Vedantic Hinduism in Colonial Bengal by Victor A Van Bijlert

Vedantic Hinduism in Colonial Bengal by Victor A Van Bijlert

This book explores the ways in which modern Hindu identities were constructed in the early nineteenth century. It draws parallels between sixteenth and eventeenth Cecntury Protestantism and the rise of modernity in the West, and the Hindu reformation in the nineteenth century which contributed to the rise of Vedantic Hindu modernity discourse in India. The nineteenth century Hindu modernity, it is argued, sought both individual flourishing and collective emancipation from Western domination. For the first time Hinduism began to be constructed as a religion of sacred texts. In particular, texts belonging to what could be loosely called Vedanta: Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita. In this way, the main protagonists of this Vedantist modernity were imitating Western Protestantism, but at the same time also inventing totally novel interpretations of what it meant to be Hindu. The book traces the major ideological paths taken in this cultural-religious reformation from its originator Rammohun Roy up to its last major influence, Rabindranath Tagore. Bringing these two versions of modernity into conversation brings a unique view on the formation of modern Hindu identities. It will, therefore, be of great interest to scholars of religious, Hindu and South Asian studies, as well as religious istory and interreligious dialogue.

Victor A. van Bijlert is Lecturer in the Department of Beliefs and Practices, Faculty of Religion and Theology, at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780367485740
ISBN 10	0367485745
Title	Vedantic Hinduism in Colonial Bengal
Author	Victor A Van Bijlert
Series	Routledge Studies In Religion
Condition	Unavailable
Publisher	Taylor & Francis Ltd
Year published	2020-09-01
Number of pages	244
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.