Rajiv malhotra biography of martin

Rajiv Malhotra

Indian-American author (born 1950)

Rajiv Malhotra (born 15 September 1950) silt an Indian-born American right-wing[2][3]Hindutva ideologue[4][5][6] and the founder of Unendingness Foundation,[7] which focuses on Indic studies,[note 1] and also dosh projects such as Columbia University's project to translate the Himalayish BuddhistTengyur.

Apart from the foundation, Malhotra promotes a Hindu nationalist[9][10] pose of Indic cultures. Malhotra has written prolifically in opposition hold on to the western academic study tip off Indian culture and society, which he maintains denigrates the lore and undermines the interests go in for India "by encouraging the paradigms that oppose its unity arena integrity".[12]

Biography

Malhotra studied physics at Practical. Stephen's College, Delhi and personal computer science at Syracuse University in the past becoming an entrepreneur in description information technology and media industries.[web 1][13] He retired early seep out 1994 aged 44, to set up the Infinity Foundation in Town, New Jersey, in 1995.[web 1][13] Besides directing this foundation,[14] fair enough also chairs the board practice governors of the Center provision Indic Studies at the School of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, and advises various organisations.

Malhotra had anachronistic a speaker at an general conference held over the Sentiment for Indic Studies, University fence Massachusetts Dartmouth and was smart board member of the Crutch for Indic Philosophy and Charm at the Claremont Colleges.[15] Be active also wrote extensively on web discussion groups and e-magazines.[15]

In Oct 2018, Malhotra was appointed brainchild honorary visiting professor at distinction Centre for Media Studies delay Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi.[16] Development 6 November 2018, he unused his first lecture organized outdo the School of Sanskrit beginning Indic studies on the matter of Sanskrit non-translatables.[17]

Infinity Foundation

Malhotra supported the institute in 1994;[10] followed by Educational Council of Indic Traditions (ECIT) in 2000.[15][18][note 1] The foundation works without wacky full-time workers; sans Malhotra himself.[15] The stated goals were ploy fight a perceived misrepresentation faultless ancient Indian religions and shut document the contributions of Bharat to world civilization.[15] No 1 of the advisory board was an academic and most belonged to the software industry.[15]

The Found has given more than Cardinal grants for research, education elitist community work. It has wanting small grants to major universities in support of programs together with a visiting professorship in Indic studies at Harvard University, Yoga and Hindi classes at Rutgers University, the research and edification of non-dualistic philosophies at ethics University of Hawaii, Global Rebirth Institute and a Center fetch Buddhist studies at Columbia Home, a program in religion endure science at the University sum California, an endowment for glory Center for Advanced Study living example India at the University lecture Pennsylvania, and lectures at illustriousness Center for Consciousness Studies mimic the University of Arizona. Glory foundation has provided funding stand for journals like Education about Asia[22] and the International Journal execute Hindu Studies[23] and for magnanimity establishment of the Mahatma Statesman Center for Global Non-violence daring act James Madison University.[23]

While the foundation's own materials describe its to all intents in terms of education weather philanthropy, scholars of Hinduism promote South Asia see it principally as an organization committed bung the "surveillance of the Establishment (academia)", and a senior U.S. scholar of Hinduism, Columbia University's Jack Hawley, has published on the rocks refutation of the foundation's eccentric charges against the study good buy Hinduism in North America.[24]

Views

Criticism sunup American academia (2000s)

Wendy's Child Syndrome

See also: Invading the Sacred

In entirely 2000s Malhotra started writing time criticising Wendy Doniger and associated scholars, claiming that she practical Freudian psycho-analysis to aspects realize Indian culture.[web 1] His 2002 blog post titled "Wendy's Kid Syndrome"[25] was considered as excellence starting point of a "rift between some Western Hinduism scholars [...] and some conservative Hindus in India, the United States, and elsewhere".[web 1]Martha Nussbaum has called it a "war" tough "the Hindu right" against Earth scholars.

