BJP, RSS and 99 Lies From Goebbels’ Grandchildren

The proponents of Hindutva – from V.D. Savarkar, B.S. Moonje, K.B. Hedgewar, and M.S. Golwalkar – to their contemporary successors, have long admired the methods of Mussolini and Hitler. Despite differences in time and circumstances, striking parallels can be drawn between them and their fascist predecessors in Europe. 

Perhaps the most telling similarity is their reliance on propaganda, particularly the distortion of truth and perpetuation of white lies – a technique famously associated with Hitler’s propaganda minister, Joseph Goebbels. 

Goebbels articulated the mantra of converting untruth into truth by stating: “Tell a big enough lie, and repeat it often enough, and it becomes the truth.” Following this playbook, the current generation of Hindutva ideologues can be seen as the ‘grandchildren of Goebbels’, carrying forward the legacy of falsehood.

Foundational falsehoods

The ideological foundation of the Hindutva movement is built upon a series of grand lies. One of the central narratives is that Hindus were the original inhabitants of Akhand Bharat (undivided India), who created a great civilisation that served as the fountainhead of all knowledge and wisdom. 

According to this narrative, this glory was lost under Islamic rule from the 7th century onward, and Hindus must strive to reclaim their ‘past grandeur’. This myth, repeated since colonial times, has been used to mobilise Hindus under a unifying, yet historically dubious, identity.

The very term ‘Hindu’ is a foreign construct, imposed by outsiders – derived from the Persian word for the Indus River region, used by ancestors of the Muslims whom Hindutva ideologues often vilify. It was initially a geographical marker. It was used by ancient Persians and Greeks to describe the people living beyond the Sindhu (Indus) River. This term did not denote a specific religious identity; it referred broadly to the cultural and social practices of the people in the region. 

The word ‘Hindu’ does not appear in ancient Indian scriptures like the Vedas or Upanishads. Instead, the texts describe practices as Sanatana Dharma (eternal duty) or refer to specific rituals, philosophies and schools of thought. The British institutionalised the term Hindu to categorise diverse communities under a single religious identity for administrative purposes. This homogenisation ignored the pluralistic nature of beliefs and practices in the Indian subcontinent. Interestingly, the term Hinduism itself was coined by British writers in the early 19th century, not by indigenous practitioners.

Illustration: Pariplab Chakraborty

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The claim that Hindus were the ‘mother of civilisations’ is another fabrication aimed at dispelling the inferiority complex of Hindutva adherents. Much of this claim hinges on the Indus Valley civilisation, a Bronze Age culture in northwestern South Asia that thrived between 3300 BCE and 1300 BCE, with its peak between 2600 BCE and 1900 BCE. 

This civilisation was unearthed by British archaeologists like Sir John Marshall in the 1920s. Crucially, the Indus Valley Civilisation predates the arrival of the so-called Aryans – Central Asian pastoralists who migrated to the region during the dark period of Indian history (2000–1500 BCE) and whose proto-Brahminical culture is considered a precursor to Hinduism.

The appropriation of the Indus Valley Civilisation by Hindutva forces is ideologically driven rather than based on rigorous historical or archaeological evidence. This oversimplification of a complex, multicultural past seeks to align history with a narrative that supports contemporary political agendas. 

Such distortions not only undermine the true diversity of Indian civilisation but also risk alienating communities whose histories are integral to the subcontinent’s rich and pluralistic fabric. 

Hindutva’s ideological narrative seeks to create a false sense of pride while erasing inconvenient truths about India’s diverse and shared history. Recognising these fabrications is essential to countering the divisive agenda they propagate.

The creation of Hindutva

Hindutva itself is an imported ideology. It was coined by V.D. Savarkar in his 1923 pamphlet Hindutva: Who is a Hindu? It defined a Hindu not by religious practices but by a cultural and territorial identity tied to India. This marked a departure from the spiritual ethos of Sanatana Dharma. 

