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Awakening Bharat Mata: The Political Beliefs of the Indian Right
The rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was much more than an ordinary electoral phenomenon: it brought to the fore two contrasting views of nationhood: between those who saw modern India in terms of secular republicanism and on the other hand were those who sought to blend technological modernity with the country's Hindu inheritance. The Right's ascendancy and the debates that accompanied it, anticipated many of the concerns that find reflection today in the United States and Europe.
The phenomenon of Hindu nationalism was also a profound intellectual challenge to the loose Left-liberal consensus that had prevailed in India since Jawaharlal Nehru became Prime Minister in 1947. The idea of Hindutva and the political character of the BJP have been closely scrutinised by scholars, and the impulse has been to view India's Right-wing politics as either a variant of fascism or merely a collection of sectarian prejudices.
In fact, the inspiration for the Right in India has come from multiple and often contradictory sources, including the influence of individuals such as Sarvarkar, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo, not to mention the Arya Samaj movement.
This collection is an attempt to showcase the phenomenon of Hindu nationalism in terms of how it perceives itself. Many of the concerns that drive the Indian Right are located in the country's nationalist culture. In trying to locate some of the ideas, attitudes and beliefs that define the Indian Right, Awakening Bharat Mata also seeks to identify the nature of Indian conservatism and identify its similarities and differences with political thought in the West.
This book is not about Hindu nationalism in power but as a social and political movement and its aim is to encourage a more informed understanding of an idea that will remain relevant in Indian life far beyond victories and defeats in elections.
The phenomenon of Hindu nationalism was also a profound intellectual challenge to the loose Left-liberal consensus that had prevailed in India since Jawaharlal Nehru became Prime Minister in 1947. The idea of Hindutva and the political character of the BJP have been closely scrutinised by scholars, and the impulse has been to view India's Right-wing politics as either a variant of fascism or merely a collection of sectarian prejudices.
In fact, the inspiration for the Right in India has come from multiple and often contradictory sources, including the influence of individuals such as Sarvarkar, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo, not to mention the Arya Samaj movement.
This collection is an attempt to showcase the phenomenon of Hindu nationalism in terms of how it perceives itself. Many of the concerns that drive the Indian Right are located in the country's nationalist culture. In trying to locate some of the ideas, attitudes and beliefs that define the Indian Right, Awakening Bharat Mata also seeks to identify the nature of Indian conservatism and identify its similarities and differences with political thought in the West.
This book is not about Hindu nationalism in power but as a social and political movement and its aim is to encourage a more informed understanding of an idea that will remain relevant in Indian life far beyond victories and defeats in elections.
428 pages, Hardcover
First published May 25, 2019
37 people are currently reading
527 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 13, 2019
Book is a collection of amazing essays which cover many topics. It was fun reading it. Quite an educating book.
October 19, 2019
A necessary reading for every right leaning Indian citizen. This book should also be read by people who associate intellectualism exclusively with the Left, while shunning the Right to be conservative, ineffectual and narrow minded.
The book is a wholesome combination of author's POV followed by a series of historical essays & speeches by Vivekananda, Savarkar, Patel, Vajpayee etc.
I really liked the chapters on Shivaji where his prowess & efforts to establish the Hindu Maratha Samrajya has been described. The last essay where S. Gurumurthy describes Hindutva as the resistive kinetic manifestation of Hinduism is also very well articulated.
The book is massive but one of its kind.
The book is a wholesome combination of author's POV followed by a series of historical essays & speeches by Vivekananda, Savarkar, Patel, Vajpayee etc.
I really liked the chapters on Shivaji where his prowess & efforts to establish the Hindu Maratha Samrajya has been described. The last essay where S. Gurumurthy describes Hindutva as the resistive kinetic manifestation of Hinduism is also very well articulated.
The book is massive but one of its kind.
July 29, 2021
It is a must read for a person who wants understand the beliefs of the Indian Right Wing. This This book depicts that Indian Right is not only about electoral victories but much more than that. Also, whoever detests the kind of secularism peddled by the Left in our country must read it. This book should also be read by people for whom the only intellectual lot is the left, while portraying the Right to be conservative and narrow minded. It is an Extremely informative read. Lays out the facts very well and provides passages from other readings and transcripts that provide a lot of insight into the political spectrum and viewpoints in India. This book was also written in a way that it was in easy-to-read language. I recommend it to anyone interested in this topic.
