Book Review: Why I Am a Hindu
Author - Shashi Tharoor
By~ Pravesh Jain
The book is an addition to some of the most brilliant political book written about India. Shashi Tharoor once more proves that once he starts writing a book, it is sure to end up being complete in its knowledge and information. Shashi Tharoor is known for his brilliant reasoning power and speaking abilities. The book is just an extension of the same fact. With his vast history of writings on India, the book does justice to the reader, while diving deep into facts, knowledge, and history of Hinduism.
The book is about Hinduism and deals with the religion in central parts. The first part explores various definitions of Hinduism. From the history of religion to the geography of its expansion, the book covers it all. Be it monks like Swami Vivekananda or Adi Shankaracharya, or Political Leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi or V.D. Savarkar; the book includes the views and ideologies of everyone in the first part. The boo tells us what Hinduism stands for, and what are the various aspects of being a Hindu. Diving deep into Hindu philosophy with many quotes taken directly from works of many spiritual leaders and some from Vedas and Upanishads, the author presents to us a complete philosophical image of Hinduism.
The second part of book deals with politics and political moment related to Hinduism. It covers the rise of various Hindu organizations such as RSS, VHP, etc and goes to explain the ideologies of its founding fathers and to compare it to the current leadership of the organizations. The author goes onto explain various issues that are currently affecting our country and discussing issues like cow vigilance and rising intolerance in the country. Sometimes the book gives a feeling that this particular section of the book is politically motivated, criticising only the government, but the way author subtly presents his statistics to support his conclusion is brilliant. The author also states the various reason why the situation degraded and reached its current state, discussing the standpoint taken by the previous governments and as some call it, minority appeasement done by them.
The third part of book deals with the revivalism of Hinduism in its original form. The Hinduism that reflected the differences in ideologies and which countered 1200 years of rulers with a different religion. The book concludes while presenting Hinduism as a religion of future, and supports the claim by offering the various aspects of the religion and how it can help to maintain peace and harmony around the world.
If you are interested in understanding the depth of one of the most ancient religions of our human civilizations all around the world, the book is must read for you.
Author - Shashi Tharoor
By~ Pravesh Jain
The book is an addition to some of the most brilliant political book written about India. Shashi Tharoor once more proves that once he starts writing a book, it is sure to end up being complete in its knowledge and information. Shashi Tharoor is known for his brilliant reasoning power and speaking abilities. The book is just an extension of the same fact. With his vast history of writings on India, the book does justice to the reader, while diving deep into facts, knowledge, and history of Hinduism.
The book is about Hinduism and deals with the religion in central parts. The first part explores various definitions of Hinduism. From the history of religion to the geography of its expansion, the book covers it all. Be it monks like Swami Vivekananda or Adi Shankaracharya, or Political Leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi or V.D. Savarkar; the book includes the views and ideologies of everyone in the first part. The boo tells us what Hinduism stands for, and what are the various aspects of being a Hindu. Diving deep into Hindu philosophy with many quotes taken directly from works of many spiritual leaders and some from Vedas and Upanishads, the author presents to us a complete philosophical image of Hinduism.
The second part of book deals with politics and political moment related to Hinduism. It covers the rise of various Hindu organizations such as RSS, VHP, etc and goes to explain the ideologies of its founding fathers and to compare it to the current leadership of the organizations. The author goes onto explain various issues that are currently affecting our country and discussing issues like cow vigilance and rising intolerance in the country. Sometimes the book gives a feeling that this particular section of the book is politically motivated, criticising only the government, but the way author subtly presents his statistics to support his conclusion is brilliant. The author also states the various reason why the situation degraded and reached its current state, discussing the standpoint taken by the previous governments and as some call it, minority appeasement done by them.
The third part of book deals with the revivalism of Hinduism in its original form. The Hinduism that reflected the differences in ideologies and which countered 1200 years of rulers with a different religion. The book concludes while presenting Hinduism as a religion of future, and supports the claim by offering the various aspects of the religion and how it can help to maintain peace and harmony around the world.
If you are interested in understanding the depth of one of the most ancient religions of our human civilizations all around the world, the book is must read for you.
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