Rearming Hinduism: Nature, Hinduphobia, and the Return of Indian Intelligence

by Vamsee Juluri

Rearming Hinduism is a handbook for intellectual resistance. Through an astute and devastating critique of Hinduphobia in today’s academia, media and popular culture, Vamsee Juluri shows us that what the Hinduphobic worldview denies virulently is not only the truth and elegance of Hindu thought, but the very integrity and sanctity of the natural world itself.

By boldly challenging some of the media age’s most popular beliefs about nature, history, and pre-history along with the Hinduphobes' usual myths about Aryans, invasions, and blood-sacrifices, Rearming Hinduism links Hinduphobia and its hubris to a predatory and self-destructive culture that perhaps only a renewed Hindu sensibility can effectively oppose. It is a call to see the present in a way that elevates our desa and kala to the ideals of the sanathana dharma once again.

“For a civilization is not just buildings and machines, but its people, their thought, and their culture. It is a way of knowing the world, a way of giving meaning and value to the contents of life. It is a resource, most of all, for living intelligently.”

Genres: Nonfiction, Hinduism, India, Religion, History, Politics, Cultural

243 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 4, 2014

About the author

Vamsee Juluri is a professor of media studies at the University of San Francisco. He is the author of three books, the most recent of which is Rearming Hinduism: Nature, Hinduphobia and the Return of Indian Intelligence (Westland ebooks 2014). He blogs at the Huffington Post and is a regular contributor for the Indian Express.

Reviews

[Anil Swarup · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first half of the book is just brilliant as the author counters the criticism in "several 'magisterial' books on Hinduism". He takes on Wendy Doniger who "characterizes herself as a lover of Hinduism and her critics as nasty, militant, prudish fundamentalists". He successfully demolishes her entire hypothesis. To him "Hinduism is more than a religion, and even more than a way of life. Hinduism is essentially a way of knowing life, intelligently ". The rationalist West cannot perhaps appreciate this through an empirical prism. The author, however, is very clear when he asserts that "Blaming Christians and Muslims will not save us....In fact, it is counter-productive and un-Hindu". He goes on to say that" Standing up as Hindus is to stand up only for whatever goodness, kindness, wisdom and love, for all beings, that our gods have stood for". The author castigates the west for "hammering home a deeper message about naturalness and inevitability of violence. Vamsee's explanations are quite tenable except when he makes reference to caste. It is true that "Hinduism is not primarily about caste-system" but one of the biggest problem with Hinduism, even today, is the caste system. The author overlooks it quite conveniently. However, he is in his element when he explains God in the context of Hinduism: "God is not mere theory for us, is not a mere apparatus to enforce some theory but instead a socially endowed practice of cultivated intelligence to sustain that experience".
A must read for those who want to understand Hinduism.

[Praveen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vamsee Juluri's work is really, really commendable. In simple and common place language he has expressed some deep truths in a manner that they go straight to the heart.

Though the book is written in response to the distorted theories of Western writers, the most prominent being Wendy Doniger, the book does not confine itself to being just the response: it talks abut the universality of the Hinduism, and the love and humanism - and the love not just for homo sapiens but for animals and nature in general - and also side by side tries to show how the distorted personal psychology of the western writers prevents them from sanely understanding the Hinduism and what it has stood since the beginnings of the civilization, and how it has managed to survive despite attack after attack on its land and people. And, how despite undergoing such savage and humiliating experiences, it still manages to teach love for all - and never instigates its practitioners to violate the body and the soul of the other - animals and nature included.

It also tries to start a discussion on why Western civilizations views the nature as the oppressor rather than as the Mother - as we Indians feel it to be. Here in lies the root of all the devastation to the natural resources and the nature itself. The root lies in the relation of the man with the nature.

Hindus on the other hand have always cherished nature and animals - cow is considered as mother itself!

It is ironical that the West considers itself progressive despite being the cause of so much destruction and devastation and call us the animists, rather derogatorily. But when its own thinkers talk in the similar language they are called champions of holistic thinking! White man's burden still weighs heavily on them!

But, this book is a call to rise above all this din and noise and offer to the world the sanity that Hinduism offers for the good of all the mankind and to save the nature (as well as animals) from further destruction and annihilation.

