Section Article

THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PHILOSOPHY OF HINDUTVA BY SAVARKAR
Author(s): Vivek Kanungo

Abstract
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (1883–1966) stands as one of the most influential and controversial figures in the intellectual and political history of modern India. He played a pivotal role in developing the ideology of Hindutva which remains central to understanding Hindu nationalist thought and its impact on Indian socio-political structures. Post-2021 scholarship has revisited Savarkar’s writings speeches political activities and personal correspondences to offer deeper insights into the philosophical foundations strategic objectives and socio-cultural implications of Hindutva. This paper examines the historical and political context that shaped Savarkar’s conception of Hindutva focusing on colonial pressures the fragmentation of Indian society and the emergence of nationalist movements in the early twentieth century. By integrating primary sources such as Hindutva: Who is a Hindu? archival documents personal letters and contemporaneous political writings with secondary analyses from post-2021 research this study explores the evolution dissemination and impact of Hindutva as both a political philosophy and a cultural vision. The research highlights the conceptualization of Hindu identity as a composite of historical consciousness linguistic unity territorial affinity and civilizational heritage as articulated by Savarkar. It further analyzes the methods used by him to propagate these ideas through political activism intellectual engagement and organizational mobilization. The paper also addresses the debates surrounding inclusivity minority representation and the boundaries of cultural nationalism evaluating the continuing influence of Hindutva on Indian political discourse and identity formation. The findings suggest that Savarkar’s philosophy of Hindutva was simultaneously a product of its historical moment and a framework with enduring relevance for contemporary debates on nationalism cultural identity and political ideology in India.