Review of Kim Knott's Hinduism: A Very Short Introduction

Namaste, 

Hinduism: A Very Short Introduction by Kim Knott
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

After reading Klaus K. Klostermaier's book A Short Introduction to Hinduism, I downgraded my rating of Kim Knott's Hinduism: A Very Short Introduction from 3 stars to 2 stars.

I was wary about the chapter on women and dalits, as the treatment of women and dalits has been a cudgel to beat Hindu society. The chapter also plays into the Western stereotype of India as "caste, curry, and cows." I think that Knott included the chapter as her Western audiences associate Hinduism and caste.

I want to point out that the Indian Constitution bans untouchability. Subsequent laws criminalize violence against dalits. A contentious issue now is reservations, akin to affirmative action. Thus, discrimination against dalits is social, not legal.

The chapter cites Manusmriti as the source for the attitudes toward women and dalits. While the chapter outlines the responses of women and dalits toward their marginalization, it does not cover modern critical examination by Hindu leaders of the place of Manusmriti in the body of Hindu texts.

Knott lost me on the comparison between the cow and Hinduism at the end of the book. I thought that her likening Hinduism to a family, often with contentious relations among members, was useful.

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