An alternative history is a book by american indologist, wendy doniger which the author describes as an alternative to the narrative of hindu history that they tell. This series of interconnected essays and lectures surveys the most critically important and hotly contested issues in hinduism over 3,500 years, from the ancient time of the vedas to the present day. It has seven sections based on the different themes. During a lecture in london in 2003, doniger escaped being hit by an egg thrown by a hindu nationalist apparently angry at the sexual thrust of her interpretation of the sacred ramayana. Apr 26, 2009 during a lecture in london in 2003, doniger escaped being hit by an egg thrown by a hindu nationalist apparently angry at the sexual thrust of her interpretation of the sacred ramayana. Hinduism is a living religion which has evolved gradually over 7000 years. This book is not a brief survey you noticed that already. A controversial book on hinduism is back in print in india. Step back from the brink calls by citizens for restraint febmarch 2019 south asia loses a voice of sanity asma jahangir 19522018 india. In the history of hindu india, we pick up the threads of hindu practice evident in the indussarasvati civilization, which was the largest and in many ways the most advanced of the ancient civilizations. An alternative history is a diachronic study of hinduism that highlights the complexity and diversity of the religion. Publishers weekly clear and direct this will stand as a reliable resource to return to frequently.
Vedas book of knowledge that contain much of the stories and songs of the aryans. The hindus an alternative history by wendy doniger. Feb 14, 2014 wendy donigers scholarship was critiqued at a roundtable panel in hawaii for two hours. If the indus valley civilization 3rd2nd millennium bce was the earliest source of hindu traditions, then hinduism is. This book is written by a westerner who is a practicing hindu, to give non. This series of interconnected essays and lectures surveys the most critically important and hotly contested issues in hinduism over 3,500 years, from the ancient time of the vedas to the. Book, video and teaching resources himalayan academy. The book was initially published by viking penguin in 2009 and later in india by penguins indian subsidiary, penguin india the book was criticized in india, and in february 2014 it was the subject of. Fight back and take back wendy doniger s valuable book taken away from you by a spineless publisher and the fundamentalists they made a deal with. Hindus as well as hindus who are living in the west, an introduction to the faith. Many nonhindu westerners have ideas about what hindus believe. Feb 03, 2014 doniger concludes with four concise autobiographical essays in which she reflects on her lifetime of scholarship, hindu criticism of her work, and the influence of hinduism on her own philosophy of life.
Dec 09, 2015 wendy doniger s book is at once deeply engaged with textual details, historical sweep, theoretical concerns, and contemporary politics. There is a depressing familiarity to the ruckus centred on american scholar wendy donigers book the hindus. The narrative sweep is epicwendy doniger, with exceptional brio, tells us how the story of hinduism continues to multiply. If the indus valley civilization 3rd2nd millennium bce was the earliest source of hindu traditions, then hinduism is the oldest living religion on earth. Hinduism is the modern name for the major religion of india, which grew out of early brahmanism. An alternative history from publication and pulp the remaining copies in india. Her translations for penguin classics include the rig veda, the laws of manu, and hindu myths. Wendy donigers derogatory hinduism studies introduction i do not believe in burning books, but wendy donigers 779page tome titled, the hindus.
Unprecedented in scope and approach, the norton anthology of world religions. From one of the worlds foremost scholars on hinduism, a vivid reinterpretation of its history an engrossing and definitive narrative account of history and my slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. Dont miss this equivalent of a brilliant graduate course froma feisty and exhilarating teacher. Wendy doniger but it isnt a hedgehog, and it isnt a tortoise said the young painted jaguar. While in high school, she studied dance under george balanchine and martha graham. The volume features jack miless illuminating general introductionhow the west learned to compare religionsas well as wendy donigers. Wendy doniger and the hindus by murali balaji the new. Hinduism, in her view, is an intricate weave of the diverse localities and communities of indian culture.
