The Growing Influence of Hindu Nationalism on South Africa’s Indian Community
Hindu nationalism has gained significant prominence in India under the Modi government, which has been in power for the past decade. This ideology, which equates Indian identity with Hinduism, has fueled rising religious and political tensions within the Indian diaspora, including in South Africa.
The growing influence of Hindu nationalism in South Africa, fueled by the ruling BJP and Prime Minister Modi in India, poses a serious threat to the country’s social cohesion. Extremist organizations like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS), and the Hindu Unity Forum are actively spreading these ideologies within the South African Indian community, contributing to rising religious tensions and the potential for conflict.
Since Modi took power in 2014, his government has made extensive efforts to cultivate goodwill among the global Indian diaspora, including in South Africa. In 2016, Modi visited South Africa and addressed a Johannesburg stadium packed with 11,000 people. Many people, particularly Hindus, saw Modi as representing a strong, assertive India that is on the rise globally. At the same time, the rise of Hindu nationalism under Modi has unleashed a wave of religious polarization across the global Indian diaspora.
In March 2023, an interfaith prayer meeting organized by Ela Gandhi at the Phoenix Settlement near Durban aimed to foster peaceful, free, and fair elections in South Africa. However, the absence of a Hindu religious leader offering a prayer for collective peace sparked significant backlash on social media, highlighting the growing tensions within the South African Indian diaspora. This incident is emblematic of the rising Hindu nationalist rhetoric within this community, which comprises around 2.7 percent of South Africa’s population (1.7 million people). Of these, approximately 41 percent are Hindu, 25 percent Muslim, and 24 percent Christian.
On August 11, 2024, a protest was staged in Phoenix, Durban, by the local Hindu community, organized by the Indian Association of South Africa (IASA) and the Hindu Association of South Africa. The protest, attended by 40-45 individuals, featured placards with slogans like “Save Bangladeshi Hindus” and “Justice for Mumbai Attack Victims.”
The protest was orchestrated by figures such as Mrs. Anitha Hariram of the VHP, Mrs. Seelan Archary of the Shri Mariammen Temple, and Mr. Mervin Govender of the Hindu Unity Forum. The event highlighted how these organizations are leveraging international issues to fuel anti-Muslim sentiments in South Africa. This propaganda aims to create a perception of a worldwide threat posed by Muslim communities, furthering the broader Hindu nationalist agenda.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Hindu Unity Forum of South Africa are leading the charge in spreading Hindu nationalist ideology in South Africa. Through protests and propaganda, these organizations have linked South African Muslim communities to global Islamic threats, aiming to isolate and vilify them.
While the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) has a smaller presence in South Africa, it is actively working to influence recent Indian immigrants and the South African Indian middle class. The group advocates for Hindu supremacy, similar to the RSS, and has pressured mainstream organizations like the South African Hindu Maha Sabha to adopt its agenda.
The South African Hindu Maha Sabha, once known for its moderate views, has increasingly adopted Hindu nationalist sentiments. In 2024, its celebration of the Ram Mandir’s inauguration in Ayodhya, a controversial temple built on the site of the Babri Masjid, marked a significant shift in its stance. This indicates the growing influence of Hindu nationalist ideologies in South Africa.
Hindu nationalist groups are increasingly utilizing social media platforms to spread divisive and inflammatory rhetoric. For instance, a speech by Nathuram Godse, Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin, was shared on WhatsApp by individuals who oppose Muslims. Viral infographics and posts have accused South African Muslim leaders of being anti-Hindu, further exacerbating tensions between the communities.
Hindu nationalism’s long shadow is stretching across the Indian Ocean, casting a chilling effect on South African Indian religious leaders. Rajesh Lutchman, a voice on Hindvani radio, found himself under fire for the station’s ghazals, a musical genre often associated with Muslim culture. Fear of government backlash has even driven imams to silence their voices.
The specter of religious conversion haunts South African Hindus, just as it does their counterparts in India. As Indian news channels and social media platforms infiltrate South African homes, nationalist and anti-minority ideologies from the subcontinent are fueling anxieties about the erosion of the Hindu community.
The South African Hindu organizations’ growing allegiance to global Hindu nationalist movements could ignite tensions with nations like Pakistan and Bangladesh, potentially straining the country’s diplomatic ties. This could also exacerbate existing rifts within the Indian diaspora. Many South African Indians, alarmed by the rising influence of Hindu nationalist groups, view them as “anti-Muslim, anti-Christian, and anti-everything, except pro-Hindu.” These groups are accused of indoctrinating Hindus in South Africa.
The emergence of Hindu nationalism in South Africa, though currently small-scale, could escalate and disrupt the delicate balance of interfaith relations in the country. The divisive rhetoric and actions of these groups could fuel tensions between South African Hindus and other religious communities, similar to the violence that erupted between Hindus and Muslims in Leicester, UK, in 2022.
While these groups are currently limited in size, their message has the potential to spread in South Africa. Meanwhile, many South African Indians remain committed to preserving the interfaith harmony they grew up with. The global community must acknowledge and address the growing threat of Hindu nationalism in South Africa. These extremist ideologies, fueled by the political landscape in India, pose a danger not only to South Africa’s social harmony but also to global peace and stability.
South African leaders, religious communities, and international bodies must unite against these divisive tendencies, ensuring that intolerance and hatred do not take root in South Africa or spread beyond its borders.
