The book was initially published by viking penguin in 2009 and later in india by penguins indian subsidiary, penguin india. Succinct and authoritative, this detailed introduction to hinduism brings into grand focus. An alternative history kindle edition by doniger, wendy. Donigers book on hindu history factual errors blogger. Hindu culture rallies together to pull book by angela guzman. 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 hierarchy. This is emphatically not a religion of any single book. Since there are so many books about hinduism, the author of yet another one has a duty to answer the potential readers passover question. An alternative history book online at best prices in india on. By her own admission in the book, doniger has no credentials as a historian and the title of the book is misleading as the book is not on the history nor an alternative history of india. An alternative history, by wendy doniger, a university of chicago religion professor, within six months. Already in february 2010, more than 600 libraries in. In february of this year, after a long career of relative obscurity in the ivory tower, i suddenly became notorious. When penguin books announced on february 11 that it would withdraw from india and pulp the hindus.
Author wendy doniger talks of the country, democracy and how her life has. Hinduism, in her view, is an intricate weave of the diverse. In her book, doniger retells hindu stories and provides snarky interpretations. Apr 26, 2009 recoiling from hindu india, forster was relieved to enter the relatively rational world of islam. Already in february 2010, more than 600 libraries in north america have acquired a copy of. Third, this book attempts to set the narrative of religion within the narrative of history, as a linga an emblem of the god shiva, often representing his erect phallus is set in a yoni the symbol of shivas consort, or the female sexual organ, or any statue of a hindu god in its base or plinth pitha. With her inimitable insight and expertise doniger illuminates those moments within the. Theres a personal story that i should tell about my relationship with this group of hindus here at the start, in the interest of full disclosure.
Nov 30, 2010 third, this book attempts to set the narrative of religion within the narrative of history, as a linga an emblem of the god shiva, often representing his erect phallus is set in a yoni the symbol of shivas consort, or the female sexual organ, or any statue of a hindu god in its base or plinth pitha. The image of the man in the moon who is also a rabbit in the moon, or the duck who is also a rabbit, will serve as a metaphor for the double visions of the hindus that this book will strive to present. Feb 11, 2014 in a copy of the outofcourt settlement dated feb. 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. Theres a personal story that i should tell about my relationship with this group of hindus here. The washington postan engrossing and definitive narrative account of history and myth, the hindus offers a new way of understanding one of the worlds oldest major religions. The hindus an alternative history by wendy doniger penguin books november 2010 isbn10. An alternative history was published in 2009 by vikingpenguin.
An alternative history from the worlds largest community of readers. I will generally refer to them as the hindutva faction or the hindu right. Though rituals and practices vary among people who identify as wiccan, most observations include the. An alternative hindu history by nicole greenfield april 9, 2009. Wendy donigers book the hindus, an alternative history, published and distributed by penguin has been a phenomenal sales success. Indic historians like sita ram goel too agree with this. An alternative history 2009, professor wendy doniger explains the purpose of writing this book which, on surface, appears a very noble one. Penguin on friday offered its first explanation for its decision to withdraw the book, wendy donigers the hindus. Sep 30, 2010 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. Recoiling from hindu india, forster was relieved to enter the relatively rational world of islam. Indian publisher withdraws book, stoking fears of nationalist. One story is about fusing the head of a brahmin woman onto the body of a dalit woman.
The hindu conservative group went haywire because the book, as the group claims. 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. I had written this for facebook, reproducing it here. An alternative history by wendy donigerwhose psychoanalytical interpretation of hindu gods is perhaps the subject of. An alternative history of the indiapakistan relationship, 19471952 shows how amity and a spirit. An alternative history by wendy doniger of the university of chicago is really not a history at all. 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. Upananda brahmachari of hindu existence expressed his pleasure about the success of the above protest and requested the organizer to move further in vehement protests, agitations, demonstrations, signature campaigns against dr. In 2010, penguin india had published a book of mine, the hindus.
It is our responsibility to hightlight the errors, and as civil socieites we cannot perpetuate the errors and pass on to the next generation as facts. An alternative history, whatever and whenever it is possible. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the hindus. Dont miss this equivalent of a brilliant graduate course froma feisty and exhilarating teacher. Wendy doniger tries to remedy the enduring impression of a unified hinduism created in large part by the first british scholars of india. With immense skill wendy doniger illuminates those moments within the hindu tradition that resist forces that would standardize or establish a canon.
Wendy donigers writes on indian history laden with errors. The real reason wendy donigers book on hindus was banned in. Doniger provides several variants of the theme of transposed heads. There has been much handwringing in india about wendy donigers book, the hindus. Wendy doniger is one of the foremost scholars of hinduism in the world. Indeed, the very idea that hindus needed to be identified as a specific religion tied to a book derives from british colonial rule, when the hideously. An authoritative and colorful glimpse into the hindu world.
