A new book on Indian history
D.N. Jha has written a book titled "Rethinking Hindu Identity" . Although, I have not read it , I read its review here http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?261637
and it seems it had really tried to do what I feel most Indian historians should be trying to write about. Jha as sacked by the BJP when he refused to endorse BJP view of Hindu India.
Some excerpts of the review is below.
"In this magnificent little book, he demolishes the false claims of antiquity made on behalf of an imaginary ‘Hinduism’ said to exist in that period. He argues that the monolithic category ‘Hindu’, as it is often understood today, was a colonial construct further cemented by their allies, the Hindu communalists."
"Jha literally questions the ‘holy cow’ of Hindu communal belief. He argues that the notion of the sacred cow emerged only in the early medieval period. He furnishes ample evidence to show that in the Vedic period cows were routinely slaughtered and eaten; Brahmins would serve cow meat to their guests on special occasions—a fact which was readily accepted even by Swami Vivekananda, though numerous lives have been lost subsequently through hostility with Muslims on this issue."
and it seems it had really tried to do what I feel most Indian historians should be trying to write about. Jha as sacked by the BJP when he refused to endorse BJP view of Hindu India.
Some excerpts of the review is below.
"In this magnificent little book, he demolishes the false claims of antiquity made on behalf of an imaginary ‘Hinduism’ said to exist in that period. He argues that the monolithic category ‘Hindu’, as it is often understood today, was a colonial construct further cemented by their allies, the Hindu communalists."
"Jha literally questions the ‘holy cow’ of Hindu communal belief. He argues that the notion of the sacred cow emerged only in the early medieval period. He furnishes ample evidence to show that in the Vedic period cows were routinely slaughtered and eaten; Brahmins would serve cow meat to their guests on special occasions—a fact which was readily accepted even by Swami Vivekananda, though numerous lives have been lost subsequently through hostility with Muslims on this issue."
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