[Ashish · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the spirit of its seemingly militant title, the book boldly challenges the erroneous assumptions that Indians in general and Hindus in particular make when we think and talk about our civilization's identity and worldview. The author elegantly punctures embarrassing holes into the western academic discourse on Hinduism with its obsession to paint our mythology and sense of history with Freudian complexes and Eurocentric pseudo-scholarship. Clearly establishing that the current world order, shaped as it is by preceding centuries of colonial quest for political control and domination, is an unsustainable and essentially violent mode of existence, the author goes on to explain how turning to Hindu ideals is a much needed, perhaps the only remedy, that could cure modernity of its life threatening perversions. The book is an exhortation to dig into our philosophical and spiritual treasures, our languages and our art forms to discover for oneself why Hinduism is not really an 'ism' but a breathing, living tradition of peace and love that evolves just as all of organic life does.

[Saiswaroopa · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a well known fact that Hinduism in academia has long suffered misrepresentation. Most of the books written come either from a closed guild of western scholars. They also come from some ‘Hindus’ (or at least appearing so by their names) who have for reasons known to them alone chose to decry Hinduism. Reading the content often made me wonder about the long chasm between what Hinduism truly is and how it is seen or made to be seen.

Rearming Hinduism by Prof Vamsee Juluri had done a great job of highlighting that chasm and going into the reasons behind. The tone of the author resonated what I feel in my heart with greater clarity and apt expressions. The flow of the message, the structure, the anecdotes, references, inherent emotions and everything together can make the reader completely unconscious of when she/he is turning a page.....

Rest of the review in the link below
https://mirrortoindia.wordpress.com/2...

[Kaśyap · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book touches on an important topic. The widespread Hinduphobia, especially prevalent in the western academics. The first part is really good and it challenges the eurocentric and anthropocentric western worldview and the epistemic premises of the western historiography and philosophy. This dogmatic view unfortunately has had a tremendous influence in our own educational system and media as well. He challenges the "histories" written by the outsiders who have no knowledge whatsoever about the way a Hindu experiences and looks at the world.
Colonialism might have ended but decolonization still has a long way to go, and it must begin with the decolonization of language in our education system.
The second part is more about the author's personal views on Hindu gods and i guess it is aimed at english speaking western readers who don't have much knowledge about Hinduism.

[Aashish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though the title of the book may sound provocative to the casual reader, the book's premise is largely benign in theorizing an argument for a stronger intellectual and philosophical defense of the ideals of Hinduism.

I'd like to point out that I went into the book looking for a different purpose, that of reading an argument for countering phobia of Hindu Nationalism, and not Hinduism per se. Mainly because I had not come across an assertive phobia against Hinduism's general theories and ideas. Having said that, this book opened my eyes to a whole new world of passive phobia against Hindu ideals, traditions, and the culture prevalent in our popular media narratives.

While I came away slightly disappointed about the lac of specificity in the ideas mentioned to counter this Hinduphobia, I was amazed at the author's knack of connecting different strands of thought and presenting a lucid argument for them. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to gain a further understanding of Indian thought, history, and what the future holds for the defense of Hinduism.

[Vedvrat Shikarpur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, simple and hits the nail right! Would definitely recommend to most of our pro secularist Indians who have no shred of understanding about the intricacies of Hindu culture and civilisation.

[Surender Negi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review my blog : https://indianindology.wordpress.com/...

Rearming Hinduism: A must read book by Every Hindu and Hinduphobic to understand the Sanatana Dharma through lenses of an Insider.

"Rearming Hinduism: Nature, Hinduphobia, and the Return of Indian Intelligence" is bold book about hidden strategies of American and European academia against Hinduism. This book is a reflection of young urge against the false theory against HINDUISM in Media, Academia and Hindu mind.

This book is an eye opener to all Hindus who are sleeping in sense that Hinduism is nothing but just eternal religion who cannot be destructed.

About Book:

Vamsee Juluri has parted this book in two sections: First section writer try to describe the problem of Hinduphobic historian, academic and their view to consider Hinduism. He described the myth of Aryan invasion, Vedic violence, Women Oppression and Cast system.

Author has powerful sense of understanding religion as Insider and his writing boldly talk about Frontier of Hinduphobic group: Wendy Doniger. This book also describes ill treatment mentioned in doniger’s book: The Hindu: Alternative history, towards Hindus. Most of Book talks about various misconceptions which is wild spreader amongst Hindus due to ignorance. This book also hope that era of ignorance and mythical truth about Hinduism will end. This book also give idea to youngster of India to rethink about Hinduism and the way they consider Hinduism.

