Bbc world news william dalrymple speaks out on the. Indian censorship and the curious case of wendy doniger. An alternative history, which has been both revered and reviled by different sections of society, stirred up a huge controversy. Controversy regarding wendy doniger and her book on hinduism. She is the mircea eliade distinguished service professor of the history of religions at the university of chicago. 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. All you wanted to know about the controversy surrounding.
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. She is the author of several translations of sanskrit texts and many books about hinduism and has taught at the school of oriental and african studies at the university of london and at the university of california at berkeley. Doniger, a professor of the history of religions at the university of chicago, is no stranger to this kind of controversy. Vigilant hindu groups have stopped penguin from publishing a derogatory book insulting and offending hindus. Wendy donigers book the hindus withdrawn by penguin. History revisited some of the hate mail is chilling. Most of all, he has shown how her book s treatment of hinduism is unconscientious and flippant to a degree that would never be accepted from a professor of her rank for more established religions. Wendy donigers the hindus is a classic example of leftliberal scholarship on hinduism. Science, culture and integral yoga much ado about ganesha. 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. This is the original version of the article that caused microsoft to replace encartas article on hinduism.
I had written this for facebook, reproducing it here. An alternative history by wendy doniger, a professor at university of chicago. Doniger wants this book to be used as a basic textbook on hinduism and india. Penguin india settles a civil suit with dinanath batra over wendy donigers controversial book on hinduism. Penguin india agrees to recall and destroy all remaining copies of wendy donigers book the hindus after claims it was offensive, reports say. One of the biggest drawbacks of wendy donigers controversial book, the hindus is its reliance on tertiary, not even secondary, sources.
The publisher has agreed to destroy all copies as part of a settlement. An alternative history penguin, 2009 has outraged hindus around the world like never before for allegedly insulting and offending hindus and indians. Penguin to withdraw wendy donigers controversial book. The world of wendy donigers translations indiafactsindiafacts. A scholar of sanskrit and indian textual traditions, her major works include, asceticism and eroticism in the mythology of siva. Penguin to axe wendy donigers controversial book the hindus. It is shoddy, it peddles the lies of its predecessors and tries to convert a lie into a fact by repeating it over multiple times. Rushdie by our representative the author of the satanic verses, banned in india just nine days after it was published on september 26, 1988, for alleged blasphemy under pressure from extremist islamic groups, has taken strong exception to penguin. She is a winner of the prestigious robert stoller award for her scholarship on the hindu goddess, and is amongst the elite who decide which papers and topics get included at academic conferences on hinduism.
Wendys unhistory making history hindu janajagruti samiti. Controversy over books on hinduism by religion scholar wendy doniger continues to grow. But leave your speculations about their personal sexuality out of it. Wendy doniger s 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. Wendy donigers book was booted from india after conservative hindu activists cried foul. Rajiv malhotra shares foreword of his book academic hinduphobic. It is whether we can afford not to have it, says the writer of penguins controversial decision to withdraw wendy donigers book. I am a hindu myself, and we should know better than to ban books which try to give you an alternative view. Infinity foundation is organising swadeshi indology conference part 3 in iit madras, chennai, tamil nadu from 22 dec 24 dec 2017.
Historian audrey truschke on the backlash to her aurangzeb book the mughal emperor is controversial not. An alternative history was out, there was scramble for the copies of the book. Wendy doniger book to be recalled by penguin india bbc. Wendy book on hindus latest breaking news, pictures, photos and video news. 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. Indian publishers nervous about taking books that might. 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 as one of the finalists for the national book critics circle award.
Wendy donigers book is a tribute to hinduisms complexity, not an. But the book and many of her articles over a 40year academic career misinterpret facts or pick and choose incidents that conveniently fit a narrative of an erotic, exotic, mythologically rife. Some were too embarrassed to face them while many others found it too controversial to go public with their feelings. A simple perusal of the american library associations banned book list, for example, will yield countless examples of religious objections to the content within books.
In 2010, a petition was signed online and submitted to the penguin usa. This is not the only controversy that wendy donigers book the hindus has faced. An alternative history by wendy doniger of the university of chicago is really not a history at all. 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. I hope this subreddit allows me to ask this question, as it also affects me as an indian. The real reason wendy doniger s book on hindus was banned in india. 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. An alternative history is a book by american indologist, wendy. The book was initially published by viking penguin in 2009 and later in india by penguins indian subsidiary, penguin india. 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. How is wendy donigers book the hindu in its quality of.
No sooner the news of the out of court settlement for withdrawing copies of wendy donigers controversial book, the hindus. One story is about fusing the head of a brahmin woman onto the body of a dalit woman. The real reason wendy donigers book on hindus was banned. Critics keep on implying i wrote the book and mark tully did not. News when westerners make fun of our gods, theyre instigating trouble when westerners make fun of our gods, theyre instigating trouble february 17, 2014 10. The real reason wendy donigers book on hindus was banned in india. Beginning with british philology in the colonial period, hindu studies has been practiced largely by westerners, due in part to the lack of a distinct department for religion in indian academia. Jul 03, 2010 wendy donigers hoax exposed by a vedic scholar. Contained lots of factual errors, erroneous mapsthey have withdrawn the book knowing the tide is now against the missionaries with support from their masters aka u.
