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Hindutva for the Changing Times

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Hindutva for the Changing Times contains around 25 articles published over a period of three decades in various newspapers, magazines and news portals. The book discusses an array of diverse subjects and ideas, ranging from the evolution of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh viz-a-viz the Indian Communist movement and to Data security and sovereignty and Supreme Court verdicts on Ayodhya and Sabarimala. Among the other important topics discussed in the present volume are: an essay on Hindutva for the changing times, a comparative analysis of Left liberalism and Hindu universalism, the importance of dialogue and debate in Hindu tradition, the CPM’s political violence, the past and present of West Bengal and the philosophical, economic as well as ecological standpoints of Hindutva in the modern parlance.

An article on the complex relationship between Mahatma Gandhi and Veer Savarkar busts the Communist propaganda against the latter, including the accusation of writing clemency letters to the British. The author goes to the original sources and quotes Mahatma Gandhi who called Veer Savarkar “brave”, “clever” and “true son of Bharat”. Quoting a note by Gandhiji, the article divulges the positive views of Gandhi about VD Savarkar and his elder brother, GD Savarkar: “The Savarkar Brothers’ talent should be utilised for public welfare. As it is, India is in danger of losing her two faithful sons, unless she wakes up in time. One of the brothers I know well. I had the pleasure of meeting him in London. He is brave. He is clever. He is a patriot. He was frankly a revolutionary. The evil, in its hideous form, of the present system of government, he saw much earlier than I did. He is in the Andamans for his having loved India too well. Under a just government, he would be occupying a high office. I therefore feel for him and his brother.”

Most of the articles in the present volume were originally published in various publications like Organiser Weekly, The Sunday Guardian, Indusscrolls.com, Kesari etc. Some of them are the transcriptions of his speeches made in Malayalam, Hindi and English.

Famous author and Hindutva philosopher Vamadeva Shastri (David Frawley), in the foreword of the book, says, “His (the author’s) aim is to frame and articulate a Bharatiya view of culture that can counter the outside trends that seek to undermine India’s vast heritage, and to revitalize that for another century.”

Elaborating on the content of the book, Vamadeva Shastri says that the book shows the variety and depth of nationalist thought in India and how it is serving both to create a new India and to preserve India’s older dharmic civilizational heritage. Such a wide range of topics covers all the crucial issues facing India today.

According to the author, his articles on various topics are mostly the result of organisational exigencies. “Most of my prose and verse happened after persistent compulsion from my fellow-karyakartas or publishers,” says J Nandakumar in the author’s note. “Nandakumarji has brought together numerous important Bharatiya thinkers in educational and cultural platforms under Prajna Pravah, meeting in different parts of the country on a regular basis. I have participated in several of these events and experienced first-hand the depth and detail through which he and this organization functions. Clearly such dynamic thinkers are essential for India to flourish not only as a nation but as a civilization and to maintain its cultural and spiritual heritage for all humanity. His voice needs to be heard, along with that of the groups and individuals that he is associated with,” writes Vamadeva Shastri.

297 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2019

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J. Nandakumar

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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
1 review
December 23, 2019
This book is an extraordinary work written by a sound intellectual of Hindutva Philosophy J.Nandakumar Ji which deals in detail about the modern contestation of hindutva ideology with modernity. The writer of this book has expanded the philosophy of hindutva far beyond its political limitations, it has argued well that in the Idea of new India how hindutva is absorbing economic as well as ecological challenges as well and it assimilates for modern times.
The book has also cleared many myths about Savarkar and Gandhi which has been misused by the communists to enhance the diversion within the country for ages.
1 review
December 23, 2019
This book is a collection of 25 different articles published in diffrent newspapers and magazines over three decades. This books is highly recommended for those who want to understand what Hindutva stands for in the changing times. This book discusses in depth about the RSS, from its inception till today. The author of this book sheds light on the violence perpetrated by the communist party(M) in india, which makes this a very unique book as probably this would be the first book from a RSS swayamsevak who in a book talks about the communist violence in West Bengal, India.