Why Hinduism is ill-treated by western Indologist and academia?

I personally very much agree with author and his notion of Hinduism. Author asked very genuine question to youngster that after having billions of kind diversity why western academia so eager to prove Hinduism oppressive and has violence in past. Is it their discrimination to a natural religion or just the way their religion are built up which they want to imposed over Hinduism with their academic lenses. Example: Monsoon never been part of violence for Hindus (Actually, for Hindus monsoon is part of happiness and rebirth of earth) but for northeast Europe it was part of danger like Vikings and Greece.

Why Hindus consider as foreign in their land?

Author want to understand that why western academia want to prove that Hindus were central Asian nomad tribe who came India with violence and house for destruction of native Indians (i.e. which very funny consideration that Dravidian just because their color and languages was different). Author purposed an ideology of western that why they think Indians are foreigner.
European always wants to put them in sense of superiority, so they developed theory like children of Ham. All black people are children of Ham and subjected to be slave cause ham dishonest Noah once. This same theory they applied on native Indians and told them, they were children of ham and came to America and killed their early natives. So they have right to oppressed them and killed them because they were also barbarian. Similar concept they applied to India. And made Aryan Invasion Theory based on color and language. Suddenly all white skinned people become central Asia human and group of Indo-European nexus. And native black become Dravidian. This fake theory of Aryan invasion they rotted till recent 2000 and 2014. But at last it has been denied by large part of archaeologist and scientist due to no trace of fight in early civilization or same DNA structure of all over India which can be trace back more than 40,000 yrs. in time.

Why Hindus, Vedas are misinterpreted as violent, primitive and oppression?

This idea of western Indologist is also described by author that why they are so keen to make Vedas primitive and want to have violence. As per author, Indologist are unable to see diversity of Hinduism and divinity in their life style. Hinduism is a natural religion (I used this term for such religion who care nature and worship nature as God, they don’t believed in Manmade rules and structure of society), hence Violence in Hinduism with nature is minute or may be necessary whenever required. Vedas hymns consider nature as divine manifestation of god and every single thing (Living and Non Living) has equal amount of divinity of god. Hence, Human doesn’t have any right to suck all natural resources without considering Nature as live. Author explains ideology of western thinker behind this:-

According to author, ecosystem great effect on fundamental of religion. Western religion is developed under environment where nature diversity was almost null. Dessert was full of unified landmass, rules for survival and survival of fittest extinct. This extinct become part of Darwinism theory and also become part of social Darwinism. According to this social Darwinism a civilization can only survive when they fight against natural condition, when they fight against people with violence for survival. Hence violence is right, nature has violence. They don’t see problem in violence and sometime entertainment like movie SAW, The Hills of Eyes, Final destinations. Similarly they applied same view for Hinduism and consider that Vedic sacrifice is nothing but means of violence, but they forget that Vedas also assert mental sacrifice. We consider sacrifices in many other term rather than violence.

Hinduism is purely separated from the way Abrahamic religion developed. Hinduism has foundation based on ecosystem of India. Ecosystem which was diverse due to seven river of Indus. Diversity, Nature love, and homogeneity in diversity is similar like diversity in forest. Hinduism diversity and fundamental is inspired by forest life. Open space to anyone, No particular rule over millions kind of humans (animal in case of forest). No fight of survival of fittest because nature has everything for you. Respect towards nature what they give. Hence, psychological rules of Hinduism are inspired by Forest and Banyan tree.

What I Like 

I like the way author describe Hinduism with context of forest and ecosystem. How he exposes the myths of Wendy Doniger book The Hindus.

Most importantly, this book urges native Indians to raise, study, understand and rebel against this Hinduphobia people, writer, scholar and other academic. This book urges Hindus to rethink their position and knowledge about their dharma.

I also think this is the time when we need to remove clouds from our head about our dharma-Sanatana or Hinduism.

What I dislike 

Well no so much, but sometime book drag you to depth of philosophy which is not digestive to everyone. Still I wish every Hindu or non-Hindu must read this book with open mind to understand the psychology of one billion people.

[Garima Gupta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a great read -esp if you haven't heard the theory that there was no Aryan Invasion. That mankind moved up from the coasts of south india to the plains of Saraswati & Ganga rivers. A tad political at times. Aggressively hindu at other times. But a good read for modern Indians who are at a total loss for knowledge when ti comes to questions of introducing yoga in schools or teaching sanskrit in colleges.... What is it to be Hindu and Indian, what is the glory people have been harping about ...
I read it in conjunction with Hidden Horizons and found these two to complement each other exceptionally.

