Ghar Wapsi
“Ghar Wapsi,” a Hindi term meaning “homecoming,” refers to the religious conversion of Muslims, Christians, and other non-Hindus to Hinduism in India, often organized by Hindu nationalist groups. These groups, like the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), view it as a return to ancestral traditions, asserting that all Indians were originally Hindu. [
Key Aspects of Ghar Wapsi:
- Religious Conversion: The core of Ghar Wapsi involves persuading individuals of other faiths to convert to Hinduism.
- Hindu Nationalist Ideology: It’s closely linked to the Hindutva ideology, which emphasizes the connection between being Indian and being Hindu.
- “Homecoming” Narrative: Proponents frame conversions as a return to one’s original, ancestral religion, rather than a new faith.
- Political Context: The Ghar Wapsi movement gained prominence in India, particularly after 2014, with the rise of Hindu nationalist political parties.
- Controversies: Ghar Wapsi is controversial, with critics arguing that it involves coercion and that it promotes a narrow definition of Indian identity.
- Definition of Hindu: The debate around Ghar Wapsi also involves the definition of “Hindu” and the evolution of this concept throughout history.
- “Otherness” and National Identity: Some view Ghar Wapsi as an attempt to emphasize the “otherness” of non-Hindu populations in India and their perceived alienation from the national identity.
[1] https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/10/5/313
[2] https://peoplesdemocracy.in/2015/0125_pd/real-insidious-nature-ghar-wapsi%E2%80%99-campaign