a contextual missiology of the spirit - eTheses Repository ...

one, and is ‘historically variable.’ 89 As will be discussed below, many sociologists
suggest that this nexus between religion and politics threatens the image of India
as a tolerant nation. Although evidence of the religious connection with politics
can be seen throughout the history of India, such a link is more apparent in
contemporary India.
The chief reason for such a religio-political connection is said to be the
propagation of Hindutva ideology and the subsequent revival of Hindu politics.
Therefore, India has witnessed political revivalism by means of religion, and
consequently this has given meaning to some core concepts of the nation, like
secularism, as will be explained later. The BJP has become one of the leading
political parties in India today. Its unforeseen electoral gain in the 1998 election
was crucial in its emergence as a leading opponent to Congress, the major Indian
political party. Patnaik and Chalam best explain how religion was used for
political as well as electoral gain. According to them, the achievement in 1998
opened the possibility of a coalition of BJP and the Sangh Parivar groups using
the Hindu card like ‘the Ramjanmabhoomi issue.’ The organization of Ratha
Yatra (1990) and Ekta Yatra (1991) gave an indication of a vigorous political
campaign on behalf of Hindus. The BJP election manifesto for the 1991 election
reveals that the BJP aims to build up an ‘all-India Hindu Identity.’ It says that
BJP,
as the party of nationalism … offers a complete, new and higher alternative to the
current dismal scene. As the party of Swadesh and Swadharma, is wedded to our
country, our people and our culture. It believes in consensus and cooperation, and
89 McKean, Divine Enterprise, 5.
199