Chicago – January 09, 2026
M.S. Golwalkar, the second chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), was a central figure in shaping the ideology of Hindutva in mid-20th-century India. In his writings, particularly We, or Our Nationhood Defined and Bunch of Thoughts, Golwalkar described India as fundamentally a Hindu nation, united by Hindu culture, traditions, and values. He argued that religious minorities such as Muslims and Christians could live in India only if they accepted Hindu cultural dominance and subordinated their distinct identities to the broader Hindu nation.
Critics contend that these ideas were exclusionary and conflicted with the principles of equality and secular citizenship later enshrined in the Indian Constitution. They argue that portraying minorities as “internal threats” encouraged social division and discrimination, even if Golwalkar did not directly advocate violence. Supporters, however, claim his views emphasized cultural unity rather than physical harm. Golwalkar remains a deeply controversial figure, symbolizing an ongoing debate over nationalism, pluralism, and minority rights in India.
