1. Maududi's Original Thesis (Pre-1947)
Maulana Syed Abul Ala Maududi, founder of Jamaat-e-Islami, argued that Hindu nationalism was built on two pillars:
- Anti-British Sentiment – A unifying force during colonial rule.
- Anti-Muslim Sentiment – The ideological core of Hindutva, portraying Muslims as "foreign invaders."
He predicted that after 1947, the anti-British rallying cry would vanish, leaving anti-Muslim animus as the sole binding force for Hindu unity. However, he foresaw that without an external enemy (Britain), internal contradictions within Hindu society—particularly caste divisions—would eventually fracture Hindu nationalism.
2. Post-1947: The Unraveling of Hindu Unity
Maududi’s insight proved prescient:
- Phase 1 : Anti-Muslim rhetoric sustained Hindutva (e.g., Babri Masjid movement).
- Phase 2 : With Muslims politically marginalized, caste divisions re-emerge as the Achilles' heel of Hindu consolidation.
3. The Caste Census: The Trigger for Hindu Nationalism’s Fracture
Recent demands for a nationwide caste census (led by opposition parties like Congress, RJD, and Samajwadi Party) threaten to expose the myth of Hindu homogeneity:
- Upper-Caste vs. OBC/Dalit Tensions: The BJP’s Hindutva project relies on subsuming caste under religious identity, but economic disparities and reservation politics keep caste alive.
- Example: Patidar (Gujarat), Jat (Haryana), and Maratha (Maharashtra) agitations for quotas reveal privileged castes resisting OBC/Dalit empowerment.
- BJP’s Dilemma:
- Supporting a caste census risks alienating its upper-caste base (who dominate BJP leadership).
- Opposing it fuels resentment among OBCs/SCs, who comprise ~60% of India’s population.
4. Maududi’s Foresight Validated
- "Anti-Muslim Vibe Alone is Unsustainable": As Hindutva’s Muslim-baiting loses novelty, caste contradictions resurface.
- Internal Fraction Inevitable: The caste census will force Hindu nationalism to confront its fundamental paradox—can a movement built on Brahminical hegemony truly represent non-upper castes?
5. Future Implications
- Political Realignment: OBC/Dalit parties (BSP, SP, RJD) may exploit BJP’s caste rift.
- Hindutva’s Decline? If Hindu unity fractures, Muslims may find allies among lower castes, reshaping Indian politics.
Conclusion: Maududi as a Visionary
Maududi’s 1940s prediction—that Hindu nationalism would eventually crumble under its own contradictions—is unfolding today. The caste census is not just a policy debate; it is the first step toward exposing Hindutva’s fragile unity. His analysis, once dismissed as alarmist, now reads like a century-ahead strategic forecast.
"The Hindu nationalist edifice, built on the myth of unity, cannot withstand the weight of its own diversity." — Maududi’s unrealized warning, now coming true.
