Apr 26, 2009 as wendy doniger, a scholar of indian religions at the university of chicago, explains in her staggeringly comprehensive book, the british indologists who sought to tame indias chaotic. One story is about fusing the head of a brahmin woman onto the body of a dalit woman. Wendy doniger is the author of several translations of sanskrit texts and books on hinduism, which include the acclaimed bestsellers the hindus. Prasannarajan, india today this tremendously spirited, agile and learned book should be the standard history of hinduism for many years to come. Wendy doniger is one of the foremost scholars of hinduism in the world. Right or wrong, wendy donigers the hindus should be. 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. 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.
In her book, doniger retells hindu stories and provides snarky interpretations. Wendy doniger 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. Wendy doniger oflaherty is a scholar of sanskrit and indian textual traditions, her major works include, asceticism and eroticism in the mythology of siva. Outcry as penguin india pulps alternative history of hindus.
She gives the other side of the story concerning indian religious history. This is a rich text that will encourage dialogue and conversation among a wide range of scholars. Why a hindu activist targeted wendy donigers book readers browse through penguin books in new delhi. Wendy doniger, the author of on hinduism, is a renowned scholar who has conducted extensive research on hinduism. For those who already know and admire wendy donigers work, this is a handy if hefty compendium of many of her essays for those who are reading her for the first time, the book is a marvellous introduction to the multiple ways that hinduism can be approached and understood through the stories that it tells. As doniger points out in her statement, readers in and outside india are still free to download the hindus on kindle. 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. Wendys book was positioned as an alternative history of hinduism, since according to the. Doniger, a scholar of religion and professor at the university of chicago, wrote the hindus. Prasannarajan, india today this tremendously spirited, agile and learned book should be the standard history of hinduism. 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 has authored many translations of sanskrit texts and books on hinduism. The real reason wendy donigers book on hindus was banned in. Buy wendy doniger ebooks to read online or download in pdf or epub on your pc, tablet or mobile device. Hinduism, in her view, is an intricate weave of the diverse localities and communities of indian culture. 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. On hinduism paperback wendy doniger oxford university press. In her book, doniger retells hindu stories and provides snarky. The lines between different beliefs and practices exhibited by this hindu and that hindu are permeable membranes. Doniger provides several variants of the theme of transposed heads. Penguin withdraws controversial hinduism book huffpost. The origins of evil in hindu mythology wendy doniger o. The hindus an alternative history is an utterly wonderful 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. Wendy donigers book is a tribute to hinduisms complexity. As wendy doniger, a scholar of indian religions at the university of chicago, explains in her staggeringly comprehensive book, the british indologists who sought to tame indias chaotic. Includes more than 60 essays and lectures spanning the decadeslong career of one of hinduism s most prominent scholars. With her inimitable insight and expertise doniger illuminates those moments within the tradition that resist forces that would standardize or establish a canon. Pluralism and diversity are deeply ingrained in polylithic hinduism, the ellis island of religions as doniger calls it when she is in her benign mood pp. Through this magisterial volume which she calls the book of my books we. Wendy donigers the hindus recalled by penguin india time.
Gavin flood, professor of hindu studies and comparative religion, oxford university these lively essays, flowing from wendy doniger s decadeslong encounter with hinduism, show us what can happen when an extraordinary mind takes up an even more extraordinary subject. For anyone seeking a deeper and more nuanced understanding of hinduism, this book is a must read. Wendy doniger s 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. Wendy donigers book is at once deeply engaged with textual details, historical sweep, theoretical concerns, and contemporary politics. There has been much handwringing in india about wendy doniger s book, the hindus.
Wendy doniger book to be recalled by penguin india bbc. After severe backlash in india and a court case that ended last. For those who already know and admire wendy doniger s work, this is a handy if hefty compendium of. Wendys book was positioned as an alternative history of hinduism, since according to the author mainstream history was written.
The title of donigers book an alternative history is problematic. 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. Hindus nowadays are diverse in their attitude to their own diversity, which inspires pride in some, anxiety in others. India bans vulgar book by university of chicago scholar. An alternative history penguin,2009has outraged hindus around the world for allegedly insulting and offending hindus and indians.
The latest twist in the tale is the notice served to aleph book company, the publisher of donigers previous book, on hinduism. An anthology, 108 hymns translated from the sanskrit. Seventythreeyearold doniger is an american jewish indologist who has been a professor at the university of chicago since 1978. I had written this for facebook, reproducing it here. On hinduism is the culmination of over forty years of scholarship from a renowned expert on one of the worlds great faiths. Wendy donigers book is a tribute to hinduisms complexity, not an. Penguin books india agreed this week to withdraw from sale and pulp all copies of the hindus. On hinduism is the culmination of over 40 years of scholarship from a renowned expert on one of the worlds great faiths. She is the mircea eliade distinguished service professor of the history of religions at the. But the buying a book online feels like something of a hollow victory if hard. Dec 16, 2017 contemporary india is an uneasy, volatile mix. Scholars and intellectuals across the board are critical and worried about penguins.
