Indian vs Hindu: Difference and Comparison

Indian means numerous things in numerous specific circumstances. Generally, the term Indian alludes predominantly to individuals living within the limit of the Indian sub-landmass.

Hindu, then again, implies anyone who, regardless of his/her citizenship or spot of home, trusts in Hinduism and enjoys and supports conventional Hindu traditions.

Key Takeaways

1. Indian is a nationality representing people from India, while Hindu is a religious identity.
2. Hinduism is a religion primarily practiced in India while being Indian does not determine one’s religious beliefs.
3. Not all Indians are Hindus, as India is a diverse country with various religions and cultures coexisting.

Indian vs Hindu

Indian is a nationality or citizenship belonging to the Republic of India, which is a country located in South Asia. India is a diverse nation with multiple religions, languages, and cultures. Hinduism is a religion that originated in the Indian subcontinent and is practised by the majority of the population in India. A diverse set of beliefs and practices characterizes Hinduism.

Each individual who was at the beginning of the Constitution (26 January 1950) domiciled in the domain of India and who was brought into the world in India,

or both of whose guardians were brought into the world in India or who has been occupant in India for at the very least five years, turned into a resident of India. 

Hindus are people who view themselves socially, ethnically or strictly sticking to parts of Hinduism.

Truly, the term has additionally been utilized in the past as a topographical, social, and later strict identifier for individuals living in the Indian subcontinent.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Indian	Hindu
Meaning	Indian means any individual who is a resident of India and minor offspring of such people.	A Hindu is an individual who follows Hinduism and should have a name prevailed by a Hindu title.
Concept	Indian is bound to a country.	Hindu is bound to religion.
Historical difference	The term Indian is a more current idea and became well known during the counter settler development during the mid-nineteenth century.	The term Hindu discovers no reference in the antiquated Hindu writing.
Political Undertone	Indian does not have a strong political undertone	Hindu has a strong political undertone.
Donation	Who was given birth in India or either of whose blood parents were given birth in India.	Who follow the rules and rituals of Hinduism.

What is Indian?

Indian means any individual who is a resident of India and minor offspring of such people.

All the more definitely, an individual is called an Indian if s/he has been given democratic rights or will be deliberated casting ballot rights with the accomplishment of the greater part, by the constitution of India.

India is a mainstream majority rules system, and the constitution of India sees religion as an issue of individual decisions. 

Hence anyone, regardless of his/her strict alliance, is named as an Indian, given s/he satisfies different models for being Indian as hypothesized by the Constitution.

A particularly Indian can be a Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, Sikh, Muslim, or Jew. 

The rise of sovereign India changed the definition and made it more centred around India as a political, notwithstanding social personality.

All things considered, political India is a lot more youthful than social India.

In the present setting, the term alludes to a mixture of individuals, who are residents by birth, residents by marriage, residents by privileged citizenship,

and residents by political thought by the public authority, with no thought to the strict confidentiality of the individual.

What is Hindu?

Hindu suggests anybody who pays little heed to his/her citizenship or spot of home trusts in Hinduism and appreciates and upholds Hindu ordinary practices. 

Hinduism, however, the greatest coordinated non-Abrahamic and most seasoned religion in the world, was never institutionally coordinated and controlled by religions like Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam. 

Hinduism is somewhat a way of thinking of life dependent on the idea of “Truth wins”. The way of thinking was filled in India and was drilled by individuals living in India for over 5000 years before any coordinated religion appeared.

It’s undeniably true that before the Muslim trespassers from Mongolia and Persia established domains in India, individuals of India were 100% Hindus.

It additionally amazes that regardless of 800 years of Muslim guidelines followed by 200 years of British imperialism, starting today, 85% of the Indian populace is authoritatively Hindu.

This is the motivation behind why truly Indian and Hindu are seen as interchangeable. Yet, there exist a few contrasts between an Indian and a Hindu.

This article is an endeavour to feature a portion of the significant contrasts between the two.

An individual need not be an Indian to be a Hindu, or in an alternate manner, an individual with a non-Indian first language can be known as a Hindu if s/he is brought into the world to Hindu guardians

or picks Hinduism as a religion of confidence, however, brought into the world to non-Hindu guardians.

Main Differences Between Indian and Hindu

1. A person living in India is an Indian, whereas a person following Hinduism is a Hindu.
2. Indian is conceptually related to India as a country, whereas Hindu is conceptually related to Hinduism as a religion.
3. Indian is a new term, whereas comparatively Hindu is an older term.
4. Indians have a relatively weak political connotation, while Hindus have a strong political connotation. 
5. To be an Indian, you need to be a certified citizen of India, whereas to be a Hindu, there is no such certificate, you just have to follow the religion.

References

1. https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9781400877799/html
2. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07481187.2010.518420

Last Updated : 05 August, 2023