The hindus alternative history krishna fondling breasts. Novelist called on penguin to explain decision to pulp contentious book. Doniger writes that it also tells an alternate history to show how much the groups that conventional wisdom says were oppressed and silenced and played no part in the development of the hindu. Wendy donigers book is a tribute to hinduisms complexity. 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. Book on hinduism, hindu religious beliefs and practices. Hinduism, in her view, is an intricate weave of the diverse localities and communities of indian culture. An alternative history in response to a lawsuit claiming the book has hurt the religious. Culture books news arundhati roy criticises penguin for pulping the hindus. 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.
Wendy doniger in when the lingam is just a cigar, psychoanalysis and hindu sexual fantasies. The fact that these critics attack doniger for being orientalist is doubly ironic, since her alternative history is explicitly intended to counter earlier western orientalist views of hinduism, especially hinduism as viewed and understood through an uppercaste brahminical lens. There is hue and cry by the selfappointed intelligentsia, free media and secularists on the decision of penguin books deciding to withdraw a book the hindus an alternative history by wendy doniger an american author. 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. Goel explains how despite the hard work of brave warrior classes of the mid west, native subaltern, unorganized, tribal people of modern day afghanistan and pakistan didnt understand them well. Mar, 2014 there has been much handwringing in india about wendy donigers book, the hindus. An alternative history that she wrote a few years ago, was banned for its controversial content, raising a debate over the countrys democratic structure.
Wendy donigers enthralling and encyclopaedic book reveals her vision of a hindu culture that is plural, varied, generous, and inclusive. This is a lengthy, detailed and dense translation of a wealth of hindu myths. 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. An archive of fiction, poetry, memoirs, polemical tracts sourced from magazines, newspapers, literary society newsletters, activist writings, no alphabet in sight might well be the alternative. Feb 12, 2014 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 hierarchy. This book is also alternative to the narrative of hindu history that they tell. Penguin withdraws book by american scholar of hinduism to.
A critique of wendy donigers the hindus, an alternative. An archive of fiction, poetry, memoirs, polemical tracts sourced from magazines, newspapers, literary society newsletters, activist writings, no. Succinct and authoritative, this detailed introduction to hinduism brings into grand focus the history, peoples, traditions, and geography of south asia. An alternative history penguin, 2009 has outraged hindus around the world for allegedly insulting and offending hindus and indians. An alternative history book online at low prices in. An alternative history, which won two awards in india. An alternative history is a book by american indologist, wendy doniger which the author describes as an alternative to the narrative of hindu. This shows that the author is not an authority on the subject as she is not able to understand the deep meaning of sanskrit verses or indian concepts. The real reason wendy donigers book on hindus was banned.
Contrary to the conventional doomandgloom narrative, raghavans book animosity at bay. But within months of its publication in india, a retired headmaster named dina nath batra had brought the first of a series of civil and criminal actions. Wendy donigers book the hindus, an alternative history see the cover, published and distributed by penguin has been a phenomenal sales success. Mainstream publisher penguin book indian decided to pull all and destroy all unreleased copies of the hindus. Arundhati roy criticises penguin for pulping the hindus. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
Hinduism does not lend itself easily to a strictly chronological account. Seventythreeyearold doniger is an american jewish indologist who has been a professor at the university of chicago since 1978. An alternative history by the us based academic scholar, wendy doniger came under fierce assault,in february 2014, by the shiksha bachao andolan samiti of india which consequently made penguin india concede to the withdrawing of the book. Working with available light time and space in india. An alternative history by us based academic wendy doniger. Donigers book on hindu history factual errors friday, march 5, 2010 at 3. An alternative history narain kataria in new york a consortium of hindu organizations, temples and concerned individuals in new york and new jersey area organized a protest demonstration at new school university building in new york city on march 10th. Jul 10, 2019 wendy donigers controversial book the hindus. Feb 15, 2014 penguin on friday offered its first explanation for its decision to withdraw the book, wendy donigers the hindus. You have to read the book heroic hindu resistance to muslim invaders 636 ad to 1206 ad. According to the hindustan times, the hindus was a no. The talibanization of hindu history in india the nation. Though the potted biographies of mughal emperors seem superfluous in a long book, donigers chapter on the centuries of muslim rule over india helps dilute the lurid mythology of hindu nationalists. The author is reported to be a great researcher and her books have been acclaimed by some indian scholars the hindus an alternative history, krishna fondling breast.
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