Who is a Hindu?: Hindu revivalist views of Animism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and other offshoots of Hinduism

by Koenraad Elst

This book contains a part of the author's Ph.D. thesis, updated and adapted for general publication. It can best be read in conjunction with the main part of the thesis, now in print under the title *Decolonizing the Hindu Mind*.

The author thanks Mrs. Yamini Liu, Mr. Gopi Maliwal, Mr. Krishan Bhatnagar, Mr. Pradeep Goel, Mr. Satinder Trehan, Dr. Tushar Ravuri and Mr. Vishal Agarwal, as well as the late Prof. Kedar Nath Mishra. Corrections and other feedback are welcomed.

Genres: India, Hinduism, Nonfiction, Religion

358 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Flemish writer and orientalist (without institutional affiliation).

Koenraad Elst was an editor of the New Right Flemish nationalist journal Tekos 1992 to 1995 and also contributed to other Flemish seperatist publications like Nucleus, 't Pallieterke, Secessie and The Brussels Journal.

Koenraad Elst is one of the most well-known western writers to actively defend the Hindutva movement.

Reviews

[Ashish Iyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book. This kind of book helps you in Purva Paksha, you get to know various views and ideas. And ofcourse its help you in discussing with your friends and colleagues. Even i have seen many friends of mine make uneducated comment on Hinduism. These days its a trend to called themselves "atheist" or "spiritual" but they will say everything or even mocked about Hinduism. When i asked them for sources or citation, they wont provide any. This is why i always say Read the original text, find the real source.

Read more non fiction, that's how we educate ourselves.

[mahesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scholarly work and it make you rethink everything you believed it to be hindhu and non hindhu. Koenraad is an indic intellectual who disclose the truth hidden behind the curtain. Some truth he has unfolded in his essays are indigestible however they need to be digested to free ourselves from the mould of narrow philosophical views. Practical exploration behind the question like, Why we are hindhu?, Who are hindhu?, How are they hindhu?. Luckily i found the author in one of facebook indic group while reading this book. What a coincidence!!

[Vinay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hindu, Hinduism, hindutva, sanatan dharma and shad-darshans are confusing concepts. This book talks about by history, by concepts and by mainstream understanding about who is defined as a Hindu person. It doesn’t go deep into the concepts but given how complex the Hindu traditions and how diverse the sects are, one can try and understand commonalities and differences.

[Shubham · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well researched book thats quite contextual today. It objectively deals with all the offshoots of Hinduism, their idealogies and idealogues.