Nnwendy doniger book on hinduism for 6th graders

The history of todays hindus, onesixth of our human race, extends back beyond recorded history. It has seven sections based on the different themes. The hindus an alternative history by wendy doniger. Yet for a scholar like doniger whom the critics refer to patronisingly as wendy, it is often the little known, the secret, the repressed, that constitute the most attractive objects of study. Hinduism, in her view, is an intricate weave of the diverse localities and communities of indian culture.

Mar 01, 2014 recalling this book is essential because doniger, a socalled scholar, has misrepresented india and hinduism. The hindus an alternative history is an utterly wonderful book. Her translations for penguin classics include the rig veda, the laws of manu, and hindu myths. An alternative history book online at best prices in india on. 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. Full text of the hindus an alternative history by wendy doniger see other formats. In the context of india, a hindu becomes this or that only from a particular angle of vision. An alternative history covers vast ground in this compendium of. Wendy doniger tries to remedy the enduring impression of a unified hinduism created in large part by the first british scholars of india. Wendy doniger s enthralling and encyclopaedic book reveals her vision of a hindu culture that is plural, varied, generous, and inclusive. Already in june 2010, more than 600 libraries in north america have acquired a copy of the book, in one year since its publication. 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.

This book will no doubt further expose her to the fury of the modernday indian heirs of the british imperialists who invented hinduism. Wendy doniger mircea eliade distinguished professor of the history of religions in the divinity school and in the department of south asian languages and civilizations at the university of chicago was recently interviewed in outlook with reference to her new book, the hindus. I do not believe in burning books, but wendy donigers 779page tome titled, the hindus. 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.

Penguins statement on the hindus by wendy doniger the. A university of chicago scholars alternative history of hinduism will be. Many nonhindu westerners have ideas about what hindus believe. An alternative history is the latest in a long line of incidents that show the state refusing to protect liberal values. Wendy donigers book the hindus, an alternative history see the cover, published and distributed by penguin has been a phenomenal sales success.

The release of wendy donigers recent book the hindus. On hinduism paperback wendy doniger oxford university press. On hinduism by wendy doniger meet your next favorite book. An alternative history, which has been both revered and reviled by different sections of society, stirred up a huge controversy. 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. After severe backlash in india and a court case that ended last. 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 interview, she 1 falsely and unfairly brands all of her critics as rightwing.

This book is a collection of essays on hinduism by the author wendy doniger. 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 real reason wendy donigers book on hindus was banned in india. Wendy donigers enthralling and encyclopaedic book reveals her vision of a hindu culture that is plural, varied, generous, and inclusive. On hinduism is the culmination of over forty years of scholarship from a renowned expert on one of the worlds great faiths. 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. Wendy donigers book is a tribute to hinduisms complexity. This book is not a brief survey you noticed that already.

The real reason wendy donigers book on hindus was banned in. Wendy donigers book is at once deeply engaged with textual details, historical sweep, theoretical concerns, and contemporary politics. Wendy doniger titles her ambitious expedition through millennia of hindu history the hindus, not hinduism. The book was initially published by viking penguin in 2009 and later in india by penguins indian subsidiary, penguin india. 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. Wendy donigers book is a tribute to hinduisms complexity, not an. Full text of the hindus an alternative history by wendy. 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. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. Dec 09, 2015 for them, neoved antic hinduism is the only hinduism, or alternatively, is the only hinduism that matters. An engrossing and definitive narrative account of history and myth that offers a new way of understanding one of the worlds oldest major religions, the hindus elucidates the relationship between recorded history and imaginary worlds.

On hinduism by wendy doniger, 9780199360079, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. For anyone seeking a deeper and more nuanced understanding of hinduism, this book is a must read. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Includes more than 60 essays and lectures spanning the decadeslong career of one of hinduisms most prominent scholars. The notice demanded that the publisher withdraw this book too.

Doniger instead portrays the history of hinduism from the point of view of. Textual sources for the study of hinduism textual sources for the study of religion, issn 17592739. For those who already know and admire wendy donigers work, this is a handy if hefty compendium of. 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. For them, neoved antic hinduism is the only hinduism, or alternatively, is the only hinduism that matters. 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. Wendy doniger has 73 books on goodreads with 35307 ratings. There is a depressing familiarity to the ruckus centred on american scholar wendy donigers 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. A critique of wendy donigers the hindus, an alternative. An alternative history is a book by american indologist, wendy doniger. For those who already know and admire wendy doniger s work, this is a handy if hefty compendium of. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. An alternative history covers vast ground in this compendium of a lifetime of.

