Wendy donigers the hindus is a classic example of leftliberal scholarship on hinduism. Penguin books india agreed this week to withdraw from sale and pulp all copies of the hindus. Feb 17, 2014 wendy donigers the hindus is a classic example of leftliberal scholarship on hinduism. With immense skill wendy doniger illuminates those moments within the hindu tradition that resist forces that would standardize or establish a canon. A group of authors and historians has denounced the withdrawal of american scholar wendy donigers book on hinduism, calling it a campaign to drown all questioning voices and prepare the ground. Doniger argues that scientific disciplines shastras have offered lively and continuous criticism of dharma, or religion, over many centuries. The latest twist in the tale is the notice served to aleph book company, the publisher of donigers previous book, on hinduism.
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. Hhr february 11, 2014 india, news updates comments off on penguin to destroy copies of wendy donigers book the hindus new delhi. 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 context of india, a hindu becomes this or that only from a particular angle of vision. Why a hindu activist targeted wendy donigers book readers browse through penguin books in new delhi. An anthology, 108 hymns translated from the sanskrit.
She is an american indologist with dozens of publication under her name. 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. While this type of hinduism doesnt reflect the hinduism of many of todays believers, it does represent on branch hinduism that was practiced by hindus in the past, if not in the present. Dissent in the ancient indian sciences of sex and politics book online at best prices in india on.
She was a member of encyclopaedia britannicas editorial board of. In reality, they are two strands within hinduism, seen in a particular way. An alternative history, published by penguin, will be recalled and destroyed as part of a courtbacked settlement with a group that called. Copies of american scholar wendy donigers the hindus. The real reason wendy donigers book on hindus was banned in. Here, historian of religions wendy doniger offers a spirited and close reading of ancient indian writings, unpacking a long but unrecognized history of opposition against dharma. Doniger s the hindus forces us to rethink and represent hindus and their history using their own cognitive categories. An alternative history is a diachronic study of hinduism that highlights the complexity and diversity of the religion. The hindu tantrism tradition is one of the aspects of the religion explored by wendy donigers book. There has been much handwringing in india about wendy donigers book, the hindus. On hinduism by wendy doniger meet your next favorite book. Wendy doniger holds doctorates in sanskrit and indian studies from harvard and oxford.
The hindus an alternative history is an utterly wonderful book. Penguin books india has caved in rather than defend its author wendy doniger, philologist and university of chicago professor, for her book the hindus. She would differ with you on this, and says in her book that the differences between what hindus believe is greater than what is common. Penguin india caves in, agrees to trash wendy donigers. An alternative history will be withdrawn and pulped in india, thanks to a legal wrangle that publisher penguin found itself in. 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.
Three months after aleph book company decided that american indologist wendy donigers book on hinduism would be reprinted only after. It is shoddy, it peddles the lies of its predecessors and tries to convert a lie into a fact by repeating it over multiple times. This book will no doubt further expose her to the fury of the modernday indian heirs of the british imperialists who invented hinduism. An alternative history 2009, professor wendy doniger explains the purpose of writing this book which, on surface, appears a very noble one. This is the first part of a scholarly critique of wendy donigers the hindus. 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. The true agenda of the anticaa movement may 18, 2020. Amongst other things, here is what she says on the bhagavad gita the bhagavad gita is not as nice a book as some americans thinkthroughout the mahabharata krishna goads human beings into all sorts of murderous and selfdestructive behaviors such as war. An ndtv report on the same issue said in their legal notice to ms doniger and penguin, the group slammed the book as a shallow, distorted, nonserious presentation of hinduism that is filled with heresies and has been written with a christian missionary zeal reminded me of this edit. It is useful to remember in this context that arya a noble being is an ethical term without any racial connotation. Wendy doniger oflaherty is an american indologist whose professional career has spanned five decades. Textual sources for the study of hinduism textual sources for the study of religion, issn 17592739. The real reason wendy donigers book on hindus was banned in india. Feb 14, 2014 wendy donigers scholarship was critiqued at a roundtable panel in hawaii for two hours.
