The bhagavad gita by krishnadwaipayana vyasa, the upanishads by anonymous, the gita way secret recipe to achieve the purpose. Apr 23, 2009 the title of doniger s book an alternative history is problematic. An alternative history was withdrawn from circulation by penguin india this week after a legal battle with a group of nationalists who said it hurt the feelings. Wendy donigers book is a tribute to hinduisms complexity. American indologist wendy doniger whose book the hindus. Vishal agarwal has masterfully offered an elaborate critique of wendy donigers the hindus. A hindu history book becomes hot after being recalled in india. This book published by penguin was withdrawn by the publisher in an out of court settlement owing to a case filed in a delhi court by shiksha bachao andolan and a. This is the first part of a scholarly critique of wendy donigers the hindus. An alternative history penguin, 2009 has outraged hindus around the world for allegedly insulting and offending hindus and indians. Reza aslan is an iranianamerican author, religious scholar and television host.
After deliberation for nearly four years, penguin india compromised on february 4, 2014 in an out of court settlement to withdraw and pulp within the next six months the remaining copies of us chicago professor, wendy doniger s book, the hindus. 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. After deliberation for nearly four years, penguin india compromised on february 4, 2014 in an out of court settlement to withdraw and pulp within the next six months the remaining copies of us chicago professor, wendy donigers book, the hindus. Wendy doniger s enthralling and encyclopaedic book reveals her vision of a hindu culture that is plural, varied, generous, and inclusive. But the fact remains shes respected hinduism and hasnt exactly downsized it. An alternative history was withdrawn from circulation by penguin india this week after a legal battle with a.
The decision by penguin india to withdraw wendy donigers controversial book,the hindus. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Cnn series stirs controversy for offensive portrayal of. It is useful to remember in this context that arya a noble being is an ethical term without any racial connotation. These semitic group believes in monotheism unity of god so there are issues between them. Hinduism is one of the major south asian religions surrounded by controversy about social and religious limits of a person.
Wendy doniger, a professor of history of religion at university of chicago, is a prizewinning author of book, the hindus. A controversial book on hinduism is back in print in india. Penguin india agrees to recall and destroy all remaining copies of wendy donigers book the hindus after claims it was offensive, reports say. An alternative history that she wrote a few years ago, was banned for its controversial content, raising a debate over the. The decision by penguin india to withdraw wendy donigers controversial book, the hindus. Wendy donigers book is a tribute to hinduisms complexity, not an. 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. 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. Wendy donigers enthralling and encyclopaedic book reveals her vision of a hindu culture that is plural, varied, generous, and inclusive. An alternative history was out, there was scramble for the copies of the book. Wendy doniger book to be recalled by penguin india bbc. Controversial book, the hindus, by religious scholar wendy. Seventythreeyearold doniger is an american jewish indologist who has been a professor at the university of chicago since 1978.
Wendy donigers book is a tribute to hinduisms complexity, not an insult this article is more than 6 years old. An alternative history, first published in 2009, was recalled and pulped by penguin. Doniger is one of the prominent western indologists who had authored the controversial book on history of hindus, demeaning hinduism as a religion of sex and perversion. Doniger, a professor of the history of religions at the university of chicago, is no stranger to this kind of controversy. Mar 12, 2014 no sooner the news of the out of court settlement for withdrawing copies of wendy donigers controversial book, the hindus. Mar, 2014 the latest twist in the tale is the notice served to aleph book company, the publisher of donigers previous book, on hinduism. Jul 03, 2010 wendy is proud to state, i have labored all my adult life in the paddy field of sanskrit, and since i know ancient india best, i have lingered in the past in this book longer than an anthropologist might have done, and even when dealing with the present, i have focused on the elements that resonate with the past, so that the book is driven. The history book, which its author wendy doniger has described as an alternative, howard zinnesque version of the history of hinduism, has been accused of denigrating hindus and hindu traditions.
The real reason wendy donigers book on hindus was banned. 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 book to be recalled by penguin india bbc news. Doniger wants this book to be used as a basic textbook on hinduism and india.
Wendy donigers book is at once deeply engaged with textual details, historical sweep, theoretical concerns, and contemporary politics. Wendys hinduphobia withdrawal of book and antihindu. I am deeply troubled by what it foretells for free speech in india. The real reason wendy donigers book on hindus was banned in india. An alternative history book online at best prices in india on. Wendy donigers book was booted from india after conservative hindu activists cried foul. A controversial book on hinduism is back in print in indiawith a. Wendy is proud to state, i have labored all my adult life in the paddy field of sanskrit, and since i know ancient india best, i have lingered in the past in this book longer than an anthropologist might have done, and even when dealing with the present, i have focused on the elements that resonate with the past, so that the book is driven. Not only will this book subject students to a warped, false and bigoted version of hinduism, it will also expose indianamerican youth to ridicule and bigotry. An alternative history, by university of chicago divinity school professor wendy doniger, was published in.
