The Sangh Parivar is a loose "family" of organisations, including political parties, which promote the ideology of Hindutva. The word parivar means family in Hindi, so the term Sangh Parivar is used to refer to the family of organisations affiliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Contrary to popular belief, Hindutva is not based on the Hindu religion, but rather a nationalist feeling of Hindu community, and the supporting of ethnic stereotypes about Muslims. It has its origins in the late nineteenth century independence struggles against the British Empire and against Islamic fundamentalism. Sangh organisations are considered to be on the political "right" wing.

The Sangh Parivar is alleged to have played an important role in the 2002 Gujarat violence, during which the ethnic stereotypes against Muslims translated into the physical reality of the mass killing of Muslims. This is a concrete example of why the Sangh is considered by many to be fascist.

Some of its organisations as of 2005 include:

• Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)
• Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
• Bajrang Dal (BD)
• Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP)

See also

• 2002 Gujarat violence

External references

Supporting Sangh Parivar

• Hindu Vivek Kendra

Critical of Sangh Parivar

• Hindutva's Foreign Connections since 1930's
• relationship between Sangh Parivar and Mussolini
• allegation that the IDRF provides substantial funding to the Sangh Parivar
• Crime Against Humanity - An Inquiry into the Carnage in Gujarat