Constitutional Nationalism vs Cultural Nationalism: A Comparative Study

​This paper presents a comparative analysis of the ideological tension between Constitutional Nationalism and Cultural Nationalism in contemporary India, using the sub-national landscape of Chhattisgarh as its primary empirical site. Constitutional nationalism conceptualizes the nation as a civic entity bound by democratic values, institutional checks, and legal rights—exemplified in Chhattisgarh by the assertion of Fifth Schedule protections, the PESA Act, and the Forest Rights Act (FRA). Conversely, cultural nationalism defines nationhood through a shared civilizational, religious, and ancestral heritage, visible in the state through projects of indigenous assimilation, Ghar Wapsi campaigns, and state-backed cultural infrastructures like the Ram Van Gaman Path. Drawing on literature spanning 2019–2026, this study utilizes case studies from tribal belts like Bastar and Surguja to examine how these competing frameworks operate. The data analysis reveals a complex landscape where local tribal (Adivasi) movements deploy constitutional mechanisms to safeguard autonomy against corporate and majoritarian alignment, even as cultural nationalist frameworks actively incorporate indigenous practices into a broader civilizational narrative. The paper concludes with structural recommendations to harmonize constitutional morality with pluralistic identities, ensuring federal balance.