ABSTRACT
Foreign rulers came and went, but Hindu hegemony remains the bedrock of Indian civilization. This chapter shows that Hindu hegemony has persisted on the basis of three civilizational stratagems: cultural synthesis; emulation of rivals; and accommodation of subalterns and outsiders. With some modifications, Hindu hegemony continues to define Hindu-Muslim relations. Not only Hindu nationalists but also secularists and Muslims operate under its auspices. They pursue raison de civilisation in ways that, despite inherent iniquities, have served them well.
