Tag: Hindu Rashtra


  • The Sacred Soil: Codeelement Punyabhumi, the Sanctity of the Territory

    Savarkar’s coding of Hindutva; Metacode Rashtra, Part 4; Code Territory (3/6) The concept of Punyabhumi, or “sacred land”, is central to Vinayak Damodar Savarkar’s definition of the Hindu Rashtra. While he acknowledges the geographical and territorial aspect of the nation (Pitribhu), he further elevates it by embedding a religious dimension, defining it as a “sacred…

  • The Metacode Rashtra: Geographical Coding in Hindutva

    Savarkar’s Coding of Hindutva; Metacode Rashtra, Part 1 The concept of Hindutva is deeply intertwined with geography, history, and a unique cultural identity. At its core, the idea of Rashtra – the first Metacode – serves as the constitutive element of the “common land.” This Metacode not only defines the territorial framework of Hindutva but…

  • Savarkar’s Vision for Governance in a Hindu Rashtra

    Political Dimension of Hindutva, Part 4 When envisioning the future of Hindu Rashtra, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar did not propose a rigid, fixed model of governance. Instead, his ideas evolved within the historical and political context of his time. Rather than outlining a single, comprehensive framework, Savarkar explored various possibilities, ranging from a constitutional monarchy in…

  • Introduction: Defining and Conceptualizing Hindutva in the Context of Identity

    Savarkar’s Coding of Hindutva Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was the first to use the term Hindutva (literally “Hindu-ness”, the “quality of being Hindu”) in a comprehensive manner in his book Hindutva: Who is a Hindu?, published in 1923. Savarkar (1999:72) defined Hindus as all inhabitants of the Indian subcontinent who met three criteria: These three elements—Rashtra…