Is the sword central to the Hindutva aesthetic? A new book looks for answers

On October 3, 2022, the News Minute reported that 200 people belonging to different faiths marched in Udupi in Karnataka to mark the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. A much bigger rally of around 10,000 people came in response, brandishing swords and chanting slogans in support of the Hindu rashtra. Swords are out on various such occasions. Swords are out as there are actual wars to fight outside. All over India, festivals such as Dussehra and Ram Navami are turning into sword rallies. From Ranchi and Hazaribagh in Jharkhand to Gulbarga in Karnataka, from Haldia in West Bengal to Nalanda in Bihar, people are marching with swords. The sword is turning into an object of worship. A sacrificial object and a celebratory artefact.

Having swords is a matter of pride. More than anything else, the sword is about social status. It is about being a Kshatriya. It is about claiming the Kshatriya impunity. Of course, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh are the laboratories of Hindutva, where its activists openly distribute swords. Their swords come out for any occasion. Just as some ride a bulldozer in their wedding procession, others cut a birthday cake with a sword. The weapons are also used for various other...

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