ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that the use of the Bible by Indian Christians as a source of resistance to certain forms of Hindu nationalism is complicated by the fact that the roots of Hindutva are themselves biblical. The appeal to a common folk heritage as the basis of national unity goes back to Johan Gottlieb Herder's use of his interpretation of the Old Testament's account of Israel's national distinctiveness in developing his argument for German unity. Tracing that heritage back led to the emphasis on a common Aryan heritage shared with India. If German nationalists could use the Aryan heritage to bolster their claims, it seemed obvious to Indian nationalists that similar arguments could work for Indian nationalism with the Vedas taking the place of the Old Testament writings as the source of the folk identity of the people. This means that the Bible unexpectedly operates on both sides of any conflict between Hindu nationalism and the identity of Indian Christians, which complicates the issue but may also suggest ways of achieving some rapprochement.
