J. Nandakumar

J. Nandakumar
J. Nandakumar
Born
Kerala, India
OccupationsPolitical thinker, Author, RSS Pracharak
OrganizationRashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)
Known forNational Convenor of Prajna Pravah

J. Nandakumar is an Indian political thinker, senior pracharak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), author, and the National Convenor of Prajna Pravah. He is known for promoting a Bharat-centric intellectual framework and advocating for the decolonisation of India's educational and historical narratives.[1] He frequently writes and speaks on Hindutva as a civilisational worldview and argues for the revival of Indian knowledge systems.[2]

Early life and background

J. Nandakumar was born in Kerala and became associated with the RSS at a young age.[3] Before taking on larger ideological responsibilities, he served as the editor of the Malayalam weekly Kesari (magazine), contributing to discussions on culture, society, and nationalism.[4]

Activism

As National Convenor of Prajna Pravah, Nandakumar leads efforts to promote research and scholarship rooted in Indian civilisation and Indic knowledge traditions.[5] He has criticised what he describes as distortions in Indian historiography and called for a civilisational reinterpretation of the past.[6]

In public lectures, he has asserted that Bharat is not a nation-state formed in 1947 but an eternal civilization with continuous cultural identity.[7] He has also argued that the word “secular” in the Constitution is a Western import and should be reconsidered.[8]

References

  1. ^ "All religions have space in Bharat: Senior RSS pracharak J Nandakumar". The New Indian Express. 3 September 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  2. ^ "Purposeful deconstruction contaminated India's history: Nandakumar". The New Indian Express. 29 April 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  3. ^ "Indic Scholars: J Nandakumar". CIS Indus. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  4. ^ "Trustees – India Policy Foundation" (PDF). Indian Policy Foundation. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  5. ^ "Indic Scholars: J Nandakumar". CIS Indus. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  6. ^ "All religions have space in Bharat: Senior RSS pracharak J Nandakumar". The New Indian Express. 3 September 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  7. ^ "India was not born in 1947, says RSS leader J Nandakumar". India Today. 25 September 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  8. ^ "RSS ideologue calls secularism Western concept". International Business Times. 12 January 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2025.