This volume opens up new and productive lines of inquiry, gesturing at forms of public religiosity that are not bound to the fanaticisms with which religions today are increasingly associated. It includes essays by leading scholars in the fields of anthropology, history, linguistics, politics, and religion such as Madhav M. Deshpande, Roby Rajan, J. Reghu, Julius J. Lipner, Joanne Punzo Waghorne, Jyotirmaya Sharma, Ajay Skaria, Paula Richman, and Ronald Inden. They explore the relationship of Hinduism to literature and cinema, and revisit familiar figures to arrive at fresh and even radically new readings. The volume thus addresses issues of tremendous topical relevance: the transmission of Hinduism to the United States, Gandhiji's religious politics and secularism, analysis of 'Vande Mataram' and its immensely rich history, C. Rajagopalachari's multiple tellings of the Ramkatha, popular patriotism in Hindi cinema, and much more.
With an insightful Introduction by Vinay Lal, this book will be invaluable to students and teachers of politics, sociology, history, and media and cultural studies, as well as general readers interested in learning more about the negotiations between religion and politics in India.