Feb 12, 2014 wendy donigers book is a tribute to hinduism s complexity, not an insult this article is more than 6 years old. An alternative history, by the usbased academic wendy doniger, as. For anyone seeking a deeper and more nuanced understanding of hinduism, this book is a must read. Textual sources for the study of hinduism wendy doniger. Wendy doniger is a celebrated indologist and has written many books on hinduism.
For those who already know and admire wendy donigers work, this is a handy if hefty compendium of. Indologist kees bolle has observed that donigers approach lacks philosophical vigor that is. On hinduism lies in its belongong to wendy donigers broader oeuvre, which has come to play an attentiongrabbing role in the clamorous clash between the practises of freespirited scholarship and the assertions of cultural identity. Australian media and its biases, contradictions and colonial propaganda on india may 19, 2020. Quotes from wendy donigers the hindus learn religions. Hinduism therefore is known from within the tradition as arya or sanatana dharma.
Publishers weekly clear and direct this will stand as a reliable resource to return to frequently. Days after penguin india agreed to pulp wendy donigers book the hindus to settle a court dispute with dina nath batra of shiksha bachao andolan samiti, another major publishing house aleph book company on monday said they will not reprint donigers book on hinduism until an acceptable resolution is found. An alternative history penguin, 2009 has outraged hindus around the world for allegedly insulting and offending hindus and indians. Scholars and intellectuals across the board are critical and worried about penguins. 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. On hinduism, a different book by wendy doniger is currently the no 5 bestselling kindle ebook on amazon india. 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. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the hindus. 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 withdraw the title. Mar, 2014 the latest twist in the tale is the notice served to aleph book company, the publisher of donigers previous book, on hinduism.
Includes more than 60 essays and lectures spanning the decadeslong career of one of hinduisms most prominent scholars. What exactly is wendy donigers agenda about the hindu. Wendy donigers book is a tribute to hinduisms complexity. Penguin books india has decided to withdraw all published copies of wendy donigers book the hindus. Dinanath batra has armtwisted publisher penguin india into recalling and destroying american scholar wendy doniger s book, the hindus. Unlike her previous work this was specifically aimed at the indian audience. Already in february 2010, more than 600 libraries in north america have acquired a copy of the book, in less than one year since its publication. An alternative history book online at low prices in.
Wendy donigers scholarship was critiqued at a roundtable panel in hawaii for two hours. All copies of american scholar wendy donigers 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. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. 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. She is a winner of the prestigious robert stoller award for her scholarship on the hindu goddess, and is amongst the elite who decide which papers and topics get included at. This book is a collection of essays on hinduism by the author wendy doniger. Expectedly, the withdrawal has stirred up controversy. An alternative history from india and pulp their remaining copies, in a move that is seen as a curb on the freedom of expression and has angered many on social media websites.
American indologist wendy donigers book the hindus. It has seven sections based on the different themes. Sanskritist and indologist madhav deshpande cites an ancient jain text pannavasutta ca. An alternative history kindle edition by doniger, wendy. Sarah caldwell is also afflicted by wendys child syndrome xxxiv, and is another powerful leader of risa. I have read the book from cover to cover, and am afraid that it has literally hundreds of factual errors that will be noticed by.
Wendy donigers misrepresentations about hindu history february 17, 2014 padma kuppa patheos explore the worlds faith through different perspectives on religion and. 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 group of individuals. Wendy donigers book is a tribute to hinduisms complexity, not an insult. Wendy donigers book the hindus withdrawn by penguin india.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Penguin india caves in, agrees to trash wendy donigers book. The wild misconceptions that most nonhindus have of hinduism need to be counteracted by demonstrating the richness and human depth of hindu texts and practices. Ban on wendy donigers s book was breach of right to expression penguins withdrawal of wendy donigers celebrated book on hinduism is a bleak reminder of how the thought police is being allowed to run riot in india.
