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"Indians are cultural nationalists," says Hindu group leader at NATCON4
“Some call us Hindu nationalists. We don't mind that label as long as it is not misunderstood as religious nationalism,” Madhav said.
RSS leader Ram Madhav / Image- New India Abroad
Hindu idealogical group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader, Ram Madhav said Indians identify as cultural nationalists, who draw national identity from their deep-rooted and ancient culture, positioning it as a model for conservative movements worldwide.
“We prefer to call ourselves or distinguish ourselves as cultural nationalists. As the name suggests, we derive our national identity from our ancient culture,” Madhav said while speaking at the fourth National Conservatism Conference, known as NatCon 4, in Washington, DC.
“Some call us Hindu nationalists. We don't mind that label as long as it is not misunderstood as religious nationalism,” Madhav declared, highlighting the nation's unique blend of religiosity and nationalism as foundational to its identity. “We don't mind that label as long as it is not misunderstood as religious nationalism. It's not. We stand not for theocracy but for dharmocracy," equating cultural nationalism to the Indian version of national conservatism.
Reflecting on India's post-independence political landscape, Madhav criticized the dominance of Nehruvian ideology. He credited the grassroots efforts of organizations like the RSS for nurturing a conservative movement that culminated in the political success of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.
"We built a strong grassroots popular conservative movement in India," Madhav asserted highlighting the symbolic victory of the Ram Temple construction in Ayodhya, as a significant event for cultural nationalists. "1.4 billion Indians yearned for centuries for the restoration of the temple at Ayodhya," he said. “That temple construction represented a new conservative consensus in India.”
Discussing India's economic and educational reforms, Madhav said, "From the 11th position a decade ago, today, India is catapulted into the fifth or fourth largest economy in the world.” He reiterated the nation's rapid growth under the Modi government in the past decade citing recent implementation of a new education policy aimed at instilling conservative values in future generations.
Concluding his speech, Madhav called for a global alliance of conservative forces. "Let us build a strong global movement for conservatism based on principles of pluralism, inclusivity, and respect for religious diversity," he urged, positioning India as a key ally in this endeavor.
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