Inventing India—Again and Again

You say:

[quote]
The oddest thing in recent times is the attempt by the RSS to convert tribals to Hinduism. How would they be categorized? If one acknowledges that tribals are the First Nation of India, the original inhabitants, it seems odious for anyone to try to ‘legitimise’ them for whatever reason.
[end-quote]

Isn`t it amusing that you pick only on the RSS? Even though the singlest large source of conversion and destruction of indian tribal culture are in fact aggressive christian denominations? Are you aware that in the North-East and some other pockets in central india, some regions have gone from 10% christian to 90% christian in 40 years? And that the first thing people are taught after conversion is that they have nothing in common with other indians???

But that is of no concern, right? Worrying about a multi-billion dollar funded wahabism and fundamentalist christianity and its impact on the multi-cultural indian ethos would require some work. It would require intellect to wonder why the indian middle-class has moved so rightward over the last 20 years.

But thinking along those lines would require a genuine integrity and commitment to secular values. It would require denounciation of ALL forms of extremism and fundamentalism. It would require denunciation of Mel Gibson and Pat Robertson at the same level as Togadia and Singhal.

Most important, it would require genuine thought, not intellectual slovenliness masquerading as analysis. It would require knowledge of indian history and knowledge of the fundamentals of hindu tradition. Both of which, it is fairly clear from your ramblings, you do not possess even to the smallest measure.

Glad to see this piece here! Will comment later.