Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has stirred the pot with a forthright assertion: India’s Prime Minister is ‘Hindu’ by the force of civilizational tradition, not constitutional decree. In a speech rich with historical resonance, Sarma challenged conventional narratives on identity and governance.
Drawing from India’s ancient civilizational tapestry, Sarma argued that Hinduism represents a comprehensive worldview – encompassing philosophy, rituals, and societal norms – far beyond religious labels. ‘Our leader embodies the Hindu parampara that predates any written law,’ he stated, linking the PM to millennia of cultural evolution.
The remarks have polarized opinions. Secularists decry them as undermining Article 14’s equality pledge, fearing they prioritize faith over office. BJP allies hail it as a liberating truth, celebrating the PM’s role as a symbol of resurgent Hindu consciousness.
Sarma supported his view with references to epics like the Mahabharata, where dharma guided kings without needing statutes. He critiqued colonial-era secularism as a misfit for Bharat’s soul. ‘True sovereignty lies in our itihas, not imported frameworks,’ he averred.
With elections on the horizon, this could galvanize cultural nationalists while alienating moderates. Pundits predict it will dominate headlines, forcing a national reckoning on whether India’s leadership should reflect its demographic and historical reality. Sarma’s intervention ensures the conversation on Hindu identity remains front and center.