Penguin Books India pulps academic book on Hinduism because it offended Hindus

[anonymus]

crap

Double post!!!!!!

 

[ranjeet]

Hindus are stuck with the tag of cow, curry, and caste. With so much money spent on Indology, why is this so? They have never heard of affirmative action. None of them seems to know that we do not eat rotten meat with maggots with spice to coat the stench. Where are these kind of biases coming from if they are questioning and criticizing?

Saw a debate on NDTV last night on this particular topic, I agree with your stand on the liberals.

 

[anonymus]

Actually given the author chairs Hinduism studies in reputable universities, her books become the course material for students who study Hinduism. This is what is considered the legitimate face of Hinduism.

Dude,

But seriously, who would take indology as a subject even in a reputed western university?

I am not trying to downplay significance of humanities but the academic rigour one requires in Theoritical physics or engineering or social sciences like psychology,anthropology and sociology is much much more than one require for fringe subjects like Indology, sinology or Islamic studies. Even in USA, only those people who could not qualify for proper academic discipline takes these subjects.

Their influence on their home country is also debatable. General public of USA is going to form it's opinion about India from popular media not some niche books written by an obscure department neither is a powerful individual like President is going to ask them for advice. He would turn to CIA and State department if he wants professional advice.

The influence of these pseudo-academicians is limited to page 3 people.

 

[Hermione]

That is one section. But Hinduism+Sikhism IS the fastest growing way of living in many countries - USA, Australia etc. The perception has changed in the last two decades. Negative propaganda is a common thing in the West. Japanese were once considered at rats. But they started buying Hondas in the fifties! The West does not hold on to prejudices - unless the prejudice is real and valid.

I am not really sure about its growth except because of migration of Indians to those countries. Sure there are those ISKON people and some others, but it is no where in the numbers that is reassuring. Evangelical Christianity is growing faster in USA than any other religion. The West had plenty of prejudices, only thing which countered it was the living example of Indians amongst them. The Hindu community both because of its education, wealth, and exemplary behavior was the solid refutation of the propaganda. See I am not saying that Westerners are born racists or prejudiced, but they certainly have a culture which enables these traits.

Dude,

But seriously, who would take indology as a subject even in a reputed western university?

I am not trying to downplay significance of humanities but the academic rigour one requires in Theoritical physics or engineering or social sciences like psychology,anthropology and sociology is much much more than one require for fringe subjects like Indology, sinology or Islamic studies. Even in USA, only those people who could not qualify for proper academic discipline takes these subjects.

Their influence on their home country is also debatable. General public of USA is going to form it's opinion about India from popular media not some niche books written by an obscure department neither is a powerful individual like President is going to ask them for advice. He would turn to CIA and State department if he wants professional advice.

The influence of these pseudo-academicians is limited to page 3 people.

The trend in US has been to study Humanities. USA has been importing engineers and doctors and scientists because their own people have stopped doing these courses in adequate numbers.

"Because the depictions of India in the West are inseparable from depictions of India's religious life (something that Indian secularists have tried to wish away unsuccessfully), the work done by RISA scholars has implications that go well beyond the discipline's boundaries. Religion is prominently featured in South Asian Studies, Asian Studies, International Studies, Women's Studies, Philosophy, Sociology, Anthropology, History, Literature, and Politics, and indirectly also influences Journalism, Film, and so forth."

This info is gained from its universities. The state govt and the churches do not fund these professors so that their books remain "obscure" and valueless.

 

[bronxbull]

Saw a debate on NDTV last night on this particular topic, I agree with your stand on the liberals.

let this anuja chauhan/nidhi razdan spend one week without a car in delhi.

we ll see how they cope with real india.

 

[ranjeet]

let this anuja chauhan/nidhi razdan spend one week without a car in delhi.

we ll see how they cope with real india.

People like them are so full of it.

 

[bronxbull]

Indians have a tendency to shy away from confrontation of ideas.

Our is a very conservative society. That being said, I have read that there are lots of errors in the book.

the book is a very shallow one and a great competition for penthouse diaries.

i have every right to hide certain books away from my kids.

 

[Hermione]

Saw a debate on NDTV last night on this particular topic, I agree with your stand on the liberals.

It has been a while since I saw NDTV. Cannot stand those morons.

 

[SarthakGanguly]

I am not really sure about its growth except because of migration of Indians to those countries. Sure there are those ISKON people and some others, but it is no where in the numbers that is reassuring. Evangelical Christianity is growing faster in USA than any other religion. The West had plenty of prejudices, only thing which countered it was the living example of Indians amongst them. The Hindu community both because of its education, wealth, and exemplary behavior was the solid refutation of the propaganda. See I am not saying that Westerners are born racists or prejudiced, but they certainly have a culture which enables these traits.

Have faith in the baniya Our friends across the border don't hate us for no reason. We don't make much noise - true. But the numbers are from the citizens of USA - not recent immigrants, but normal native local American people.

