The article discusses the rise of Hindutva ideology in West Bengal, marking nearly a decade since it came to power nationally in India in 2014. It argues that the Bharatiya Janata Party’s victory in the state has extended Hindutva’s influence across India’s eastern border states—Tripura, Assam, and West Bengal—forming a contiguous ideological stronghold. The author suggests that this development does not significantly alter India’s policy toward Bangladesh, which has remained consistent regardless of which party governs in New Delhi.

The piece traces the roots of Hindutva’s cultural and political mindset to the Bengal Renaissance and British colonial structures, describing how notions of caste, privilege, and religious hierarchy shaped modern Indian identity. It draws parallels between historical land settlements, elite entitlement, and contemporary political dominance, arguing that figures such as Pranab Mukherjee helped institutionalize a Hindu-centric political culture extending into Bangladesh’s ruling party.

The author concludes by warning Bangladeshis against reacting to India’s religious polarization, urging them to resist any form of sectarianism and to avoid being provoked by ideological or cultural provocations emerging from across the border.