Hindus nowadays are diverse in their attitude to their own diversity, which inspires pride in some, anxiety in others. Wendy doniger book to be recalled by penguin india bbc. Wendy donigers book is a tribute to hinduisms complexity, not an. Prasannarajan, india today this tremendously spirited, agile and learned book should be the standard history of hinduism for many years to come. For those who already know and admire wendy doniger s work, this is a handy if hefty compendium of many of her essays for those who are reading her for the first time, the book is a marvellous introduction to the multiple ways that hinduism can be approached and understood through the stories that it tells. There has been much handwringing in india about wendy doniger s book, the hindus. Scholars and intellectuals across the board are critical and worried about penguins. Why a hindu activist targeted wendy donigers book readers browse through penguin books in new delhi. She gives the other side of the story concerning indian religious history. 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. Examines a rich array of hindu conceptspolytheism, death, gender, art, contemporary puritanism, nonviolence, and many more. It has seven sections based on the different themes.
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. The title of donigers book an alternative history is problematic. Hinduism wendy doniger s controversial book the hindus. Hinduism, in her view, is an intricate weave of the diverse localities and communities of indian culture. Wendy donigers book is a tribute to hinduisms complexity, not an insult this article is more than 6 years old. With her inimitable insight and expertise doniger illuminates those moments within the tradition that resist forces that would standardize or establish a canon. Mar, 2014 the latest twist in the tale is the notice served to aleph book company, the publisher of donigers previous book, on hinduism. Wendy donigers the hindus recalled by penguin india time. In her book, doniger retells hindu stories and provides snarky interpretations. An alternative history by wendy doniger of the university of chicago is really not a history at all. Prasannarajan, india today this tremendously spirited, agile and learned book should be the standard history of hinduism. 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. This book is a collection of essays on hinduism by the author wendy doniger. Nov 30, 2010 wendy doniger s enthralling and encyclopaedic book reveals her vision of a hindu culture that is plural, varied, generous, and inclusive.
Seventythreeyearold doniger is an american jewish indologist who has been a professor at the university of chicago since 1978. The book was initially published by viking penguin in 2009 and later in india by penguins indian subsidiary, penguin india. Wendy doniger is the author of several translations of sanskrit texts and books on hinduism, which include the acclaimed bestsellers the hindus. The hindus an alternative history is an utterly wonderful book. Seventythreeyearold doniger is an americanjewish indologist who has been a professor at the university of chicago since 1978. The real reason wendy donigers book on hindus was banned. Feb, 2014 penguin books india agreed this week to withdraw from sale and pulp all copies of the hindus.
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. On hinduism paperback wendy doniger oxford university press. The origins of evil in hindu mythology and translations of the rig veda and the kamasutra. Wendys book was positioned as an alternative history of hinduism, since according to the author mainstream history was written. Wendy doniger is the author of several acclaimed and bestselling works, among them, the hindus. An alternative history penguin, 2009 has outraged hindus around the world for allegedly insulting and offending hindus and indians. While in high school, she studied dance under george balanchine and martha graham. Buy wendy doniger ebooks to read online or download in pdf or epub on your pc, tablet or mobile device.
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 has authored many translations of sanskrit texts and books on hinduism. For those who already know and admire wendy doniger s work, this is a handy if hefty compendium of. India bans vulgar book by university of chicago scholar. Includes more than 60 essays and lectures spanning the decadeslong career of one of hinduisms most prominent scholars.
An alternative history penguin,2009has outraged hindus around the world for allegedly insulting and offending hindus and indians. Apr 26, 2009 as wendy doniger, a scholar of indian religions at the university of chicago, explains in her staggeringly comprehensive book, the british indologists who sought to tame indias chaotic. 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. I had written this for facebook, reproducing it here.
For anyone seeking a deeper and more nuanced understanding of hinduism, this book is a must read. Gavin flood, professor of hindu studies and comparative religion, oxford university these lively essays, flowing from wendy doniger s decadeslong encounter with hinduism, show us what can happen when an extraordinary mind takes up an even more extraordinary subject. Penguin india agrees to recall and destroy all remaining copies of wendy donigers book the hindus after claims it was offensive, reports say. The origins of evil in hindu mythology wendy doniger o. 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. For those who already know and admire wendy donigers work, this is a handy if hefty compendium of many of her essays for those who are reading her for the first time, the book is a marvellous introduction to the multiple ways that hinduism can be approached and understood through the stories that it tells. Donigers book is part of this alternative history that seeks to explore the worlds of the dalits and women outcasts at the bottom of the hindu. Wendy doniger oflaherty is a scholar of sanskrit and indian textual traditions, her major works include, asceticism and eroticism in the mythology of siva. Outcry as penguin india pulps alternative history of hindus. 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.
