Hindutva simply meant, Hindu Religion and Culture; It is a synonymous word for Hinduism. The suffix 'tva' come from tattva ; tattva is more philosophical and broader than the English word 'ism', so Hidutva is more relevant than the word Hinduism

Hindutva is an ideological concept coined by the freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar during his stay in Andaman jail in his book, essentials of Hindutva”. The Book is also available by the title Hindutva, who is a Hindu. It is a cultural concept of unity and interdependent freedom. It is an instrument for social equality, justice, and freedom to choose any Ishta Devata (personal god, meaning any faith). It embraces a political doctrine "appeasement for none and justice for all". It also defines an economic system where a person is an integral part and not a pawn on the economic chessboard. It also envisions a system of coexistence in that no religion has the right even to try to obliterate any other religion.

The concept is more cultural than religious and written in nationalistic fervour. To the question, who is a Hindu ? Veer Savarkar, reply “A HINDU means a person who regards this land of BHARATHVARSHA, from the Indus to the Sea as his Father-Land as well as his Holy-Land that is the cradle land of his religion”.