BookReview of Why I Am A Hindu by Shashi Tharoor. Reviewed by Karan.

Author : Shashi Tharoor 

Publisher : Aleph Book Company

Rating : 4.3/5

“I’m a Hindu, I’m a Nationalist but I am not a Hindu Nationalist”
   – Shashi Tharoor, Why I Am A Hindu

Quoting Christophe Jaffrelot from his article named ‘The Most Hindu Of Them All’ in The Indian Express on February 16th, 2018, 

“To be or not to be a Hindu has become a key question, as if the legitimacy of a politician and even his ability to govern was measured by this criterion.”

As desolate and dangerous it sounds, this notorious assertion has really become the fear of the hour. Hinduism, not just Hinduism but Religion in general has become extremely more than just a way of life. It has become a robust, first among equals identity of people who don’t have other things to claim association to. And when this happens, we have to deal with an explosive rhetoric at hand, and assidiously.

Why I Am A Hindu, does that job.

As much as the title rings bells in your mind and maybe sound a bit un-tharooresque prima facie, this book is really an acknowledgement, challenge and subsequently an answer to the danger we just discussed.

Tharoor yet again proves his constructive and elegant way of thought building with the most common yet delicate issue at hand. 

The book goes in systematic order of chronology and thought divided in three sections of importance.

The starting chapter ‘My Hinduism’ upfront handles the way the author himself was brought up as a Hindu to start with and has peppered it with real life anecdotes to make the reader understand the view that Tharoor wants to look at with the issue at hand.

Next, The Hindu Way walks you carefully and briefly through the deep and universal tenets and core principles of Hinduism. A heavily loaded and insightful study on   dharma, karma, mukti, yugas and varna. This part is generally a treat for people who want to know more about Hinduism and explore its fundamentals. A long yet interesting commentary on Vedas, Upanishads and Puranas follows leaving you with little space to breathe.

Read the entire review here.