Gods, Guns and Missionaries: The Making of the Modern Hindu Identity.

The article discusses the evolution of modern Hindu identity in India, particularly in the context of recent political and social tensions, exemplified by a riot in Nagpur linked to a Bollywood film and historical grievances. It highlights how Hindu identity has shifted from a flexible and accommodating tradition to a more defensive stance, influenced by colonial encounters and the rise of Hindu nationalism, particularly under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The author, Manu S. Pillai, argues that this transformation was catalyzed by interactions with Christian missionaries and European ideas, leading to a Protestantisation of Hinduism. The article also examines the role of historical figures like Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in shaping contemporary Hindu nationalism and the implications of these changes for India's secular values. [Extracted from the article]