Hindu nationalism has been collectively referred to as the expressions of social and political thought, based on the native spiritual and cultural traditions of historical India. Some scholars have argued that the use of the term "Hindu nationalism" to refer to Hindū rāṣṭravāda is a simplistic translation and is better described by the term "Hindu polity".
The native thought streams became highly relevant in the Indian history when they helped form a distinctive identity to the Indian polity and provided a basis for questioning colonialism. They inspired the freedom movements against the British rule based on armed struggle, coercive politics and non-violent protests. They also influenced social reform movements and economic thinking in India.
Read more about Hindu Nationalism: History, Hindu Renaissance in The Late 19th Century, Independence Movement, Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, Partition of India, Evolution of Ideological Terminology
Famous quotes containing the word nationalism:
“The difference between patriotism and nationalism is that the patriot is proud of his country for what it does, and the nationalist is proud of his country no matter what it does; the first attitude creates a feeling of responsibility, but the second a feeling of blind arrogance that leads to war.”
—Sydney J. Harris (1917–1986)