This is an excerpt from a brief Znet interview with Angana Chatterji about her new book Violent Gods, which according to her is "an exploration of Hindu nationalism in India today."
[Question:] What are your hopes for "Violent Gods"? What do you hope it will contribute or achieve, politically? Given the effort and aspirations you have for the book, what will you deem to be a success? What would leave you happy about the whole undertaking? What would leave you wondering if it was worth all the time and effort?
[Answer:] At the release of the book in Orissa in April 2009, I was asked if the book would provide solutions for undoing Hindu militancy and dominance in India. Books, if we are so fortunate, complicate matters further. I remain hopeful that "Violent Gods" will energize discussion, debate, contemplation about India's present and future, the role and violence of majoritarian states and groups globally, about privilege and subalternity, security, rights, and entitlements, about freedom and dissent. I remain hopeful that the many and powerful subaltern voices and narratives in the text will compel reflection.
Chatterji, Angana. "Violent Gods: A Znet Book Interview." 31 Jul. 2009. ZNet. 1 Aug. 2009 <http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/22176>
Some comments: In the interview, it is interesting that she describes her book as a "Foucauldian history of the present." I think it is significant that she would employ a Foucauldian theoretical perspective, which by its nature is unable to imagine an objective position from which to critique the (so-called) Hindu majoritiarian "other." I also think it interesting that intellectuals like Chatterji automatically assume that "majority" means "oppressor." Evidently, in her universe, oppression flows from Hindus to, basically, everyone who is not a Hindu. Since you know what she is going to say, you probably don't need to read her book. If anything is going to discredit secularism in the short term, it will be the mere banality of secularist arguments.
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written by Deshika.N.Kumar, 2009-08-11 05:30:06
Thanks Partha. Interestingly, the reviewer points out that the book is a report outside of the church groups etc (ch Kaigar on ‘insiders’) and seems to think it was S Lakshmanand’s proselytising that was the problem, that the Hindus are setting off people against each other.
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written by P. Desikan, 2009-08-10 19:15:30
The link for the review in the Hindu is
http://www.hindu.com/br/2009/08/11/stories/2009081150011300.htm
http://www.hindu.com/br/2009/08/11/stories/2009081150011300.htm
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written by P. Desikan, 2009-08-10 19:14:40
For starters, we do have a review of this book, which can form the basis of a critical article by any one of our editors.
It is by Parvati Menon and it appeared in The Hindu today. Ms Menon is not too appreciate about the writing style, but plays the tabla for the contents.
Partha.
It is by Parvati Menon and it appeared in The Hindu today. Ms Menon is not too appreciate about the writing style, but plays the tabla for the contents.
Partha.
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written by P. Desikan, 2009-08-06 18:14:22
Dear Dwai,
There have been a few reviews in tmj submitted by individuals who purchased the books concerned on their own, I suppose, whether they are members of the Founder-Editor group or not. This practice cannot be standardized and will keep the reviewing process in the same random category as the blogs themselves. I believe that the Editors will have to choose to purchase the books which they want to review, depending on the tmj content values, whether to support or to comment adversely. It will also be convenient to limit the reviewers' panel to American residents, including of course the Editorial team. Money will have to be found from within the meagre ad resources, I suppose. KKD is right in saying that individuals may not like to buy a book which they do not want in their shelves, just for writing a review. He is also right in guessing that some publishers may give you free copies, but they may stop sending you if they get a feel that you are about to blast the book out of existence. They would be interested in sales promoting interviews. Very rarely an unfriendly review provokes interest in the buyer to throw away a few dollars, but only very rarely. We are not talking about soap operas, after all.
The tmj library when it grows will have both yin and yang content.
Regards. Partha.
There have been a few reviews in tmj submitted by individuals who purchased the books concerned on their own, I suppose, whether they are members of the Founder-Editor group or not. This practice cannot be standardized and will keep the reviewing process in the same random category as the blogs themselves. I believe that the Editors will have to choose to purchase the books which they want to review, depending on the tmj content values, whether to support or to comment adversely. It will also be convenient to limit the reviewers' panel to American residents, including of course the Editorial team. Money will have to be found from within the meagre ad resources, I suppose. KKD is right in saying that individuals may not like to buy a book which they do not want in their shelves, just for writing a review. He is also right in guessing that some publishers may give you free copies, but they may stop sending you if they get a feel that you are about to blast the book out of existence. They would be interested in sales promoting interviews. Very rarely an unfriendly review provokes interest in the buyer to throw away a few dollars, but only very rarely. We are not talking about soap operas, after all.
The tmj library when it grows will have both yin and yang content.
Regards. Partha.