April 5, 2021
It is a matter of serious concern that nationalistic or Hindutva strands of Indian freedom struggle and polity are neither researched nor written about enough. Actually it is, but from within western or communist frameworks. These contorted works serve no one, except the believers and flag waivers of these ideologies. Dog-whistling the masses on the oped columns of The Hindu against Hindutva, serve the purpose of providing small dopamine hits to the card carrying libertarian. Summarily, they serve no intellectual purpose whatsoever.
How timely is this book. Serious scholarship for popular readership is a difficult art. Yuval Noah Harari and Thomas Friedman have mastered that art. Swapan Dasgupta's book is squarely in that vein. An excellent first attempt at mapping the contours of the Hindutva ideological movement. The book is divided into two portions(although, the author's own classification is different):
Portion A - Swapan Dasgupta's own articulation of what the movement is, its components, how the people within and without see it. This portion deals with the explanation of Hindutva's idea of religion, politics, nation and community.
Portion B - An assorted readings of various doyens of the movement. Right from Sister Nivedita to Swami Vivekanand to RG Bhandarkar. These are either isolated articles covering a topical issue of the time from the Hindutva lens like Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay's article on whether nationalism is a good thing. Or a speech by say RG Bhandarkar on social reform and specifically introducing Indian women to western education. This part is edited by Swapan Da.
CONCLUSION : India of 2021 is unrecognisable from the India of 2013. The India of 2031 will be an absolutely different entity from the India of 2021, provided the current dispensation holds on to power through this decade, which looks quite likely. No amount of finger wagging, cribbing, or psephological gymnastics can slow or reverse this change. The most doable thing, if at all, is to grasp what the ideology is and what it brings with it. Swapan Dasgupta gives a ready reckoner, to that end. My two cents - read it with a sympathetic heart and an open mind. You will be moved.
How timely is this book. Serious scholarship for popular readership is a difficult art. Yuval Noah Harari and Thomas Friedman have mastered that art. Swapan Dasgupta's book is squarely in that vein. An excellent first attempt at mapping the contours of the Hindutva ideological movement. The book is divided into two portions(although, the author's own classification is different):
Portion A - Swapan Dasgupta's own articulation of what the movement is, its components, how the people within and without see it. This portion deals with the explanation of Hindutva's idea of religion, politics, nation and community.
Portion B - An assorted readings of various doyens of the movement. Right from Sister Nivedita to Swami Vivekanand to RG Bhandarkar. These are either isolated articles covering a topical issue of the time from the Hindutva lens like Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay's article on whether nationalism is a good thing. Or a speech by say RG Bhandarkar on social reform and specifically introducing Indian women to western education. This part is edited by Swapan Da.
CONCLUSION : India of 2021 is unrecognisable from the India of 2013. The India of 2031 will be an absolutely different entity from the India of 2021, provided the current dispensation holds on to power through this decade, which looks quite likely. No amount of finger wagging, cribbing, or psephological gymnastics can slow or reverse this change. The most doable thing, if at all, is to grasp what the ideology is and what it brings with it. Swapan Dasgupta gives a ready reckoner, to that end. My two cents - read it with a sympathetic heart and an open mind. You will be moved.
June 18, 2020
I was sceptical while picking up this book . Had reservations that most of the things would have already been covered by my previous readings .
But The book Turned out to be different .this is the first book which has taken the philosophical thinking of the right, conservatism has been taken appropriately . Philoshoihcal thinkers like roger scruton and david Miller has been introduced to make the thinking of right even more clear .
The essays are beautiful and must been a pain taking effort by the author to choose them. The last essay by gurumurthy was a good sumup of the hindu thinking . The essays on bhiwandi riots , hindu special marriage act are a must read .
RC mukherjee quotes here and there along with his one essay will be the highlight of the book. This will intrigue more right wing thinkers to read more of RC mukherjee . The only low thing I felt was the essay of sister nivedita ,which was boring and little repetitive with other topics .
But The book Turned out to be different .this is the first book which has taken the philosophical thinking of the right, conservatism has been taken appropriately . Philoshoihcal thinkers like roger scruton and david Miller has been introduced to make the thinking of right even more clear .
