were plural, decentralized, and adaptive. When colonial categories were imposed, complex civilizational ideas were simplified into rigid definitions. Hindutva suffered from this process, becoming framed as a reactionary or exclusionary concept rather than as a cultural self-description.

Understanding Hindutva requires moving beyond colonial epistemology and engaging with indigenous categories of thought.

Hindutva and the Idea of Nation

Another frequent misunderstanding is the assumption that Hindutva is inherently political or nationalist in a narrow sense. While political movements have used the term, Hindutva itself is not confined to electoral politics.

As a civilizational idea, Hindutva speaks to the relationship between land, culture, and collective memory. It reflects the idea that a nation is not merely a political arrangement but also a cultural and historical entity. This understanding of nationhood differs from purely contractual or legal definitions found in Western political theory.

Recognizing this distinction is essential to separating the philosophical idea of Hindutva from its political expressions.

Cultural Identity Without Exclusion

A serious academic concern raised against Hindutva is that it may imply exclusion. However, civilizational identity does not necessarily negate diversity. Indian civilization has historically accommodated multiple paths, languages, and communities while maintaining a shared cultural framework.

Hindutva, when understood properly, does not demand uniformity of belief. Instead, it emphasizes cultural rootedness and historical continuity. Diversity exists within a civilizational structure, not outside it.

This nuance is often lost in polemical debates but is crucial for serious intellectual engagement.

Why Conceptual Clarity Matters

Misunderstanding Hindutva has consequences beyond academic debate. It affects public discourse, policy discussions, and social cohesion. When complex ideas are oversimplified, they become tools of polarization rather than understanding.

A civilizational reading of Hindutva allows for more nuanced discussions about culture, identity, and the future of Indian society. It opens space for dialogue rather than confrontation.

Conclusion

Hindutva, at its core, is neither a religious doctrine nor a political slogan. It is a civilizational concept that seeks to articulate the cultural continuity of Indian society. Approaching it with intellectual honesty and conceptual clarity is essential for meaningful discourse.

Understanding Hindutva in this manner does not require agreement, but it does require seriousness. Only through such engagement can discussions about Indian civilization move beyond misunderstanding and ideological rigidity.