Hindutva and Modern Masculinity from the eyes of Bankim, Gandhi and Upadhya

The need for masculinity as a subject of discussion has grown in popularity in the last few years. Jordan Peterson and other figures on the intellectual dark web represent this new gap in society. Men in the west are in crisis. Exiting society and taking refuge in pornography and videogames. Men are looked at as oppressors and continuously told to shut up.

Meaning is central to manhood in a way it isn't to femininity. Meaning for the woman is in her child. The current complex world makes it challenging to find meaning. Men are not able to find hierarchies to climb up and dominate. Many times because of political posturing but other times because of complexity. Men not endowed with high IQs are struggling to find meaning.

How does Hindutva solve this problem of meaninglessness in men?

What should be Hindutva's take on masculinity? Who has the answers: Gandhianism, Integral Humanism, or western-influenced intellectuals like Bankim.

Gandhi's Favourite Bhajan went like "Ninda Na Kare Keni Re" (Doesn't Criticise Anyone). Is that the vision for the Hindu man? Man who is capable of no harm. Someone who cannot uphold Dharma. The west would classify him as a sissy. No place for sex. A complete ascetic. A harmless nice-guy.

Bankim Chandra saw the excessive devotional aspect of the Hindus had ill-prepared them to meet foreign invasions or even take an interest in material life. They, he argued, had little or no appetite for governance, and for centuries they had neglected their social and political institutions. preferring instead to be regaled by stories of a Gods like Krishna, who appeared as a naughty boy, lover, cowherd, trickster, playful youngster, and even adulterer in Indian literature and art.

Deen Dayal Upadhyay looked at it through Integral Humanism. Man moving forward towards the 4 Pursharts - Dharma, Arth, Kama, and Moksha. DeenDayals's vision for masculinity gave space to both Power and Pleasure regulated by Dharma. Integral Humanism gave man space to make peace and even celebrate his femininity without doing away with his masculinity.

Whichever view of masculinity you adopt, how does that fit the modern man living on the internet in the age of porn and video games. If we don't have an answer - someone else will.