THE IMPACT OF HINDUTVA IDEOLOGY ON INDIA'S DEMOCRACY AND SOCIAL COHESION

Yıl 2024, Cilt: 14 Sayı: 28, 201 - 222, 25.12.2024

Yucel Bulut

Öz

Communal conflicts have shaped India's modern history, with post-independence struggles to establish a secular republic. India's constitution guarantees equal opportunities and freedoms to all citizens without discrimination. However, the influence of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its political arm, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has cast a shadow over the government's neutrality, with calls for a Hindu Rashtra (Hindu state) excluding other religious groups. The government's silence on violations of the law against non-Hindus is seen as encouragement by Hindu nationalists, leading to increased hostility towards Muslims. The current policy involves the government's tacit endorsement of violence, contributing to an increase in hate crimes and threats against non-Hindu minorities. This approach elevates Hinduism as the main feature of nationalism and denies the existence and rights of minorities, which has the potential to become a threat to the internal peace of the country. This study aims to assess the societal impact of Hindutva policies through the lens of grievance theory, drawing on primary sources such as reports from international human rights organisations, official US government reports, and relevant news articles and books. The analysis uses a correlational approach and assesses the potential for communal conflict in the future if these policies continue to be implemented in India.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Hindutva, Hindu Rashtra, BJP, Muslims, Minority, India, Caste

HİNDUTVA İDEOLOJİSİNİN HİNDİSTAN'IN DEMOKRASİSİ VE SOSYAL UYUMU ÜZERİNDEKİ ETKİLERİ

Öz

Modern Hindistan tarihini, bağımsızlık sonrası laik bir cumhuriyet kurmak için verilen mücadelelerle birlikte, toplumsal çatışmalar şekillendirmiştir. Hindistan anayasası, ayrımcılık yapılmaksızın tüm vatandaşlara eşit fırsat ve özgürlükleri garanti etmektedir. Ancak Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ve onun siyasi kolu olan Bharatiya Janata Partisi'nin (BJP) etkisi, diğer dini grupları dışlayan Hindu Rashtra(Hindu Devleti) iddialarıyla hükümetin tarafsızlığına gölge düşürmüştür. Hükümetin Hindu olmayanlara yönelik kanun ihlallerine sessiz kalması Hindu milliyetçileri tarafından teşvik olarak algılanmakta ve Müslümanlara yönelik düşmanlığın artmasına yol açmaktadır. Mevcut politika, hükümetin şiddeti zımnen onaylamasını içermekte ve Hindu olmayan azınlıklara yönelik nefret suçlarının ve tehditlerin artmasına katkıda bulunmaktadır. Hinduizmi milliyetçiliğin temel özelliği olarak yücelten ve azınlıkların varlığını ve haklarını reddeden bu yaklaşım, muhtemelen ülkedeki iç huzura tehdit olma potansiyeline sahiptir. Bu çalışma, uluslararası insan hakları kuruluşlarının raporları, Amerika Birleşik Devletleri hükümetinin resmi raporları ve ilgili haber makaleleri ve kitaplar gibi birincil kaynaklardan yararlanarak Hindutva politikalarının toplumsal etkisini Şikayet (Grievance) teorisi merceğinden değerlendirmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Analizde korelasyonel bir yaklaşım kullanılmakta ve bu politikaların Hindistan'da uygulanmaya devam etmesi halinde gelecekte toplumsal çatışmaların ortaya çıkma potansiyeli değerlendirilmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Hindutva, Hindu Devleti, Müslümanlar, Azınlıklar, Kast Sistemi

Kaynakça

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