Being Hindu

October 23, 2017
Journalist Sengupta (Recasting India) introduces non-Hindu audiences to the world’s third largest religion using a practitioner’s perspective in this quick but substantive text. To Westerners, Sengupta writes, Hinduism is normally seen as a series of sensational clichés about cow worship or funeral pyres. But the reality is much more complex, as depicted here in a mix of personal memoir, general history, and speculation about where the faith community is headed. Sengupta’s summaries are succinct and knowledgeable, and his expertise is evident. He includes scholarly analyses of Indian nationalism and a literature review of Hindu religious works, with some especially interesting discussions of Hindu takes on recent religious debates, such as the tensions between religion and science. This summary approach, however, can mean that certain topics—such as the history of India and how Hinduism developed in competition with other religions—don’t get the detailed attention they deserve. Sengupta’s personal experiences—particularly his years getting a master’s degree in New Delhi and tangents on poets and philosophers who inspired him—detract from the more in-depth analysis of cultural practices that he attempts to make the focus of the book. But for readers with little knowledge of Hinduism but a strong interest in it, Sengupta will be a welcome guide.

December 1, 2017

Sengupta (Recasting India) seeks to extricate Hinduism from the mire that is modern religious discourse and urge Hindus toward a greater appreciation for their identity. At its heart, Hinduism is marked by a tolerant plurality--"truth is one, the sages manifest it differently"--and all truth lies within, not outside. His engagement with the modern makes this timely as well. Chapters ask: "Is God afraid of science?" and "How does Hinduism fit into the Internet age?" Sadly, this personal journey must engage with Eurocentric views and the objectification of an ancient and revered culture. Nor does Sengupta shy away from India's injustices, such as the caste system or female infanticide. Yet, the Hinduism that he proposes tends toward the ideal without necessarily engaging some of India's darker cultural realities and the fantastically diverse ethnicities that comprise India, the homeland of Hinduism. The writing is warm and appealing as Sengupta deftly presents a tradition that is ancient, wise, and accepting. VERDICT A satisfying and engaging guide to Hinduism for inquiring minds.--SC

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2017
Although Hinduism has thrived for more than 3,000 years and is currently practiced by one billion individuals, there is little coverage in English. To redress that lack, journalist Sengupta offers not a primer of Hindu beliefs but, rather, a personal inquiry rich in history and analysis about what it means to be a twenty-first-century Hindu. He spends perhaps too many pages contrasting polytheistic Hinduism to monotheistic Christianity (he attended an American Evangelical Protestant school in Calcutta), but once he focuses on Hindu philosophy, he is eloquently clarifying. He explicates the religion's perception that the divine is everywhere; its commitment to plurality; and its recognition of union in diversity teachings, he asserts, that could benefit everyone. Reaching deeper, Sengupta explains that Hinduism is a quest for illumination, for radiance, and for knowledge; a profound interpretation of consciousness; and a path to peace. He also candidly acknowledges that the tradition can be both liberating and bewildering, even for Hindus. Sengupta's enlightening elucidation is invaluable for understanding Hinduism, India, and the growing Hindu community in the U.S.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)