Wendy donigers book is a tribute to hinduisms complexity. But the buying a book online feels like something of a hollow victory if hard. Through this magisterial volume which she calls the book of my books wendy doniger, widely acknowledged as one of the greatest and most. The real reason wendy donigers book on hindus was banned in india. Nov 30, 2010 wendy doniger s book is at once deeply engaged with textual details, historical sweep, theoretical concerns, and contemporary politics. Jun 15, 2014 three months after aleph book company decided that american indologist wendy donigers book on hinduism would be reprinted only after issues raised by the shiksha bachao andolan samiti sbas. An alternative history, by the usbased academic wendy doniger, as part of a settlement after a group. Three months after aleph book company decided that american indologist wendy donigers book on hinduism would be reprinted only after. Pluralism and diversity are deeply ingrained in polylithic hinduism, the ellis island of religions as doniger calls it when she is in her benign mood pp. On hinduism is the culmination of over forty years of scholarship from a renowned expert on one of the worlds great faiths. Since there are so many books about hinduism, the author of yet another one. Publishers weekly clear and direct this will stand as a reliable resource to return to frequently. Penguin withdraws controversial hinduism book huffpost.
One story is about fusing the head of a brahmin woman onto the body of a dalit woman. As doniger points out in her statement, readers in and outside india are still free to download the hindus on kindle. The notice demanded that the publisher withdraw this book too. An alternative history, by university of chicago divinity school professor wendy doniger, was published in the u. Her translations for penguin classics include the rig veda, the laws of. Prasannarajan, india today anyone seriously concerned with hinduism in the contemporary world will be well advised to read, enjoy, engage and even argue with this book. An alternative history, the laws of manu, hindu myths, the rigveda, siva the erotic ascetic, the origins. 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. Includes more than 60 essays and lectures spanning the decadeslong career of one of hinduism s most prominent scholars. 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. Wendy donigers enthralling and encyclopaedic book reveals her vision of a hindu culture that is plural, varied, generous, and inclusive. She is the mircea eliade distinguished service professor of the history of religions at the. An anthology, 108 hymns translated from the sanskrit. Wendy doniger is one of the foremost scholars of hinduism in the world.
The real reason wendy donigers book on hindus was banned in. Wendy doniger, the author of on hinduism, is a renowned scholar who has conducted extensive research on hinduism. Wendy doniger speaking tiger books speaking tiger books. This is a rich text that will encourage dialogue and conversation among a wide range of scholars.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Right or wrong, wendy donigers the hindus should be. Jul 10, 2019 wendy donigers controversial book the hindus. In this magisterial volume of essays, wendy doniger enhances our. An alternative history, is a 2011 book from the longtime divinity professor and noted hinduism scholar that offers a new way of understanding one of the world. She is an american indologist with dozens of publication under her name. 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 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. Gavin flood, professor of hindu studies and comparative religion, oxford university these lively essays, flowing from wendy donigers decadeslong encounter with hinduism, show us what can happen when an extraordinary mind takes up an even more extraordinary subject. Penguin books india agreed this week to withdraw from sale and pulp all copies of the hindus. 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. Wendys book was positioned as an alternative history of hinduism, since according to the. Doniger, a scholar of religion and professor at the university of chicago, wrote the hindus. Wendy donigers book on hinduism the right wing muslims made such a fuss about salman rushdie, most of them did not even read the book satanic verses, or even know that it was in english.
The narrative sweep is epicwendy doniger, with exceptional brio, tells us how the story of hinduism continues to multiply. Wendy donigers book is at once deeply engaged with textual details, historical sweep, theoretical concerns, and contemporary politics. Doniger provides several variants of the theme of transposed heads. Jan 21, 2016 this book is a treat and pleasure to read. An alternative history is a book by american indologist, wendy doniger which the author describes as an alternative to the narrative of hindu. In the light of foregoing, it is incumbent upon contemporary hindus and hindu. 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. 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. 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. 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 lines between different beliefs and practices exhibited by this hindu and that hindu are permeable membranes. After severe backlash in india and a court case that ended last. Dec 16, 2017 contemporary india is an uneasy, volatile mix.
Fight back and reclaim wendy donigers valuable book taken away from you by a spineless publisher and the fundamentalists they made a deal with. Unlike her previous work this was specifically aimed at the indian audience. In it, doniger reportedly argues that hinduism is not a neatly unified religion but rather the amalgamation of many. It suggests the hinduism she is chronicling is a shadow version of some other more mainstream narrative. Oct 26, 2015 the narrative sweep is epicwendy doniger, with exceptional brio, tells us how the story of hinduism continues to multiply. The latest twist in the tale is the notice served to aleph book company, the publisher of donigers previous book, on hinduism. In her book, doniger retells hindu stories and provides snarky. Wendy doniger s book on hinduism the right wing muslims made such a fuss about salman rushdie, most of them did not even read the book satanic verses, or even know that it was in english. As wendy doniger, a scholar of indian religions at the university of chicago, explains in her staggeringly comprehensive book, the british indologists who sought to tame indias chaotic. Through this magisterial volume which she calls the book of my books we. An alternative history, the wild misconceptions that most americans have of hinduism need to be counteracted precisely by making americans aware of the richness and human depth of hindu texts and practices page 653. On hinduism is the culmination of over 40 years of scholarship from a renowned expert on one of the worlds great faiths.
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