According to other authors, the term "Hinduism" was coined in around 1830, and appropriated by those Indians who opposed British colonialism, and who wanted to distinguish themselves from Muslims and Christians.[43][58][59][60] Before the British began to categorise communities strictly by religion, Indians generally did not define themselves exclusively through their religious beliefs; instead identities were largely segmented on the basis of locality, language, varṇa, jāti, occupation, and sect.[61][note 13] This the British colonisers did roughly in the 19th century to evolve a common law to facilitate governance.

I find this extremely interesting, as I have always been under the impression that following Hinduism meant being very passive.