Wendy is known for her controversial position about hinduism. Feb 01, 2014 a lot of controversy is going on about pulping a book the hindus. Penguin maintained a studied silence on the matter and refused to comment, though author doniger replied by email to some news outlets. Although she is a wellknown authority on hinduism, her bestseller book has been pointed out to have many factual errors and her perspective of things. The book makes certain claims which certain segments of hindus believe portray hinduism in a bad light. Hindus in india dont have a problem with it because a very small minority knows about it. Feb 05, 2014 a list of the numerous errors in wendy s book has been compiled by vishal agarwal, an indoamerican engineer writing in his spare time. Jul 01, 2015 hinduisms growing chasm with liberal values. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Its launch video gives a good idea of our side of the story. Turning believers into nonbelievers and nonbelievers into believers by swami achuthananda is a spiritual venture. Of course, anyone with a computer can get the kindle edition of the hindus from penguin, ny, and it s probably cheaper, too. Wendy doniger holds doctorates in sanskrit and indian studies from harvard and oxford.
This debate pits traditionalist hindus against american indologists around the work and personality of prof. It was used by encarta for reference now many of us may agree most indians feel a work is validated. Penguin india agrees to withdraw controversial book on. 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. Dont throw the book at the publisher times of india blog. The petition was backed by the sarasvati research trust and demanded that the book be withdrawn. Scholars and intellectuals across the board are critical and worried about penguins decision to withdraw the book and pulp the remaining copies. An alternative history, by university of chicago divinity school professor wendy doniger, was published in the u. Penguin books india pulls controversial book on hinduism. Hindu civilization dialogue wendy doniger and alternative. Controversial book, the hindus, by religious scholar wendy.
Reviewed by mamta madhavan for readers favorite many many many gods of hinduism. Right or wrong, wendy donigers the hindus should be. And although the official decision to withdraw the book tilted the hindus. American professor wendy donigers controversial book the hindus. Demolishing wendy donigers book against dharma a talk by dr. A controversial book on hinduism is back in print in indiawith a. 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.
Academic hinduphobia a critique of wendy donigers erotic. Apr 27, 2010 the controversy over who wrote hindutva, sex and adventuresroly books, new delhi. An alternative history, as part of a court settlement. Feb 21, 2014 hindus do not seek book banning and book burning. A controversial book on hinduism is back in print in india. She is the author of several translations of sanskrit texts, including penguin classics editions of hindu myths and the rig veda, as well as many books about hinduism. Wendy donigers book is a tribute to hinduisms complexity. The hindutva, sex and adventures continuing controversy. An alternative history, by university of chicago divinity school professor wendy doniger, was published in. Find wendy book on hindus news headlines, photos, videos, comments, blog posts and opinion at the indian express. Sparked off by sunthar visuvalingams followup observations, in the light of george w. The hindu tantrism tradition is one of the aspects of the religion explored by wendy donigers book.
The recall of us author wendy donigers book on hinduism by publisher penguin books has been received with much outrage. Perhaps it might make more people read the book, i tell myself, and more americans will get a better understanding of hinduism, instead of thinking of it as just. Bushs state of the union address in 2001, on david loys buddhist appeal, just after 911, for a pacific approach to the problem of terrorism. This is a serious attack on freedom of speech in india. Yes, penguin has withdrawn the book, because a small group of hindus found that it violated their view of hinduism. No stranger to controversy, batra had earlier taken on indian. In her book, doniger retells hindu stories and provides snarky interpretations. Scholars who study hinduism and india face hostile climate. However, the whole book had this screechy, reactionary tone, which was a pity because it detracted from some very genuine concerns raised by the book. Penguin india has agreed to recall and destroy all remaining copies of wendy donigers book the hindus. Hindu studies is the study of the traditions and practices of the indian subcontinent, especially hinduism. There has been much handwringing in india about wendy doniger s book, the hindus. 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. The scholarship of certain sections of the academic.
The release of wendy donigers recent book the hindus. Apr 12, 2016 in wendys child syndrome, malhotra criticizes what he considers to be the eroticization of hinduism and the use of freudian interpretative frameworks by doniger the wendy of the title, alternately described as the queen and several other scholars he considers to be under her influence wendys children. In a conversation with time, shiksha bachao andolan president dinanath batra explains why he thinks donigers book hurts hindu sentiments and is propagating lies about hindu deities and national. 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. What the controversy around my book says about modern india. In fact, it is far more complex than a simple case of book banning, and ironically, the outcome was more mutual than in a typical case of censorship. Infinity foundations swadeshi indology conference to be held. For those who will not be able to attend the conference and. Jan 27, 2010 i have mixed feelings on seeing wendy donigers book the hindus. Penguin books india has agreed to recall and pulp all copies in india of the hindus. An alternative history has outraged hindus around the world, insulting indians and offending hindus.
