On Friday, the World Hindu Congress renounced the word ‘Hinduism’, stating that the term reflected oppressive and discriminatory and embraced ‘Hindutva’ and ‘Hindu Dharma’.

The third World Hindu Congress (WHC) adopted a declaration in Thialnad’s Bangkok asserting that the word Hindutva was more accurate as it includes the gamut of all that the word ‘Hindu’ implies.

“In the term “Hindu Dharma”, the first word, i.e, ‘Hindu’ is an unbounded word. It signifies all that is Sanatan or Eternal. And then there is Dharma, which means ‘That, which sustains’,” read the declaration.

It said that in contrast, Hinduism is totally different because it is suffixed with an “ism”, which is a term defined as an oppressive and discriminatory attitude or belief. “It is for such reasons that many of our elders preferred the term “Hindutva” over Hinduism as the former is a more accurate term since it includes the gamut (spectrum) of all that the word “Hindu” implies. We agree with them and should do the same,” the declaration said.

The declaration said that Hindutva was not a complicated word and simply meant Hindu-ness. “Others have used the alternative “Sanatan Dharma”, often abbreviated as “Sanatan”. Here the term “Sanatan” works as an adjective indicating Hindu Dharma’s eternal nature,” it further said.

The declaration noted that many academicians and intellectuals portray Hindutva as the antithesis of Hindu Dharma, out of ignorance. “But most are anti-Hindutva because of their visceral hatred and biases against Hindu Dharma. Many politicians driven by political agendas and personal prejudices have also joined that group, and are criticizing Sanatan Dharma, or Sanatan with increasing regularity and vitriol,” it added.

The WHC is being held in Thailand’s Bangkok on November 24-26.