Wendy doniger in when the lingam is just a cigar, psychoanalysis and hindu sexual fantasies. Jan 18, 2011 wendy doniger is a professor of the history of religions at the university of chicago and one of the most important interpreters of myth. Also by wendy doniger siva, the erotic ascetic tjje origins ofevilin hindu m ythology dreams, illusion, and other realities splitting the. 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. A work of intricate beauty, it provides a unique insight into early indian. Right or wrong, wendy donigers the hindus should be. University of chicago harris school of public policy title. I had written this for facebook, reproducing it here. 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 military and indian democracy since independence by steven i. Irish theological quarterly the sacrality of things. On hinduism paperback wendy doniger oxford university press.
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 and her portrayal of hindus and hindu. Wendy doniger, one of the worlds foremost scholars of hinduism, illuminates those moments within the tradition that resist. She is the mircea eliade distinguished service professor of the history of religions at the university of chicago. This is not a pipe rene magritte this is not wendy donigers the hindus. Feb 14, 2014 a critique of wendy donigers portrayal of hinduism. An alternative history book online at best prices in india on. Censorship, selfcensorship, and the role of the academy in the public understanding of religion, on the debates stirred by the decision of penguin india to cease publication of wendy donigers the hindus. The hindus an alternative history is an utterly wonderful book. The hindus, an alternative history by wendy doniger titled. In his lawsuit filed in 2010 against wendy donigers the hindus. The word for history in sanskrit, itihasa, could be translated as thats.
I knew that she was an eminent sanskrit scholar at the university of chicago, author of many books about cultural, religious and folkloric beliefs, and a translator of several indian classics, including the rig veda and. Wendy doniger oflaherty, the speaker for the fourth annual philip t. This formed part of a settlement after a group of hindu conservative nationalists filed. The rigveda samhita is the core text, and is a collection of 10 books maalas with 1,028 hymns suktas in about 10,600 verses called. Zabriskie lecturer, is one of the most accomplished and eclectic scholars in the humanities today. The earliest of the four hindu religious scriptures known as the vedas, and the first extensive composition to survive in any indoeuropean language, the rig veda c. Why do hindus argue about their scripture and who is. This is not wendy donigers the hindus an alternative history. Hindus, wendy doniger also assembles a vast compendium, a veritable sea of these stories, many of them from sanskrit litera ture that we always already know. Fight back and reclaim wendy donigers valuable book taken away from you by a spineless publisher and the fundamentalists they made a deal with. Raghavan, the hindu way of life, 203212 sit wendy doniger. Wendy doniger is the mircea eliade professor of the history of religions at the university of chicago.
Dont miss this equivalent of a brilliant graduate course froma feisty and exhilarating teacher. The devi mahatmya tells of kali springing from the anger of the goddess durga to slay the demon raktabija bloodseed. Wendy doniger s enthralling and encyclopaedic book reveals her vision of a hindu culture that is plural, varied, generous, and inclusive. There is no one explanation as to who or what shiva is. With their permission the pdf ebook is posted here. Wendy sent the announcement as a pdf, and yahoo controls for the list at present arent working and wont let me send pdf files, so i send it on in plaintext below. Fight back and take back wendy donigers valuable book taken away from you by a spineless publisher and the fundamentalists they made a.
Wendy doniger has impressive credentials with two doctorates, in sanskrit and indian studies, from harvard and oxford universities. Hindus make up about 80 percent of the population, but the indian state is formally secular. Blowing up the sexuality and inconsistencies present in any ancient religious text out of all proportions, doniger published the book as if to offer an alternative history against the established wisdom of the times. Also by wendy doniger siva, the erotic ascetic the origins of evil in hindu mythology dreams, illusion, and other realities.
During the struggle a new demon emerges from each drop of raktabijas blood as it hits the ground. This is a republication of a 2010 essay is authored by shyam n. On hinduism is the culmination of over forty years of scholarship from a renowned expert on one of the worlds great faiths. Other peoples myths celebrates the universal art of storytelling, and.
Just who invented hinduism first is a matter of scholarly debate. Pdf the hindus an alternative history wendy doniger ripu. 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, including on hinduism and the hindus. Invading the sacredhinduism and western academiafree ebook. An alternative history, has sparked a worldwide protest, both over the agreement to stop production and pulp of the book, and more importantly, over the law that inspired it section. 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. I didnt really notice the subtitle of wendy doniger s massive study, the hindus. The earliest of the four hindu religious scriptures known as the vedas, and the first extensive composition to survive in any indoeuropean language, the rig. A critique of wendy donigers the hindus, an alternative.