The essays are beautiful and must been a pain taking effort by the author to choose them. The last essay by gurumurthy was a good sumup of the hindu thinking . The essays on bhiwandi riots , hindu special marriage act are a must read .
RC mukherjee quotes here and there along with his one essay will be the highlight of the book. This will intrigue more right wing thinkers to read more of RC mukherjee . The only low thing I felt was the essay of sister nivedita ,which was boring and little repetitive with other topics .
February 1, 2020
Read it for the included essays.
February 12, 2022
"Awakening Bharat Mata" is a collection of essays by eminent scholars, nationalists, and intellectuals of India. Most of the essay deal with Hindutva/Hinduism, pseudo-secularism, shortcomings of Indian history, Critical analysis of Abrahamic faith compared to Hindu dharmic views, reasons behind the emergence of the Hindutva movement and its institutions.
After reading this book I had a better understanding of Hindutva. the Undermining of Hindu customs and values by Abrahamic fundamentalists( of course communist too) under the guise of European secularism is debunked with critical analysis throughout the book. Many essays also explore the devise plans of modified Marxist history to kill the Hindu roots. These essays need to be included in our education if we want to keep alive the human's aspiration in the face of the economical and aggressive aspiration of Abrahamic faiths.
Must read for every Indian rooted in dharmic values and care for the beauty of dharmic life. It might remove our ignorance towards our own culture blinded and misled by false history and narrow-minded secularism.
After reading this book I had a better understanding of Hindutva. the Undermining of Hindu customs and values by Abrahamic fundamentalists( of course communist too) under the guise of European secularism is debunked with critical analysis throughout the book. Many essays also explore the devise plans of modified Marxist history to kill the Hindu roots. These essays need to be included in our education if we want to keep alive the human's aspiration in the face of the economical and aggressive aspiration of Abrahamic faiths.
Must read for every Indian rooted in dharmic values and care for the beauty of dharmic life. It might remove our ignorance towards our own culture blinded and misled by false history and narrow-minded secularism.
March 4, 2021
First, I would like to thank Indic academy for presenting me with this book as part of their thousand reviewers book club initiative.
I have a friend circle of politically aware friends, and I haven't had any deep interest in politics from my childhood, but I always wanted to know about what lies ahead in the never ending debate of left and right, and accidentally this book happened to me.
As a not very politically aware person, and person with deep belonging to any faction or ideology, this book gave me great insights into Right wing ideology and a whole brain map of minds and thought process of Right Wing believers.
I got astonished many times, like I used to feel that Narendra Modi's victory in 2014 was inevitable due to rampant corruption and scam revelations, and influence of social media on Indian youth, but after reading this book, I came to know that Modi's victory of 2014 actually happened before Independence, in microcosm, in the psyche of Indian society, and 2014 was just realization of that long war/ideological presence/journey.
The book segregated and beautifully explained various ideologies belonging to right wing itself.
The author has got the nerve of Indian right, and what drives them and motivates them, and beautifully outlines the tussle between left and right ideologies, and also put light on how Namo manages to attract enormous crowds in 2014 election rallies and many election stratagems.
There were also various mesmerizing essays that span from pre-independent era to Ayodhya moment, giving deep insights on various topics ranging from importance of martial arts to family values.
Coming to the writing style and positives and negatives.-
The book gave me a plethora of political jargon, which I can showcase now.
The reading was a little tough, and sometimes require lot of Google search, but I found all the research and brain storming to be worth it.
I have a friend circle of politically aware friends, and I haven't had any deep interest in politics from my childhood, but I always wanted to know about what lies ahead in the never ending debate of left and right, and accidentally this book happened to me.
As a not very politically aware person, and person with deep belonging to any faction or ideology, this book gave me great insights into Right wing ideology and a whole brain map of minds and thought process of Right Wing believers.
I got astonished many times, like I used to feel that Narendra Modi's victory in 2014 was inevitable due to rampant corruption and scam revelations, and influence of social media on Indian youth, but after reading this book, I came to know that Modi's victory of 2014 actually happened before Independence, in microcosm, in the psyche of Indian society, and 2014 was just realization of that long war/ideological presence/journey.
The book segregated and beautifully explained various ideologies belonging to right wing itself.
The author has got the nerve of Indian right, and what drives them and motivates them, and beautifully outlines the tussle between left and right ideologies, and also put light on how Namo manages to attract enormous crowds in 2014 election rallies and many election stratagems.
