Rise of Hindutva and the Security Architecture of South Asia

The rise of Hindutva ideology is likely to alter secular India into a parochial Hindu nation by inducing a wave of militant nationalism across the state, which can potentially imperil the peace of South Asia. The aim of the study is to evaluate India's hegemonic stance, analyzing medieval and contemporary factors behind the surge of Hindu nationalism. It seeks to comprehend the core principles of Hindutva ideology through in-depth historical scrutiny, aiming to demonstrate its origins rooted in religious intolerance. Elaborating on the institutionalization of Hindutva ideology by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, this paper comprehensively explains the erosion of democratic and secular institutions, the upsurge in communal violence, constraints on dissent, and the enactment of discriminatory legislation, ultimately characterizing India as an electoral autocracy (Biswas, 2021). Employing the theoretical framework of instrumentalism, the paper highlights the ramifications of extreme right-wing politics on the Indian polity.