Hindu Mahasabha and Communal Politics

The Hindu Mahasabha emerged in early twentieth-century colonial India as a right-wing Hindu nationalist organization. Established initially to safeguard the social, cultural, and political rights of the Hindu community, it gradually evolved into a prominent political organ advocating Hindutva. The growth of the Mahasabha ran parallel to the rise of the Muslim League, marked by the intensification of communal politics, debate over constitutional safeguards, and competing visions of Indian nationhood.

Origins and Foundation

The roots of the Hindu Mahasabha lay in regional Hindu Sabhas formed in northern India during the early 1900s. The introduction of separate electorates for Muslims under the Morley-Minto Reforms of 1909 created apprehension among Hindu leaders regarding political representation.

• Punjab Hindu Sabha (1909): Formed by leaders like Lal Chand and U. N. Mukherji, this body opposed the communal quotas granted to Muslims and criticized the Indian National Congress for its appeasement stance.
• All-India Foundation (1915): The Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha was formally established during the Haridwar Kumbh Mela in 1915. Maharaja Sir Rameswar Singh Bahadur of Darbhanga, Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, and Lala Lajpat Rai played key roles in its formation.
• Initial Objectives: The early Mahasabha focused on social reform, promoting Hindi in the Devanagari script, protecting cows, running educational institutions, and relief work during disasters.

Shuddhi, Sangathan, and Communal Polarization in the 1920s

The collapse of the Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movements in the early 1920s was followed by widespread communal riots across India. In response, the Hindu Mahasabha shifted toward active community consolidation.

Key Movements of the 1920s

• Sangathan (Organization): Aimed at unifying Hindu society across caste lines and instilling physical strength, discipline, and collective consciousness.
• Shuddhi (Reconversion): Spearheaded by Swami Shraddhanand of the Arya Samaj, this movement sought to reconvert individuals who had converted to Islam or Christianity back to Hinduism.
• Political Reorganization: In 1921, the Mahasabha established its central headquarters in New Delhi and began holding annual sessions distinct from the Indian National Congress.

Savarkar and the Ideology of Hindutva

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar transformed the Hindu Mahasabha from a loose cultural association into a structured political party. Elected president of the Mahasabha in 1937, he served consecutive terms until 1943.

Core Components of Savarkar’s Philosophy

• Definition of Hindutva: In his 1923 book Essentials of Hindutva, Savarkar defined a Hindu as anyone who regards the territory of India (from the Indus to the Seas) as their Fatherland (Pitribhu) and Holy Land (Punyabhu).
• Two-Nation Concept: At the 1937 Ahmedabad session of the Mahasabha, Savarkar declared that Hindus and Muslims constituted two separate nations within India, preceding the Muslim League’s 1940 Lahore Resolution.
• Militarization: Savarkar raised the slogan “Hinduize all politics and militarize Hindudom,” encouraging Hindu youth to join the British Indian armed forces during World War II to gain military training.

Political Stance and Provincial Coalitions

The Hindu Mahasabha rejected the Indian National Congress’s commitment to secularism and non-violent non-cooperation. It boycotted major mass movements, including the Civil Disobedience Movement and the Quit India Movement of 1942. When Congress ministers resigned in 1939 in protest against India’s entry into World War II without consultation, the Hindu Mahasabha took advantage of the power vacuum to enter provincial politics.

Coalitions formed by Hindu Mahasabha during World War II

• Bengal (1941–1943): Formed the Progressive Coalition Ministry with A. K. Fazlul Huq’s Krishak Praja Party and elements of the Muslim League, with Shyama Prasad Mukherjee serving as the Finance Minister.
• Sindh (1942–1943): Joined a coalition government headed by Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah.
• North-West Frontier Province (NWFP): Participated in a coalition cabinet alongside Sardar Aurangzeb Khan.

Key Leaders and Their Roles

Role During Partition and Post-Independence Deceleration

The Hindu Mahasabha opposed the Partition of India, advocating for an undivided India (Akhand Bharat). It rejected the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946 and criticized both the British government and the Congress leadership for accepting the country’s division. Following the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi on January 30, 1948, by Nathuram Godse, who had close ties to both the Hindu Mahasabha and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the organization faced severe public backlash and political bans. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee resigned from the Mahasabha after it refused his proposal to open its membership to all communities. Mukherjee later established the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1951, which drew away much of the Mahasabha’s political base.

Key Exam Facts

• The Punjab Hindu Sabha was founded in 1909 by Lal Chand and U. N. Mukherji.
• The Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha was founded at the Haridwar Kumbh Mela on April 9, 1915.
• Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, Lala Lajpat Rai, and the Maharaja of Darbhanga were key founding members.
• Swami Shraddhanand led the Shuddhi movement in the 1920s to reconvert non-Hindus.
• V. D. Savarkar authored Essentials of Hindutva in 1923 while imprisoned, introducing the concept of Pitribhu and Punyabhu.
• B. S. Moonje founded the Bhonsala Military School in Nashik in 1937 to impart military training to Hindu youth.
• V. D. Savarkar articulated the theory that Hindus and Muslims were two nations at the Ahmedabad session of the Mahasabha in 1937.
• During the Quit India Movement in 1942, the Mahasabha participated in provincial coalition governments in Bengal, Sindh, and NWFP.
• Shyama Prasad Mukherjee served as the Finance Minister in Bengal’s Progressive Coalition Ministry (1941–1943).
• Shyama Prasad Mukherjee left the Hindu Mahasabha in 1948 and founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1951.