There were also various mesmerizing essays that span from pre-independent era to Ayodhya moment, giving deep insights on various topics ranging from importance of martial arts to family values.
Coming to the writing style and positives and negatives.-
The book gave me a plethora of political jargon, which I can showcase now.
The reading was a little tough, and sometimes require lot of Google search, but I found all the research and brain storming to be worth it.
July 22, 2019
The seeds of modern day ‘Hindu India’ were sown many decades ago. And every tree which has grown from then tiny seed , now casts a forlorn shadow on this mighty nation. The author presents a bipartisan view of iconic lectures and debates - and leaves the reader to connect with current state of the nation.
From Swami to Poets. From Politicians to Presidential address. The book highlights some very poignant seeds of thought.
From Swami to Poets. From Politicians to Presidential address. The book highlights some very poignant seeds of thought.
December 17, 2020
If you are on right side of political spectrum , read this book to understand its version in modern india (to an extent). If you are on left then read it to understand and see through the other eyes. There are not many intellectuals on right wing who can articulate their thoughts and philosophies to english reading audience. For that reason, this book is unique and deserves attention from anyone with political opinions. The book itself though, is a tough one to read. Its not lucid. Its grandiloquent and arcane for most part. However with some patience and labor one can get through it.
With a written material encompassing roots of Hindu nationalism or rather the only nationalism left in modern india, it is surely thought provoking, reflective of erudition on authors part. Not the whole story though. its absurd sometimes in authors choice of voices to represent right wing, downright abhorrent in few cases (sister Nivedita, Nirad C chaudary etc ). With such range of views , it one one hand makes a good case for diversity within right wing while on other a good case for lack of intellectual depth. I was hoping for stronger grounds i guess.
For this i gave 4 star to the book.
However, do i see myself enlightened ? Do i see coherent and cogent arguments ? Yes and no. The honesty and patriotism in the book is many times betrayed by the display of communalistic and disingenuous arguments for hindu supremacy. This is an irreconcilable difference in our view of worlds but that is not all it is. Its also a lack of cosmic perspective where you make up your identity by remembering that , end of the day, we all are on a pale blue dot in both time and space. Under that light, some of the passions exhibited by hindu identity look downright stupid. Its necessary to employ a sociological comprehension of our history and grow our hearts and mind. I did not see any evidence of weight to those realities. Everything apparently stems from one version of history heavily dependent on pride in one’s 2000 year heritage. Whether one likes it or not, that heritage is also susceptible to superstition, corruption, ignorance.
Hence , i end up seeing this anthology as a voluble material filled with equivocation on exclusiveness of hindus. It did never achieve its intended impact of convincing the logical reader, if thats what it tried.
This is not to say that author was unintelligent. It seems to be that his predilection for hindu religion has clouded his commitment to secularism ( again its not clear how much the author cared for secularism. He was both arguing against it and suggesting it was there in us already). Constantly conflating those two ideas , resorting to false dichotomy regarding hindu nation and hinduism , author labors to convince himself of righteousness of right.
He does make good case of communalism by both right and left , for and against muslims, for and against hindus (the latter being a lip-service and sporadic). Such efforts are nevertheless laudable as it encourages discourses.
All in all, my time is worth spent.
With a written material encompassing roots of Hindu nationalism or rather the only nationalism left in modern india, it is surely thought provoking, reflective of erudition on authors part. Not the whole story though. its absurd sometimes in authors choice of voices to represent right wing, downright abhorrent in few cases (sister Nivedita, Nirad C chaudary etc ). With such range of views , it one one hand makes a good case for diversity within right wing while on other a good case for lack of intellectual depth. I was hoping for stronger grounds i guess.
For this i gave 4 star to the book.
However, do i see myself enlightened ? Do i see coherent and cogent arguments ? Yes and no. The honesty and patriotism in the book is many times betrayed by the display of communalistic and disingenuous arguments for hindu supremacy. This is an irreconcilable difference in our view of worlds but that is not all it is. Its also a lack of cosmic perspective where you make up your identity by remembering that , end of the day, we all are on a pale blue dot in both time and space. Under that light, some of the passions exhibited by hindu identity look downright stupid. Its necessary to employ a sociological comprehension of our history and grow our hearts and mind. I did not see any evidence of weight to those realities. Everything apparently stems from one version of history heavily dependent on pride in one’s 2000 year heritage. Whether one likes it or not, that heritage is also susceptible to superstition, corruption, ignorance.
