Sep 30, 2010 wendy doniger is one of the foremost scholars of hinduism in the world. However, the same doniger then uses modern terms like dalit to back. Pdf the hindus an alternative history wendy doniger. It is laced with personal editorials, folksy turn of the phrase and funky wordplays. Fight back and reclaim wendy donigers valuable book taken away from you by a spineless publisher and the fundamentalists they made a deal with excerpt from the introduction you cant make an omelet. 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. Feb 15, 2014 arundhati roy on bbc newsday dated 14. This is a republication of a 2010 essay is authored by shyam n. Feb 03, 2014 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. A scholar of sanskrit and indian textual traditions, her major works include, asceticism and eroticism in the mythology of siva. Yet the greatness of hinduismits vitality, its earthiness, its vividnesslies precisely in many of those idiosyncratic qualities that. There has been much handwringing in india about wendy donigers book, the hindus. Author bio 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.
Wendy donigers the hindus recalled by penguin india time. Wendy doniger and the hindus by murali balaji the new. You will see no hindus except by token of name perhaps. Feb says this move by penguin marks a dismaying shift in submitting to the growing atmosphere of intolerance. You will find top of the line seculars who will equate any critique of racism and orientalism against hindus with hindu fundamentalism. Wendy doniger, one of the worlds foremost scholars of hinduism, illuminates those moments within the tradition that resist forces that would standardize or establish a canon. She brings a multiplicity of actors and stories to the stage to show how brilliant, creativeand often subversivethinkers have kept hinduism alive and dynamic through the ages. 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.
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. From one of the worlds foremost scholars on hinduism, a vivid reinterpretation of its history an engrossing and definitive narrative account of history and my. The real reason wendy donigers book on hindus was banned in. Dont miss this equivalent of a brilliant graduate course froma feisty and exhilarating teacher. Right or wrong, wendy donigers the hindus should be. Doniger, who teaches at the university of chicago and has written nearly half a dozen books on hinduism, including a translation of the kama sutra, was writing about how her 2009 book the hindus. Pdf the hindus an alternative history wendy doniger ripu. The narrative sweep is epicwendy doniger, with exceptional brio, tells us how the story of hinduism continues to multiply. 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. Doniger provides several variants of the theme of transposed heads. The hindus was subsequently withdrawn from circulation by its indian publisher, penguin, creating a massive furore over suppression. An alternative history by wendy doniger of the university of chicago is really not a history at all. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the hindus.
An alternative history after three, maybe four months. This groundbreaking work elucidates the relationship between recorded history and imaginary worlds, the inner life and the social history of hindus. Dec 23, 2019 wendy doniger oflaherty born november 20, is an american indologist whose professional career has spanned five decades. Find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. In her book, doniger retells hindu stories and provides snarky interpretations. An alternative history penguin, 2009 has outraged hindus around the world for allegedly insulting and offending hindus and indians.
The hindus an alternative history is an utterly wonderful book. T his publication, on hinduism, has also attracted unjustified criticism from hindutvavadis. Wendy doniger has impressive credentials with two doctorates, in sanskrit and indian studies, from harvard and oxford universities. I had written this for facebook, reproducing it here. And while shes delighted about it, the professor of history of religions at university of chicago is wary of coming to the country. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
Wendy doniger holds doctorates in sanskrit and indian studies from harvard and oxford. There is no room here for hindus, only an expert on the hindus. A reported settlement by penguin india to recall and pulp copies of u. Seventythreeyearold doniger is an american jewish indologist who has been a professor at the university of chicago since 1978. 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. 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. Wendy doniger is one of the foremost scholars of hinduism in the world. Wendy doniger oflaherty born november 20, is an american indologist whose professional career has spanned five decades. Doniger is at pains to argue in chapters 1 and 2 of the book that there was nothing called hinduism in the past, and that it is a modern construct. Fight back and reclaim wendy doniger s valuable book taken away from you by a spineless publisher and the fundamentalists they made a deal with. Many of its central texts cannot be reliably dated within a century. It is shoddy, it peddles the lies of its predecessors and tries. Fight back and take back wendy donigers valuable book taken away from you by a spineless publisher and the fundamentalists they made a.
Wendy donigers scholarship was critiqued at a roundtable panel in hawaii for two hours. Oct 26, 2015 with immense skill wendy doniger illuminates those moments within the hindu tradition that resist forces that would standardize or establish a canon. If the indus valley civilization 3rd2nd millennium bce was the earliest source of hindu traditions, then hinduism is the oldest living religion on earth. An alternative history, has been back on bookshelves in india for a few months. 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. 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. Her courses in mythology address themes in crosscultural expanses, such as death, dreams, evil, horses, sex, and women. Fight back and reclaim wendy donigers valuable book taken away from you by a spineless publisher and the fundamentalists they made a deal with. P enguin books india has agreed to recall and pulp all copies in india of the hindus. Hinduism, major world religion originating on the indian subcontinent and comprising several and varied systems of philosophy, belief, and ritual.
With her inimitable insight and expertise doniger illuminates those moments within the tradition that resist forces that would standardize or establish a canon. 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 10, 2019 wendy donigers controversial book the hindus. Doniger, a scholar of religion and professor at the university of chicago, wrote the hindus. This is not a pipe rene magritte this is not wendy donigers the. Feb says this move by penguin marks a dismaying shift in submitting to the growing atmosphere of. Wendy doniger social thought the university of chicago.
After severe backlash in india and a court case that ended last. Mar, 2014 there has been much handwringing in india about wendy donigers book, the hindus. While in high school, she studied dance under george balanchine and martha graham. Includes more than 60 essays and lectures spanning the decadeslong career of one of hinduisms most prominent scholars. I do not believe in burning books, but wendy donigers 779page tome titled, the hindus. How is wendy donigers book the hindu in its quality of. The book was initially published by viking penguin in 2009 and later in india by penguins indian subsidiary, penguin india. Scholars and intellectuals across the board are critical and worried about penguins. Wendy doniger was born in new york in and trained as a dancer under shiva. With immense skill wendy doniger illuminates those moments within the hindu tradition that resist forces that would standardize or establish a canon. An alternative history kindle edition by doniger, wendy. Library of congress cataloginginpublication data doniger, wendy. Examines a rich array of hindu conceptspolytheism, death, gender, art, contemporary puritanism, nonviolence, and many more. 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.
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. Dec 16, 2017 contemporary india is an uneasy, volatile mix. 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. This is not wendy donigers the hindus an alternative history. Wendy donigers research and teaching interests revolve around two basic areas, hinduism and mythology. Quotes from wendy donigers the hindus learn religions.
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