Can wendy doniger speak or read hindi or any indian language. An alternative history, withdrawn from publication in india. An alternative history, from stories in india and destroy all remaining copies in the country after four years of. Scholars and intellectuals across the board are critical and worried about penguins decision to withdraw the book and pulp the remaining copies. After half a century of studying and engaging with hinduism, im not about to be silenced by a few bad eggs, academic wendy doniger wrote in her latest book on hinduism, published last year. While in high school, she studied dance under george balanchine and martha graham she graduated summa cum laude in sanskrit and indian studies from radcliffe college in 1962, and. No stranger to controversy, batra had earlier taken on indian. The doniger controversy and the need for hindu theologians. On hinduism is the culmination of over forty years of scholarship from a renowned expert on one of the worlds great faiths. Controversy over books on hinduism by religion scholar wendy doniger continues to grow. I am a hindu and am eager to know and read anything which exists and wants to exist. Controversial book, the hindus, by religious scholar wendy.
Penguin india to recall book on hinduism news al jazeera. A controversial book on hinduism is back in print in indiawith a tweak wendy donigers book was booted from india after conservative hindu activists cried foul. An alternative history, by the usbased academic wendy doniger, as part of a settlement after a group of hindu conservative nationalists filed a case against the publisher. An alternative history book online at best prices in india on.
The book was initially published by viking penguin in 2009 and later in india by penguins indian subsidiary, penguin india. All you wanted to know about the controversy surrounding. Controversial book, the hindus, by religious scholar. Penguin india agrees to withdraw controversial book on hindus. 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. Wendy donigers book was booted from india after conservative hindu activists cried foul. Another book on hinduism by american indologist wendy doniger has come under attack from the same delhibased group which had compelled the. Mar, 2014 the real reason wendy donigers book on hindus was banned in india. An alternative history that she wrote a few years ago, was banned for its controversial content, raising a debate over the.
Wendy donigers the hindus is courageous, controversial and a capstone to a brilliant career updated jan 12, 2019. Wendy donigers enthralling and encyclopaedic book reveals her vision of a hindu culture that is plural, varied, generous, and inclusive. Wendy donigers book the hindus withdrawn by penguin india due to controversy the recall of us author wendy donigers book on hinduism by publisher penguin books has been received with much outrage. An alternative history the main contention of all petitioners is that the book insults and offends hindus and indians. Vishal agarwal has masterfully offered an elaborate critique of wendy donigers the hindus.
One story is about fusing the head of a brahmin woman onto the body of a dalit woman. 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. 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. I read a few excerpts, i realized they can seem offensive, but are they a lie. Penguin books india has decided to withdraw copies of united states indologist wendy donigers book the hindus. An alternative history penguin, 2009 has outraged hindus around the world for allegedly insulting and offending hindus and indians. She claims to have translated several sanskrit texts. Wendys unhistory making history hindu janajagruti samiti.
And although the official decision to withdraw the book tilted the hindus. Doniger is one of the prominent western indologists who had authored the controversial book on history of hindus, demeaning hinduism as a religion of sex and perversion. An alternative history, by the usbased academic wendy doniger, as part of a settlement after a group. What the controversy around my book says about modern india. The hindu tantrism tradition is one of the aspects of the religion explored by wendy donigers book. An alternative history, by wendy doniger, a professor of religion at the university of chicago, was pulled by penguin books india after a fouryear legal battle that began when the. On the other hand, outcastes were historically those who belonged to no caste, perhaps as a result of intercaste marriage. Wendy doniger, a professor of history of religion at university of chicago, is a prizewinning author of book, the hindus. These errors and misrepresentations are bound and perhaps intended to mislead students of indian and hindu history. This is not the only controversy that wendy donigers book the hindus has faced.
Doniger, 73, is a jewish american indologist and has been a professor at the university of chicago since 1978. Doniger provides several variants of the theme of transposed heads. 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. So much so, that its publishers, penguin books india, has succumbed to pressure by. There is a smear campaign to claim that hindu fundamentalist elements are behind this. Outcry as penguin india pulps alternative history of.
