The Hindus: An Alternative History by Wendy to be destroyed

[Spring Onion]

Wendy Doniger
TOPICS
books and literature
history books

Penguin Books India has decided to withdraw copies of U.S. Indologist Wendy Doniger’s bookThe Hindus: An Alternative History following a court-backed settlement with a Delhi-based voluntary group which had objected to several “inaccuracies and biases” in it.

In the agreement with Shiksha Bachao AndolanCommittee, Penguin reportedly had said it “shall with immediate effect recall and withdraw all copies of The Hindus: An Alternative Historywritten by Wendy Doniger” and “shall not publish or distribute the book”, according to details available on social media.

When contacted, Penguin officials declined to comment.

The publisher reportedly agreed that it will pulp at its own cost “all recalled, withdrawn, unsold copies.”

It also reportedly agreed to ensure that the book is “completely withdrawn or cleared from the country at the earliest, within a period nor exceeding six months starting from the date on which this agreement is signed (February 4).”

In 2011, a civil lawsuit was filed against the publisher by Shiksha Bachao Andolan. The book also has two other criminal complaints against it. The petitioners alleged that the book — which focuses on different aspects of Hinduism — has lot of “inaccuracies and biases” and was full of various sexual connotations.

However, the blurb of the The Hindus: An Alternative History, says it is a definitive narrative account of history and myth that offers a new way of understanding one of the world’s oldest major religions. The 800-page book, published in 2009, elucidates the relationship between recorded history and imaginary worlds.

Ms. Doniger is regarded as one of the foremost scholars of Hinduism. In her unique and authoritative account, she debates about Hindu traditions become platforms from which to consider the ironies, and overlooked epiphanies, of history.

The decision has drawn sharp reactions from several quarters.

Union minister Jairam Ramesh said this is an “atrocious decision” as the book is “not blasphemous by any means.”

“The organisation that demanded Penguin take such action is clearly some Taliban-type outfit. It is distorting and destroying our liberal traditions. I hope Penguin reconsiders its decision and musters up courage to tell this outfit off,” Mr. Ramesh told PTI.

Historian Ramachandra Guha tweeted, “This is deeply disappointing. Penguin should have appealed in a higher court.”

Penguin to recall Doniger’s book on Hindus - The Hindu

 

[Raphael]

This isn't the first time this has happened. In 2005, Hindu groups in the USA lobbied for textbooks to omit any reference to the Aryan conquest on India, and the subsequent implementation of the caste system:

California textbook controversy over Hindu history - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[scorpionx]

Why this book only? There are several books written by Foreign and Indian writers as well which are full of sexual connotations in Hinduism, quite direct in most of the cases.

 

[INDIC]

This isn't the first time this has happened. In 2005, Hindu groups in the USA lobbied for textbooks to omit any reference to the Aryan conquest on India, and the subsequent implementation of the caste system:

California textbook controversy over Hindu history - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

What's wrong in the objection, Aryan Invasion theory is indeed very controversial as still today the historians hadn't found any proof of war or mass-massacre. Only thing they could establish was a linguistic similarities.

 

[Dem!god]

it's not the first time...there have been many cases where the foreigner write with biased mind on the oldest religion.....what does a foreigner from other nation know about it....what was the sexual connotations in ancient india....who knows....they all refer the old scriptures and then, write their biased views....was there aryan migration....there has been no substantial proof till date.....
these type of propaganda need to cut down......and congress minister needs to think twice before speaking......

 

[Spring Onion]

What's wrong in the objection, Aryan Invasion theory is indeed very controversial as still today the historians hadn't found any proof of war or mass-massacre. Only thing they could establish was a linguistic similarities.

"and the subsequent implementation of the caste system." ???

 

[Peshwa]

This is saddening....views and opinions should never be suppressed in our nation.

A country with eclectic views is key in a democracy....we do not want to be sheep!

 

[Fattyacids]

What's wrong in the objection, Aryan Invasion theory is indeed very controversial as still today the historians hadn't found any proof of war or mass-massacre. Only thing they could establish was a linguistic similarities.

