Offence: The Hindu Case

Salil Tripathi

Manifestos for the 21st Century

 

4.25 x 7 inches, 130pp, 10 halftones. November 2009

ISBN : 9781906497385

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To many outside India, Hinduism is envisioned as the foundation of an ideal, all-embracing society. Yet this is far from the truth. Though historically the practice of Hinduism does promote the idea of an inclusive and tolerant way of life, in the past decade Hindu extremists have captured the religion and perverted it to their own ideological ends. In The Hindu Case, Indian journalist Salil Tripathi meticulously documents how Hindu fundamentalists have succeeded in censoring and banning many cultural works, tampered with university teaching, and prevented academics from continuing in their jobs. In addition, Tripathi shows that these extremists are in the process of rewriting the ancient Hindu scriptures.

 

This title in the Manifestos for the 21st Century Series, published in collaboration with the Index on Censorship, the only international magazine dedicated to promoting and protecting free expression, focuses on the rights, tolerance, censorship, and dissent within India’s complex society, and it is an essential read for those interested in the struggle between religious fundamentalism and free expression. 

Salil Tripathi was born in Bombay, India. For many years a correspondent in India, Singapore and Hong Kong for publications including India Today and Far Eastern Economic Review, he moved to London in 1999, where he lives with his two sons, and has written frequently for Wall Street Journal, International Herald Tribune, Guardian, Independent, New Statesman, Spectator, Prospect, Index on Censorship, Philadelphia Inquirer, Washington Post and Salon. In India, he is a columnist for Mint and a writer-at-large for Tehelka. He is on the board of English PEN as well as a member of its Writers-in-Prison Committee. A senior visiting fellow for business and human rights at Kennedy School, Harvard University, he is also an adviser to several global initiatives involving business and human rights.

 

Culture Studies
Manifestos of the 21st Century
Offence Series
Religion