Hinduism is one of the world's oldest and greatest religious traditions. In captivating prose, Shashi Tharoor untangles its origins, its key philosophical concepts and texts. He explores everyday Hindu beliefs and practices, from worship to pilgrimage to caste, and touchingly reflects on his personal beliefs and relationship with the religion. Not one to shy from controversy, Tharoor is unsparing in his criticism of 'Hindutva', an extremist, nationalist Hinduism endorsed by India's current government. He argues urgently and persuasively that it is precisely because of Hinduism's rich diversity that India has survived and thrived as a plural, secular nation. If narrow fundamentalism wins out, Indian democracy itself is in peril.

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 My Hinduism is a lived faith; it is a Hinduism of experience and upbringing, a Hinduism of observation and conversation. It is not anchored in deep religious study, but I have always been curious about ancient Indian traditions and beliefs. #2 Hinduism is the name that foreigners first applied to the indigenous religion of India. It encompasses an eclectic range of beliefs and practices, from pantheism to agnosticism and from faith in reincarnation to the caste system. But none of these constitutes an obligatory credo for a Hindu. #3 I am a Hindu because I believe in the ancient genius of my own people. I am proud of the history of my faith in my own land, and I am reaffirmed in this allegiance by the Harvard scholar Diana Eck writing of the sacred geography of India. #4 Hinduism is a religion that allows its followers to be astika (pious) or nastika (impious). The terms relate more to orthopraxy than orthodoxy, but action proceeds from convictions.

Why I am a Hindu (2018) is a masterful reflection on the impact of religion on one’s personal and national identity. In Why I am a Hindu, Shashi Tharoor, one of India’s leading politicians, offers a personal reflection on how his relationship with Hinduism shapes both his personal and national identities along with his political ideology. Unpacking the 4,000-year-old history of his religion in an accessible manner for beginners, Tharoor charts the progression of Hinduism in modern day and attacks the Hindutva movement which he argues is perverting the sacred tradition of Hinduism today. Do you want more free book summaries like this? Download our app for free at https://www.QuickRead.com/App and get access to hundreds of free book and audiobook summaries. DISCLAIMER: This book summary is meant as a preview and not a replacement for the original work. If you like this summary please consider purchasing the original book to get the full experience as the original author intended it to be. If you are the original author of any book on QuickRead and want us to remove it, please contact us at hello@quickread.com