Hindu fundamentalism

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The characteristic element of Hindu fundamentalism is the belief in the uniqueness of the Indian earth. Fundamentalism in this context means a radical interpretation of Hinduism in connection with an uncompromising attitude.

India , Pakistan , Bangladesh , Nepal , Sri Lanka , Bhutan and large parts of Burma are considered "holy lands" of high importance for world history. This geographical area is actually to be seen as the beginning of human creation. The world of the gods therefore has its home in India.

Hindu fundamentalism sees life "as an integrated whole". India and the world would find themselves in a state of chaos and directionlessness in the course of modernity. This makes it necessary to return to one's own culture, which is supported by the religious concept of ' Dharma '. This Dharma was to be understood as an extra-worldly, also divine order, which the individual cannot influence and which makes human actions dependent on it. Through this regulating principle of the Dharma, Hinduism also has a future-oriented meaning for the entire earth. A Hindu is a 'trusting, tradition-bound, right acting person'.

The rules of conduct of a Hindu include participation in certain celebrations and ceremonies, as prescribed and sanctioned by the Vishva Hindu Parishad . The commitment to work for the construction of a temple at the alleged birthplace of God Rama in Ayodhya on the site of the Babri Mosque, which was destroyed on December 6, 1992 by volunteers of the VHP, is essential .

Hindu fundamentalism works together organizationally with the political party Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ideological cadre and volunteer organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party or the militant Vishva Hindu Parishad are examples of fundamentalism in Hinduism . Above all, Hindu fundamentalism tries to "return" all alleged former Hindu Indians (Muslims, Christians, Sikhs) to Hinduism, to make Hindi the sole language of all those Hindus who speak a language related to Hindi ( e.g. Nepali , Punjabi ) , and to create a Greater India, especially including all of Kashmir , but also parts of other neighboring countries. Hindu fundamentalism also advocates transforming the Republic of India from a secular state to a state with the Hindu state religion .

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  • Andreas Becke: Fundamentalism in India? Secularism and communalism using the example of Ayodhya , in: Zeitschrift für Missionswissenschaft und Religionswissenschaft, 78th year, 1994, issue 1, pp. 3–24, ISSN  0044-3123
  • Michael Schied: Nationalism and Fundamentalism in India. The Ayodhya conflict . VDM Verlag Dr. Müller, Saarbrücken 2008, ISBN 978-3-639-00541-7
  • Andreas Schworck: Causes and contours of Hindu fundamentalism in India from a modernization-theoretical point of view. Publishing house for science and education, Berlin 1997, ISBN 3-86135-053-X