ABSTRACT
The major thrust of this chapter is to understand how Hindutva attempts to cast cultural traditions and religious faiths of various indigenous communities of Arunachal Pradesh within the ambit of its overarching ideological and political mould. Focusing on faiths like Donyi-Polo and communities like the Adi and the Nyishi, it shows how Hindutva collaborates with the elites and intellectuals of these indigenous communities, revives and reconstructs their religious/cultural traditions, promotes Hinduisation and institu-tionalisation, and mobilises these communities against an 'alien' Christianity. An apparent cultural and ideological convergence between Hindutva and indigenous communities has paved the way for Hindutva’s entrenchment in Arunachal Pradesh. In this context, it would be interesting to examine the evolution of Christianity in Arunachal Pradesh. A larger Tani identity could be constructed in Arunachal Pradesh by incorporating other indigenous communities like the Adis and Apatanis who believe in a common ancestry.
