Introduction: Hinduism
"New Zealand (NZ) is one of the smaller countries in the world, as measured by size, population, economic resources, and arms."[1] According to Miller, "New Zealand enjoys a strong tradition of democratically elected party government"[2] and good governance. But on March 15, 2019, Christchurch terrorist attack shattered the community peace of Aotearoa (NZ). Communities and the government felt shocked at this happening, though one community used to complain before 2019 about the online and offline use of offensive words against them. The NZ Prime Minister took all necessary measures to win the people's confidence at this critical juncture, but the Muslim community continues to feel insecure and fearful. After three years of Christchurch’s Mosque attack, Muslim community activists say that they are still facing daily racism in their life.[3] A study confirmed that hatred of the Muslim community is increasing worldwide, with NZ no exception.[4]
Christchurch attack killed 49 Muslims, disturbing New Zealand's peace, for Police were unaware of the preparations for this attack by a lone wolf later known as “Saint Tarrant” by Action Zealandia.[5] People's cooperation is essential to discovering the lone Wolf in time. The lone wolf can be from any community, religion, or culture. It is for this reason, in this dissertation, cultural Hindutva and Hindu nationalism need critical examination.
The main reasons for Islamophobia are “lack of knowledge about Islam, racism in the media,”[6] and “profiteering by politicians and elites.”[7] Professor Mohan J. Dutta, the dean’s chair in communication at Massey University (Dutta), and Dr. Danny Osborne, University of Auckland psychology lecturer (Osborne) refer to the power politics of political parties, including right-wing authoritarianism around the world. Professor Colleen Ward (Ward) points to racism spread by media and a lack of knowledge of Islamic culture.[8]
Many scholars[9] narrate that Hindutva infuses a sense of pride and the sense of supremacy in the Hindu community in India and its diaspora. According to Dutta, this sense of superiority and pride in the Hindu community in New Zealand leads to fear, prejudice, and insecurity, among New Zealand Muslims.[10]
Recently New Zealand Herald published that hatred is brewing between two migrants, Kiwi-Indian-Hindus (Hindus) and Kiwi-Indian-Muslims (Muslims). According to Dutta, Hindu nationalism portrays Muslims and Christians as invaders. Dutta and Kumbamu[11] refer to the legislations passed by the Indian parliament like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019, the National Register of Citizens (NRC), the bill on three talaqs of Muslim practice and abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution on Kashmir. In addition, Muslims fear Modi for the Gujarat riots, in which around a thousand Muslims were killed after Muslims burnt two bogies of a train killing Karsevaks (who serve others) returning from Ayodhya.
The second cause, according to Dutta, is Hindu culture, which teaches Hindu nationalism through Hindu “cultural forms, artifacts, and performances”. Dutta blames Hindu organizations and Hindu institutions of education and temples that propagate Hindu culture for inculcating Hindutva (Hindu nationalism, which breeds hatred) against Muslims in India and New Zealand (NZ). Dutta adds, "The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) is a terrorist organization that has been directly linked to the deployment of violence and cultural elements of Hindutva in Aotearoa be closely examined.”[12]
Jaffrelot, who deeply observed Indian politics, confirmed that Islamophobia is the product of Moditva that “interlaced Hindutva with populism.”[13] Media and the internet transmitted hatred between Hindus and Muslims to NZ.
It is, therefore, necessary to find out if there is any hatred in Hindus against Muslims in Aotearoa. If yes, is this hatred related to the current political decisions taken by Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), which Dutta and others assume? Or is this rhetoric created by Indian and international print, social and other media against BJP? Or Is this hatred ingrained in Cultural Hindutva in NZ? Dutta confirms that literature is silent on Indians in NZ and does not refer to the presence of Hindutva.[14] Leckie called it “invisible Indians.”[15]
I follow discourse analysis methodology to determine if Hindu culture (Cultural Hindutva) causes conflict.
[1] Hoadley, New Zealand United States Relations, 1.
[2] Miller, Party Politics in New Zealand, 196.
[3] Hewett, “Christchurch Mosque attack: Three years on, March 15 families still facing racism in daily lives.”
[4] 1 News, Australian Islamophobia report ‘reflective of NZ situation’, 5:10.
[5] Wilson and Halpin, “Explaining the gap between online violent extremism and offline inaction among far right groups: a study of Action Zealandia from 2019 to 2021,” 11.
[6] Morton, “Islamophobia in New Zealand: where does it come from?"
[7] CARE, #ENDTHEHATE Strategies Foe Dismantling Hate-Guest Speaker, 5:06.
[8] Morton, “Islamophobia in New Zealand: where does it come from?”
[9] Bidwai, Kanungo, Baber, Kumbamu, Banaji mentioned by Dutta in his “Cultural Hindutva and Islamophobia - All believe that Hindutva inculcates sense of pride and superiority complex. Literature is added in Bibliography.
[10] RNZ, “Prof Mohan Dutta: the worrying rise of right-wing Hindutva thinking”. Audio podcast, 26:44. December 4, 2021.
[11] Kumbamu, “Saffron Fascism: The Conflux of Hindutva Ultra-Nationalism, Neoliberal Extractivism, and the Rise of Authoritarian Populism in Modi’s India,” 171-172.
[12] Dutta, “Cultural Hindutva and Islamophobia”.
[13] Jaffrelot, Modi’s India: Hindu Nationalism and the Rise of Ethnic Democracy, 49-52.
[14] Dutta (@mjdutt), “If you read the literature in Aotearoa.”
[15] Leckie, Invisible: New Zealand’s history of excluding Kiwi-Indians.
