Religious Nationalism in Contemporary South Asia (Elements in Religion and Violence)

This Element explores religious nationalism in Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Sikhism and how it manifests in India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. At the core, nationalists contend that the continuation of their group is threatened by some other group. Much of these fears are rooted in the colonial experience and have been exacerbated in the modern era. For the Hindu and Buddhist nationalists explored in this Element, the predominant source of fear is directed toward the Muslim minority and their secular allies. For Sikhs, minorities within India, the fear is primarily of the state. For Muslims in Pakistan, the fear is more dynamic and includes secularists and minority sects, including Shias and Ahmadis. In all instances, the groups fear that their ability to practice and express their religion is under immediate threat. Additionally, Hindu, Buddhist, and Muslim nationalists wish for the state to adopt or promote their religious ideology. Cover Title page Copyright page Religious Nationalism in Contemporary South Asia Contents Background and Introduction Why It Matters What Is Covered in This Element? Overview of the Element 1 Theoretical Approaches to Religious Nationalism Nations and Nationalism Religious Nationalism Backgrounds on Religious Nationalism in India, Pakistan,and Sri Lanka 2 Sikh Nationalism Key Beliefs of Sikh Nationalists Emergence of the Khalsa Rise of Sikh Nationalism 3 Hindu Nationalism in India Key Beliefs of Hindu Nationalists Historical Origins of Hindu Nationalism Historical Persecution Rise of the BJP Destruction of the Babri Masjid Hindu Nationalism in the Twenty-First Century BJP Mandate Hindutva Moving Forward 4 Islamic Nationalism in Pakistan Key Beliefs of Islamic Nationalists in Pakistan Creation of Pakistan Ethnic Separatism and the Second Partition Cold War and Islamization Policies Rise of the Taliban Post-2001 Rise of Islamism Islamic Nationalism Moving Forward 5 Buddhist Nationalism in Sri Lanka Key Beliefs Historical Origins of Buddhist Nationalism Civil War Era Buddhist Political Organizations Twenty-First-Century Buddhist Nationalism Buddhist Nationalism Moving Forward 6 Conclusion Symbolic Identity Galvanized around Religion Electoral Politics Final Thoughts List of Abbreviations Terms References