This research examines the rise of the Hindu Right in India as a historical backlash rather than a sign of democratic collapse and backsliding. While many western scholars and global media outlets characterize Hindutva merely as a form of authoritarian populism, this project takes a broader view and understands its origins. It investigates how postcolonial India’s elite-driven secularism has largely shaped its functioning post the Nehru-Gandhi political legacy and colonial-era institutions. It may have unintentionally sidelined the cultural and political identity of the Hindu majority which over time created this feeling of exclusion. In return, this further created deep-seated resentment, especially among non-elite Hindus, who felt that their traditions and voices were suppressed in the name of minority protection and cosmopolitan ideals.
I hypothesize that the Hindu Right’s ascent reflects a desire to reshape Indian democracy around a majoritarian civilizational identity rather than a rejection of democracy itself. To explore this, I use historical and political analysis to understand and analyse constitutional documents through key court cases (like the Shah Bano verdict) and events such as the abrogation of Article 370 and the 2002 Godhra riots. Preliminary findings suggest that support for the Hindu Right stems less from anti-democratic impulses and more from a demand for recognition and representation in a system long perceived as biased. This project offers a new way to understand one of the most important political shifts in contemporary India.