I had written this for facebook, reproducing it here. Textual sources for the study of hinduism wendy doniger. Us author wendy donigers controversial book the hindus. Some years ago a professor of sanskrit at an ivy league school was asked a question in sanskrit by a lay follower of hinduism and the professor replied that he would answer the question in english, a statement the audience. Having read the book, i believe its worth a read u know. A scholar of sanskrit and indian textual traditions, her major works include, asceticism and eroticism in the mythology of siva. No stranger to controversy, batra had earlier taken on indian. Step back from the brink calls by citizens for restraint febmarch 2019 south asia loses a voice of sanity asma jahangir 19522018 india. An alternative history, which created a stir among rightwing groups for allegedly defaming hindu religion and freedom fighters, will be pulled out of the indian market after its publishers decided to withdraw and recall all the copies from india. Examines a rich array of hindu conceptspolytheism, death, gender, art, contemporary puritanism, nonviolence, and many more. 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 litigation in. Another book on hinduism by american indologist wendy doniger has come under attack from the same delhibased group which had compelled the.
An alternative history, has, not unsurprisingly, elicited a huge volume and range of responses. True some of it s contents does give us a different idea of things. Wendy s hindu phobia dhiru shah withdrawal of book and anti hindu propaganda. My point is there are more controversial issues in their own group especially semitic.
Feb 03, 2014 on hinduism is the culmination of over forty years of scholarship from a renowned expert on one of the worlds great faiths. All you wanted to know about the controversy surrounding. An alternative history, by university of chicago divinity school professor wendy doniger, was published in the u. Penguin books india has agreed to withdraw a controversial book on hinduism as settlement for a lawsuit filed in 2011, the new york times reported. Cnn series stirs controversy for offensive portrayal of hinduism. It concerns how india and hinduism is portrayed in social studies books. Feb 21, 2014 hindus do not seek book banning and book burning. No sooner the news of the out of court settlement for withdrawing copies of wendy donigers controversial book, the hindus. Wendys hinduphobia dhiru shah withdrawal of book and antihindu propaganda. Wendy doniger oflaherty born november 20, 1940 is an american indologist whose professional career has spanned five decades.
Wendy doniger and the hindus by murali balaji the new. The notice demanded that the publisher withdraw this book too. Penguin india agrees to recall and destroy all remaining copies of wendy doniger s book the hindus after claims it was offensive, reports say. Seventythreeyearold doniger is an american jewish indologist and has been a professor at the university of chicago since 1978. 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. 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. Another book on hinduism by american indologist wendy doniger has come under attack from the same delhibased group which had compelled the publishers of an earlier work by her to. Popular hinduism books meet your next favorite book. After deliberation for nearly four years, penguin india compromised on february 4, 2014 in an out of court settlement to withdraw and pulp within the next six months the remaining copies of us chicago professor, wendy donigers book, the. 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. An alternative history is a book by american indologist, wendy. Includes more than 60 essays and lectures spanning the decadeslong career of one of hinduisms most prominent scholars. An alternative history was withdrawn following objections that it hurt sentiments of hindus is angry and disappointed over the development and says the true villain is the indian law. An alternative history, which has been both revered and reviled by different sections of society, stirred up a huge controversy.
This book caricatures hinduism in a grossly offensive and degrading manner. This book is a collection of essays on hinduism by the author wendy doniger. What are some current controversial issues in hinduism. Mar 03, 2014 wendys hinduphobia dhiru shah withdrawal of book and antihindu propaganda. An alternative history, which created a stir among rightwing groups for allegedly defaming hindu religion and freedom fighters, will be pulled out of the indian market after its publishers decided to withdraw and recall all. The hindus an alternative history is an utterly wonderful book. 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. The 2009published book, that was banned in india, is making a comeback. Sanskritist and indologist madhav deshpande cites an ancient jain text pannavasutta ca. Why the outrage on wendy donigers controversial book.
More importantly there is a divisive tension between the householder ideal and the renunciate ideal in 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. True some of its contents does give us a different idea of things. The title of donigers book an alternative history is problematic. A response to wendy donigers the repression of religious. This debate touches on the important power that textbooks have on religion and. 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. Jul 17, 2014 the decision by penguin india to withdraw wendy donigers controversial book,the hindus. Controversy over books on hinduism by religion scholar wendy doniger continues to grow. The latest twist in the tale is the notice served to aleph book company, the publisher of donigers previous book, on hinduism. The book makes certain claims which certain segments of hindus believe portray hinduism in a bad light.
Hinduism, in her view, is an intricate weave of the diverse localities and communities of indian culture. The real reason wendy donigers book on hindus was banned in. Textual sources for the study of hinduism textual sources for the study of religion, issn 17592739. Having read the book, i believe it s worth a read u know. Hinduism therefore is known from within the tradition as arya or sanatana dharma. It suggests the hinduism she is chronicling is a shadow version of some other more mainstream narrative. Another book on hinduism by wendy doniger under attack. Hinduism, buddhism and zoroastrian are in aryan group while semitic are judaism, christian and islam. 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. The publisher has agreed to destroy all copies as part of a settlement. The wendy doniger controversy and the need for hindu. 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. Penguin withdraws controversial hinduism book huffpost.
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. Apr 14, 2018 the debate has gone on for over a decade. Mar 09, 2017 cnn series stirs controversy for offensive portrayal of hinduism. Unlike her previous work this was specifically aimed at the indian audience.
An alternative history penguin, 2009 has outraged hindus around the world like never before for allegedly insulting and offending hindus and indians. On one side are those who see the issue solely as one of freedom of expression and worry that penguins capitulation undermines free speech. You need to know about the hindu textbook controversy. 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. The book was initially published by viking penguin in 2009 and later in india by penguins indian subsidiary, penguin india. Nov 30, 2010 this book is not a brief survey you noticed that already. You need to know about the hindu textbook controversy world. 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.
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