India, Nov. 17 -- Rising atrocities against Dalits on the one hand and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) ongoing attempts to integrate the Dalit community into their broader Hindu nationalist (Hindutva) base on the other, expose an inherent contradiction. The BJP seeks to include Dalits-who constitute about 16% of India's population-because they represent a significant vote bank. Yet it also strives not to alienate its core upper-caste supporters.

The core philosophy of Hindutva envisions a homogenised Hindu society, which often clashes with Dalit assertions for systemic change and equality inspired by leaders like BR Ambedkar.

Ambedkar's vision of nationalism was constitutional and ethical rat...