Hence , i end up seeing this anthology as a voluble material filled with equivocation on exclusiveness of hindus. It did never achieve its intended impact of convincing the logical reader, if thats what it tried.
This is not to say that author was unintelligent. It seems to be that his predilection for hindu religion has clouded his commitment to secularism ( again its not clear how much the author cared for secularism. He was both arguing against it and suggesting it was there in us already). Constantly conflating those two ideas , resorting to false dichotomy regarding hindu nation and hinduism , author labors to convince himself of righteousness of right.
He does make good case of communalism by both right and left , for and against muslims, for and against hindus (the latter being a lip-service and sporadic). Such efforts are nevertheless laudable as it encourages discourses.
All in all, my time is worth spent.
May 19, 2020
Extremely informative read. Lays out the facts very well and provides passages from other readings and transcripts that provide a lot of insight into the political spectrum and viewpoints in India.
This book was also written in a way that it was in easy to read language. I recommend it to anyone interested in this topic.
This book was also written in a way that it was in easy to read language. I recommend it to anyone interested in this topic.
February 11, 2023
A wonderful collection of articles which are based on Indian Right-Wing Ideology from people of various field , so many interesting things to learn in this book , if anyone is interested in Indian politics I would highly recommend to this book .
November 21, 2020
Awakening Bharat Mata is a collection of writings/speeches by various Hindu/Hindutva visionaries over the last 150 years. A very good reading on the importance of the inherent culture of this country to prevail and the need for Hindutva.
August 13, 2020
A curated collection of essays/speeches of early conceptualizations of modern Hindutva.
Swapan tries to remain objective and isn't explicitly unkind to unbelievers. The lack of propaganda is applaudable. The selections are thought-provoking and an interesting exercise in what-could-have-been as well as what-could-become.
The little rhetoric there is stays within the quoted sections and isn't forceful enough to try to convert dissidents and does a good job educating its adherents.
4/5, would recommend.
Swapan tries to remain objective and isn't explicitly unkind to unbelievers. The lack of propaganda is applaudable. The selections are thought-provoking and an interesting exercise in what-could-have-been as well as what-could-become.
The little rhetoric there is stays within the quoted sections and isn't forceful enough to try to convert dissidents and does a good job educating its adherents.
4/5, would recommend.
September 8, 2021
Underrated.
VERY UNDERRATED!
VERY UNDERRATED!
March 16, 2021
The book is subtitled - "The political beliefs of the Indian Right".
Abhinandan Sekhri of Newslaundry summed up the political beliefs of the Indian Right in one word - minority-bashing.
"This collection is an attempt to showcase the phenomenon of Hindu nationalism in terms of how it perceives itself." - I am a bit worried by what I saw showcased. While the book did have some interesting articles on what is wrong with Indian secularism and histiography, what really struck me is the lack of any positive ideology - unless u consider whataboutery positive.
On the Indian Right-wing/Hindu Nationalism, I think Decolonizing The Hindu Mind: Ideological Development Of Hindu Revivalism was a much better read.
Also, would recommend The Indian Conservative : A History of Indian Right-Wing Thought.
Abhinandan Sekhri of Newslaundry summed up the political beliefs of the Indian Right in one word - minority-bashing.
"This collection is an attempt to showcase the phenomenon of Hindu nationalism in terms of how it perceives itself." - I am a bit worried by what I saw showcased. While the book did have some interesting articles on what is wrong with Indian secularism and histiography, what really struck me is the lack of any positive ideology - unless u consider whataboutery positive.
On the Indian Right-wing/Hindu Nationalism, I think Decolonizing The Hindu Mind: Ideological Development Of Hindu Revivalism was a much better read.
Also, would recommend The Indian Conservative : A History of Indian Right-Wing Thought.
December 6, 2021
Great compilations of essays from modern father of Indian/Hindu revivalists. Must read for all Indians.
March 7, 2024
Awakening Bharat Mata: A Look at the Indian Right Wing
Swapan Dasgupta's "Awakening Bharat Mata: The Political Beliefs of the Indian Right" is a multifaceted book offering a glimpse into the ideological landscape of the Indian right wing. It's crucial to remember, however, that the book doesn't offer a traditional narrative but rather functions as a curated collection of essays and speeches.
