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Statue Rush 🇮🇳: Hindu Nationalism Rising 🔥

July 10, 2026 | Author

Asia

🎧 Audio Summaries
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🧠Quick Intel


  • Hindu nationalist groups have erected over 500 statues of Shivaji Maharaj since 2022, with some reaching 27 meters in height.
  • The campaign, initiated over the past few years, symbolizes a defense against Muslim and Christian minorities, intensifying since the BJP’s 2014 rise to power.
  • On May 29, 2026, approximately 300 RSS supporters paraded through Sangareddy, Telangana, waving saffron flags and double-pennant flags.
  • The project is driven by the BJP high command and aims to establish India as a Hindu state, according to Rohit Chopra.
  • Statues are erected in secret with complicity from local authorities, elected officials, and sometimes the military.
  • The initiative reflects a "hundred-year-old project" aiming to redefine Hinduism as the “only authentic way to be an Indian.”
  • The campaign’s focus spans multiple locations including Telangana and Ladakh, a northern Indian state bordering Pakistan and China.

    • 📝Summary


    Over the past few years, statues of 17th-century King Shivaji have been erected across Indian cities by Hindu nationalist groups, who view him as a symbolic defender of Hindus. In May 2026, a group of around a few hundred supporters of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh rode motorcycles through Sangareddy, Telangana, displaying saffron scarves and flags. Since 2022, hundreds of these statues, some reaching 27 meters tall, have appeared in locations including Telangana and Ladakh. These actions, often involving local authorities and, at times, the military, represent a sustained campaign, fueled by the Bharatiya Janata Party since 2014. According to a communications professor, this initiative appears to be a deliberate effort to reshape India’s identity, promoting a singular, Hindu conception of Indian identity.

    💡Insights

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    THE RISE OF SHIVAJI: A NATIONALIST REBRANDING
    The erection of numerous statues of 17th-century King Shivaji Maharaj across India represents a deliberate and increasingly visible campaign spearheaded by Hindu nationalist groups. These groups, including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), view Shivaji as a potent symbol of resistance against Muslim rule and a cornerstone of their efforts to reshape India’s national identity.

    STATUE CAMPAIGN AND POLITICAL MOTIVATIONS
    Between 2022 and 2026, hundreds of towering statues of King Shivaji – some reaching heights of 27 meters – emerged in various Indian cities and states, notably Telangana and Ladakh. These constructions were often facilitated by secret actions of nationalist groups, sometimes involving local authorities and, in some instances, elements within the military. The BJP, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership since 2014, has strategically allocated funds to projects promoting Shivaji’s legacy, reflecting a broader, century-long initiative to establish India as a Hindu state, both in reality and perception.

    RECASTING HISTORY AND NATIONAL IDENTITY
    The narrative surrounding Shivaji is being actively reshaped by the BJP and RSS. Aurangzeb, the Mughal emperor against whom Shivaji fought, is portrayed as a tyrannical ruler, reinforcing a historical narrative that frames Shivaji as a defender of Hindu interests. This reimagining extends beyond Maharashtra, aiming to establish Shivaji as a pan-Hindu icon with significance for all Hindus and for India as a whole. The RSS’s interpretation of this history, rooted in 20th-century nationalism, is viewed as anachronistic, applying modern concepts of religion and national identity to a period when such conflations did not exist.

    TARGETING MINORITIES AND PUBLIC SPACE
    The proliferation of Shivaji statues coincides with a pattern of escalating violence and discriminatory policies targeting religious minorities, particularly Muslims and Christians, as documented by Human Rights Watch. While the statues don't directly insult minorities, they represent a systematic exclusion of these groups from public life and culture. Rohit Chopra, a communications professor, notes this is a calculated strategy to deny minorities a claim on public space and reinforce a national identity defined by a particular, Hindu-centric interpretation.

    REGIONAL STRATEGIES AND POLITICAL GAINS
    The strategic placement of these statues is integral to the nationalist movement's broader political strategy. The focus on Telangana, a region historically less aligned with the BJP, demonstrates a calculated effort to expand the party's influence across India. The intention is to cover the entire nation with these monuments, including anticipated installations in the eastern regions, solidifying the nationalist narrative nationwide.

    THE ROLE OF ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOLARSHIP
    Several cultural organizations are actively involved in the promotion of Shivaji’s legacy, alongside the BJP and RSS. Academic analysis, such as that of Rohit Chopra, provides crucial context, highlighting the underlying motivations and historical inaccuracies within the nationalist interpretation. Chopra’s research emphasizes the shift from regional political battles to a broader, pan-Hindu identity shaped by 19th and 20th-century conceptions of religion and national identity.

    TRANSLATION NOTE
    This article has been translated from the original in French.

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