Hinduism, Critics of Hinduism and Revival of Hinduism in  India’s Body Politic: An Exploratory Examination

Rumy  Hasan

doi:10.48165/sajssh.2022.3205

Authors

Rumy Hasan Senior lecturer, SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit, Jubilee Building, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9SL, United Kingdom

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48165/sajssh.2022.3205%20

Keywords:

Hinduism, India, caste, development, gender inequality

Abstract

Though nominally a secular state, under BJP rule, Hinduism in India has seen a greater prominence in politics and society than at any time in the post-independence era. As such, it is worthwhile examining how, in certain core aspects, Hinduism may affect the key variables of economic and social development. This is a neglected area that has largely been ignored by international institutions, especially by UN agencies and the World Bank. This exploratory paper provides some historical context and focuses particularly on the impact of caste on India’s body politic and development. It examines the arguments of those that suggest that Hinduism may have positive effects and those that suggest otherwise. It concludes by arguing that negative effects far outweigh any putative benefits.

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i Scheduled Castes are also known as ‘Dalits’, and were previously labelled as ‘Untouchables’ and ‘Harijans’; Scheduled Tribes are also known as ‘Adivasis’. These are the two lowest castes and receive recognition in the Indian constitution; under affirmative action policies, jobs are reserved for them.

ii The British were never more than 0.05 per cent of the population. In 1805, there were 31,000 British in India (22,000 in the army and 2,000 in civilian government); by 1931, this had risen to 168,000 (60,000 in the army and police, 4,000 in civilian government, 26,000 in the private sector and 78,000 family dependents) (Maddison, 2007, p. 119).