Hinduism does not lend itself easily to a strictly chronological account. Aleph book company is an independent publishing firm promoted by rupa publications. 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. Wendy donigers book is a tribute to hinduisms complexity, not an insult this article is more than 6 years old.

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. 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. Feb 27, 2014 i do not believe in burning books, but wendy donigers 779page tome titled, the hindus. Wendy doniger and the hindus by murali balaji the new. The real reason wendy donigers book on hindus was banned.

If research studies are carried out in future on hinduism and her book is referred. Several books of each of those sorts exist, some of them quite good, which you might read alongside this one. For those who already know and admire wendy donigers work, this is a handy if hefty compendium. 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. Textual sources for the study of hinduism wendy doniger. It is laced with personal editorials, folksy turn of the. Lisa miller newsweek, 31 august, 2009 reports that americans are slowly becoming more like hindus and less like traditional christians in the ways we think about god, our selves, each other, and eternity. Right or wrong, wendy donigers the hindus should be. 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. This is the first part of a scholarly critique of wendy donigers the hindus. In this magisterial volume of essays, wendy doniger enhances our. Recalling this book is essential because doniger, a socalled scholar, has misrepresented india and hinduism.

Doniger approaches the central religious traditions of. While in high school, she studied dance under george balanchine and martha graham. 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. 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. Donigers the hindus forces us to rethink and represent hindus and their history using their own cognitive categories.

Vivekahandas hinduism jettisoned the particulars of hindu polytheism doctrines, dogmas, rituals, books, oral traditions, and temples in order to extract a universal essence of spirituality. Wendy doniger oflaherty born november 20, 1940 is an american indologist whose professional career has spanned five decades. Wendy doniger in when the lingam is just a cigar, psychoanalysis and hindu sexual. In our day, as fundamentalism raised its ugly head among the major monotheisms judaism, christianity, and islam, hinduism, too, caught it. All you wanted to know about the controversy surrounding. Wendy doniger holds two doctorates, in sanskrit and indian studies, from the universities of harvard and oxford. An alternative history is a diachronic study of hinduism that highlights the complexity and diversity of the religion. 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. 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. Includes more than 60 essays and lectures spanning the decadeslong career of one of hinduism s most prominent scholars. An alternative history panders to an orthodox, bourgeois view of this great religion.

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. Publishers weekly clear and direct this will stand as a reliable resource to return to frequently. 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. She is an american indologist with dozens of publication under her name. The latest twist in the tale is the notice served to aleph book company, the publisher of doniger s previous book, on hinduism. The latest twist in the tale is the notice served to aleph book company, the publisher of donigers previous book, on hinduism. But the fact remains shes respected hinduism and hasnt exactly downsized it.

True some of its contents does give us a different idea of things. The uses and misuses of polytheism and monotheism in hinduism. India bans vulgar book by university of chicago scholar chicago. Full statement from penguin india in the issue of withdrawal of wendy donigers book the hindus you have reached your limit for free articles this month.

Examines a rich array of hindu conceptspolytheism, death, gender, art, contemporary puritanism, nonviolence, and many more. Having read the book, i believe its worth a read u know. Dont miss this equivalent of a brilliant graduate course froma feisty and exhilarating teacher. Doniger s book is at odds with the increasing acceptance in the united states of key hindu spiritual precepts. Doniger, a scholar of religion and professor at the university of chicago, wrote the hindus.

Unlike her previous work this was specifically aimed at the indian audience. 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. She has taught at the school of oriental and african studies, university of london and the university of california, berkeley, and is currently the mircea eliade distinguished service professor of the history of religions at the university of chicago. In reality, they are two strands within hinduism, seen in a particular way. 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. A controversial book on hinduism is back in print in india. A scholar of sanskrit and indian textual traditions, her major works include, asceticism and eroticism in the mythology of siva. 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 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 book makes certain claims which certain segments of hindus believe portray hinduism in a bad light.