Hindu nationalism

Hindu nationalism has been collectively referred to as the expression of political thought, based on the native social and cultural traditions of the Indian subcontinent. "Hindu nationalism" is a simplistic translation of Hindū Rāṣṭravāda. It is better described as "Hindu polity".

The native thought streams became highly relevant in Indian history when they helped form a distinctive identity about the Indian polity and provided a basis for questioning colonialism. These also inspired Indian nationalists during the independence movement based on armed struggle, coercive politics, and non-violent protests. They also influenced social reform movements and economic thinking in India.

Today, Hindutva (meaning 'Hinduness'), a far-right ideology, is the dominant form of Hindu nationalist politics in India. As a political ideology, the term Hindutva was articulated by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in 1923. The Hindutva movement, a variant of right-wing extremism, has been described as "almost fascist in the classical sense", adhering to a concept of homogenised majority and cultural hegemony. Some analysts dispute the "fascist" label, and suggest Hindutva is an extreme form of "conservatism" or "ethnic absolutism". Some have also described Hindutva as a separatist ideology. Hindutva is championed by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Hindutva paramilitary organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the Sanatan Sanstha, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), and other organisations in an ecosystem called the Sangh Parivar.