Gender and Hindu Nationalism - Understanding Masculine Hegemony

This book presents an innovative approach to gender, nationalism, and the relations between them, and analyses the broader social base of Hindu nationalist organisation to understand the growth of 'Hindutva', or Hindu nationalism, in India.

Arguing that Hindu nationalist thought and predilections emerge out of, and, in turn, feed, pre-existing gendered tendencies, the author presents the new concept of 'masculine hegemony', specifically Brahmanical masculine hegemony. The book offers a historical overview of the processes that converge in the making of the identity 'Hindu', in the making of the religion 'Hinduism', and in the shaping of the movement known as 'Hindutva'. The impact of colonialism, social reform, and caste movements is explored, as is the role of key figures such as Mohandas Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, and Narendra Modi. The book sheds light on the close, yet uneasy, relations that Hindu nationalist thought and practice have with conceptions of 'modernity', 'development' and women's movements, and politics, and the future of Hindu nationalism in India.

A new approach to the study of Hindu nationalism, this book offers a theoretically innovative understanding of Indian history and socio-politics. It will be of interest to academics working in the field of Gender studies and Asian Studies, in particular South Asian history and politics.

List of contents

1 Introduction: the myths of India; 2 Towards a theory of masculine hegemony – I: modes of dominance; 3 Towards a theory of masculine hegemony – II: patriarchy as masculine hegemony; 4 The emergence of the Hindu right – I; 5 The emergence of the Hindu right – II; 6 From independence to the Emergency; 7 The present; 8 Of endings and beginnings

About the author

Prem Kumar Vijayan teaches English at Hindu College, Delhi University, India.

Summary

This book presents an innovative approach to gender, nationalism, and the relations between them and analyses the broader social base of Hindu nationalist organisation to understand the growth of 'Hindutva', or Hindu nationalism, in India.

Product details

• Authors: Prem Kumar Vijayan, Prem Kumar (Previously Institute of Socia Vijayan, Prem Kumar (previously Institute of Social Studies (ISS) Vijayan, Vijayan Prem Kumar
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 18.09.2019
• EAN: 9781138647978
• ISBN: 978-1-138-64797-8
• No. of pages: 222
• Series: Routledge Studies in South Asian Politics; Routledge Studies in South Asian Politics
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Religion/theology > Other religions; Social sciences, law, business > Sociology > Sociological theories; SOCIAL SCIENCE / Gender Studies, Nationalism, POLITICAL SCIENCE / World / Asian, RELIGION / Hinduism / General, RELIGION / Sexuality & Gender Studies, India, Hinduism, Gender studies, gender groups, Nationalism and nationalist ideologies and movements