2025, Vol. 7, Issue 10, Part B

This paper investigates the complex intersection between Hinduism and tribal societies in India through the lens of V.D. Savarkar’s Hindutva driven nationalism. It examines how Savarkar’s conceptualization of Hindutva as a civilizational, cultural, and political identity, influenced efforts to assimilate tribal communities into the broader Hindu fold. Beginning with an outline of Savarkar’s ideological framework, the study delves into the traditional religious practices of tribal communities and the dynamics of their long-standing interactions with Hindu society. Through a historical and sociopolitical analysis, the paper evaluates Savarkar’s role in redefining the tribal question, not as peripheral subjects but as potential co-participants in the imagined Hindu nation. Using case studies, the paper demonstrates how his ideology inspired various state and non-state actors to undertake cultural assimilation projects in tribal areas, often framing such efforts as national integration. The discussion is further situated within the theoretical frameworks of integration and tribal development, analysing whether these initiatives fostered inclusion or inadvertently led to cultural erasure. The paper also engages with contemporary critiques of Hindutva's homogenizing tendencies, especially in light of the pluralistic and diverse nature of India’s tribal religious identities.