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written by Krishna Kirti Das, 2009-08-06 11:33:55
It would be good if on an ongoing basis we could get these kinds of books as they come out and review them. Sometimes publishers will send you books, if they know about you, because well-written book reviews are good for their business. Perhaps one of us could solicit the publisher for a free book.
However, it is probably less likely that a publisher will oblige. In that case, the biggest obstacle, to getting a book seems to be shelling out the money for it. Who wants to regularly buy books whose message one probably does not agree with? If there is some online "tip jar" readers/writers can donate to if inspired, donations could go toward purchasing books.
Just an idea,
KKDas
However, it is probably less likely that a publisher will oblige. In that case, the biggest obstacle, to getting a book seems to be shelling out the money for it. Who wants to regularly buy books whose message one probably does not agree with? If there is some online "tip jar" readers/writers can donate to if inspired, donations could go toward purchasing books.
Just an idea,
KKDas
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written by Dwai Lahiri, 2009-08-06 10:44:05
I propose that we start populating the Book Review section with reviews about books like this and open the floor for debate.
Let me know what everyone thinks of this suggestion. I can create a separate category for books of this nature...
Let me know what everyone thinks of this suggestion. I can create a separate category for books of this nature...
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written by Dr. Pradip Gangopadh, 2009-08-06 10:13:37
Dear Deshika and Karigar,
I agree with Partha's suggestion of book review. That would be a correct approach.
Regards
Pradipda
I agree with Partha's suggestion of book review. That would be a correct approach.
Regards
Pradipda
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written by Deshika.N.Kumar, 2009-08-05 18:16:36
Pradipda, unfortunately Hindus have no control over her food supply so I am more inclined to agree with Karigar’s reasoning, to which in the context of Arjun’s blog I would add that the title of her book itself ‘..... violent Gods..... ‘ seems calculated to add fuel to the fire, especially in Kandhamal. One cannot expect all Hindus to always be self controlled as fuel is added and they are subjected to increasingly heavy doses of mental and emotional pain/ ..... Karigar’s points on the ‘rasgolla’ and the ‘insider’ then become very relevant.
I’d suggest it is important for Hindus who can to use ‘mics’ and do all they can to prevent another conflagration. Partha in his wisdom has thought of an excellent mic in the form of book reviews – hopefully these will be accepted. But perhaps before that someone(s) need to read the book and more Medhavis/others need to share their views so that this discussion is more grounded. Also Medhavis need to decide whether they want to move from feeling/ discussing to taking the first steps however small. It would be a form of Seva – but it may or may not be a form that Medhavis want to take up.
KKD - Karigar, Partha, Pradipda and I seem to have run ahead – where are you on all this?
I’d suggest it is important for Hindus who can to use ‘mics’ and do all they can to prevent another conflagration. Partha in his wisdom has thought of an excellent mic in the form of book reviews – hopefully these will be accepted. But perhaps before that someone(s) need to read the book and more Medhavis/others need to share their views so that this discussion is more grounded. Also Medhavis need to decide whether they want to move from feeling/ discussing to taking the first steps however small. It would be a form of Seva – but it may or may not be a form that Medhavis want to take up.
KKD - Karigar, Partha, Pradipda and I seem to have run ahead – where are you on all this?
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written by karigar, 2009-08-05 14:45:13
Pradipda,
I quite agree with you that this particular cannon need not be given more credence than she already has. But there is the "cannon firing industry" dedicated to this type of cannon balls, & it is the cannon manufatureres (the reflexive hinduphobic academia) that need to be also reminded that not all are uncritically accepting their cannonballs as the 'rosogollas' they're made out to be....
Her toolbox is fairly typical of the Leftist 'born hindu' trading their hindu sounding names and the light needs to be shined on the tools for the world to see them for what they are.
You'd perhaps agree that their claims of somehow being the 'insider who knows the real thing' is hollow? It is this that needs to be repeatedly shown up, albeit with our much smaller mics vs their megaphones...
I quite agree with you that this particular cannon need not be given more credence than she already has. But there is the "cannon firing industry" dedicated to this type of cannon balls, & it is the cannon manufatureres (the reflexive hinduphobic academia) that need to be also reminded that not all are uncritically accepting their cannonballs as the 'rosogollas' they're made out to be....
Her toolbox is fairly typical of the Leftist 'born hindu' trading their hindu sounding names and the light needs to be shined on the tools for the world to see them for what they are.
You'd perhaps agree that their claims of somehow being the 'insider who knows the real thing' is hollow? It is this that needs to be repeatedly shown up, albeit with our much smaller mics vs their megaphones...
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written by Dr. Pradip Gangopadh, 2009-08-05 13:10:13
Dear Deshika,
Yes, many cannons have been fired in the last few years. I suspect that most of them like Smt. Chatterji are craving for publicity. I feel that our strategy should be to starve these publicity hounds of publicity. Of course there may be special cases where one should protest. It just seems to me that Smt. Chatterji is simply a publicity hound and should be ignored. Smt. Chatterji is so shrill and her arguments are so inane that it would be a mistake to take her too seriously.
