Arundhati roy on gandhi, the bomb and being a woman the new. Feb 14, 2014 a critique of wendy doniger s portrayal of hinduism. It has seven sections based on the different themes. 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. There is a depressing familiarity to the ruckus centred on american scholar wendy donigers book the hindus. Apr 23, 2009 the material traces of ritual art must vanish in order that mental traces may remain intact forever, writes wendy doniger in her opus on hinduism, the hindus.
Examines a rich array of hindu conceptspolytheism, death, gender, art, contemporary puritanism, nonviolence, and many more. Unlike her previous work this was specifically aimed at the indian audience. She is the author of several translations of sanskrit texts, including penguin classics editions of hindu myths and the rig veda, as well as many books about hinduism. 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. On hinduism is the culmination of over forty years of scholarship from a renowned expert on one of the worlds great faiths.
The origins of evil in hindu mythology and translations of the rig veda and the kamasutra. A controversial book on hinduism is back in print in indiawith a tweak wendy doniger s book was booted from india after conservative hindu activists cried. Wendy doniger is the mircea eliade distinguished service professor of the history of religions at the university of chicago and the author of over 30 books, most recently the hindus. On hinduism paperback wendy doniger oxford university press. 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. 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.
She frames the debate over her book, as well as other topics when it comes to hinduism, as. Through this magisterial volume which she calls the book of my books we. 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. Her courses in mythology address themes in crosscultural expanses, such as death, dreams, evil, horses, sex, and women. For those who already know and admire wendy doniger s work, this is a handy if hefty compendium of many. Unlike the usual, arid accounts of dynasties, wendy donigers double vision of hinduism is about women, merchants, lower castes, animals, spirits and, of course, dead male brahmins. For those who already know and admire wendy donigers work, this is a handy if hefty compendium. Wendy doniger on hinduism through this magisterial volume which she calls the book of my books wendy doniger, widely acknowledged as one of the. Wendy doniger s enthralling and encyclopaedic book reveals her vision of a hindu culture that is plural, varied, generous, and inclusive. The real reason wendy donigers book on hindus was banned. Publishers weekly clear and direct this will stand as a reliable resource to return to frequently. An alternative history is a diachronic study of hinduism that highlights the complexity and diversity of the religion.
In this magisterial volume of essays, wendy doniger enhances our. Includes more than 60 essays and lectures spanning the decadeslong career of one of hinduism s most prominent scholars. Wendy doniger and the hindus by murali balaji the new. 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. Jun 24, 2004 recorded in sacred sanskrit texts, including the rig veda and the mahabharata, hindu myths are thought to date back as far as the tenth century bce. For anyone seeking a deeper and more nuanced understanding of hinduism, this book is a must read. 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. For those who already know and admire wendy doniger s work, this is a handy if hefty compendium of. Indology has come under a lot of criticism in the recent past be it the withdrawal of wendy doniger s the hindus.
Library of congress cataloginginpublication data doniger, wendy. An alternative history book online at best prices in india on. Full text of the hindus an alternative history by wendy doniger. She is an american indologist with dozens of publication under her name. Here in these seventyfive seminal myths are the many incarnations of vishnu, who saves mankind from destruction, and the mischievous child krishna, alongside stories of the minor gods, demons, rivers and animals including boars, buffalo, serpents. Wendy doniger 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. The book was initially published by viking penguin in 2009 and later in india by penguins indian subsidiary, penguin india.
Feb 12, 2014 wendy doniger s book is a tribute to hinduism s complexity, not an insult vijay prashad. Hinduism, the religion of over a billion people, is the worlds oldest religion and the most confusing one. When i received this book, my first thoughts went back to the year 1973. Having read the book, i believe its worth a read u know. Using her extensive knowledge of the original texts wendy doniger reevaluates hindu culture in the light of their l impact. If wendy doniger is so explicit about waging a war against the bjp and associates, then. Wendy doniger is one of the foremost scholars of hinduism in the world. Since there are so many books about hinduism, the author of yet another one has a duty to answer the. The hindus an alternative history is an utterly wonderful book. Wendy donigers book is a tribute to hinduisms complexity. Wendy doniger is the author of several translations of sanskrit texts and books on hinduism, which include the acclaimed bestsellers the hindus. Right or wrong, wendy donigers the hindus should be.
Or perhaps the axial age, sixth century bce and all that. Or perhaps the axial age, sixth century bee and all that. This book is a collection of essays on hinduism by the author wendy doniger. Wendy doniger was born in new york in and trained as a dancer under shiva. Wendy donigers the hindus is excellent, as hendrika notes, and gavin. The real reason wendy doniger s book on hindus was banned in india. 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. True some of its contents does give us a different idea of things.
With her inimitable insight and expertise doniger illuminates those moments within the tradition that resist forces that would standardize or establish a canon. The real reason wendy donigers book on hindus was banned in. Many nonhindu westerners have ideas about what hindus believe. She is the mircea eliade distinguished service professor of the history of religions at the. This lively, earthy account explains why ancient india is the worlds richest storytelling culture. Pdf the hindus an alternative history wendy doniger ripu. This is emphatically not a religion of any single book. In the light of foregoing, it is incumbent upon contemporary hindus and hindu. Arundhati roy on gandhi, the bomb and being a woman. Since there are so many books about hinduism, the author of yet another one. 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. Jan 07, 2016 for anyone seeking a deeper and more nuanced understanding of hinduism, this book is a must read.
Wendy doniger holds doctorates in sanskrit and indian studies from harvard and oxford. Wendy doniger social thought the university of chicago. Dont miss this equivalent of a brilliant graduate course froma feisty and exhilarating teacher. Wendy donigers derogatory hinduism studies introduction i do not believe in burning books, but wendy doniger s 779page tome titled, the hindus. An alternative history panders to an orthodox, bourgeois view of. Nov 30, 2010 wendy doniger s book is at once deeply engaged with textual details, historical sweep, theoretical concerns, and contemporary politics.
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. 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. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. Like some of her predecessors, she appreciates the sexual freedom involved, but then she also tends to stress two aspects. Mar, 2014 the real reason wendy donigers book on hindus was banned in india.
A controversial book on hinduism is back in print in india. Hinduism, in her view, is an intricate weave of the diverse localities and communities of indian culture. An alternative history is the latest in a long line of incidents that show the state refusing to protect liberal values. On hinduism wendy doniger aleph9789382277071 home wish list 0 my account shopping cart item0 0. Its interesting to note that the book noted hinduism is the oldest religion in the. I had written this for facebook, reproducing it here. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. In this magisterial volume of essays, wendy doniger enhances our unders. Fight back and reclaim wendy donigers valuable book taken away from you by a spineless publisher and the fundamentalists they made a deal with. This book will no doubt further expose her to the fury of the modernday indian heirs of the british imperialists who invented hinduism.
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