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History of Islam in India

Indian Muslims: Past and Present (Part II)

Hindu nationalists believe that India will be consistent as an idea if defined synonymously with Hinduism. Hindutva is the distinguishing trait of Indians, according to them, with Muslims being a threat to it as a foreign element.

India’s leaders, most importantly Jawaharlal Nehru, did their best to overcome these communal tensions before and throughout independence. The 1950 constitution adopted secularism and religious rights for all, leading to a period of peace and tolerance.

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This tolerance, however, was threatened with the rise of the far Hindu Right which considers secularism nothing other than an appeasement for Muslims. Instead, the Hindu Right proposes Hinduism as a national identity for India.

RSS is the main Hindu organization representing this ideology, founded in 1925 by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, who had assumed several posts in the Congress before leaving it due to his disappointment with failing to meet extreme Hindu ideals, with Gandhi’s leadership of the party, and with Muslims’ activities within it.

He founded the RSS to raise Hindu youth, and achieve progress for India as a mainly Hindu nation.

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Hindu nationalists believe that India will be consistent as an idea if defined synonymously with Hinduism. Hindutva (which means Hindu culture), is the distinguishing trait of Indians, according to them, with Muslims being a threat to it as a foreign element.

Hindu nationalists practiced discrimination against other religions, especially Muslims, and always put obstacles in the way of integrating them completely within Indian society.

Indian Muslims: Past and Present (Part II) - About Islam

The Babri Mosque and the Escalation of Violence

The 1980s and 1990s witnessed the rise of the Hindu Right, leading the Hindu nationalist BJP –political arm of the RSS- to win the elections in 1998, and form a government during 1998-2004, something which led to the escalation of communal tension according to many analysts.

In 1984, the Global Hindu Council created a panel lead by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) organization to liberate the birthplace of God Rama and build a temple commemorating him, replacing the Babri Mosque.

As response, 2 years later Muslims founded a panel for Babri Mosque to protest the Hindu panel and its goals.

In 1989 the BJP and VHP escalated in Ahmedabad, Gujarat’s capital, putting the first building block for the Rama temple close to the mosque.

With the electoral victory of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh in 1991, part of the mosque was demolished, and in 1992 it was completely brought down by Hindu extremists. A series of clashes took place killing 3000 people mostly Muslims, and leaving thousands injured.

In 2002, clashes renewed in Gujarat due to the killing of VHP members (one of whom was a member of the coalition government) during an attack on a train by people who were claimed to be Muslims.

The clashes left 2000 dead. Till this day clashes take place, but not as bloody as the ones that shook Gujarat in 2002.

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