The book presents a range of voices, including historical figures like Swami Vivekananda and Vinayak Savarkar, alongside contemporary figures like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and S. Gurumurthy. This allows readers to gain a broad understanding of the various strands of thought within the Indian right wing.
Dasgupta provides historical context for the emergence and evolution of right-wing thought in India. This helps readers understand the factors that have shaped these ideologies over time. By including primary source material, the book allows readers to engage directly with the ideas and arguments of prominent figures within the Indian right wing. This can be particularly valuable for those seeking to understand the movement beyond its media portrayal.
As with any curated collection, the selection of essays and speeches inevitably reflects the editor's perspective. Readers should be aware of this potential bias and consider seeking out additional resources to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the Indian right wing. While the book presents diverse viewpoints, it primarily focuses on presenting the arguments of the right wing. It offers limited critical analysis or engagement with opposing perspectives.
"Awakening Bharat Mata" provides a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of the Indian right wing. However, it's important to approach the book with a critical eye, acknowledging its limitations and seeking out additional perspectives to form a well-rounded understanding of this complex political landscape.
Swapan Dasgupta's "Awakening Bharat Mata: The Political Beliefs of the Indian Right" is a multifaceted book offering a glimpse into the ideological landscape of the Indian right wing. It's crucial to remember, however, that the book doesn't offer a traditional narrative but rather functions as a curated collection of essays and speeches.
The book presents a range of voices, including historical figures like Swami Vivekananda and Vinayak Savarkar, alongside contemporary figures like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and S. Gurumurthy. This allows readers to gain a broad understanding of the various strands of thought within the Indian right wing.
Dasgupta provides historical context for the emergence and evolution of right-wing thought in India. This helps readers understand the factors that have shaped these ideologies over time. By including primary source material, the book allows readers to engage directly with the ideas and arguments of prominent figures within the Indian right wing. This can be particularly valuable for those seeking to understand the movement beyond its media portrayal.
As with any curated collection, the selection of essays and speeches inevitably reflects the editor's perspective. Readers should be aware of this potential bias and consider seeking out additional resources to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the Indian right wing. While the book presents diverse viewpoints, it primarily focuses on presenting the arguments of the right wing. It offers limited critical analysis or engagement with opposing perspectives.
"Awakening Bharat Mata" provides a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of the Indian right wing. However, it's important to approach the book with a critical eye, acknowledging its limitations and seeking out additional perspectives to form a well-rounded understanding of this complex political landscape.
March 19, 2023
A brilliant book tracing the rise of Hindu Nationalism with the assorted articles by different authors. In the first part, author put forward his views regarding change in narrative at the political level. He traces the rise of BJP and modification in their strategy to emerge as a formidable force. He quotes Aurobindo and Radha Kumud Mukerjee on their view of Nationalism. He narrates how introduction of secularism in the Constitution ignored the Hindu Dimensions of the national movement.He also mentions about the swatantra party who stood as an example of a secular right wing tradition in India that catered to the Hindu Right.He lucidly captures the energence of Hindu Narrative with the rise of BJP in 2014.
In the second part, the author put forth the readings by various right wing authors which have been airbrushed by the so called left "intellectuals". Articles by Jadunath Sarkar, Anand K Coomaraswamy, R C Majumdar Sita Ram Goel and V D Savarkar is a treat to read. Their views still hold relevant and open our eyes to the disruption prevailing in our history, society, education. The last article by S Gurumurthy sums up the theme of the book imparting power to the foundation of Hindu Nationalism. He talks about hindutva being the kinetic force which sustains and protects the Hindu Dharma. He beautifully explains its necessity and the need of decolonizing our mind to uphold the Hidu Dharma.
An interesting peak into the right wing idea of India which was somehow overlooked under the weight of 75 yrs if secularism.
In the second part, the author put forth the readings by various right wing authors which have been airbrushed by the so called left "intellectuals". Articles by Jadunath Sarkar, Anand K Coomaraswamy, R C Majumdar Sita Ram Goel and V D Savarkar is a treat to read. Their views still hold relevant and open our eyes to the disruption prevailing in our history, society, education. The last article by S Gurumurthy sums up the theme of the book imparting power to the foundation of Hindu Nationalism. He talks about hindutva being the kinetic force which sustains and protects the Hindu Dharma. He beautifully explains its necessity and the need of decolonizing our mind to uphold the Hidu Dharma.
