What is it about?
The Hindu Social Order is made up of multiple caste identities which are organised hierarchically. The project of Hindutva is to reconstruct the "Hindu Identity" as a permanent majority vis-a-vis the Muslim other; for that it uses narratives and strategies which enable it to co-opt various oppressed castes into its umbrella. The oppressed castes also use the Hindutva narrative to further their interests within a highly competitive electoral field. The Dalit-Bahujan discourse on the other hand tries to fragment this all encompassing Hindu identity with foregrounding interests of various oppressed castes. It is this social contradiction which needs to be grasped to understand the political developments in North Indian States.
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Why is it important?
For the longest time the Hindu Nationalists were identified with the Brahmin-Baniya upper caste coalition. However, in the recent past they have been able to co-opt multiple oppressed caste identities within their discourse by ensuring representation for them. It is the changing nature of social and economic relations on the ground which enable these castes to look at Hindutva as a potent vehicle for achieving their ends.
Perspectives
If we want to understand the massive electoral sweep of the BJP since the 2014 elections we need to reassess these changing social coalitions which Hindutva has successfully co-opted in their construction of the Hindu identity.
Anshul Trivedi
Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University
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This page is a summary of: Book Review: Roger Jeffery, Craig Jeffrey, Jens Lerche (Eds), Development Failure and Identity Politics in Uttar Pradesh, Social Change, December 2017, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/0049085717730406.
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