Democracy is considered to be as motherhood and apple pie of any political system (Adam Swift,2014). The socio-political context of this internal critique is Populism of specific variety. It was the origin of a process of disaffection and disgust with liberal institutions, manifested in the increasing level of abstention and apathy (Chantal Mouffe, 2018).
This upsurge of Hindu Nationalism is a variant of populism based on the emotional appeal to the psychological dimension of Indian society. Along with the failure of the liberal elites it is the subalternisation of political culture which has created fertile ground for this variant of populism to emerge (Ashutosh Varshney, 2022). Just like all other variants, Hindu Nationalism is essentially anti institutionalist and restructuring the logic of liberal institutions is one of its objectives (Ajay Gudavarthy, 2019).
One of the specificities of this populism in India is its organic emergence from the Unconscious domain of Indian society (Ashis Nandy, 2020).. Populism of Hindutva is not only backed by political party like BJP but also there is an enormous influence of cultural-religious organization like RSS behind its success. This combination of political and cultural apparatus is something which is distinctive with India.
It is in this context this paper will try to delve on the four set of questions. Firstly, How the political mobilisation of Hindutva is based on ‘politics of emotion’? Secondly, in what ways populist politics within the framework of Hindu Nationalism is contrasting in its form and contents? Thirdly, can we think of any alternative form of populism which can counter these attempts of attack on democratic institutions (Election Commission, Judiciary, etc)? Lastly, theoretically, what would be the sphere of revolutionary subject within the space of re imagined progressive politics that this is interested to think through?
