How Zohran Mamdani ended up in a fight over Hindu nationalism

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani expressed his opposition to a Hindu nationalist leader, Mohan Bhagwat, appearing at Madison Square Garden on Saturday. Mamdani, who is Muslim and of Hindu descent on his mother's side, stated that while he doesn't support the rally, he's uncertain if the city has the authority to cancel a private event. This stance has sparked controversy and accusations of bias against Muslims, leading to allegations that Mamdani is "Hinduphobic" and attempting to divide the city's diverse communities.

Bhagwat, the leader of the Indian organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), is a Hindu nationalist group affiliated with India's ruling party, the Bharatiya Janata Party. Bhagwat is a highly influential figure in India, despite not being a politician or an officeholder. The RSS, described as a "Hindu-centric civilisational, cultural movement," has been accused of promoting intolerance, discrimination, and violence against minorities, particularly Muslims, in the country.

Nishant Upadhyay, an associate professor in Asian American studies at the University of Colorado Boulder, explained that the RSS was founded in 1925 during British colonial rule with the goal of making India a Hindu-only nation. Over the past century, the violence against Muslim and Christian communities has escalated, with these religions seen as threats to Hinduism.

The RSS argues that religions like Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism can be part of the Hindu nation if they identify as Hindu due to shared similarities in their scriptures, despite these religions having anti-casteist and anti-patriarchal critiques of Hinduism.

The current Indian government, led by the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is closely tied to the RSS. The RSS doesn't participate in elections but provides spiritual, religious, and intellectual support for the BJP, which has significantly impacted Indian society since coming to power a decade ago.