The External Hindoo A History of the Construction of Hindu Identity

Date of Award

2008

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Humanities

First Advisor

Newman, John

Keywords

Hinduism, Identity Construction, Hindu Nationalism

Area of Concentration

Religion

Abstract

Although many attempts have been made to define Hinduism, the results are largely unsatisfactory. The definitions prove to be too vague and all-inclusive or too narrow in scope, thereby neglecting the great variety of Hindu practices. However, even though there is no accepted definition of what Hinduism is, popular and academic usage of the term often implies that it is a single, definable entity, and also projects this idea of Hinduism into the past, thereby essentializing it, rather than allowing it to be understood as a construction. By looking at Hinduism as a construct, efforts can be made towards breaking down rigid and divisive religious identities which have been created by certain militant Hindu nationalist groups in their attempt to establish India as a Hindu country. Many scholars choose to focus on one period in the formation of Hindu identity, but this thesis uses a broad historical approach in looking at how early Brahmanism, the Islamic period, Orientalism, Imperialism, and Hindu Nationalism have all played a role in creating the modern-day idea of Hinduism.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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