Wendy can go to another publisher and get her book published again in india. Feb 11, 2014 controversial book on hindus wendy donigers book the hindus. Wendy doniger book to be recalled by penguin india bbc news. Penguins withdrawal of wendy donigers celebrated book on hinduism is a bleak reminder of how the thought police is being allowed to run. For anyone seeking a deeper and more nuanced understanding of hinduism, this book is a must read. The real reason wendy donigers book on hindus was banned in india. No sooner the news of the out of court settlement for withdrawing copies of wendy donigers controversial book, the hindus. An alternative history penguin, 2009 has outraged hindus around the world like never before for allegedly insulting and offending hindus. An alternative history, by university of chicago divinity school professor wendy doniger, was published in. In march 2010, hindu american foundation cofounder aseem shukla debated various elements from the book with doniger herself on a washington postsponsored blog. That decision set off a firestorm of words in india, where the politics of all things hindu are fraught to say. The real reason wendy donigers book on hindus was banned in. Unlike her previous work this was specifically aimed at the indian audience. 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.
Penguin books india agreed this week to withdraw from sale and pulp all copies of the hindus. Penguin agrees to axe wendy donigers controversial book. Hinduism, in her view, is an intricate weave of the diverse localities and communities of indian culture. Wendy doniger after her book was banned in india and a criminal case filed against her, the author is wary of coming to india. An alternative history was made on february 4, twitter has been overflowing with strong criticism, thus making the book title a trending topic on the microblogging website. Penguin to destroy donigers controversial book on hindus. Withdrawing donigers book gives her the martyrs mantle. An alternative history is a book by american indologist, wendy. May 10, 2014 the decision by penguin india to withdraw wendy donigers controversial book, the hindus. Wendy doniger wendy donigers controversial book, the hindus. Penguin books india has said this week that it will destroy all available copies of the 2009 book by the indologist wendy doniger, the hindus. An alternative history, which had created a stir among various rightwing groups over allegedly defaming the hindu religion.
Wendy doniger book to be recalled by penguin india bbc. It has seven sections based on the different themes. 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. A controversial book on hinduism is back in print in indiawith a.
An alternative history, by wendy doniger, a professor of religion at the university of chicago, was pulled by penguin books india. We will be launching journal of pluralism to set a few things right, we will publish both sides of the issue, if there is a controversy. Wendy donigers the hindus is courageous, controversial. Outcry as penguin india pulps alternative history of hindus. Penguin to withdraw wendy donigers controversial book on. Feb, 2014 controversial book, the hindus, by religious scholar wendy doniger withdrawn by penguin over lawsuit penguin books india has agreed to withdraw a controversial book on hinduism as settlement for a lawsuit filed in 2011, the new york times reported. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. The wendy doniger controversy and the need for hindu.
An alternative history has outraged hindus around the world, insulting indians and offending hindus. Controversial author wendy doniger revisits the kamasutra. Wendy donigers book the hindus withdrawn by penguin india. Us author wendy donigers controversial book the hindus. The decision by penguin india to withdraw wendy donigers controversial book,the hindus. An alternative history, which has been both revered and reviled by different sections of society, stirred up a huge controversy. There has been much handwringing in india about wendy doniger s book, the hindus. Rajiv malhotra counters wendy donigers book on hinduism. Last month a retired hindu schoolteacher named dinanath batra, who had brought a lawsuit against me and penguin books, india, succeeded in getting my book, the hindus. An alternative history, has been back on bookshelves in india for a few months. Digital rights management drm the publisher has supplied this book in encrypted form, which means that you need to install free software in order to unlock and read it. And while shes delighted about it, the professor of history of religions at university of chicago is wary of coming to the country. I had written this for facebook, reproducing it here. Seventythreeyearold doniger is an american jewish indologist and has been a professor at the university of chicago since 1978.
Wendy doniger dropped a bombshell on indian intellectual circles with her 2009 book the hindus an alternative history. In her book, doniger retells hindu stories and provides snarky interpretations. An alternative history, has, not unsurprisingly, elicited a huge volume and range of responses. Penguin india has agreed to recall and destroy all remaining copies of wendy donigers book the hindus. On one side are those who see the issue solely as one of freedom of expression and worry that penguins capitulation undermines free speech. An alternative history penguin, 2009 has outraged hindus around the world like never before for allegedly insulting and offending hindus and indians.
The 2009published book, that was banned in india, is making a comeback. An alternative history, which is subject to a legal challenge by hindu campaign group. Seventythreeyearold doniger is an american jewish indologist who has been a professor at the university of chicago since 1978. Penguin agrees to axe wendy donigers controversial book the hindus. According to the book, the hindu, an alternate history, wendy doniger holds two doctorates in sanskrit and india studies, from harvard and oxford. Penguin books india has decided to withdraw copies of us indologist wendy donigers book the. 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. Feb 12, 2014 wendy donigers book is a tribute to hinduisms complexity, not an insult vijay prashad penguins decision to destroy the hindus.
