MANGALURU: Hindutva ideology is strategically de-emphasized by the Modi brigade in order to strengthen their stronghold on all the democratic institutions so that Hindu Nationalism may be firmly established within this country, said Prof Anand Teltumbde, a civil rights activist and political analyst.

He was delivering the key note address at the two days UGC-sponsored National Seminar on “Nationalism as a ‘Religion’: Trends in India” at Pompei College, Aikala on Friday.

The symbolism and institutions of the Brahminical Hinduism is successfully used by these groups with the promise of restoring the lost ‘imagined glory’ of ‘Bharat’, he said noting thus, it tries to hide the fact that it was the caste system and the related socio-economic evils that weakened the development of this country in the past.

This is made possible by making scapegoats of weaker sections and using propaganda and surveillance over human rights activists. Hence, it is important to note the dynamics of nationalism even in this decade is spearheaded by the upper caste and upper class elite to serve the agenda of dominance of Hindutva and neoliberal forces,” he opined.

In the technical session that ensued, Prof R. Shashidhar from the Deparmtnt of Studies in English, Mangalore University, speaking on the topic “The Dialectic between Nationalism and Religion”, argued the question of religion was central to the process of building and establishing nationalism all through Indian history. "However, it needs to be recognized that the nationalist movement was fragmentary and diverse in nature. Hence, it is essential to develop new concepts and methods for countering all the versions of Hindu Nationalism that is holding back progress and development of this country," he said.

Apart from the seven Plenary Sessions, thirty delegates will present papers on various sub-themes in parallel sessions. Around 200 delegates comprising academics, activists, research scholars and students are taking part in the two days National Seminar.