Speaking about the current atmosphere in the country, veteran writer Nayantara Sahgal said she identified herself as a half Muslim owing to her north Indian background and went on to emphasise the difference between Hindutva and Hinduism. “When India had to decide official languages after Independence, the list was of 13 languages. The list did not have Urdu, and my uncle Jawaharlal Nehru questioned that,” she said. The official said to him, ‘Sir, Urdu is nobody’s mother tongue’. To which he said, ‘It is mine’.”
She said, “We refused a religious identity when we attained Independence because we’re a deeply religious country with many religions. My problem is with Hindutva because I’m a Hindu myself and it makes me sad that the Hindutva mentality has divided us into Hindus and others. Hindutva is a complete distortion of Hinduism”.

Speaking about the current atmosphere in the country, veteran writer Nayantara Sahgal said she identified herself as a half Muslim owing to her north Indian background and went on to emphasise the difference between Hindutva and Hinduism. “When India had to decide official languages after Independence, the list was of 13 languages. The list did not have Urdu, and my uncle Jawaharlal Nehru questioned that,” she said. The official said to him, ‘Sir, Urdu is nobody’s mother tongue’. To which he said, ‘It is mine’.”
She said, “We refused a religious identity when we attained Independence because we’re a deeply religious country with many religions. My problem is with Hindutva because I’m a Hindu myself and it makes me sad that the Hindutva mentality has divided us into Hindus and others. Hindutva is a complete distortion of Hinduism”.