Thread by @AudreyTruschke

Good morning wonderful people! How much do you know about the VHP-America? Buckle-up.

The VHP heads one of the major wings of the Sangh Parivar (family of Hindu nationalist groups headed by the paramilitary RSS). The VHP oversees religious affairs.

Many of the big Sangh groups have parallels in American and the US, often sharing a near exact name.

So, we have the VHP in India and the VHP-American in the US.

In India, the VHP is violent. So violent that the American CIA has flagged it as militant.

The VHP-A was the first Hindutva group formally established on American soil. This is unusual. More commonly, the HSS leads (because the HSS is the RSS overseas).

Why did the VHP establish a US-based group first? Maybe a nod to American religiosity? Hindutva adapts to contexts.

The VHPA has a long track record of promoting hate speech and general violence in the US.

Some examples here of specific speakers.

Also note the VHPA's 1998 code of conduct for Hindus, which encouraged "assertiveness and aggressiveness."

A word on terminology and claims -- The VHPA are hardcore Hindu nationalists. They do not speak for all American Hindus.

But they want to speak for all American Hindus. If that upsets you, I agree. There is a way in which their violence extends to illegitimate community claims.

This is where American politicians should be careful -- I know groups like the VHPA walk into your offices and claim to represent an entire minority community. They are lying.

If you repeat their propaganda, you're maligning a whole community as Hindutva. Don't do that.

Enough for today. You can read more about the American Sangh Parivar, including the VHPA, here. Don't know what the Sangh Parivar is? Then definitely read on:

audreytruschke.com/hindu-right-us… #Hindutva #USA #VHPA #HinduNationalism #RightWing