Penguin withdraws controversial hinduism book huffpost. Wendy donigers the hindus is courageous, controversial. Recently, i chanced to read an article authored by wendy doniger, distinguished professor at the university of chicago, usa, about hinduism and its cow history. These errors and misrepresentations are bound and perhaps intended to mislead students of indian and hindu history. Subramanian swamy interview on hinduism with cts tv. Inside wendy donigers banned book on the hindus learn religions. Why a hindu activist targeted wendy doniger s book. In response to what i felt was a onesided portrayal of the events, i compiled a new book, titled, invading the sacred. I usually try to distance myself from religious debates on rindia but your question is an important one. Rajiv malhotra shares foreword of his book academic hinduphobic doniger struck a new alliance to help her make a dramatic comeback. When westerners make fun of our gods, theyre instigating. She has taken stray observations, opinions of all manner of writers giving them the same weightage as to a serious historian or to a solid, primary text. Doniger, 73, is a jewish american indologist and has been a professor at the university of chicago since 1978.
Wendy donigers the hindus is courageous, controversial and a capstone to a brilliant career updated jan 12, 2019. After deliberation for nearly four years, penguin india compromised on february 4, 2014 in an out of court settlement to withdraw and pulp within the next six months the remaining copies of us chicago professor, wendy doniger s book, the hindus. Wendy doniger oflaherty is an american indologist whose professional career has spanned five decades. He speaks about the depth of religion and spirituality and its profound effect on people. Wendys hinduphobia withdrawal of book and antihindu. Penguin books india agreed this week to withdraw from sale and pulp all copies of the hindus. All hindus seek is a neutral platform and debate and dialogu. I read a few excerpts, i realized they can seem offensive, but are they a lie.
An alternative history that she wrote a few years ago, was banned for its controversial content, raising a debate over the. This strange tendency of malhotra s he keeps referring to wendy s child syndrome almost begs us to reverse psychoanalyze him, specifically his weird obsession with western female scholars of hinduism. Attack on wendys book on hinduism suggests casualness of. Wendy doniger dropped a bombshell on indian intellectual circles with her 2009 book the hindus an alternative history. An alternative history, has been back on bookshelves in india for a few months. Mar 03, 2014 wendys hinduphobia dhiru shah withdrawal of book and antihindu propaganda. India bans vulgar book by university of chicago scholar. Consequently, her antagonism towards the hindutva forces which includes modi, rss, and the bjp is understandable. An alternative history penguin, 2009 has outraged hindus around the world for allegedly insulting and offending hindus and indians. In an interview on the impact programme with lucy hockings, he spoke out against the controversial law which has led to copies of wendy donigers book the hindus. An alternative history, first published in 2009, was recalled and pulped by penguin.
An analysis of hinduism studies in america, and it was published in 2007. And leave off referring to professor doniger as wendy. Foreword in the late 1990s, a major controversy broke when i started to critique wendy donigers depictions of hinduism which most hindus found vulgar and outright insulting. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading on hinduism. Not only will this book subject students to a warped, false and bigoted version of hinduism, it will also expose indianamerican youth to ridicule and bigotry. Hinduism, in her view, is an intricate weave of the diverse localities and communities of indian culture. Jun, 2009 rich, i recently got hold of a book called invading the sacred, which i was hoping was going to be a reasoned response to what appear to be some legitimate concerns about hinduism studies in america. An alternative history penguin, 2009 has outraged hindus around the world like never before for allegedly insulting and offending hindus. An alternative history penguin, 2009 has outraged hindus around the world for allegedly. This book was considered an important piece and a was considered authoritative work on hinduism. Rajiv malhotras interview on the issue of wendy donigers.
And while shes delighted about it, the professor of history of religions at university of chicago is wary of coming to the country. Seventythreeyearold doniger is an american jewish indologist who has been a professor at the university of chicago since 1978. This book caricatures hinduism in a grossly offensive and degrading manner. Wendy doniger holds two doctorates in sanskrit and indian studies from harvard and oxford. Wendy donigers book is a tribute to hinduism s complexity, not an insult. Penguins withdrawal of wendy donigers celebrated book on hinduism is a bleak reminder of how the thought police is being allowed to run. Penguin books india pulls controversial book on hinduism penguin books india agreed to withdraw the book from circulation in india as well as destroy every copy of the book. An alternative history, which is subject to a legal challenge by hindu campaign group. 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.
Outcry as penguin india pulps alternative history of. Doniger provides several variants of the theme of transposed heads. What i can gather from various news reports the book was published in 2009, in 2010 a group of people who thought that the book offends religious sentiments of hindus in india filed civil and criminal cases and in cases like these throws every. Rajiv malhotra, one of wendy doniger s most vociferous critics, speaks to s arthur j pais about the prejudices created by american scholars about hindu gods and hinduism. Rajiv malhotra, left, a constant critic of wendy doniger and what he calls her chicago school of writers and thinkers, retired at age 44 some 20 years ago and put. Why the outrage on wendy donigers controversial book. Sarah caldwell is also afflicted by wendys child syndrome xxxiv, and is another powerful leader of risa. I am a hindu and am eager to know and read anything which exists and wants to exist.