A scholar of sanskrit and indian textual traditions, her major works include, asceticism and eroticism in the mythology of siva. Feb says this move by penguin marks a dismaying shift in submitting to the growing atmosphere of intolerance. 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. Penguin indias decision to withdraw wendy donigers the hindus. Indias intolerance is hurting the country lowy institute. 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. Doniger, a scholar of religion and professor at the university of chicago, wrote the hindus. Women, androgynes, and other mythical beasts, 1982, 408. Apr 23, 2009 the material traces of ritual art must vanish in order that mental traces may remain intact forever, writes wendy doniger in her opus on hinduism, the hindus. Dont miss these related sessions at this years annual meeting. Hawley, alf hiltebeitel, wendy doniger, and prasenjit duara explore the creation of this new hindu identity and the implica tions of the new hindu politics for the future of india.
Aims of life in the hindu imaginary chapter 9 women and ogresses in the ramayana 400 bce to 200 ce chapter 10 violence in the mahabharata 300 bce to 300 ce chapter 11 dharma in the mahabharata 300 bce to 300 ce chapter 12 escape clauses in the shastras 100 bce to 400 ce chapter bhakti in. An alternative history, dina nath batra argued that, amongst other reasons, the book is offensive because its cover depicts god ka with many naked women. One argument she brings up is under the theme of who speaks for hinduism and she states, but the claim that only hindus should teach about hinduism betrays the same misunderstanding of the nature of secular education, of the academic discipline of religious studies, that colors batras contentionsdoninger. In the eight books books 2 through 9 that were composed the earliest, the hymns predominantly discuss cosmology and. Pdf the hindus an alternative history wendy doniger. American indologist wendy doniger whose book the hindus. For hinduism studies,the 21st century opens with an audacious tome by wendy doniger, the hindus an alternative history. In this fourth annual ninian smart memorial lecture at uc santa barbara she explores the narrative convention in myth. Includes more than 60 essays and lectures spanning the decadeslong career of one of hinduisms most prominent scholars.
Doniger, introduction to an alternative narrative of the hindus. Find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. An alternative history, by the usbased academic wendy doniger. Network of concerned historians nch campaigns year original year follow up circular country names 2014 73 india wendy doniger announcement pen international asks us to protest against the withdrawal on 10 february 2014 by the publisher penguin of american author wendy donigers the hindus. A warning to the hindus by savitri devi calcutta 1939 dedicated to divine julian emperor of the greeks and romans. What links here related changes upload file special pages permanent link.
This acclaimed book by wendy doniger is available at in several formats for your ereader. The disenfranchising of polytheism in the secular west. Objectionable passages from wendy donigers second book on. The goal of this chapter is to examine the hindu understanding of ahimsa or nonviolence by comparing the personalities of yudishthira in the. An alternative history is a book by american indologist, wendy doniger which the author describes as an alternative to the narrative of. Having read the book, i believe its worth a read u know. Outcry as penguin india pulps alternative history of hindus. The book was initially published by viking penguin in 2009 and later in india by penguins indian subsidiary, penguin india.
An alternative history, by the usbased academic wendy doniger, as part of a settlement after a group. Wendy doniger oflaherty born november 20, is an american indologist whose professional career has spanned five decades. The group shiksha bachao andolan samiti, or the save education movement, had objected to religious historian wendy donigers 2009 book, the hindus. 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. Doniger, the hindus, 149 lincoln, two notes on modern rituals lincoln, the metaphors of mr.
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. Under the name of wendy doniger oflaherty, she has published many books about hinduism and mythology, most recently others peoples myths. The print revolution and lesbian philology in rome circa 1474. Dogs, and other subalterns in the history of hinduism wendy doniger readings. Furthermore, retrograde moves dotted the tenure of the hrd minister from being embroiled in the german controversy or being cornered by the saffron lobby.
