국가 통합을 위한 인도 사상의 대전환

Abstract

Currently, India is advocating for a strong India to achieve political and economic advancement by creating a 'Hindu India.' Hinduism, an artificial national concept based on the unique religion of Hinduism, serves as a unifying commonality required to integrate India's complex and diverse society into one nation. To this end, religions originating from the Indian subcontinent, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, are included within the scope of Indian religions, while Islam and Christianity are excluded. This paper examines the background of the Indian government's efforts to create religious unity for national integration, explores the patterns in which this is being achieved, and reviews the issues arising from this process. The establishment of the concepts of Hinduism and Hindu nationality occurred during India's independence movement to unify Indians and transform the sense of defeat and inferiority felt as a subjugated people into cultural pride. The current government, which espouses Hindu nationalism, leverages this politically to promote economic and political growth through the construction of a 'Hindu India.' Muslims and Christians, excluded from this vision, are increasingly facing difficulties in India, leading to issues of religious freedom and human rights violations. Notable examples include anti-conversion laws and the activities of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM). While the government claims to protect minority religions originating from the Indian subcontinent and guarantee the religious freedom of individuals forced to convert, cases of harm faced by Muslims and Christians continue to rise. These policies ultimately seek to foster Hindu unity by positioning non-Hindus as common adversaries. This study reveals the following implications of the current Indian government's policy of religious integration: First, it raises concerns regarding religious diversity and human rights; second, it indicates that specific religions or cultures are politically exploited through religious integration; third, it highlights issues of religious expression in education and public spaces; and fourth, it presents the problem of defining and adjusting the relationship between religion and the state, posing significant challenges for the interplay between religion and national governance.