- Paperback: 120 pages
- Publisher: Verso Press USA; New edition edition (Dec 30 2003)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1859844243
- ISBN-13: 978-1859844243
- Product Dimensions: 22.1 x 16.2 x 1.5 cm
- Shipping Weight: 245 g
- Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #353,980 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
Review
"While cow veneration and vegetarianism may be the hallmarks of Hinduism today, Mr. Jha compiles copious evidence that this has hardly always been the case." -- New York Times "This book may not please Hindu fundamentalists, but its research is impeccable." -- The Telegraph, Calcutta, India "The pen might still be, if not mightier than the nuclear arsenal, at least a weapon worth scanning for, like knives at airports, a weapon capable of subversion." -- Times Literary Supplement "A meticulously researched, strongly worded, persuasively articulated challenge to long-held religious beliefs, The Myth of The Holy Cow is a unique and iconoclastic contribution to the study of Hindu beliefs, practices, history and customs." -- Wisconsin Bookwatch "A well-argued and soundly documented study..." -- Choice "Jha draws on an amazingly wide range of material ... an enlightening endeavour, demonstrating a critical understanding of a popular misconception." -- Journal of Asian Studies
Book Description
Hugely controversial upon its publication in India, this book has already been banned by the Hyderabad Civil Court6 and the author's life has been threatened. Jha agrues against the historical sanctity of the cow in India, in an illuminating response to the prevailing attitudes about beef that have been fiercely supported by the Hindu right-wing government and the fundamentalist groups backing it.
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
A book that has been rejected, despised, and burned in India
Dec 6 2002
Format:Hardcover
A book that has been rejected, despised, and burned in India, The Myth Of The Holy Cow by D.N. Jha dares to challenge the traditional Hindu belief that the cow is a sacred animal. The Myth Of The Holy Cow makes the controversial claim that beef was an important ingredient in the cuisine of ancient India, long before the birth of Islam, and allowed in the Brahmanist and Buddhist diet. A meticulously researched, strongly worded, persuasively articulated challenge to long-held religious beliefs, The Myth Of The Holy Cow is a unique and iconoclastic contribution to the study of Hindu beliefs, practices, history, and customs.
Recommended reading for learning essence pf hinduism
Sep 2 2002
Format:Hardcover
Jha's book has only one drawback - it is short. It makes compelling and persuasive reading as it knits anthropological, common sense and traditions familiar to many Indians themselves to bring to light the transition to agriculture of a pastoral society. Beef has been a requirement and a central fixation in the Hindu system of thinking. Jha brings out the historical context in which a costly mistake was made in failing to develop beef and cattle in general as a commodity. Slowly, as India wakes up and stirs to exploit its heritage, beef is bound to come into fashion, or else the system would continue to be beset by instability.
Jha's presentation reminds one of the need to persuade the high castes at the turn of the ninteenth century of the benefit of studying medicine and dissecting cadavers instead of treating it as a defilement of the pure hindus. Now it is clear that it was a necessary and correct step without which many of the purists of today would have died in their infancy.
Jha's presentation reminds one of the need to persuade the high castes at the turn of the ninteenth century of the benefit of studying medicine and dissecting cadavers instead of treating it as a defilement of the pure hindus. Now it is clear that it was a necessary and correct step without which many of the purists of today would have died in their infancy.
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Most recent customer reviews
Misguided spirit
I have a hard time understanding why the government of India is even giving this book the respect of an issue. Read more
Published on Aug 19 2002 by Pavan Malladi
Excellent example of how to misinterpret Indic texts
The book in question is an substandard compilation that is replete with errors. To quote just a few examples specifically on Tamil Nad :
on page 94,he says -
"Beef and... Read more
on page 94,he says -
"Beef and... Read more
Published on May 26 2002
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