The Argumentative Hindu - Essays by a Non Affiliated Orientalist

Author: Koenraad Elst
Publisher: Aditya Prakashan
Year: 2012
Language: English
Pages: 518
ISBN/UPC (if available): 9788177421248

Description

The Argumentative Hindu is the person who rejects the imposed “secularist” consensus. The author, Dr. Koenraad Else, is a non-affiliated Orientalist who sympathizes with this Hindu dissenter. But he also made himself some enemies, not only among the secularists but also among the very Hindus whose cause he champions.

In this book, the author defends himself against their criticism and more importantly, the late mentors from whom he got his view of Hinduism and of the challenges to its survival: Ram Swarup and Sita Ram Goel. He also makes some new suggestions to his Hindu friends, on how to be more effective and how to remedy existing errors.

Today, illiteracy about Hinduism among Hindus, the limitations of their knowledge to a very small part of their heritage, is the most consequential weakness in the struggle for survival. Stunted ideological development and an anachronistic worldview are serious obstacles to be tackled if every a genuine reaffirmation of Hindu civilization is to win through.

Contents

Contents

Introduction: the real Hindu, or ideological decolonization
1. Reviews
2. Humour in Hinduism
3. A dubious quotation, a controversial reputation: the merits of Lord Macaulay
4. Karma
5. Internet discussions
6. Hindus and history
7. The decline of the Sangh Parivar
8. Secularism
9. Discrimination against Hindus in India’s constitution
10. Ramachandra Guha
11. Racism among Hindus?
12. Censorship and the Academy
13. Meera Nanda against Hinduism and its friends
14. The case for orientalism
15. Ayodhya’s three history debates
16. Hindu survival: what is to be done
Index