The release of wendy donigers recent book the hindus. Penguin india agrees to recall and destroy all remaining copies of wendy donigers book the hindus after claims it was offensive, reports say. It offended the right wing in india and was defended and praised by the left wing and many indian and international sc. For those who already know and admire wendy donigers work, this is a handy if hefty compendium.
This is a rich text that will encourage dialogue and conversation among a wide range of scholars. Fight back and reclaim wendy donigers valuable book taken away from you by a spineless publisher and the fundamentalists they made a deal with. Publishers weekly clear and direct this will stand as a reliable resource to return to frequently. Feb 14, 2014 penguin india has agreed to remove historian wendy donigers book, the hindus. Wendy doniger has 73 books on goodreads with 35307 ratings. An alternative history, which had right wingers frothing at the mouth leading ultimately to its ban, is out with a new book, this time on the. The book makes certain claims which certain segments of hindus believe portray hinduism in a bad light. A controversial book on hinduism is back in print in india. Indian publishers nervous about taking books that might.
Doniger, a professor of religious history at the university of chicago, clearly. Hearing about these marginalised voices outraged some of indias hindu population and the book was consequently banned for deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage the feelings of any religious community. An alternative history acquiesced to settlement demands to cease publication of the book. Penguin india agrees to withdraw controversial book on. American professor wendy donigers controversial book the hindus. An alternative history panders to an orthodox, bourgeois view of. Wendy donigers book is a tribute to hinduisms complexity, not an. I hope this subreddit allows me to ask this question, as it also affects me as an indian.
However, the ban on the hindu book by wendy doniger and satanic verse by salman rushdie are wrong. Wendy donigers book the hindus withdrawn by penguin. Doniger, a professor of the history of religions at the university of chicago, is no stranger to this kind of controversy. Wendy donigers book is a tribute to hinduisms complexity.
The real reason wendy donigers book on hindus was banned. Penguin to withdraw wendy donigers controversial book, the. India bans vulgar book by university of chicago scholar. Penguin to withdraw wendy donigers controversial book. The petition was backed by the sarasvati research trust and demanded that the book be withdrawn. Monika arora reached an out of court settlement where penguin agreed to pulp the book. The issues against the book range from factual errors, dates, maps, to use of psychoanalytical tools while viewing vedic, hindu and indian gods. She is an american indologist with dozens of publication under her name. Feb 11, 2016 indian publishers nervous about taking books that might offend hindutva.
Feb 14, 2014 penguin to withdraw wendy donigers controversial book on hindus. An alternative history was out, there was scramble for the copies of the book. Jan 21, 2010 in hindu traditions, contesting threads run side by side for centuries, and ample room exists for diverse arguments. Feb 11, 2014 the recall of us author wendy donigers book on hinduism by publisher penguin books has been received with much outrage. Although she made a career out of hinduism, she has little respect for it. An alternative history, as part of a court settlement. Penguin recalls controversial book from india bookstores wendy donigers the hindu. Feb, 2014 penguin books india agreed this week to withdraw from sale and pulp all copies of the hindus. Penguin books india has agreed to withdraw from sale all copies of a book that takes an unorthodox view of hinduism, and will destroy them as part of a settlement after a case was filed against. Why the outrage on wendy donigers controversial book. The real reason wendy doniger s book on hindus was banned in india.
This book is a collection of essays on hinduism by the author wendy doniger. The preferred course of action to challenge wendy donigers many published works and polemical hinduphobic statements is to debate it. An alternative history by wendy doniger of the university of chicago is really not a history at all. University of chicago professor wendy donigers the. In 2010, a petition was signed online and submitted to the penguin usa. Books, lies and videotape wendy donigers misrepresentations about hindu history troy, mi february 17, 2014 the following blog by haf board of directors member, padma kuppa, appeared on. Penguin books india pulls controversial book on hinduism. Report on wendy donigers the hindu and the alternative history controversy posted on october 2, 2014 october 3, 2014 by divyasharma06 the book the hindu. Wendy donigers the hindus is courageous, controversial and. An alternative history has been pulled by its publisher, penguin books india, for offending hindus. I am a hindu myself, and we should know better than to ban books which try to give you an alternative view.
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