 

[Hermione]

Intolerance in the name of freedom of expression


I was shocked and aghast to read the comments of author Wendy Doniger calling Indian Judiciary as the main villain in this case. Equally shocking was the article of Ram Chandra Guha carried by your esteemed newspaper stating that courts have failed to protect artistic rights. Equally stunning was the letter of Arundhati Roy calling us Hindu fanatic outfit, fly-by-night-outfit and fascists on the one hand and threatening Penguin with protests outside their office on the other hand. All these three reactions displayed the same mindset which is anti Hindu mindset and holds “we will obey the law, if it suits us otherwise damn it.”

Wendy Doniger wrote in her ill famed book that Swami Vivekananda & Mahatma Gandhi advised people to eat beef. Mangal Pandey hero of 1st Independence Movement was under influence of bhang, opium, alcohol; Rani Laxmibai was loyal to the British. Shivalinga is a representation of the male sexual organ in erection. Lord Rama said only an idiot like father would give up a good son like him for the sake of pretty women. The map of India is shown without Kashmir.

The objectionable passages are per-se defamatory, objectionable and insulting to our freedom fighters and the Hindu Gods. Eminent personalities including former ambassador, historian, educationist, freedom fighter approached court of law for deletion of such passages. After 4 years of legal battle, Penguin agreed to withdraw this book and gave an undertaking to the court to this effect. Hence the withdrawal of this book is an outcome of a valid, legal battle fought by people of eminence in this vibrant democracy.

Further this lynch mob and intolerant pseudo-secularists in the name of freedom of expression are crying from rooftops and demanding freedom of defamation.

India is governed by Rule of Law which states that law is Supreme and governs the whole country and its people. Article 19 of the Constitution of India states the fundamental Rights of freedom of expression which comes with reasonable restrictions in public order, morality, unity and integrity.

But the likes of Arundhati Roy are alien to the concept of Rule of Law. She has been more in the news for being on the wrong side of law and was even held guilty for Contempt of Court. Criminal cases were lodged against her for sharing platform with separatists and preaching the separation of Kashmir from India. She has questioned the use of the word ‘Bharat’ for India by Penguin, not realizing that Article 1 of the Constitution of India calls “India, that is Bharat shall be a union of states.”

Hence the aforementioned people are damning the Indian Courts, damning the publishing house which stated that it respected all religions and damning the group of eminent, educated people who out of their conviction did not resort to any violence but adopted purely legal, civilized means to approach the Court of law for a legal remedy for their legitimate legal grievances. But these champions of freedom of expressions have took upon them their favorite agenda to attack all those who do not agree with them and who dare to talk in favour of Hindus or the Freedom Fighters of this country. They are the likes of the American President who openly declared “Either you are with us or you are with the terrorists.” Similarly they declare that either you are with us or you are fascists, extremists and fanatics. This intolerant section has one motto damn everyone who does not agree with them in the name of freedom of expression.

I most humbly state that merely getting an International award does not make you Ms. Wendy Doniger and Ms. Arundhati Roy above the Indian Law and does not give you a right to damn the Indian Courts, Judiciary and all these voices who disagree with you. Further it does not give you freedom to defame the freedom Fighters and any religion in the name of freedom of expression.


Advocate Monika Arora

Supreme Court

Advocate for Sh. Dinanath Batra

 

[SaffronSoldier]

This is a stupid book and the author should be brought too India too be lynched, fucking whore slut.

 

[NKVD]

Author itself is insulted are national Idols like gandhi ji and swami viveka nananda call them beef eaters

 

[SarthakGanguly]

let this anuja chauhan/nidhi razdan spend one week without a car in delhi.

we ll see how they cope with real india.

That is precisely what should not be done. It is shameful that you wrote this. Don't go down to the level of idiots to bash them.

 

[Hermione]

Wendy Doniger's Scholarship (with tweets) · doubtinggaurav · Storify

 

[anonymus]

The trend in US has been to study Humanities. USA has been importing engineers and doctors and scientists because their own people have stopped doing these courses in adequate numbers.

"Because the depictions of India in the West are inseparable from depictions of India's religious life (something that Indian secularists have tried to wish away unsuccessfully), the work done by RISA scholars has implications that go well beyond the discipline's boundaries. Religion is prominently featured in South Asian Studies, Asian Studies, International Studies, Women's Studies, Philosophy, Sociology, Anthropology, History, Literature, and Politics, and indirectly also influences Journalism, Film, and so forth."

This info is gained from its universities. The state govt and the churches do not fund these professors so that their books remain "obscure" and valueless.

I don't think that even in USA, humanities are preferred over Science and Social science. While it is true that they produce less number of Engineers and Doctors, the do produce large number of pure science graduates ( much higher than that of any country ), Social science graduates and lawyers and irrespective of number of graduates, power in USA lies with Lawyers, Bankers and CEO's, people who would be least inclined to be brain washed by ultra left diatribe.

The most profound effect these indologist would be having is not on Americans either elite or commoner but Burger bacchas of wealthy Indians.