Nazification of India: A Vindication of Two-nation Theory
The boundaries of Pakistan and India surfaced on the map of the world in 1947. This was accomplished on the basis of the Two-nation Theory. This theory held that there were two nations, Hindus and Muslims living in the sub-continent. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was the first advocate of the Two-nation Theory in the modern era. He believed that India was a continent and not a country, and that among the vast population of different races and different creeds, Hindus and Muslims were the two major nations on the basis of nationality, religion, way of life, customs, traditions, culture and historical conditions.
The politicization of the Muslim community developed as an effect of three developments. i.e., (i) Various efforts towards Islamic reform and revival during the late 19th and early 20th centuries; (ii) The impact of Hindu-based nationalism; and (iii) The democratization of the government of British India.
In a report titled “Nazification of India” by Justice for All, it is asserted that the BJP-RSS is promoting the ideology of Hindu supremacy known as “Hindutva.” Drawing inspiration from Nazi ideologies, Hindutva is believed to be leading to the Nazification of India. Indian Christians and Dalits are also victims of this trend, but the primary focus of this report is on Indian Muslims, who appear to be the main target.
The main reason behind the demand for Pakistan was the maintenance of a separate identity of the Muslim nationhood. Incidents like the Urdu-Hindi controversy (1867), the partition of Bengal (1905), and Hindu revivalism, set the two nations, the Hindus and the Muslims, further apart. The idea of a separate homeland for the Muslims of Northern India as proposed by Allama Iqbal in his famous Allahabad Address showed that the creation of two separate states for the Muslims and Hindus was the only solution. The idea was reiterated during the Sindh provincial meeting of the League, and finally adopted as the official League position in the Lahore Declaration of March 23, 1940. Thus these historical, cultural, religious and social differences between the two nations accelerated the pace of political developments, finally leading to the division of British India.
A British lawyer named Cyril Radcliffe, who had never set foot in Asia, was called upon to draw up the borders between the two countries. Arriving in India just days before the partition, Radcliffe drew up a quick plan that was kept secret for the fear that the British would be blamed for the violence that would surely ensue. The weeks and months leading up to and following the partition saw unprecedented levels of rioting, violence, loss of property, rape, abduction and murder. The violence was worse in the two halves of Punjab, as Hindus headed in one direction and Muslims in another, with Sikhs and other minorities caught in the middle.
Some of the worst atrocities took place in the Punjab. Despite the efforts of the 55,000-strong Punjab Boundary Force, over 200,000 people were murdered. Ten million became refugees in what was the largest population movement in history. Muslims travelled to Pakistan; Sikhs and Hindus to India. Up to a million of these refugees were killed in a series of horrific massacres in the border regions. India and Pakistan’s independence at midnight on August 14-15, 1947 was a key moment in the history of the British Empire. India had been its cornerstone and many colonies had been secured in order to protect the trade routes to it. What’s more, the British withdrawal was clearly seen as a precedent by other parts of the Empire. This hastened their own calls for independence. Almost immediately after independence, tensions between India and Pakistan began to boil over.
Coming back to the present, as Modi’s influence grows within India, the country’s global standing appears to be diminishing. The rise of Hindutva, a Hindu-centric political and cultural ideology, has gained prominence in India’s political landscape. The increasing influence of Hindutva-aligned parties, especially the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has raised concerns about the potential erosion of democratic values and the concentration of power in the hands of a single ideology. This consolidation of power resembles the authoritarian tendencies observed during the Nazi regime in Germany.
The glorification of Hitler goes beyond mere symbolism; it has become a profitable venture. The Indian edition of Hitler’s book, Mein Kampf, has become a best-seller since its publication. Additionally, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz notes that Mein Kampf has even entered the mainstream as a “must-read” management strategy book for business school students in India. This notorious polemic continues to generate significant revenue for publishers, perpetuating the problematic trend of glorifying Hitler’s ideology in the country.
In 2021, India was downgraded to “partially free” by Freedom House. The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index categorized the world’s largest democracy as a “Flawed Democracy.” Additionally, India’s media freedom ranking declined significantly, as per the 2022 Reporters Without Borders, placing it at 150th out of 180 countries.
In a report titled “Nazification of India” by Justice for All, it is asserted that the BJP-RSS is promoting the ideology of Hindu supremacy known as “Hindutva.” Drawing inspiration from Nazi ideologies, Hindutva is believed to be leading to the Nazification of India. Indian Christians and Dalits are also victims of this trend, but the primary focus of this report is on Indian Muslims, who appear to be the main target.
As Modi’s political fortunes rise, India’s international reputation faces challenges, with assessments from various global indices and organizations indicating declining trends in media freedom and democratic practices. The report by Justice for All highlights the concerning influence of Hindutva ideology and its potential impact on the country’s social and religious dynamics, particularly for Indian Muslims.
In today’s India, Adolf Hitler, a universally recognized symbol of unfettered hatred, is being glorified, and his hateful ideology is shamelessly promoted. Surprisingly, there are businesses named after Hitler in the country. Moreover, school textbooks praise Hitler for his achievements while conveniently ignoring his genocidal actions against Jews and other minorities.
Besides that, schools throughout India disseminate distorted information about Hitler’s “achievements.” In 2004, when Narendra Modi served as Chief Minister of Gujarat, school textbooks published by the Gujarat State Board portrayed Hitler as a hero and glorified fascism. The tenth-grade social studies textbook featured chapters titled “Hitler, the Supremo” and “Internal Achievements of Nazism.”
Tragically, instances of pogroms targeting Muslims lead to the loss of their homes, forcing them to seek refuge in safer neighborhoods where other marginalized Muslim communities reside. This ongoing process has resulted in the slow establishment of Muslim enclaves within cities. As the BJP-RSS regime pursues its path towards the Hinduization of India, these Muslim enclaves become vulnerable spaces, surrounded and dependent on the majority Hindu population, making them easier targets for discrimination and hostility.
courtesy: hilal.gov.pk