Untold History of Hinduism: A Review of 'Gods, Guns, and Missionaries

Gods, Guns and Missionaries: The Making of the Modern Hindu Identity, is written by Manu S. Pillai, and published in 2024 by Penguin Books. It is a work of historical analysis available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3WKt1mu

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The book explores the evolution of Hindu identity, focusing on a period of approximately 400 years, during which interactions with colonial powers and Christian missionaries played a significant role. It examines how European perceptions of Hinduism were shaped by their own cultural and political preoccupations, and how these perceptions influenced the way Hindus began to view themselves. The book also discusses the rise of Hindu nationalism, or Hindutva, within the context of these historical and cultural shifts.

Key points about the book:

• It is not a history of Hindu philosophy or theology, but an investigation into human action and reaction within a context of political conquest and cultural domination.
• The book analyzes how the interactions with the colonial West led to a closing of doors, and the shaping of a modern Hindu identity.
• It looks at how Hindus were forced to define their religion in a world where other cultures scrutinized them, leading to the construction of a modern form of Hinduism.
• The book is not intended to be a comforting account, but aims to illuminate why things are the way they are in the land of the Hindus.
• The author explains his views using a map he specifically created for this book.
• The book does not shy away from the less reassuring aspects of Hinduism's history.
• The author acknowledges that there are other ways to address the birth of modern Hinduism.

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