Educational moment on Hindutva (Hindu nationalist) groups in the US -- Today focusing on the VHPA.
The VHPA is one of five Hindu nationalist groups named as such in a recent resolution by a local Democratic council in New Jersey.
Some history on this Hindu nationalist group:
The VHPA is one of five Hindu nationalist groups named as such in a recent resolution by a local Democratic council in New Jersey.
Some history on this Hindu nationalist group:
Standard notes --
I'm a historian; I've been engaged in a research project on the US-based Hindu Right for close to 2 years.
Hindutva is not Hinduism (and it is offensive to conflate the two).
Hindutva is a political ideology, a rather hateful and right-wing one.
I'm a historian; I've been engaged in a research project on the US-based Hindu Right for close to 2 years.
Hindutva is not Hinduism (and it is offensive to conflate the two).
Hindutva is a political ideology, a rather hateful and right-wing one.
The VHPA (Vishwa Hindu Parishad - America) was founded in the US in 1970 by four RSS members.
Recall that the RSS is a violent paramilitary group in India; their most famous contribution to history is that an RSS man assassinated Mahatma Gandhi in 1948.
Recall that the RSS is a violent paramilitary group in India; their most famous contribution to history is that an RSS man assassinated Mahatma Gandhi in 1948.
The VHPA has a counterpart in India, known as the VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad). The VHP has been flagged as a militant group by the CIA.
The VHPA follows its Indian parent group in encouraging militant, including violent, behavior among Hindu nationalists. Some examples --
The VHPA follows its Indian parent group in encouraging militant, including violent, behavior among Hindu nationalists. Some examples --
In 1993, the VHPA hosted a conference that platformed Indian VHP leaders responsible for mass violence against northern India the previous year, such as Uma Bharati.
In 1998, the VHPA issued a ten-point code of conduct for Hindus, including encouraging “assertiveness and aggressiveness." This encouragement towards violence a common talking point today.
In April 2021, the VHPA planned to host Narsinghanand Saraswati, a well-known Hindutva advocate in India who has openly called for a genocide of Indian Muslims on several occasions.
That event was shut down to protests by people who dislike genocide. But...
That event was shut down to protests by people who dislike genocide. But...
In summer 2021, the VHPA held an event that platformed both an Islamophobic propagandist and a participant in the January 6, 2021 attempted insurrection in the United States.
You can read about that, from a progressive Hindu American group, here: hindusforhumanrights.org/en/blog/steps-…
You can read about that, from a progressive Hindu American group, here: hindusforhumanrights.org/en/blog/steps-…
The VHPA focuses significant money and efforts on disseminating Hindutva political views to young people, both children through events like summer camps and to young adults on college campuses through groups like the Hindu Students Council (which the VHPA founded in the 1980s)
Is any of this a problem?
I suppose that depends on how you feel about the use of violence in pursuit of political ends, propaganda that demonizes an other (i.e., Indian Muslims), and platforming hate mongers, including from a "militant" group (as per the CIA).
#Hindutva #VHPA
I suppose that depends on how you feel about the use of violence in pursuit of political ends, propaganda that demonizes an other (i.e., Indian Muslims), and platforming hate mongers, including from a "militant" group (as per the CIA).
#Hindutva #VHPA
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