Read on Twitter
Disagree with this thread
1. It was BJP's association with RSS that caused it to break away from the center-left, socialist Janata Party in 1980
2. BJP did make "moderate" noises b/w 80-84
But that approach failed
It was the rediscovery of "Hindutva" post 1984 that revived BJP https://twitter.com/ruchirsharma_1/status/1356556799843926017
1. It was BJP's association with RSS that caused it to break away from the center-left, socialist Janata Party in 1980
2. BJP did make "moderate" noises b/w 80-84
But that approach failed
It was the rediscovery of "Hindutva" post 1984 that revived BJP https://twitter.com/ruchirsharma_1/status/1356556799843926017
In 1980 inaugural session of the BJP, Vajpayee did make moderate noises which is what Ruchir is likely referring to -
"Janata Party toot gayi, Magar ham JaiPrakash ke sapnon ko tootne nahin denge"
etc etc
But that was just Vajpayee. That angle fetched BJP zilch in 1984
"Janata Party toot gayi, Magar ham JaiPrakash ke sapnon ko tootne nahin denge"
etc etc
But that was just Vajpayee. That angle fetched BJP zilch in 1984
What followed in the age of Advani in the late 1980s was not "socialism" or "positive secularism"
But Hindu nationalism plain and simple.
And it worked
But Hindu nationalism plain and simple.
And it worked
And I disagree with this tweet too..
People as diverse as Patel, DDU and JP are being clubbed here
But none of those figures is as big an icon for the BJP rank and file as Savarkar https://twitter.com/ruchirsharma_1/status/1356563973743783936
People as diverse as Patel, DDU and JP are being clubbed here
But none of those figures is as big an icon for the BJP rank and file as Savarkar https://twitter.com/ruchirsharma_1/status/1356563973743783936
Patel is merely "useful" as someone who offers a contrasting "alternative" to Nehru. Someone Gandhi unfairly "ignored" in favor of the Chacha.
That's Patel's only utility
Patel himself was more of a doer than a thinker.
His influence on Indian conservative thought is zilch
That's Patel's only utility
Patel himself was more of a doer than a thinker.
His influence on Indian conservative thought is zilch
The two main ideological heroes for the loyal supporters of BJP are Vivekananda and Savarkar
I don't think anyone else comes close.
People like Patel/Netaji are merely used as figures the "durAtma" Gandhi could've picked instead of Nehru
I don't think anyone else comes close.
People like Patel/Netaji are merely used as figures the "durAtma" Gandhi could've picked instead of Nehru
Also there is a tendency among many to overstate the socialism of BJP
Sure. BJP / Jan Sangh were never as closely wedded to "free market" as say Swatantra
But it goes without saying that Jana Sangh / BJP were definitely to the right of Congress on matters of economics ALWAYS!
Sure. BJP / Jan Sangh were never as closely wedded to "free market" as say Swatantra
But it goes without saying that Jana Sangh / BJP were definitely to the right of Congress on matters of economics ALWAYS!
Even today, notwithstanding all the BS spoken about Modi's "socialism", the fact of the matter is that a BJP government is far likelier to push the causes of privatization / disinvestment / agricultural reform than any other government (Congress or Third Front)
The other misconception is that BJP merely stands for "Indic" thinking.
As though Hindutva is all about becoming more "Desi"
By that token, even Mulayam, Laloo, Ram Manohar Lohia and a whole bunch of socialists are "Desi"
As though Hindutva is all about becoming more "Desi"
By that token, even Mulayam, Laloo, Ram Manohar Lohia and a whole bunch of socialists are "Desi"
Hindutva is not merely about "decolonizing the Indian mind"
As the name implies, Hindutva is about backing Hindu identity, and Hindu primacy in the sphere of public culture, and mainstream morality
One shouldn't mistake it for mere "nativism"
As the name implies, Hindutva is about backing Hindu identity, and Hindu primacy in the sphere of public culture, and mainstream morality
One shouldn't mistake it for mere "nativism"