[Nancy McQueen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a born Hindu, but I see much wisdom and delight in it's people and its culture.

This has been a hard read. I live in an arctic climate. Yes, life is hard here. Yet the Sun, (Sol, Savitir) always returns. Eventhough we are dark and cold for eight months of the year, the Gods of Sanatana Dharma are here too.

Love to all!

[Celia Sánchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author in the first half of the book counters the criticism of Wendy Doniger The Hindus: An Alternative Historywho "characterizes herself as a lover of Hinduism and her critics as nasty, militant, prudish fundamentalist.The author has articulated some misconceptions that are being circulated in the Western academia, intentionally or otherwise.He brings forth multiple examples that show how India and Hinduism continue to be misunderstood and maligned through the centuries to the present. For example: "India's state policy, according to the ‘award winning’ State of Religion Atlas, 'favors the religion of the majority and limits freedom of other religions' right up there with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran." Anyone who has studied India's government or politics knows that the exact opposite is true of India’s constitutional policies, which are anti-majoritarian (Articles 25-28). Additionally, India is the only developing country where in the past few decades the minority population has increased its percentage demographically, while the majority is decreasing its percentage.


An excellent work that details the place of Hinduism in the world, offering a deeper perspective beyond the distorted academic discourse and misinformation in popular culture.

[Mitesh Patel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I absolutely understand author's pain. It is so true that there is a brazen attack happening on Hinduism today and all the right minded people must fight this anti-Hinduism peacefully and with power of knowledge instead of swords. The reason is simple, Hinduism is about love. So having set that aside and proven that I am all for it, let me say that the first half of the book is very good and has tried to defend the attempts made by Wendy Doniger's book yo malign Hinduism (disclaimer: I am yet to read that book). I would call authors attempt weak at best. Second half on the other hand is just relentless blabbering. I honestly had expected much more from this book. May be it is just me not able to understand the concepts. That is where I will rest my case.

[Rama Rao · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perceptions of Hinduphobia

The anti-Hindu sentiments is a warfare catalyzed by the current trends in the cancel culture, Marxism and wokism that has led to the Critical Race Theory or Caste system in the United States. For the followers of Vedic Dharma, the caste is equated with race. Marginalized communities in India are considered as Blacks and Brahmins as the Whites even though racially they are identical and follow a homogeneous culture. Diametrically opposed groups like Muslims and LGBTQ+ are categorized together, which has weaponized Muslims to play the victim card under the so called “Hindu nationalism.” The media seem to suggest that the caste system is actively practiced in modern India like the Whites treated Black people during civil rights era in the United States, which is untrue. Hinduphobia has become a mission to dismantle Indigenous civilization and its heritage. The colonial rule regraded the Hindu culture as primitive, hedonistic, idol-worshipping focused on animal sacrifices, and the myth of Aryan invasion that brought civilization to the Indian tribes. The anti-Hindu sentiments are fueled in the Western hemisphere by religious intolerance, lack of religious literacy, misrepresentation in the media, woke academic culture and racism. Hinduphobic rhetoric is reducing the entirety of Sanatana Dharma to a rigid, oppressive, and regressive tradition.

In this book, the author makes an enthusiastic argument using the wisdom of Vedas, Mahabharata, Ramayana, Puranas, the Bhagavadgita and the underlying philosophies of Sankhya and Vedanta that flows in all these sacred scriptures. They are not merely Indology texts, as termed since the colonial rule, but they are perennial metaphysical Ideas that emerged to make connections with the cosmos and the Creating Entity, which is called Brahman or the Pure Consciousness, or the Supreme Being. The richness of the Hindu belief system originated from deep thinking form hundreds of rishis, sages, gurus, emperors, and Hindu leaders which are described in the vast Sanskrit literature. It did not come from One son of God, One Messenger of God, or One Prophet or One sacred text. Intense polarization in the academic world and social media has done much harm to the interests of Hindus and the Vedic belief system.

[Vishal Kale · Rating 2 out of 5]

Frankly, this is a book with only a partial relevance to India – India is a nation, and Sanaatan Dharm a religion. That is one; second, it is also a book with no relevance whatsoever to Sanaatan Dharm in India – as this is a book written by a Sanaatan Dharmi living and working in the USA. The problem of Eurocentricism, and the attendant problem of the representation of our religion in the West is of no material importance or relevance to us as Indian citizens. It is also of precisely zero relevance to us as Sanaatan Dharmis, as followers of The Eternal Path.


