Hindu Dharma and the Culture Wars

Koenraad Elst never disappoints. This book is no exception. You may agree or disagree with his views and conclusions, but you cannot but read him.

Like his other works starting from the 90’s writings on Ayodhya, this book too is rich in content and engrossing in arguments. Koenraad has a style that is both provocative and thought-provoking. This book is no exception.

Long chapters on rejoinder to Ramachandra Guha’s critique of Golwalkar’s Bunch of Thoughts and on the nationalism discourse in contemporary India are worth reading. Typical of his provocative style, he repudiates Guha but admonishes Golwalkar too.

Koenraad undoubtedly is an Indologist of highest esteem. But one need not agree with all that he says. On occasions, his European upbringing dominates his understanding and arguments too.

For example, he approaches Indian discourse of nationalism today from the prism of the European experience and decries it. It can be viewed from a quintessentially Hindu civilisational prism too. Then the meaning and message change.

Anyway a good book to read for all Hindu activists provided you have the stomach for healthy criticism too.