Hindutva ideologues, such as Savarkar and M.S. Golwalkar, were inspired by European nationalist movements, particularly fascism in Italy and Nazism in Germany. Golwalkar’s writings admired Hitler’s treatment of minorities and viewed it as a model for shaping a Hindu-majoritarian state. The focus on a monolithic identity, the vilification of minorities (especially Muslims and Christians), and the glorification of a mythical, ‘pure’ past are hallmarks of Hindutva ideology, reflecting clear parallels with European fascism. 

Also read: Why Golkwalkar Denied Writing ‘We or Our Nationhood Defined’

Hindutva’s claim to represent ‘ancient Indian culture’ ignores the pluralistic and syncretic nature of Indian history. By reducing India’s rich cultural tapestry to a singular, rigid identity, it distorts historical realities. 

Ironically, while Hindutva champions a nativist agenda, its ideological framework draws heavily from European ideas of nationalism and cultural superiority. Figures like Italian nationalist Giuseppe Mazzini and fascist leader Benito Mussolini, influenced Hindutva’s organizational and ideological strategies.

The Hindutva narrative also overlooks the fact that Sanskrit, often glorified as the ‘language of the gods’, was brought by outsiders. Its origins lie in the Proto-Indo-European language family, alongside Mycenaean Greek and Ancient Greek, dating back to approximately 1500 BCE.

Akhand Bharat

The idea of Akhand Bharat is yet another fabrication. Historically, there was no single administrative or political entity encompassing the entire subcontinent before British colonial rule. 

The concept of a unified India is a modern construct, and Hindutva ideologues’ claim of its ancient existence is historically inaccurate. Before the discovery of the Harappan civilization, India did not feature prominently among ancient civilizations in historical accounts. The glorification of an imagined Hindu-centric civilisation serves as a tool to erase the region’s pluralistic and multi-ethnic history.

The lie that India was a nation thousands of years ago is easily blasted as there was no such thing as ‘India’. India came into being during the colonial times and it was born in 1947 as a nation-state. This was accompanied by the partition of British India, leading to the creation of Pakistan. 

The territorial boundaries, governance systems and the idea of a unified nation-state were shaped significantly by colonial administration. Prior to 1947, the Indian subcontinent was a collection of empires, kingdoms and autonomous regions. While cultural and trade networks fostered a sense of civilisational unity, the idea of a singular political entity called ‘India’ did not exist. 

The anti-colonial struggle united diverse communities under the banner of Indian nationalism. Leaders like Gandhi, Nehru and Ambedkar envisioned India as a pluralistic and democratic nation that respected its diversity.

Also read: No Matter What it Says Now, RSS Did Not Participate in the Freedom Struggle

This is not to deny that ancient India produced remarkable advancements in civilisation, knowledge and economic power. However, these achievements were not exclusively Brahminical; they were also significantly shaped by the adversarial Shramanic traditions, which the Hindutva movement conveniently co-opts into its narrative. This selective appropriation erases the contributions of alternative streams of thought, reducing the depth and inclusivity of India’s historical legacy.

When our freedom fighters were braving the British batons and bullets, the Hindutva proponents struck a compromise with the British and preached to the people that the British were not their enemy. Instead, they targeted Muslims who were largely of the same stock as them and who had made India their home long ago.

Thus, the entire superstructure of Hindutva is based on the foundation of lies and falsehoods. 

Organising with lies

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have often used propaganda, misinformation and strategic distortion of facts to achieve political power. 