Book of knowledge that contain much of the stories and songs of the aryans. The bhagavad gita tells about a warrior, prince arjuna. Outcry as penguin india pulps alternative history of hindus. The latest twist in the tale is the notice served to aleph book company, the publisher of donigers previous book, on hinduism. Its a little bit of both, and i dont know its proper name. This was after a lawsuit filed by the shiksha bachao andolan samithi committee for the struggle to save education against the book arguing that the work was riddled with heresies and that the contents were offensive. Hinduism does not lend itself easily to a strictly chronological account. Doniger, a scholar of religion and professor at the university of chicago, wrote the hindus. Feb, 2014 outcry as penguin india pulps alternative history of hindus. Includes more than 60 essays and lectures spanning the decadeslong career of one of hinduisms most prominent scholars. The book was initially published by viking penguin in 2009 and later in india by penguins indian subsidiary, penguin india. Wendy donigers book is at once deeply engaged with textual details, historical sweep, theoretical concerns, and contemporary politics.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. A controversial book on hinduism is back in print in indiawith a tweak wendy donigers book was booted from india after conservative hindu activists cried foul. Apr 26, 2009 wendy doniger tries to remedy the enduring impression of a unified hinduism created in large part by the first british scholars of india. Wendy donigers scholarship was critiqued at a roundtable panel in hawaii for two hours. A critique of wendy donigers the hindus, an alternative. The latest twist in the tale is the notice served to aleph book company, the publisher of doniger s previous book, on hinduism. Wendy doniger was born in new york city to immigrant nonobservant jewish parents, and raised in great neck, new york, where her father, lester l. Oct 26, 2015 the narrative sweep is epicwendy doniger, with exceptional brio, tells us how the story of hinduism continues to multiply. Wendy doniger is the mircea eliade distinguished service professor of the history of religions in the divinity school at the university of chicago, where she is also a professor of south asian languages and civilizations.
If research studies are carried out in future on hinduism and her book is referred. May 07, 20 through this magisterial volume which she calls the book of my books wendy doniger, widely acknowledged as one of the greatest and most original scholars of hinduism, enlarges our understanding. I should call it armadillo till i found out the real one. This collection will unsettle some current certainties about the nature of faith and, in so doing, may. In the light of foregoing, it is incumbent upon contemporary hindus and hindu scholars to regain the initiative and using indigenous historiography and cognitive categories and to institute a framework to generate in multiple volumes a genuine and authentic history of the hindus from an insiders perspective. It is intended to provide an authentic presentation of the early history of india and hinduism for use in american 6th grade social study classes, as well as hindu temple study groups and general. The history of todays hindus, onesixth of our human race, extends back beyond recorded history. Feb 12, 2014 wendy doniger s book is a tribute to hinduism s complexity, not an insult this article is more than 6 years old. Through this magisterial volume which she calls the book of my books wendy doniger, widely acknowledged as one of the greatest and most original scholars of hinduism, enlarges our understanding. Hinduism flows from the misty past some 6000 to 7000 years ago. She is scholarly, persuasive in her interpretations, especially bringing to light the suppressed presence of women, tribals, and untouchables, and witty, providing great reading pleasure and knowledge. This book is a collection of essays on hinduism by the author wendy doniger. The contents of the book on hinduism written by wendy doniger are malicious and offending similar to her pervious work which the publishers have agreed to withdraw, convenor of sbas dina nath batra said addressing a press conference.