Author if this book devotes a long article to elaborate on the controversial relationship between the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi and Veer Savarkar, this deeply thought article demolishes propaganda against Savarkar. This book goes on discussing how Mahatma Gandhi praised Veer Savarkar.
1 review
December 22, 2019
This book is one of the groundbreaking works, which reflects in-depth research by Shri J Nandakumar ji in bringing values of Hindutva to the youths of present day world. This would not only inculcate a positive attitude in youths towards our rich culture, but shall definitely urge the readers to develop an acute sense of respect for the ancient science and tradition of Bharat.
Profile Image for Abhinav Singh.
4 reviews
March 23, 2020
This book written by J Nandkumar outsketch the core of Hindutva with its vision of Economics, Environmental and problem with Multiculturalism. The need of Hindu Universalism, concept of Hindu nation as Dharmarajyam. Physical Problems faced by Hindutva in Bengal and Kerala. Gandhi’s profilic writing on Savarkar and Leftist propaganda on Savarkar.
1 review
December 24, 2019
A must read for the students of philosophy, indology, religion etc.
A quality work to demystify the anomaly and propaganda.
A light in the darkness of noise and clutter for the real comprehension.
A true intellectual piece and well written
1 review
December 19, 2019
It's the need of the time...a must book in order to let the need of cultural nationalism get featured in people's life...
1 review
December 23, 2019
Must-read book for all the indic people, such clarity of thoughts expressed in this book exposes the left-liberals and congress hate towards Hindutva.
Profile Image for Srishti Das.
1 review1 follower
December 23, 2019
Must read book to understand and clear your views of hindutva in this changing world. Since, there are so many articles compiled together at one place , this is easy to understand.
1 review
December 24, 2019
The book emphasizes on the dynamics of the Hindu religion and the various elements that it encompasses is an absolute delight to the readers. It sufficiently explains the definition, purpose and objective of the necessity to write this book. The book is topical and shall interests the readers for it embraced issues that usually are hesitated about in the public spaces. The books consists of 25 articles which distinctly delves deep into the origin and evolution of RSS, Veer Savarkar's relation with Mahatma Gandhi also about sovereignty, and current issues like Supreme Courts verdict on Ram Mandir or Sabarimala.. The book seeks to contextualized Hindu articulation on the society, anthropology and political expansion in India. This book is a dynamic manifestation of our rich civilisation and what ought to be right in becoming a 'vishwaguru'. A must read !
20 reviews
March 28, 2020
This book has helped me understand the main thought process behind the RSS.

Having grown up in an upper middle class family in south Mumbai, I’ve spent a childhood pretty much removed from local state or national politics. Only as an adult have I begun to appreciate the depth, the scope and the reach of our country and the emerging feelings of nationalism.

This book has helped me get a lot of clarity on what it means to be Indian and the relevance of our Scriptures. The strongest message coming across is that the primary goal of every religion should be to make oneself welfare-oriented and be true and pure.

I am inspired by this book. The arguments presented here are rational, there is a lot of truth reflected in the perspectives and I am sure every Indian will be able to relate to so many aspects of this book.
1 review
Want to read
December 25, 2019
Being a PhD scholar at JNU and graduated from Tripura. I have always found left nexus demonizing the Hindutva and running its vicious propaganda. However, my interaction with the idea, time and again has made me choose it as philosophy of life.

Hindutva is like river, always new, fresh, full of life. With changing time the idea has re-energised itself to suit best with the time, place and situation. "Hindutva in changing times" will prove to become a thread connecting us from our civilisational roots and leading us at the path of making Bharat as 'Vishwa Guru'

I am really thankful to the author for giving a path breaking and remarkable work to society.
1 review
December 25, 2019
After going through the book, we can feel that hindutav is really the way of life.

I suggest everyone to go through the book to understand the real history.
1 review
Want to read
December 25, 2019
Hindutva for the Changing Times, written by fiercest scholar J Nandkumar Ji, is a sourcebook of knowing Hindutva philosophy from the creation of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh to the Ayodhya verdict in a clear way. Gandhiji’s thought about Veer Savarkar are well reflected in this book. The Hindutva approach to Indianism is well defined with high views in this book.
168 reviews8 followers
March 21, 2020
J Nandakumar is an RSS pracharak and the National Convener of Prajna Pravah, an RSS-inspired organization that works for nationalist causes.

Hindutva for the Changing Times is basically a collection of essays that Nandakumar had written over many years and that had appeared in different publications.

The main theme that binds the essays together is the argument that the nearly 1000 years of colonial rule has robbed India of much of its Indic heritage. There was a chance in the immediate aftermath of Independence to steer the ship of the nation to her age-old cultural and spiritual heritage. But because the people who were at the helm of affairs during those crucial decades had a different ideas as to what national development meant, India had nearly lost her moorings.

We have slowly started to understand that the history we have been taught in schools may not be the exact narratives of the events that have taken place in our 5000-yaer-old civilization. These are basically narratives served to us by a certain section of politicians and academics to suit their vested interests. One of the results of this agenda-driven history-writing is that a large section of educated Indians have forgotten to take pride in their heritage. Painting one’s face in tricolor during international cricket matches or crying oneself hoarse over Pakistan is not the measure of nationalism. Nationalism goes deeper – much deeper – than that.

In the seven decades since Independence, people with nationalist mindset were made to feel inadequate and defensive by the political and media culture of this country. What is truly heartening is that things are slowly, but irreversibly, changing. Nationalism is claiming its rightful place at last.

Nandakumar, in his eloquent essays, has brought this deeper idea of nationalism to fore. The essays are lucid and erudite. List of books and sources given at the end of each chapter has added value to the book.

Thus is an important contribution to the nationalist literature.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews

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