Outcry as penguin india pulps alternative history of hindus. On hinduism is the culmination of over forty years of scholarship from a renowned expert on one of the worlds great faiths. It is also plausible that users have mistaken on hinduism for the hindus or because the hindus is currently unavailable on and therefore users are exploring other works by the same author. Wendy donigers book the hindus withdrawn by penguin. Amongst other things, here is what she says on the bhagavad gita the bhagavad gita is not as nice a book as some americans thinkthroughout the mahabharata. Wendy donigers s anti hindu hate thesis its ganesas trunk is the displaced phallus, a caricature of sivas linga. 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. Penguin to destroy copies of wendy donigers book the hindus. The real reason wendy donigers book on hindus was banned. One of the worlds leading authorities on hinduism gives us a work of extraordinary scholarship on the religion. The notice demanded that the publisher withdraw this book too. The book was initially published by viking penguin in 2009 and later in india by penguins indian subsidiary, penguin india.
She is the mircea eliade distinguished service professor of the history of religions at the university of chicago. Through this magisterial volume which she calls the book of my books we. Wendy doniger has 74 books on goodreads with 35972 ratings. 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. Vishal agarwal a us based md who has been labeled as a hindutva fanatic.
Seventythreeyearold doniger is an american jewish indologist who has been a professor at the university of chicago since 1978. 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. India today story gives a few more examples of the inaccuracies contained in the book. She is the mircea eliade distinguished service professor of history of religions at. Wendy donigers book is at once deeply engaged with textual details, historical sweep, theoretical concerns, and contemporary politics. How is wendy donigers book the hindu in its quality of.
Wendy donigers book is a tribute to hinduisms complexity, not an. A pretext to take away hindus freedom may 20, 2020. Examines a rich array of hindu conceptspolytheism, death, gender, art, contemporary puritanism, nonviolence, and many more. An alternative history, by the usbased academic wendy doniger, as part of a settlement after a group. An alternative history from the indian market following an outofcourt settlement with delhibased.
Wendy doniger and the bhagavad gita hinduism stack exchange. Wendy doniger, a professor of history of religion at university of chicago, is a prizewinning author of book, the hindus. Authors, historians denounce penguins withdrawal of wendy. Sep 22, 2016 penguin india has agreed to withdraw american indologist wendy donigers book the hindus. 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. A scholar of sanskrit and indian textual traditions, her major works include, asceticism and eroticism in the mythology of siva. Wendy donigers book the hindus, an alternative history see the cover, published and distributed by penguin has been a phenomenal sales success. An alternative history, withdrawn from the indian market by penguin india, became inaccessible. How blacks became demonised in america may 16, 2020. Another book on hinduism by american indologist wendy doniger has come under attack from the same delhibased group which had compelled the. 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. Many nonhindu westerners have ideas about what hindus believe.
In their legal notice to ms doniger and penguin, the group slammed the book as a shallow, distorted, nonserious presentation of hinduism that is filled with heresies and has been written with a christian missionary zeal. Donigers book on hinduism put on hold india news,the. As per a courtbacked settlement with a delhibased hindutva group, it has promised to withdraw all copies in india and pulp them at its own expense within six months. Wendy doniger is the mircea eliade distinguished service professor of the history of religions in the divinity school at the university of chicago. Her research and teaching interests revolve around two basic areas, hinduism and mythology. 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 of an ancient and complex religion. Wendy donigers enthralling and encyclopaedic book reveals her vision of a hindu culture that is plural, varied, generous, and inclusive. Since doniger does not follow the established canons of historiography, her book, the hindus cannot be called a work of history. Errors in donigers book here is a list of partial errors in the book compiled by dr. Jul 10, 2019 wendy donigers controversial book the hindus. Feb, 2014 penguin books india agreed this week to withdraw from sale and pulp all copies of the hindus.
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. Dec 01, 2016 wendy donigers s anti hindu hate thesis its ganesas trunk is the displaced phallus, a caricature of sivas linga. Wendy doniger oflaherty born november 20, 1940 is an american indologist whose professional career has spanned five decades. It poses no threat because it is too large, flaccid, and in the wrong place to be useful for sexual purposes.