Omkar Dattatray
The BJP’s politics and BJP as well can be distinguished and differentiated from other political parties because of its distinct ideology ,thinking and philosophy .Thus abrogation of controversial article 370 which has since been abrogated and is now a history ,Ram Janamboomi temple issue which also stands resolved and the uniform civil code for all Indians which is still to be realized are the constituents of BJP’s distinct ideology and because of these three and also for its Hindutva philosophy BJP becomes a distinct political party .The cultural nationalism what is called in chaste Hindi as Sanskritik Rashtriwad is the pet theme and corner stone of the politics and philosophy of the saffron party and it also make BJP a distinct political party .The right wing political party -BJP works hard to follow and adopt cultural nationalism in letter and spirit .The cultural nationalism is in fact the pivot round which the politics of BJP revolves and this party tries hard to realize the goal of cultural nationalism and bring a positive change in the politics of the country by reviving and restoring the ageold cultural roots of the nation and awakening the national pride in the cultural ethos of the country. Thus connecting with the cultural roots and strengthening these glorious roots is the for making India again a culturally rich nation in this age of science and technology is one of the aims of BJP.So once again making India a world leader and vishwa Guru in near future is the litmus test of the success of the politics of BJP. The BJP is respecting the national cultural legacy and also trying hard to make the people to respect the country’s rich and dynamic cultural ethos for making India to shine with its unique beauty of unity in diversity which is the hallmark of its vibrant and dynamic philosophy and political ideology.BJP is a cadre based and disciplined party which has got firm and strong roots in the culture and politics of the country in a short span of time from its inception and birth in 6,April 1980 and its founding fathers are Late A B Vajpayee and L K Advani. It is in the fitness of things to know what cultural nationalism means and implies. Cultural nationalism is the nationalism in which the nation is defined by a shared culture and common language ,rather than on the concepts of common ancestry or race. Cultural nationalism does not tend to manifest itself in independent movements but is usually a moderate position within a larger spectrum of national ideology. Thus moderate positions in Flemish or Hindu nationalist might be ‘cultural mationalism’ while these same movements also include forms of ethnic nationalism and include national mysticism. Membership in a nation is neither entirely voluntary nor hereditary. The cultural nationality is not achieved through citizenship as in civic nationalism. The mother organization of BJP,RSS -one of the main votaries of Hindutva had stated that it believes in a cultural connotation of the term Hindu. The term Hindu is the conviction as Buddhists, Jains well as constitution of RSS is a cultural and civilizational concept and not a political or religious dogma. The term as a cultural concept will include and did always include all Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Muslims, Christains & Parsis. Cultural nationality of India in the conviction of RSS which is the mother of its political offshoot BJP is Hindu and it was inclusive of all who are born and who have adopted Bharat as their motherland ,including Muslims, Christians and Parsis. Thus it is not only the matter of conviction for RSS but a historical fact tha Muslims, Christians and Parsis too are Hindus by culture although as religions they are not so. Cultural nationalism was founded on the belief that blacks and whites have separate values, histories, intellectual traditions and life styles and therefore that in reality are two .Cultural nationalism sets out to provide a vision of nations identity ,history and destiny .The key agents of cultural nationalism are intellectual and artistic who seek to convey their vision of the nation to the wider community .In much of the scholarly literature ,cultural nationalism has become a stretched concept ,encompassing the full gamut of cultural practices and texts .We can say if political nationalism is focused on the achievement of political autonomy ,cultural nationalism is focused on the cultivation of a nation .Here the vision of the nation is not a political organization ,but a moral community .As such ,cultural nationalism sets out to provide a vision of the nation’s identity ,history and destiny .The need to articulate and express this vision tends to be felt most acutely during times of social ,cultural and political upheaval resulting from an encounter with modernity .Cultural nationalism often occurs in the early phase of a national movement ,sometimes before an explicitly political nationalism has appeared .But it can also periodically recur in long -established national states .Whatever it is the fact remains that cultural nationalism is the corner stone and mainstay of the BJP politics and all its acts are but the manifestations in some way or the other of the cultural nationalism .The saffron party strives to preserve ,protect and follow this ism with all its spirit and fervor .We cannot distance BJP from its pet theme and philosophy of cultural nationalism and if it is tried it may prove counterproductive .The BJP through its various activities tries to protect ,fallow and strengthen cultural nationalism for the sake of the nations culture and identity. .Therefore BJP and cultural nationalism cannot be separated and divorced from each other .The very foundation of the BJP is based and cemented on cultural nationalism and therefore it is unnatural to try to separate them without bearing bad consequences .At least BJP deserves appreciation for the fact that it reminds the people of the country of their rich cultural legacy and glorious ethos and past pristine beauty which would perhaps be not possible without this party which teaches and practices cultural nationalism .In brief we can say that the theme of cultural nationalism is running in the blood and veins of BJP and they saffron party will loses its distinct character and relevance without cultural nationalism. .Thus BJP and its pet theme cultural nationalism are inseparable and any effort to separate them is bound to fail.
(The author is a columnist,
social and KP activist).