Subcontinent indians were counted as hindu in three censuses 19201940, but as white in the next three censuses. An alternative history was withdrawn following objections that it hurt sentiments of hindus is angry and disappointed over the development and says the true villain is the indian law. Wendy donigers research and teaching interests revolve around two basic areas, hinduism and mythology. Network of concerned historians nch campaigns circular. Feb 12, 2014 wendy doniger s book is a tribute to hinduisms complexity, not an insult vijay prashad penguins decision to destroy the hindus. Examines a rich array of hindu conceptspolytheism, death, gender, art, contemporary puritanism, nonviolence, and many more. A life of learning wendy doniger american council of. Hinduism, in her view, is an intricate weave of the diverse localities and communities of indian culture. The hindus wendy doniger religion studies the relationship between the recorded history and myths of hinduism, including how it influenced indias history, the role of women and lower castes, and the ongoing 779 pages isbn. Hinduism, major world religion originating on the indian subcontinent and comprising several and varied systems of philosophy, belief, and ritual. After severe backlash in india and a court case that ended last. Dina nath batra send legal notice to wendy doniger posted on april 14, 2010 in the hindu an alternative history by bharatiya shiksha.
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. Objectionable passages from wendy donigers second book on hinduism free download as pdf file. It tells the story of the hindus primarily through a string of narratives. J wendy doniger enhances our understanding of the ancient and complex. 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 history of the hindus from an insiders perspective. Kas relationships with women have been a sensitive topic within hinduism. Feb, 2014 penguin books india agreed this week to withdraw from sale and pulp all copies of the hindus. Wendy doniger dropped a bombshell on indian intellectual circles with her 2009 book the hindus an alternative history. 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. As a discrete indic religion among others, however, hinduism was probably first imagined by the british in the early part of the nine. Oct 30, 2015 wendy doniger, the 74yearold american author and research scholar in sanskrit is moreover known for the high regard she has had for indian tradition. The violent path of religious nationalism johan strijdom abstract the article not only accepts the distinction between indigeneity and hybridity as two extreme positions in postcolonial studies, but argues that the former paradigms rigid and essentialist definition of identity may contribute to intolerance and violence.
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. History european imperialism wendy doniger talks about shifting views of the lower class in the history of hinduism wendy doniger is a professor of the history of religions at the university of chicago and one of the most important interpreters of myth. Wendy doniger social thought the university of chicago. An epic masterpiece of huge sweep and magisterial power, a hundred times more interesting than the iliad and the odyssey, writes wendy doniger in the introduction, the mahabharata is a timeless work that evokes a world of myth, passion, and warfare while exploring eternal questions of. She has mentored over 70 students through their phds.
I am deeply troubled by what it foretells for free speech in india. An alternative history panders to an orthodox, bourgeois view of. Freedom of religion is constitutionally guaranteed and generally respected in practice. Wendy doniger and the hindus by murali balaji the new. Students will develop and present a research paper over the course of the term, and are encouraged to consult the. Reception immediately following a lecture by professor wendy doniger, university of chicagos mircea eliade distinguished service professor of the history of religions, with a response from professor david frankfurter, aurelio chair. Gathers vedic hymns about creation, death, sacrifice, ritual, and the various gods and characters of indian mythology. An alternative history, wendy doniger university of chicago, penguin press, 2009. Mar, 2014 the real reason wendy donigers book on hindus was banned in india. While in high school, she studied dance under george balanchine and martha graham. The hindus an alternative history by wendy doniger penguin books november 2010 isbn10. Feb 15, 2014 arundhati roy on bbc newsday dated 14. An alternative history will be withdrawn and pulped in india, thanks to.
Hindus and their religion, but he joins the above scholars in claiming that the. 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. Wendy doniger is a professor of the history of religions at the university of chicago and one of the most important interpreters of myth. The real reason wendy donigers book on hindus was banned in. Also in the british raj during the 19thcentury a number of missionaries, most notably the infamous john wilson, harassed zoroastrians and implied that they were primitive by referring to them as polytheists jenny rose 2012, 205. 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. 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. True some of its contents does give us a different idea of things. Wendy donigers book is a tribute to hinduisms complexity. Dina nath batra send legal notice to wendy doniger posted on april 14, 2010 in the hindu an alternative history by bharatiya shiksha monika arora 337, lawyers chambers. Her courses in mythology address themes in crosscultural expanses, such as death, dreams, evil, horses, sex, and women.
An alternative history, which was also a finalist for the new york book critics circle award, in 2010. Wendy doniger and martha nussbaum, current history, april 2015, pp. If the indus valley civilization 3rd2nd millennium bce was the earliest source of hindu traditions, then hinduism is the oldest living religion on earth. Wendy doniger and her portrayal of hindus and hindu scriptures. Other peoples myths the cave of echoes, wendy doniger oflaherty, wendy doniger, nov 1, 1995, religion, 225 pages. Indian publisher yanks hinduism book after outcry world.
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