Hindu Mahasabha
The Kumbh Mela in Haridwar hosted a gathering of Hindu leaders on the 13th of February 1915. This event marked the beginning of the Sarvadeshik Hindu Sabha, later renamed Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha. Madan Mohan Malviya established the organization to advocate for Orthodox Hindus within the British Raj. The group functioned primarily as a pressure group inside the Indian National Congress during its early years. Local forerunners had emerged following the partition of Bengal in 1905 under Viceroy Lord Curzon. The division created East Bengal and Assam with Muslim majorities while Bengal retained a Hindu majority. The All India Muslim League formed in 1906 catalyzed Hindu leaders to unite their interests. Lal Chand and U.N. Mukerji founded the Punjab Hindu Sabha in 1909 to protect community rights. They organized five annual provincial conferences in Punjab that called for separate Hindu nationhood. Preparatory sessions occurred at Haridwar, Lucknow, and Delhi before the formal April 1915 establishment. Gandhi and Swami Shraddhanand attended the conference supporting the formation of this umbrella organization.
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar transformed the party into a distinct political force during the 1930s. He developed the concept of Hindutva which became central to the organization's identity. Savarkar served as president when the Mahasabha opposed secular nationalism espoused by the Congress. His leadership saw the development of Hindu Militarisation Boards that recruited for British armed forces. These boards operated during World War II to support the war effort. Savarkar wrote a letter titled Stick to your Posts instructing members to remain in municipal or legislative posts. This directive prevented participation in the Quit India Movement at any cost. Syama Prasad Mukherjee, leader in Bengal, supported this stance through correspondence with the British Government. The letter dated the 26th of July 1942 outlined plans to defeat mass movements launched by Congress. Savarkar hailed princely states like Mysore State and Travancore as citadels of organized Hindu power. He defended their despotic powers while opposing integration into independent India. The Kapur Commission later examined evidence regarding his involvement in Gandhi's assassination but released him due to lack of proof.
The Hindu Mahasabha supported the British war effort during World War II despite earlier opposition to colonial rule. They briefly entered coalitions with the Muslim League in provincial and central legislative councils. Coalition governments formed in Sindh, NWFP, and Bengal between 1939 and 1943. In Sindh, members joined Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah's Muslim League government. Despite public opposition to territorial division, Mahasabha Ministers did not resign from the Sindh government. They contented themselves with a protest instead of stepping down. Mehr Chand Khanna served as Finance Minister in the North West Frontier Province cabinet. A coalition ministry led by A.K. Fazlul Huq existed in Bengal starting December 1941. Savarkar appreciated the successful functioning of these coalition governments. Dr B.R. Ambedkar noted that Savarkar and Jinnah agreed on two nations existing within India. Both insisted on separate national identities though they differed on terms of coexistence. The Mahasabha opposed the integration of princely states into independent India after 1947. They took funding from princely states to support their continued independence.
Nathuram Godse assassinated Mahatma Gandhi in New Delhi on the 30th of January 1948. Godse and fellow conspirators Digambar Badge, Gopal Godse, Narayan Apte, Vishnu Karkare, and Madanlal Pahwa were prominent Hindu Mahasabha members. Police arrested Vinayak Damodar Savarkar who was suspected of being the mastermind behind the plot. The trial resulted in convictions against others but Savarkar was released due to lack of evidence. The Kapur Commission stated all facts taken together were destructive of any theory other than conspiracy to murder. The Hindu Mahasabha considers Nathuram Godse a real forgotten hero of the independence struggle. In 2014 following the Bharatiya Janata Party's rise to power, the organization requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi install a bust of Godse. They created a documentary film Desh Bhakt Nathuram Godse for release on the death anniversary of Gandhi on the 30th of January 2015. Attempts included building a temple for Godse and celebrating the 30th of January as Shaurya Diwas or Bravery Day. A civil suit filed in Pune Court asked for a ban on the documentary film.
The Hindu Mahasabha's fortunes diminished significantly after Indian Independence in 1947. Electoral history shows seats won dropping from four in the first Lok Sabha election of 1951 to zero by 1967. The party failed to win any seats in subsequent elections through 2024 except for isolated instances. It was soon eclipsed by the Bharatiya Jana Sangh which absorbed much of its support base. The organization contested but did not win any seats in state assemblies during years like 1977, 1980, 1985, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1996. In Karnataka they won only one seat out of seven contested in 1999 with just 0.001% vote share. By 2023 they contested six seats without winning any. Current president Chakrapani leads an organization that has lost significant political influence compared to its early decades. The decline coincided with the rise of more effective nationalist parties that adopted similar ideological positions.
In 2015 Vice President VP Sadhvi Deva Thakur stated Christians and Muslims must undergo forced sterilisation. She declared population growth among these groups threatens Hindus and requires emergency measures. Her statement called for imposing restrictions so minorities cannot increase their numbers. This radical position reflects contemporary shifts within the party's ideology regarding demographic control. In September 2021 Dharmendra, state general secretary in Karnataka threatened to kill Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. The threat arose over demolition of an unlicensed temple in Nanjangud, Mysuru. He also made comments about killing Mahatma Gandhi which led to his arrest along with associates Rajesh Pavitran and Prem Poolali. These events highlight ongoing controversies involving state leadership threats and inflammatory rhetoric. The organization continues attempts to rehabilitate Nathuram Godse as a patriot while facing legal challenges. Modern statements emphasize Hindu Rashtra or Hindu Nation identity while opposing caste system policies.
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Common questions
When was the Hindu Mahasabha established and by whom?
The Sarvadeshik Hindu Sabha, later renamed Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha, was established on the 13th of February 1915. Madan Mohan Malviya founded the organization to advocate for Orthodox Hindus within the British Raj.
What role did Vinayak Damodar Savarkar play in transforming the Hindu Mahasabha?
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar transformed the party into a distinct political force during the 1930s by developing the concept of Hindutva. He served as president when the Mahasabha opposed secular nationalism espoused by the Congress and developed Hindu Militarisation Boards that recruited for British armed forces.
Why did the Hindu Mahasabha support the British war effort during World War II?
The Hindu Mahasabha supported the British war effort during World War II despite earlier opposition to colonial rule because they formed coalitions with the Muslim League in provincial and central legislative councils between 1939 and 1943. They believed these coalition governments functioned successfully and Savarkar appreciated their operation while opposing integration of princely states into independent India.
Who were the conspirators involved in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi and what happened to them?
Nathuram Godse assassinated Mahatma Gandhi in New Delhi on the 30th of January 1948 along with fellow conspirators Digambar Badge, Gopal Godse, Narayan Apte, Vishnu Karkare, and Madanlal Pahwa who were prominent Hindu Mahasabha members. Police arrested Vinayak Damodar Savarkar who was suspected of being the mastermind behind the plot but he was released due to lack of evidence.
How has the electoral performance of the Hindu Mahasabha changed since Indian Independence?
Electoral history shows seats won by the Hindu Mahasabha dropping from four in the first Lok Sabha election of 1951 to zero by 1967. The party failed to win any seats in subsequent elections through 2024 except for isolated instances and was soon eclipsed by the Bharatiya Jana Sangh which absorbed much of its support base.
What controversial statements have recent leaders of the Hindu Mahasabha made regarding minorities?
In 2015 Vice President VP Sadhvi Deva Thakur stated Christians and Muslims must undergo forced sterilisation because population growth among these groups threatens Hindus. In September 2021 Dharmendra state general secretary in Karnataka threatened to kill Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai over demolition of an unlicensed temple in Nanjangud Mysuru.