Regards
Pradipda
Yes, many cannons have been fired in the last few years. I suspect that most of them like Smt. Chatterji are craving for publicity. I feel that our strategy should be to starve these publicity hounds of publicity. Of course there may be special cases where one should protest. It just seems to me that Smt. Chatterji is simply a publicity hound and should be ignored. Smt. Chatterji is so shrill and her arguments are so inane that it would be a mistake to take her too seriously.
Regards
Pradipda
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written by P. Desikan, 2009-08-04 19:06:44
You are right, Deshika. The blog by KK should be read and the book must be reviewed appropriately in the western marketplaces.Chatterji has created a very saleable product.
Regards. Partha.
Regards. Partha.
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written by Deshika.N.Kumar, 2009-08-04 18:22:07
Pradipda,
Perhaps, it is because Chatterjee ‘is a loose cannon’
that this blog should not be ignored. She is capitalising on her ‘hindu descent’ but that apart - Kirpal with his bit on the relationship between S Vivekananda and Thakur; Wendy with ‘the Gita is a dishonest book’; the kidipedia references to the Ramayana; the inappropriate use of ‘Kurukshetra’ (I am sure Medhavis could add to my list) - it seems there are a number of cannons going off at an increasing frequency, further buttressed by articles like the one in the Brittanica. A glance through the link provided by KKD reveals that this is not her first venture and suggests that she is (?also) trying to gain a foothold among an elite group of activists -by baiting/ selling the Hindus (the contents of her articles do not suggest good research). I don’t know much about her or her book or other examples – but I am left wondering about this whole issue particularly in view of KKD/ Karigar/ Amitraj Dhawan’s earlier posts. The comments here including KKD’s added to the interest.
Rgds/-
Deshika_
Perhaps, it is because Chatterjee ‘is a loose cannon’
that this blog should not be ignored. She is capitalising on her ‘hindu descent’ but that apart - Kirpal with his bit on the relationship between S Vivekananda and Thakur; Wendy with ‘the Gita is a dishonest book’; the kidipedia references to the Ramayana; the inappropriate use of ‘Kurukshetra’ (I am sure Medhavis could add to my list) - it seems there are a number of cannons going off at an increasing frequency, further buttressed by articles like the one in the Brittanica. A glance through the link provided by KKD reveals that this is not her first venture and suggests that she is (?also) trying to gain a foothold among an elite group of activists -by baiting/ selling the Hindus (the contents of her articles do not suggest good research). I don’t know much about her or her book or other examples – but I am left wondering about this whole issue particularly in view of KKD/ Karigar/ Amitraj Dhawan’s earlier posts. The comments here including KKD’s added to the interest. Rgds/-
Deshika_
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written by Dr. Pradip Gangopadh, 2009-08-04 13:28:02
Smt A. Chatterji is a loose cannon. It is best to ignore her diatribes!
Gangp
Gangp
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written by Deshika.N.Kumar, 2009-08-03 02:54:45
Based on earlier blogs/ discussions I submit that she is not wrong in the thesis that the 'majority' are the oppressor;. only in articulating who constitutes the majority - making it a case of 'if the cap fits, wear it'. Foucault pointed out that 'in knowing we control and in controlling we know'. 'Intellectuals' like Chatterjee know that Hindus are violent people from which follows the 'research' ('knowledge' creation). This 'knowledge' will in turn give the control desired. Ms Chatterjee even describes herself as 'of Hindu descent' - which upto a point is true of most people from the subcontinent (exceptions include the Parsees, those who are descendents of Babur's troops etc)
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written by P. Desikan, 2009-08-02 16:59:58
The formal Indic society, especially in the land of its origin, has enough home grown weeds. It does not need outside help to destroy itself.
To survive, it must continuously be on guard to minimise brainwashing of whole new generations of Indic heirs away from Indic thoughts.
Regards. Partha
To survive, it must continuously be on guard to minimise brainwashing of whole new generations of Indic heirs away from Indic thoughts.
Regards. Partha
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written by karigar, 2009-08-02 04:35:48
No point in giving credence to these verbally violent types (Angana Chatterjee being a prime example...) when they talk about 'Violent Gods'.
They should realize that it is they & their prejudicial theories that do more violence on minds & hearts, and it is measurable...
As you say, the banality of their arguments will ultimately discredit them, once the novelty wears off...
They should realize that it is they & their prejudicial theories that do more violence on minds & hearts, and it is measurable...
As you say, the banality of their arguments will ultimately discredit them, once the novelty wears off...
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