Pro-Islamic and anti-Hindu mindset known as dhimmitude (described more fully later) is prevalent in sections of the American academy.  The case in point is the recent book by Dr. Wendy Doniger[1], The Hindus: An Alternative History, The Penguin Press, 2009.

Doniger's 779-page tome is laced with personal editorials, folksy turn of the phrase and funky wordplays.  She has a large repertoire of Hindu mythological stories.  She often narrates the most damning story-Vedic, Puranic, folk, oral, vernacular-to demean, damage and disparage Hinduism.

After building a caricature, she laments that fundamentalist Hindus (how many and how powerful are they?) are destroying the pluralistic, tolerant Hindu tradition. Why save such a vile, violent religion, as painted by the eminent professor?  There is a contradiction here.

Doniger's book is at odds with the increasing acceptance in the United States of key Hindu spiritual concepts.  Lisa Miller (Newsweek, 31 August, 2009) reports that "we are slowly becoming more like Hindus and less like traditional Christians in the ways we think about God, our selves, each other, and eternity." She cites the following poll data: 67 percent believe that many religions, not only Christianity can lead to eternal life; 30 percent of American call themselves "spiritual, not religious;" 24 percent say they believe in reincarnation; and more than a third choose cremation rather than burial.  http://www.newsweek .com/id/212155

This review focuses on Doniger's discussion of Islamic incursions into India.  Islam entered south India in the 7^th Century with Arab merchants and traders. This was peaceful Islam.  Later, Islam came to India as a predatory and a conquering force.  Mohammad bin Qasim ravaged Sindh in 712.  In around 1000 CE, Mahmud Ghazni pillaged, looted and destroyed numerous Hindu temples, but did not stay to rule. The Muslim rule begins with the Delhi Sultanate, approximately 1201 to 1526.  The Sultanate gave place to the Mughal Empire, 1526-1707.

Last update : 15-11-2009 11:21

Keywords : Hinduism Studies and Dhimmitude in the American Academy, Dr. M. Lal Goel

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