The book was initially published by viking penguin in 2009 and later in india by penguins indian subsidiary, penguin india. Jul 10, 2019 wendy donigers controversial book the hindus. Since there are so many books about hinduism, the author of yet another one. 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. An alternative history by wendy doniger of the university of chicago is really not a history at all. Hinduism wendy doniger s controversial book the hindus.
In the light of foregoing, it is incumbent upon contemporary hindus and hindu. Examines a rich array of hindu conceptspolytheism, death, gender, art, contemporary puritanism, nonviolence, and many more. Wendy donigers enthralling and encyclopaedic book reveals her vision of a hindu culture that is plural, varied, generous, and inclusive. The real reason wendy donigers book on hindus was banned in india. 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. Gavin flood, professor of hindu studies and comparative religion, oxford university these lively essays, flowing from wendy donigers decadeslong encounter with hinduism, show us what can happen when an extraordinary mind takes up an even more extraordinary subject.
For those who already know and admire wendy doniger s work, this is a handy if hefty compendium of many of her essays for those who are reading her for the first time, the book is a marvellous introduction to the multiple ways that hinduism can be approached and understood through the stories that it tells. The notice demanded that the publisher withdraw this book too. Unlike her previous work this was specifically aimed at the indian audience. Feb, 2014 penguin books india agreed this week to withdraw from sale and pulp all copies of 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. Oct 26, 2015 the narrative sweep is epicwendy doniger, with exceptional brio, tells us how the story of hinduism continues to multiply. Three months after aleph book company decided that american indologist wendy donigers book on hinduism would be reprinted only after. An alternative history, is a 2011 book from the longtime divinity professor and noted hinduism scholar that offers a new way of understanding one of the world. Publishers weekly clear and direct this will stand as a reliable resource to return to frequently. The origins of evil in hindu mythology and translations of the rig veda and the kamasutra. An alternative history penguin, 2009 has outraged hindus around the world for allegedly insulting and offending hindus and indians.
She is an american indologist with dozens of publication under her name. Through this magisterial volume which she calls the book of my books wendy doniger, widely acknowledged as one of the greatest and most. 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. Mar, 2014 the latest twist in the tale is the notice served to aleph book company, the publisher of donigers previous book, on hinduism.
Wendy donigers book is a tribute to hinduisms complexity, not an insult this article is more than 6 years old. Wendy doniger speaking tiger books speaking tiger books. An alternative history is a book by american indologist, wendy doniger which the author describes as an alternative to the narrative of hindu. An alternative history, by university of chicago divinity school professor wendy doniger, was published in the u. Wendy doniger is the author of several acclaimed and bestselling works, among them, the hindus. An alternative history, by the usbased academic wendy doniger, as part of a settlement after a group. An alternative history, the laws of manu, hindu myths, the rigveda, siva the erotic ascetic, the origins. 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.
Seventythreeyearold doniger is an americanjewish indologist who has been a professor at the university of chicago since 1978. Penguin india agrees to recall and destroy all remaining copies of wendy donigers book the hindus after claims it was offensive, reports say. It suggests the hinduism she is chronicling is a shadow version of some other more mainstream narrative. In this magisterial volume of essays, wendy doniger enhances our. Includes more than 60 essays and lectures spanning the decadeslong career of one of hinduisms most prominent scholars. 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. 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. Nov 30, 2010 wendy doniger s book is at once deeply engaged with textual details, historical sweep, theoretical concerns, and contemporary politics. In it, doniger reportedly argues that hinduism is not a neatly unified religion but rather the amalgamation of many.
An alternative history, the wild misconceptions that most americans have of hinduism need to be counteracted precisely by making americans aware of the richness and human depth of hindu texts and practices page 653. 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. Her translations for penguin classics include the rig veda, the laws of. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. It has seven sections based on the different themes. Fight back and reclaim wendy donigers valuable book taken away from you by a spineless publisher and the fundamentalists they made a deal with. While in high school, she studied dance under george balanchine and martha graham. 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 real reason wendy donigers book on hindus was banned. Nov 30, 2010 wendy doniger s enthralling and encyclopaedic book reveals her vision of a hindu culture that is plural, varied, generous, and inclusive. This book is a collection of essays on hinduism by the author wendy doniger. 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. The narrative sweep is epicwendy doniger, with exceptional brio, tells us how the story of hinduism continues to multiply.