The following is a list of their salient lies and distortions:

• Misrepresentation of History: Framing Muslim rulers, especially the Mughals, as universally oppressive invaders to create an ‘us vs. them’ narrative, ignoring instances of cultural syncretism, progressive policies and alliances with Hindu rulers. It presented figures like Savarkar as staunch nationalists while downplaying their documented cooperation with colonial powers and attempts to break the unity of people on religious lines.
• Narrative on Tribals: The RSS and its affiliates have propagated that India’s tribal communities (Adivasis) are inherently part of Hindu society, often referring to them as ‘Vanavasi’ (forest dwellers) rather than ‘Adivasi’ (original inhabitants). This framing denies their distinct identity and autonomy, positioning them as an extension of Hindu cultural heritage. This includes initiatives like Vanavasi Kalyan Ashrams, aiming to ‘reconvert’ tribals, especially those practicing Christianity or animistic faiths, back to Hinduism; anti-conversion laws which target tribal communities who adopt Christianity, branding it as a threat to Hindu culture while ignoring the voluntary nature of such conversions; and promoting mythical narratives that links tribal origins to figures like Shabari or Hanuman from Hindu epics, asserting their intrinsic connection to Hindu mythology. The term Vanavasi implies that tribals are merely dwellers of forests rather than rightful claimants to the land. This subtle narrative shift undermines their political and legal claims to land ownership and self-determination under the Fifth Schedule and Forest Rights Act.
• Propaganda on religious polarisation: They spread lies that Muslims have more wives and produce more children to eventually capture power in India. They created bogus terms like ‘love jihad’ to propagandise that Muslim men are systematically luring Hindu women into marriage to convert them. They also framed the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute as a purely religious issue while ignoring the political motivations behind the movement.

Illustration: Pariplab Chakraborty

• False economic claims: Projecting itself a clean and principled party, the BJP promised to bring back black money stashed abroad and deposit Rs 15 lakh into every Indian’s bank account, a claim later dismissed as an “election jumla” (rhetorical statement). Likewise, it promised to have created millions of jobs, while reports and data often indicate a rise in unemployment or inadequate job growth. 
• False equivalences and deflection: Equating dissent with anti-nationalism, creating an environment where questioning the government is seen as a betrayal of the country, the BJP displayed a single-minded pursuit of power to achieve its not-so-secret goal of a Hindu Rashtra and aimed to decimate the opposition completely. It blamed the Congress Party for all of India’s ills, including those stemming from BJP’s own policies.
• Fake narratives about opponents: Branding the Congress as a dynastic party while downplaying its own promotion of families within BJP ranks. BJP accused opposition parties of ‘minority appeasement’, fostering a narrative that India’s secular policies have been unjust to the Hindu majority.
• Technological propaganda: It created an ecosystem to peddle fake news with complete control on the media. It used social media platforms and IT cells to spread doctored videos, false claims and misinformation targeting political opponents and religious minorities. There have been accusations of EVM tampering and electoral malpractices while dismissing genuine concerns raised by experts and observers about electronic voting machines.
• Cultural and civilisational myths: The BJP promoted pseudoscientific and unfounded claims that ancient Indians invented aviation, plastic surgery or stem-cell technology, turning India’s real historical achievements into objects of ridicule. It equated the Hindi language and Hindu religion with Indian culture, marginalising India’s linguistic and cultural diversity.

Governance by lies

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bid for power in the 2014 election was also based on a lie. He projected himself as a development man, promoting the false Gujarat Model as his accomplishment. 

He skillfully managed to cover up his venomous communalism with the secular slogan “sabka saath, sabka vikas”. His theatrical performance while entering the parliament, projecting himself as the great devotee of parliamentary democracy, was also a lie as he soon began breaking every parliamentary convention and norm. 

His display of devotion to the Constitution and its maker, B.R. Ambedkar, was also untrue as he would go on to ignore not only constitutional morality but also defy its letters. Ambedkar’s preamble that promised justice, liberty, equality, fraternity and dignity would be thrown to winds as he ran roughshod to assume autocratic power.          