The reason is that Sanaatan Dharm, as per my readings and understanding – places emphasis on an individual understanding and faith, and not on collectivity. Second, our religion also emphasises duty to the nation, the society one lives in – and for residents of the USA – that is the USA and its society. Thus, the problems being faced by Sanaatan Dharmis in the USA are of no concern to me; I have my own nation, my own people and we have our own lives and duties to perform. Worrying about the status of Sanaatan Dharm in the USA is not one of those problems.



Catch the complete review here : https://reflectionsvvk.blogspot.in/20...

[Onkar Thakur · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Our desire in rearming Hinduism is not to harm anybody, but only to disarm the ignorance that causes harm in this world, wherever it may be" - Even though the book's title may seem provocative, the message of this book couldn't be more benign. The author borrow's extensively from the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi to drive home the message of a world where Hindus get the rightful respect and adulation they deserve. Mr. Juluri simply blows to smithereens the faux historiography propagated by Hindu-phobic authors over the years. Be it the Aryan Invasion theory or violence in the Vedas, the author does a commendable job of disabusing the false narratives spread against Hinduism.

Doesn't matter if you're a devout religious Hindu, a spiritual Hindu, an atheist Hindu or simply a cultural Hindu, there are loads of takeaway lessons from this book for everyone.

[Rajendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one book that I desperately wanted to read after reading interview with its authors in the TOI. it was to be a sane voice about much maligned Hinduism. It is indeed a sane voice. Intuitively, all the arguments sound right. Do they carry enough punch to counter what the author calls Hindu-phobia? I am not sure, given deeply entrenched prejudice among so-called liberal intellectuals against anything Hindu. The arguments sound too qualitative. It is good beginning though.

[Vikrant Rana · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

I loved the powerful starting of this book, where VJ urges every Hindu to understand the vast, rich history that they are backed by. But it quickly becomes a book to be read in a very specific context i.e. against the Hinduphobia in modern American (and Western) narrative, instead of a commentary on the general trends of foreign historical forces which continue to define the Hindu identity.

[Preetisagar Talukdar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well written book. The author has shed the defensive mode of writers that are always present in Hindu writings. The explanation and telling's are on point. Loved reading it, a much needed perspective than that is prevalent.

[Shriram Bhandari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple it teaches us common sense but we need to be a litte patient while reading the book.

[Vivek Shroff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read. Must read for every Hindu. Tears through the dirty mis-propaganda of so called intellectuals who in reality are little more than mercenaries with an agenda.

[Bindu Bhatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vamsee Juluri has made an honest attempt to stand up to the established academic view of Hinduism. The book needs better editing and references need to be at appropriate places.

[Guruprasad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice Book to read regarding Hinduism , keeps simple to understand the new readers on Hinduism , expect much more good and researched work by the author

[Sridhar Tiruchendurai · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read for Indians, more so for the non-resident ones to have a fresh perspective on Hindu culture.

[A. Agrawal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book . A reality check in the era of biased politically correct environment.

[Abhishek Dev · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to understand about Islamophilia and Indophobia of neo-marxists of west and those of India, this is the best book to start reading.

[yoursbibliophilic · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Rearming Hinduism"by Vamsee Juluri is an enthusiastic defense of Hinduism that seeks to reclaim its intellectual & cultural heritage from centuries of misrepresentation & bias. Juluri advocates revival & reappraisal of its values in the contemporary world so that Hindus could recognize & appreciate their religious philosophy with pride. Though the title of the book looks to be controversial, the real meaning of the word “Rearming” is to tell Hindus to start using their arms to write in defense of Hinduism. This is evident from ample citations from the book. “We are not re-arming Hinduism really unless we are rearming our hearts with something like kindness, & love. Mama dehi karaavalambam. Grant us please, the refuge of Your hands”(Loc:345) This is also evident from the cover page which symbolically depicts the state of Hindus where lord Narasimha’s right (writing) hand has been broken by Muslim invasion.

The main aim of the book is to name, expose, & demolish authors like Wendy Doniger, Amartya Sen, Martha Nussbaum, Pankaj Mishra & others who have been trying to cut-paste a standard ‘alternative’ critique of Western historiography into South Asia, followed by a find & replace of ‘dead white males’ with ‘dead male Brahmins’ in the name of ‘alternative’ histories of Hinduism but provide same colonial history.