After severe backlash in india and a court case that ended last. Wendy doniger has 73 books on goodreads with 35307 ratings. Hinduism brings together over 300 texts from 1500 b. I had intended it to be, but it got the bit between its teeth and ran away from me, nor, on the other hand, is it a reference book that covers all the facts and dates about hinduism or a book about hinduism as it is lived today. Wendy doniger s enthralling and encyclopaedic book reveals her vision of a hindu culture that is plural, varied, generous, and inclusive. On hinduism paperback wendy doniger oxford university press. Recalling this book is essential because doniger, a socalled scholar, has misrepresented india and hinduism. Examines a rich array of hindu conceptspolytheism, death, gender, art, contemporary puritanism, nonviolence, and many more. The author, wendy doniger, has two doctorates, one in sanskrit and one in indian studies, so she is exceedingly well qualified to write meaningfully on this topic. Includes more than 60 essays and lectures spanning the decadeslong career of one of hinduism s most prominent scholars. This collection will unsettle some current certainties about the nature of faith and, in so doing, may help its readers. In the light of foregoing, it is incumbent upon contemporary hindus and hindu scholars to regain the initiative and using indigenous historiography and cognitive categories and to institute a framework to generate in multiple volumes a genuine and authentic. She frames the debate over her book, as well as other topics when it comes to hinduism, as one between hindu rightwing activists and scholars.
This book will no doubt further expose her to the fury of the modernday indian heirs of the british imperialists who invented hinduism. On hinduism by wendy doniger meet your next favorite book. The washington post an engrossing and definitive narrative account of history and myth, the hindus offers a new way of understanding one of the worlds oldest major religions. Wendy donigers enthralling and encyclopaedic book reveals her vision of a hindu culture that is plural, varied, generous, and inclusive. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The ancient indians were not interested in history as such, which is simply the records of kings and merchants written by the victors. In this magisterial volume of essays, wendy doniger enhances our understanding of the ancient and complex religion to which she has devoted herself for half a century. Censorship by the batra brigade nyr, may 8, wendy doniger touches on a number of issues when it comes to the academic study of religion and larger questions of representation. An alternative history is the latest in a long line of incidents that show the state refusing to protect liberal values. For those who already know and admire wendy donigers work, this is a handy if hefty compendium. Textual sources for the study of hinduism textual sources for the study of religion, issn 17592739. Mar, 2014 the latest twist in the tale is the notice served to aleph book company, the publisher of donigers previous book, on hinduism.
The flow of hinduism can be divided roughly into major periods of change and development. This is a rich text that will encourage dialogue and conversation among a wide range of scholars. Hinduism for beginners an concise introduction to the eternal path to liberation by. Wendy donigers book is a tribute to hinduisms complexity. Unlike her previous work this was specifically aimed at the indian audience. While in high school, she studied dance under george balanchine and martha graham she graduated summa cum laude in sanskrit and indian studies from radcliffe. The real reason wendy donigers book on hindus was banned. Right or wrong, wendy donigers the hindus should be. Wendy donigers the hindus, an alternative history penguin books 2009 by vishal agarwal aldous huxley once said that an intellectual was someone who had found something more interesting than sex. The real reason wendy donigers book on hindus was banned in. Same group attacks another doniger book india news,the. Nov 30, 2010 wendy doniger s book is at once deeply engaged with textual details, historical sweep, theoretical concerns, and contemporary politics. Hinduism is a product of this unique heritage to which both this hindu and that hindu have contributed.
Prasannarajan, india today this tremendously spirited, agile and learned book should be the standard history of hinduism for many years to come. The notice demanded that the publisher withdraw this book too. The bhagavad gita is an important sacred text of hinduism. I came to know of wendy doniger in 2014, after penguin decided to withdraw her book the hindus. On hinduism is the culmination of over forty years of scholarship from a renowned expert on one of the worlds great faiths. She is an american indologist with dozens of publication under her name. Wendy doniger tries to remedy the enduring impression of a unified hinduism created in large part by the first british scholars of india. Hinduism, major world religion originating on the indian subcontinent and comprising several and varied systems of philosophy, belief, and ritual. Aleph book company is an independent publishing firm promoted by rupa publications. This book is also alternative to the narrative of hindu history that they tell. The norton anthology of world religions offers a beautifully designed library of more than 1,000 primary texts, accompanied by headnotes, annotations, glossaries, maps, illustrations, chronologies, and a dazzling general introduction by pulitzer prize winner jack miles. Wendy doniger in when the lingam is just a cigar, psychoanalysis and hindu sexual. Textual sources for the study of hinduism wendy doniger.