Some of the notable lies and misleading claims during the last 10 years of Modi government are as follows:

• Fastest growing economy: The Modi government claimed that India achieved the ‘fastest-growing economy’ status. The reality was that while growth figures were initially high, they slowed significantly post-demonetisation and during the pandemic. Comparisons also omitted historical context or global trends.
• Demonetisation: The government claimed success in demonetisation which meant that it eliminated black money, curbed terrorism and digitised the economy. However, the reports from the Reserve Bank of India indicated that 99% of demonetised currency returned to the system, and there was little evidence linking demonetisation to reduced terrorism or significant economic benefits. India’s currency in circulation (CIC) has increased rapidly since demonetisation. In November 2016, it was Rs 16.63 lakh crore, which came down to Rs 13. 35 lakh crore but began rising and reached Rs 35.15 lakh crore by March 2024.
• GST: It misrepresented the GST as a simplified taxation model while downplaying its problematic implementation and impact on small businesses. The lopsided implementation of GST caused huge economic setbacks and had adverse implications on the federal relations. All these concerns were haughtily pushed under the carpet.
• Welfare success: The success of schemes like PM-Kisan, Swachh Bharat and Ujjwala Yojana was often exaggerated, ignoring their implementation failures and gaps.

Illustration: Pariplab Chakraborty

• False promises on corruption: The BJP claims to have eradicated corruption while allowing scandals, crony capitalism and opaque electoral funding systems to thrive. Scandals involving the Rafale deal, electoral bonds and favouritism in the private sector have raised questions about transparency. 
• Manufacturing sector and employment: The government claimed that its ‘Make in India’ initiative revitalised manufacturing and created jobs. The reality, however, was that manufacturing growth stagnated and job creation remained a major concern despite high-profile announcements. As against the government’s claim that 2 crore jobs were created annually under the BJP, the reports, including those from Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) and National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), revealed rising unemployment rates, with some of the highest figures in 45 years.
• Farmer incomes: The government claimed doubling farmers’ income by 2022. However, in reality farmers’ incomes largely stagnated and agrarian distress worsened, with protests highlighting systemic issues.
• Pandemic: The government claimed that India handled the pandemic better than most countries. The reality was that the second wave exposed several systemic failures, including oxygen shortages and overwhelmed healthcare systems. The official death toll was widely considered underreported by a factor of 10. The data fudging was operated as a concurrent stratagem. 
• Citizenship Amendment Act: The government claimed that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was not discriminatory and did not target any community. The critics, including legal experts, argued it was discriminatory against Muslims, especially when coupled with the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
• Article 370: The government claimed revoking Article 370 brought peace, development, and integration to Jammu & Kashmir. In reality, human rights abuses, prolonged internet blackouts and stifled political activity painted a different picture with little evidence of developmental benefits. The abolition of statehood of J&K and making it a Union Territory is another foul play with the Constitution that Modi often swears by.
• Mythical Hindu glory: The RSS/BJP leaders falsified history to efface Muslim period and include its mythical Hindu glory. None other than Modi highlighted scientific advancements in ancient India and claimed feats like interplanetary travel and plastic surgery. Such claims were dismissed as pseudo-science and ridiculed by the scientific community.
• Ram temple: The entire episode, which has significantly changed the secular fabric of the country, is based on multiple lies. It was claimed that donations for the Ram temple in Ayodhya were fully transparent and used appropriately. However, allegations have surfaced regarding financial mismanagement and land deals related to temple funds.
• Fake news: It was often claimed that BJP and RSS-affiliated IT cells did not spread misinformation. Several fact-checkers, including AltNews, have exposed campaigns of co-ordinated misinformation targeting political opponents and minorities.
• Religious freedom: It was claimed that the BJP upholds secularism and religious freedom. However, the hate crimes, communal violence and inflammatory speeches increased under BJP rule, often with tacit support from party leaders.

These examples highlight concerns about misleading claims and narratives promoted during BJP’s governance, fostering debate over their impact on India’s socio-economic and political fabric. 

The lies factory of Goebbels’s grandchildren has worked wonders for them so far, but history shows that such deceit cannot sustain indefinitely. They would do well to heed the wisdom of their own scripture, Mundaka Upanishad, which says satyameva jayate (truth alone triumphs).