Awakening the Hindu Mind and the Hindu Body

Abstract

In the imagined battle with hostile expansionary foreign religionists, in contrast to emasculated Westernized Hindus infected by the alien idea of secularism, Hindu nationalists call for an awakening of the Hindu mind, body, and body politic. An awakening that emphasizes paurush/virility. Hindu nationalism seeks to masculinize the Hindu society. History is interpreted in terms of a pre-Islamic golden era, Hindu-Muslim antagonism for the past many centuries, emasculation of the Hindu body under Muslim rule, and selective masculine heroes who resisted alien Muslim rule, thus providing an inspiration for contemporary Hindus. Religion is reinterpreted to purge its ambiguity, diversity, and accommodativeness and to emphasize its martial and organizing potential. Prakashananda, a 100-year-old religious figure, declared to a crowd in Hardwar in December 2005, that the day Hindus awaken the universe will shake: “bharat ke charno par brahmand jhukega” (“the world will bow at the feet of India”) (Prakashananda 2005).

O Hindu ab to jaag

O Hindu ab to jag, kantha mein laagi phansi!

Kantha mein laagi phansi, thari log udave hansi!!

O Hindu …

(O Hindu, now at least, awaken

O Hindu, now at least, awaken, there is a noose around your neck!

There is a noose around your neck, people laugh at you!! O Hindu …)

(VHP 2003: 308)