Invasion yes, but there's no dispute about Aryan migration.

 

[Peshwa]

it's not the first time...there have been many cases where the foreigner write with biased mind on the oldest religion.....what does a foreigner from other nation know about it....what was the sexual connotations in ancient india....who knows....they all refer the old scriptures and then, write their biased views....was there aryan migration....there has been no substantial proof till date.....
these type of propaganda need to cut down......and congress minister needs to think twice before speaking......

Are we that insecure about our religion and country that instead of defending against a stand or proving an opinion wrong through our actions, we resort to banning books or protesting against them?
Does the elephant care when a dog barks at it on the street?

 

[Roybot]

Great this is how it should be done. No violent protests, no one killed.

P.S: Someone should drag Jairam Ramesh to the court for contempt.

 

[Raphael]

What's wrong in the objection, Aryan Invasion theory is indeed very controversial as still today the historians hadn't found any proof of war or mass-massacre. Only thing they could establish was a linguistic similarities.

1. It's a gross abuse of diplomatic/political influence. These academic subjects must be as objective and truthful as possible; attempts by political forces to distort what is taught to children is highly immoral.
2. It's only 'controversial' in India, and only because the political implications are unpleasant. That's why the Harvard professor on South Asian studies was so incensed by this Hindu nationalist lobbying effort, and wrote a scathing letter to the California Board of Education.

http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~witzel/witzelletter.pdf

 

[INDIC]

"and the subsequent implementation of the caste system." ???

You can refer to genetic studies, caste system wasn't subsequent, it took a long time to appear

 

[Dem!god]

Are we that insecure about our religion and country that instead of defending against a stand or proving an opinion wrong through our actions, we resort to banning books or protesting against them?
Does the elephant care when a dog barks at it on the street?

I am not saying anything about suppressing the freedom.....my only concern is about the western propaganda.....west always want the east to feel inferior......neither we are insecure ,...we can well defend of history and culture...but you never know there are many middle man who ready to sell the country for few green notes....

 

[INDIC]

1. It's a gross abuse of diplomatic/political influence. These academic subjects must be as objective and truthful as possible; attempts by political forces to distort what is taught to children is highly immoral.
2. It's only 'controversial' in India, and only because the political implications are unpleasant. That's why the Harvard professor on South Asian studies was so incensed by this Hindu nationalist lobbying effort, and wrote a scathing letter to the California Board of Education.

http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~witzel/witzelletter.pdf

There is lots of excavations since independence and even the existence of drying of ancient river around 1900BC on the bed of Ghaggar-Hakra river is proved. Some historian found a grave in Indus valley claiming people massacred by Aryan marauders but carbon dating shows that was graveyard belonging to different points of the history. Aryan Invasion theory is too fake to be believed today.

 

[JayAtl]

1. It's a gross abuse of diplomatic/political influence. These academic subjects must be as objective and truthful as possible; attempts by political forces to distort what is taught to children is highly immoral.
2. It's only 'controversial' in India, and only because the political implications are unpleasant. That's why the Harvard professor on South Asian studies was so incensed by this Hindu nationalist lobbying effort, and wrote a scathing letter to the California Board of Education.

http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~witzel/witzelletter.pdf

Gross abuse? protesting a gross abuse?

maybe they should have insisted doing what you guys do? push propaganda revisionist history as below?

On July 15, the Chinese government released a list of 100 books and 100 movies, documentaries and television shows they found suitable for the nation’s youth to read. This list was a joint effort from three organizations: Central Propaganda Department, Ministry of Education and Central Communist Youth League. These organizations plan to promote these works heavily among China’s youth. According to them, their goal is to “deeply and thoroughly realize the spirit of the Party’s 18th National Congress, to strongly promote the national spirit and the spirit of the age among the youth, and to encourage all youth to fight to realize the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.”

Read more: Chinese Government is Brainwashing Children with Books