In religion and cultural studies, what are the followers of Hinduism commonly called?

Introduction / Context:
Hinduism is one of the oldest and largest religions in the world, with deep roots in the Indian subcontinent. Knowing the correct names for the followers of major religions is a basic element of general knowledge and helps with respectful communication in multicultural settings. This question asks you to identify the standard term used for followers of Hinduism.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The religion is Hinduism.
• We must choose the correct term for its followers.
• Options include Brahmans, Hindus, Sindhus, and Indus.
• Only one option matches common usage in English and in academic writing.

Concept / Approach:
Followers of Hinduism are called Hindus. The word Hindu historically referred to people living beyond the Indus river and later came to refer to a broad religious and cultural tradition. Brahmans are a particular varna or social group within Hindu society, not all followers of the religion. Sindhus and Indus relate to historical and geographical terms connected with the river Indus but are not used as names for religious followers in modern English usage.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify Hinduism as a major world religion originating in the Indian subcontinent. Step 2: Recall that the common term for its followers is Hindus, used in media, textbooks, and everyday speech. Step 3: Examine the options and match this recollection with option b, Hindus. Step 4: Recognise that Brahmans refers to a specific priestly varna, which is only one section of the Hindu population. Step 5: Note that Sindhus and Indus are related to the river and region but are not used as modern group names for people who follow Hindu beliefs and practices.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify by thinking of phrases like Hindu temples, Hindu festivals, and Hindu communities, all of which refer to Hindus as followers. Religious studies books also use the plural Hindus when discussing believers in this tradition. This consistent usage across sources confirms that Hindus is the correct term.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Brahmans are one of the social groups within Hindu society and represent a particular traditional role associated with ritual and learning, not all followers. Sindhus and Indus are more historical or geographical words and are not used as the name of a current religious community. Thus, these options do not correctly answer the question.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to assume that a well known subgroup such as Brahmans stands for the entire religion. Another is to be misled by similar sounding words like Sindhus and Indus without remembering their actual meanings. Remembering that Hindu is the adjective and Hindus is the plural noun for followers makes such questions straightforward.

Final Answer:
Followers of Hinduism are commonly called Hindus.