Hanumankind
The Enigma of Hanumankind: A Critical Investigation For centuries, the figure of Hanuman has transcended religious and cultural boundaries, evolving from a revered Hindu deity into a modern symbol of strength, devotion, and resilience.
Yet, in recent years, the concept of Hanumankind has emerged a term that seeks to encapsulate the broader cultural, political, and ideological appropriations of Hanuman’s imagery.
This phenomenon raises critical questions: Who defines Hanumankind? Is it a unifying force or a tool for exclusion? And what are the consequences of its commodification? Thesis Statement Hanumankind, while ostensibly a celebration of unity and strength, is a contested ideological construct that reflects deeper tensions between cultural preservation, political appropriation, and commercial exploitation.
Its complexities reveal how mythologies are repurposed in modern discourse, often at the expense of marginalized voices.
The Political Weaponization of Hanuman Hanuman’s image has been increasingly co-opted by nationalist movements in India, where his symbolism loyalty, power, and unwavering service is strategically aligned with political agendas.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has frequently invoked Hanuman in rhetoric framing Hindus as a besieged majority, reinforcing a divisive narrative.
Scholar Christophe Jaffrelot (2021) notes that such mythic symbolism serves to legitimize majoritarian politics, often sidelining religious minorities.
Simultaneously, Hanuman’s militarized depictions muscled, wielding a mace mirror the hypermasculine nationalism promoted by groups like the Bajrang Dal.
Critics argue this distorts Hanuman’s spiritual essence, reducing him to a mascot for aggression rather than devotion.
Commercialization and Cultural Dilution Beyond politics, Hanumankind thrives in the marketplace.
From fitness brands (Hanuman Fitness) to blockbuster films (, 2023), the deity’s iconography is repackaged for mass consumption.
While some celebrate this as cultural pride, others, like anthropologist Meena Khandelwal (2019), warn of mythological gentrification where sacred narratives are stripped of context for profit.
The global yoga industry exemplifies this tension: Hanumanasana (the splits pose) is marketed as a physical challenge, often divorced from its roots in Hanuman’s legendary leap to Lanka.
This commodification, argues religious studies scholar Philip Lutgendorf (2007), risks reducing a rich tradition to exotic aesthetics.
Resistance and Reclamation Not all engagements with Hanumankind are exploitative.
Dalit and feminist reinterpretations challenge dominant narratives.
Activist Kancha Ilaiah (2018) highlights how lower-caste communities reclaim Hanuman as a subaltern figure a servant who transcends hierarchy.
Similarly, feminist retellings, like Volga’s, reimagine Hanuman as an ally in gendered struggles.
These counter-narratives reveal Hanumankind’s potential as a site of resistance.
Yet, they remain marginalized in mainstream discourse, overshadowed by more dominant, often oppressive, interpretations.
Conclusion: The Paradox of Hanumankind Hanumankind is a mirror of modern contradictions a symbol of unity that divides, a sacred icon turned commodity, a mythic hero weaponized yet reclaimed.
Its complexities underscore a broader truth: mythologies are never static, but battlegrounds where power, identity, and memory collide.
The challenge lies in navigating Hanumankind’s duality: celebrating its inspirational potential while resisting its misuse.
As this investigation reveals, the true test is not in invoking Hanuman’s strength, but in ensuring that his legacy serves justice, not just power.
Sources Cited: - Jaffrelot, C.
(2021).
- Khandelwal, M.
(2019).
The Problem with ‘Exotic’ Yoga.
.
- Lutgendorf, P.
(2007).
- Ilaiah, K.
(2018).