The Unapologetic Hindu: How Modi's Civilisational Confidence Fuels India's Ascent

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Modi 3.0, far from being chastened by a reduced parliamentary majority, appears to be doubling down on the unapologetic embrace of Hindu identity.
For decades, India's political elite danced a peculiar waltz: they governed a nation steeped in Hindu tradition yet shied away from embracing this identity publicly. Secularism, as it was practiced, often felt like a polite apology for the country's cultural core, a self-imposed silence over the vibrant rhythms of a civilisation older than most. Leaders draped their public personas in a neutral, almost sterile modernity, as if acknowledging India's Hindu wellspring risked fracturing a 'pluralistic" fabric – a fabric, ironically, largely woven from the inclusive threads of that very Hindu worldview. It was a strange disconnect, like a mighty river trying to hide its source, leaving the nation's identity oddly subdued and its confidence stunted.
Narendra Modi didn't just change the tune; he changed the entire orchestra. And now, Modi 3.0, far from being chastened by a reduced parliamentary majority, appears to be doubling down on this unapologetic embrace of Hindu identity – not as a tool of exclusion, but as the very bedrock of India's cultural revival and its determined global ascent. This isn't about crafting a theocracy or sidelining minorities, as critics reflexively charge in often predictable editorials. Instead, this is the story of a nation finally comfortable in its own skin, drawing profound strength from its ancient ethos to fuel a modern, aspirational, and genuinely inclusive future for all its citizens.
What does this civilisational confidence look like in practice? Consider the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. This is not merely a temple rising from the dust of a long-disputed site; it's a spiritual anchor restored after centuries of struggle. Past governments, paralysed by political calculations, allowed the issue to fester. Narendra Modi's approach was different: facilitate a resolution through due legal process, then embrace the outcome as a national moment of cultural reclamation—not a slight against any community, but India making peace with a significant, long-denied part of its own history. India finally looked in the mirror and, instead of flinching, decided to own its reflection with pride.
The abrogation of Article 370 tells a similar tale of civilisational assertion. To some, scrapping the special status of Jammu and Kashmir would appear like an overhyped legislative amendment. On the contrary, it was a bold act of national integration, fully weaving a region—historically, geographically, and culturally an inseparable part of India's civilisational tapestry—into the national mainstream. The streets of Srinagar and Jammu, once living under a different constitutional shadow, now benefit from the same development schemes, the same digital infrastructure, the same opportunities as cities like Bengaluru or Bhubaneswar.
Modi's projection of this civilisational confidence extends powerfully onto the global stage. When he gifts a Bhagavad Gita to a foreign leader, he shares Bharat's profound philosophical wisdom. After all, he is India's Prime Minister and its foremost cultural ambassador. Similarly, the International Day of Yoga, championed by Modi at the UN, has blossomed into a global phenomenon. More than just coordinated stretching in parks from New York to Tokyo; the day now commemorates India's ancient science of well-being, thoughtfully packaged for a world starved of inner peace and balance. Picture yoga mats unrolled on a misty morning in London's Hyde Park or amidst the bustle of a Delhi community centre—same practice, same Indic roots, but global resonance. Modi doesn't shrink from this heritage; he wears it. Visiting temples, participating in rituals, invoking shlokas – these are presented as natural, integral facets of his identity and, by extension, India's. Why, indeed, should they be otherwise?
Internally, a less visible but equally vital project is underway: fostering greater unity within Hindu society itself. India's majority community is no monolith. For centuries, it has been fragmented by caste hierarchies, regional specificities, and sectarian interpretations. Modi's consistent call for 'Samajik Samrasta' (social harmony) and his denouncement of caste discrimination aim to bridge these historical fissures. After all, the BJP and RSS's project is much larger – attempting to forge a more cohesive, resilient Hindu identity, one capable of navigating the complexities of the 21st century after enduring centuries of Abrahamic and European colonial assaults that sought to dismantle it. He understands that a fractured and internally conflicted majority cannot provide a stable anchor for national progress. The goal is a pan-Hindu consciousness that is proud, inclusive, and forward-looking.
Critics, predictably, decry this as majoritarianism, a betrayal of some idealised, often de-Indianized, version of secularism. But their preferred model often translated into a peculiar reticence about the majority's heritage, a public square where one faith was expected to whisper while others could speak freely. True inclusivity doesn't demand the erasure of the foundational culture; it mandates equal respect for all, including the ethos that shapes the nation's deepest cultural pulse. Dismissing Modi's approach as merely divisive is to miss the woods for the trees. Modi's vision is about grounding India firmly in its unique civilisational roots to enable it to stand taller, more confidently, on the world stage.
Post-election, with the BJP's outright majority trimmed in the Lok Sabha, the commentariat was quick to predict a course correction. Flick through social media or scan the op-ed pages, and the narrative was clear: a tighter mandate necessitates a softer, more 'centrist' approach, perhaps even a wistful glance back towards the often-chaotic compromises of 'coalition dharma.' Many seemed to be holding their breath, almost hoping for a return to the era of hesitant and diluted governance.
Yet, Modi 3.0 seems to be audaciously defying that script. There's no discernible pivot and no dilution of the core message. Instead, there's an almost palpable resolve to accelerate, to more deeply embed this civilisational confidence into India's very sinews. The election results, nuanced as they undoubtedly are by local factors, are seemingly not being interpreted as a wholesale rejection of this foundational vision. Rather, the mandate appears to have invigorated the mission to make this cultural anchoring the unshakeable bedrock of a 'Viksit Bharat'.
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This unapologetic civilisational stance resonates precisely because it is coupled with tangible governance and a relentless focus on development for all. New highways slicing through formerly disconnected regions, UPI transactions empowering the smallest street vendor, solar panels glinting on rural rooftops, India's enemies being eliminated – these are daily affirmations that heritage and progress are not mutually exclusive but mutually reinforcing. For too long, India was presented with a false dichotomy: cling to your past or race towards an ill-defined future. Modi's bold proposition is that the two are inextricably intertwined. A nation unmoored from its cultural anchorage drifts aimlessly, but one that embraces its roots with confidence and clarity walks with purpose towards its destiny.
Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views.
About the Author
Sanbeer Singh Ranhotra
Sanbeer Singh Ranhotra is a producer and video journalist at Network18. He is enthusiastic about and writes on both national affairs as well as geopolitics.
tags :
Ayodhya Ram mandir Narendra Modi Straight Talk
Location :
New Delhi, India, India
First Published:
June 03, 2025, 16:04 IST
News opinion Straight Talk | The Unapologetic Hindu: How Modi's Civilisational Confidence Fuels India's Ascent