Thread by @AudreyTruschke

A #mustread book.

Having finished it, one of my big takeaways is that Savarkar--a major early articulator of Hindutva--embraced religiously-focused violence, as a virtuous activity for Hindus, again and again.

#Hindutva #violence

Savarkar's views on violence went far back. For example, in the early 1900s, Savarkar and Mahatma Gandhi discussed the Ramayana and Gita, two Hindu texts.

Gandhi saw the violence in both as metaphors. Savarkar saw it as real and a justification for more Hindu-enacted violence.

In fact, Savarkar saw Hindus as the original colonizers of India, in a sort of mythological blow-up of the theory of Aryan invasions (a theory at the time).

Here's the kicker -- For Savarkar, this early Hindu colonization was a good thing, to be celebrated.

Savarkar was big on mythology as history. As Chaturvedi puts it, he embraced conjecture in writing about the past. He also sought a history of inspirational Hindu heroes, often defined as such by their violence.

Consider this passage, in which Savarkar represents himself as following the example of Shivaji (a 17th-century ruler in central India) in targeting mosques --

Savarkar argued for “super-savage cruelty” against enemies, saying this was "the holiest duty" exemplified by“[G]ods and god-like emperors."

One example he gave was Narasimha, a Vishnu avatar who demonstrated “merciless valour” by “tearing open the entrails of Hiranyakashipu.”

Savarkar favored the use of violence against many enemies, especially Muslims. For example, in the same month as Kristallnacht, he said:

“If we Hindus grow stronger in time these Moslem friends of the league type will have to play the part of German-Jews”

Indeed, Savarkar was a tad cozy with Nazis. They published approvingly about one another (e.g., in 1938). Savarkar gave an address in 1939 at a Hindu nationalist political meeting described as his "Mein Kampf."

Savarkar's life was also shaped by violence. He was tried for two murder conspiracies, and convicted for one (and widely believed to be involved in the other, which led to him being largely shunned in later years).

There is far more to say about Savarkar and his Hindu nationalist embrace of violence. Dr. Chaturvedi has laid it all out for us. For those who want more --

Indian edition: amazon.in/Hindutva-Viole…

US edition: amazon.com/Hindutva-Viole…