An interesting peak into the right wing idea of India which was somehow overlooked under the weight of 75 yrs if secularism.
March 13, 2023
As Indians, we have always been presented with one kind of opinion when it becomes to nation-building from the liberal left. Almost the entire educated elite has succumbed to secularism without deep understanding of India's history and cultural heritage. It was left to interpretation by each individual as secularism was foreign and imported from the Western world where Christianity dominates. Political parties in India which identify itself as flag-bearers of secularism have in fact skewed it heavily against Hindus, causing resentment among the educated lot. Every educated Hindu is a victim of such mentality as we have been constantly exposed to these pseudo-secular ideas from the western world where we are made to feel inferior. This colonial hangover is still with us and we confuse Indian Right with the Right wing of the Western systems which is blatantly wrong.
This book has enlightened me to new schools of thought which has shaped the ideological underpinnings of Indian Right. One can see why this has come to influence the political discourse these days. And the journey has just begun.
This book has enlightened me to new schools of thought which has shaped the ideological underpinnings of Indian Right. One can see why this has come to influence the political discourse these days. And the journey has just begun.
April 21, 2020
Book is below average by Swapan Dasgupta's standards. First chapter was merely reiterating very commonly known facts. The second and third chapters though did have a significant content, but it felt like Swapan wrote it in one go!
After the three chapters, there were works from prominent Nationalists which were reproduced. Though it was informative, but some of the works were plain unreadable - not because of the difficult language, but because of the pathetic writing style. One example is the first article of Sister Nivedita, it seemed like she was using the commas only for the sake of it.
But regards where due, the research and literature produced in general has been of very high standards. The second and third chapters reflected the razor sharp mind of the author to synthesize information from multiple sources into a single concentrated form. Some of the works reproduced where also very eye-opening. Example the works of M.G Ranade, Bankimchandra, R.C Majumder were all a reflection of groundbreaking thinking.
After the three chapters, there were works from prominent Nationalists which were reproduced. Though it was informative, but some of the works were plain unreadable - not because of the difficult language, but because of the pathetic writing style. One example is the first article of Sister Nivedita, it seemed like she was using the commas only for the sake of it.
But regards where due, the research and literature produced in general has been of very high standards. The second and third chapters reflected the razor sharp mind of the author to synthesize information from multiple sources into a single concentrated form. Some of the works reproduced where also very eye-opening. Example the works of M.G Ranade, Bankimchandra, R.C Majumder were all a reflection of groundbreaking thinking.
April 6, 2025
I'd rate it higher just for the sheer spectrum of Indian right-wing essays and extracts. Especially for introducing me to Nirad Chaudhari and Girilal Jain, who's writings I will get in to next. And for re-introducing me to Naipaul. Savarkar also comes across as a decent writer. Unfortunately, the book brings to the fore the paucity of good writing and clear thinking in the Indian right wing space.
July 20, 2022
I had read in school that Swami Vivekananda had gone to Chicago and gave a brilliant speech at the World’s Parliament of Religions. In a way, this book goes deeper into what he said there; and sets the context in which he was saying it.
January 7, 2022
Quintessential handbook for Indic wing!
April 29, 2020
Okayish, difficult to read, bunch of essays, Swapan's PoV is not significantly included.
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Book is okayish in the reading. In first three chapters, author set good amount of context of Right wing of India but in the later parts, it just includes bunch of essays by prominent right wingers of India. I don't understand why only those essays have been selected. Book lacks significant PoV of Dasgupta.
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Essays in book have too much poor writing style which make them arduous to read, at least for me. For example, Sister Nivedita's article. Long paragraphs and over use of commas makes reading boring. I wouldn't recommend this book to some person who is unknown to Indian right wing.
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Book is okayish in the reading. In first three chapters, author set good amount of context of Right wing of India but in the later parts, it just includes bunch of essays by prominent right wingers of India. I don't understand why only those essays have been selected. Book lacks significant PoV of Dasgupta.
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Essays in book have too much poor writing style which make them arduous to read, at least for me. For example, Sister Nivedita's article. Long paragraphs and over use of commas makes reading boring. I wouldn't recommend this book to some person who is unknown to Indian right wing.
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