"The Hindus: An Alternative History" to be recalled by Penguin India

[muriel_volestrangler]

Penguin India has agreed to recall and destroy all remaining copies of a book on Hinduism by a leading American academic, according to reports.

Wendy Doniger's book The Hindus: An Alternative History had been the subject of a legal challenge claiming the text was offensive to Hindus.
...
Indian cabinet minister Jairam Ramesh told the Press Trust of India the decision was "atrocious", adding the book was "not blasphemous by any means".

The reports have prompted widespread criticism on social media, amid growing concern that religious groups are stifling free speech and artistic expression in India.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-26133291

[Laelth]

1. Now I want to read it.

I am very fond of Hinduism, actually, so I'd like to know what the hub-bub is about.

-Laelth

[lunasun]

2. the petition sent to Penguin list some of the blunders

""Alternative"" I guess is a nice word for it

[Act_of_Reparation]

3. It sounds like Doniger wasn't too kind to high-caste Hindus in her book

From what I've managed to piece together from the NY Times' book review, she essentially accused Brahmins of "collaborating" with the British to establish a kind of codified Hinduism, which, in theory, would allow them to exert authority over a previously fragmented society. She claims this take on Hinduism has since been adopted by Hindu nationalists who are trying to build a coherent "Indian" identity.

I can see why they'd be pissed off about that.