This book is divided into two parts

I) Desa-Kala-Dosha The Ideologies of Hinduphobia, which comprehensively examine "Hinduphobia" - the systematic misrepresentation & denigration of Hinduism in academic, media, & political spheres. Juluri meticulously traces the historical roots of this phenomenon, from colonial-era Orientalism to modern-day biases, offering a nuanced critique of how these forces have shaped perceptions of Hinduism.

2) Part Two Sanathana A Hindu View of God, gives authors version of Hinduism. This is evident from the statement, “I present this part in a more personal & devotional tone rather than an academic one, & it is perhaps best read not as argument but simply as a set of thoughts, perhaps to be taken in & reflected upon in small pieces, about what it means to be human as reflected in the ideals & stories of Hinduism” (Loc:340)

However, Juluri in enthusiasm of giving his version of Hinduism provides some interpretation that has no basis. For example “The word ‘Hin-du’, it is said, is derived from ‘Himsa’ and ‘Duramu’: one who stays far from cruelty; an unusual, if inspiring saying”( Loc:1132) moreover, The second part is too dragging and lacks the sharpness that could rearm the Hindus against hinduphobia historians.

[Jay Mehta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the updated 2024 edition of this book, initially published in 2014. The author Vamsee Juluri takes readers on a powerful and deeply intellectual journey to reclaim the narrative of our faith from the grip of Western academic distortions, media misrepresentations, and institutionalized Hinduphobia. The book seeks to answer pressing questions: What is Hinduism truly about? What does it mean to preserve identity and rebuild a civilization whose wisdom has been undermined and mischaracterized for centuries?

Juluri dismantles dominant Western narratives—especially those influenced by the likes of Wendy Doniger—that present themselves as “alternative” while enjoying mainstream dominance. He explores how postmodern Western discourse paradoxically projects Hindus as oppressors, despite centuries of colonial violence against them. The book reveals how Western science's detached, mechanistic worldview clashes with Hinduism’s deeply relational and reverential approach to life, animals, and nature.

Chapters on the sacredness of the cow, the symbolism of Vishnu’s Dashavatara, and the teachings of the Gita make a compelling case for Hinduism’s continued relevance in today’s world.

Towards the end, he reviews the existing tide of Hinduphobia, which, if left unchecked, lays the groundwork for something far more dangerous. While the provocative title "Rearming Hinduism" may deter some undecided readers, the book’s nuanced, courageous voice is both timely and necessary.

[Vyom Khandelia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read a lot and perhaps the only book that gave me a headache this year. To start with Vamsee starts with saying that he will academically prove the Wendy's Doniger's book is factually wrong. However one chapter is devoted only on the book's heading "Hindu, An alternate history" and why the word Alternate is not correct. Almost all his arguments are referenced on today's pop culture for example Bollywood and Hollywood movies. I will not blame Vamsee as his PhD is on media and not literary. (BTW, I could not find any acadmic references by Vamsee other than the books he seems to publish at regular intervals. A lot of the upwardly mobile Indian middle class from whom the window of the world is also this pop-culture, seems to agree with him. While not refuting he seems to discount all modern sciences as he has no solid arguments but mostly tries to appeal to emotions. ("look at what your heart says"). In his writings he twists the facts conveniently like Hindu's come from the word Ahimsa (perhaps Swami Viviekananda was wrong after all)

At the end, take this book on the cover value. I do not think I learnt anything it is not difficult to spread stupidity by adding a sheen of respectability of being a professor in a "US university"

[Shivam Chaturvedi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The book is divided into two parts. Part one talks about how flawed are the western academic tropes that attempt to understand and describe hinduism - being idiotic at best and clearly ill intetioned at worst. The author provides some very good ways and examples of looking at things from an indic, decolonialized lens, which can fulfil the civilization hunger of an entire nation, without it becoming a jingoistic exercise. This is part of the book is quite good and rational and balanced, not afraid to call a spade and spade, and is a good addition to the body of work that aims to rewrite a balanced, rational and indic history of India/Hinduism.

The second part of the book is the author's thoughts on a hindu view of god, but is frankly a little bit all over the place in terms of what its trying to convey. at times, vamsi juluri becomes a 60s hippie, by claiming all came from Love, at times he is overfitting the great mahakavya tat tvam asi into a flawed argument he is trying to make. The book should have ended at part one.