Many of ancient India's religious traditions are alive in modern India, and many of these religious traditions are in conflict with one another regarding the future of India. Even the so-called "secular state" is deeply pervaded by religious sentiments growing out of the Neo-Hindu nationalist movement of Gandhi and Nehru. A careful analysis of the current religious scene when placed in its proper long-term historical perspective raises interesting questions about the nature and future of religion not only in India but elsewhere as well.

Presents the contemporary religious crisis in India, providing historical perspective and focusing on the crises in Punjab, Kashmir, and Ayodhya.

"The volume is a sequel to "India's Agony Over Religion" (State University of New York Press, 1995, and Oxford University Press, Delhi, 1997) in the sense that it develops a theory of religion first set forth in the original volume but expands the horizon of the first volume to encompass the general history of religions [inclusive of the Indic traditions: Hindu, Buddhist, Jain; the Abrahamic traditions: Hebrew/Jewish, Christian, Islamic; and the East Asian traditions: Confucian, Daoist, Shinto].The central argument in the book is the assertion that the term "religion" is not primarily significant by its use as a noun, but is better understood in its adjectival sense, namely, "religious," in such expressions as "the religious referent," "the religious issue," or simply, "the religious question.""--Provided by publisher.

The volume is a sequel to "India's Agony Over Religion" (State University of New York Press, 1995, and Oxford University Press, Delhi, 1997) in the sense that it develops a theory of religion first set forth in the original volume but expands the horizon of the first volume to encompass the general history of religions [inclusive of the Indic traditions: Hindu, Buddhist, Jain; the Abrahamic traditions: Hebrew/Jewish, Christian, Islamic; and the East Asian traditions: Confucian, Daoist, Shinto]. The central argument in the book is the assertion that the term "religion" is not primarily significant by its use as a noun, but is better understood in its adjectival sense, namely, "religious," in such expressions as "the religious referent," "the religious issue," or simply, "the religious question."

This Book Will Fascinate Everyone Interested In Ayodhya, Kashmir, Women`S Rights In India, And Sikh Or Sri Lankan Tamil Separatism, As Well Those Concerned With The General Range Of Issues Surrounding Religion In Politics And Society In South Asia.

This book was written by a Hindu, the grandson of Mohandas K. Gandhi. His intent, in writing on eight Muslims and their influence on India in the twentieth century, is to reduce the gulf between Hindu and Muslims. Focusing on figures viewed as heroes by sub-continent Muslims, he shows that they can be admired by Hindus as well--that they need not be frozen in Hindu minds as foes. Here is a fascinating account of twentieth-century India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh told through biographical sketches of eight men: Sayyid Ahmed Khan (1817-1898), Fazlul Huq (1873-1962), Muhammad Ali Jinnah (1876-1948), Muhammad Iqbal (1876-1938), Muhammad Ali (1878-1931), Abul Kalam Azad (1888-1958), Liaqat Ali Khan (1895-1951), and Zakir Husain (1897-1969).

Most of the papers presented at a conference held at Bloomington in 1999; some previously published.

Scholar Jeffrey J. Kripal explores the life and teachings of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, a 19th-century Bengali saint who played a major role in the creation of modern Hinduism. The work is now marked by both critical acclaim and cross-cultural controversy. In a substantial new Preface to this second edition, Kripal answers his critics and addresses the controversy.

Analysis of the current social, economic, and political situation: the evils of corruption, crime, casteism, communalism, and bureaucratic and ideological hypocrisy.