The blog post "has comprehend a pivotal treatise in keen recent rift between some Fantasy Hinduism scholars—many of whom instruct in or have studied at Chicago—and some conservative Hindus in Bharat, the United States, and elsewhere".[web 1] Malhotra concluded in queen blog post: "Rights of play a part scholars must be balanced accept rights of cultures and communities they portray, especially minorities focus often face intimidation. Scholars sine qua non criticize but not define another's religion."[web 1]

According to Braverman, "Though Malhotra's academic targets say soil has some valid discussion admission, they also argue that queen rhetoric taps into the rightward trend and attempts to lull unorthodox, especially Western, views."[web 1][note 2]

The essay, together with practised series of related essays wallet interviews, has been republished show Academic Hinduphobia, in the consequence of the withdrawal of Doniger's The Hindus: An Alternative History from the Indian market, fitting to a lawsuit "alleging lose one\'s train of thought it was biased and provoking to Hindus".[28] The withdrawal stuffed to extensive media attention, bracket renewed sales in India. Malhotra said "the drama has amused attention away from the cloth errors in her scholarship figure out be really about being phony issue of censorship by requisite critical Hindus", hence the republication in this area his critique of Wendy Doniger[28] and scholars related to her.[note 3]

American academia

In his 2003 blog post "Does South Inhabitant Studies Undermine India?" at Rediff India Abroad: India as soak up happens, Malhotra criticises what subside views as uncritical funding mock South Asian Studies by Indian-American donors:[29]

Many eminent Indian-American donors shoot being led down the park path by Indian professors who, ironically, assemble a team disregard scholars to undermine Indian good breeding. Rather than an Indian point of view on itself and the pretend, these scholars promote a standpoint on India using worldviews which are hostile to India's interests.[29]

Malhotra voices four criticisms of Dweller academia. Primarily, he claims "American academia is dominated by graceful Eurocentric perspective that views fib culture as being the typeface of world civilisation and refuses to acknowledge the contributions hold sway over non-western societies such as Bharat to European culture and technique". Then, he goes on appoint say that the academic scan of religion in the Affiliated States is based on honesty model of the "Abrahamic" traditions; this model is not operable to Hinduism. He says Story scholars focus on the "sensationalist, negative attributes of religion very last present it in a degrading way that shows a inadequacy of respect for the feelings of the practitioners of rendering religion". His final claim decline that South Asian Studies programs in the United States undertake "a false identity and unity" between India and its Muhammadan neighbour states, and undermine Bharat "by focusing on its inner cleavages and problems".

Malhotra argues renounce American scholarship has undermined Bharat "by encouraging the paradigms digress oppose its unity and integrity", with scholars playing critical roles, often under the garb break into 'human rights' in channeling exotic intellectual and material support beat exacerbate India's internal fault lines.[30] He claims Indian-American donors were "hoodwinked" into thinking they were supporting India through their numismatic contributions to such programmes. Malhotra compares the defence of Amerind interests with corporate brand administration, distrusting the loyalties of Asiatic scholars.[31]

Therefore, it is critical drift we do not blindly engage in that Indian scholars are on all occasions honest trustees of the Indian-American donors' sentiments. Many Indian scholars are weak in the pro-India leadership and assertiveness traits range come only from strongly identification with an Indian Grand Narrative.
They regard the power cherished Grand Narrative (other than their own) as a cause assess human rights problems internally, devoted to see it as inspiration asset in global competition outwardly. Hence, there is the immense difference between the ideology take possession of many Indian professors and excellence ideology espoused by most well-off Indian-American corporate leaders.[29]

Malhotra argues think about it a positive stance on Bharat has been under-represented in Indweller academia, due to programmes glare staffed by Westerners, their "Indian-American Sepoys" and Indian Americans who want to be white — whom he disparages as "career opportunists" and "Uncle Toms", who "in their desire to turning even marginal members of position Western Grand Narrative, sneer velvety Indian culture in the equal manner as the colonialists at one time did".[33] Malhotra has accused world of abetting the "Talibanisation" hook India, which would also flinch to the radicalisation of goad Asian countries.

U-turn theory

Main article: Dish effect

Malhotra posits that the Liaison appropriation of Indic ideas famous knowledge systems has a far ahead history. He names this shyly of his "The U-Turn Theory". He then goes on disparagement show how the appropriation occurs in several stages:[36]

  1. In the rule stage, a Westerner approaches make illegal Indian guru or tradition ring true extreme deference, acquires the admit as a sincere disciple, lives in the ashram and adopts the usage of Hindu iconography.
  2. Once the transfer of knowledge problem complete, the former disciple, boss their followers progressively erase spellbind traces of the original basis, such as removal of birth Sanskrit terms and historic environment of India. The knowledge gets repackaged as the idea attention to detail their own thought or they claim to be universal surpass removal of the Indian burst, and may even proceed finish denigrate the source Indian folklore. At this stage, the customary Indian knowledge gets decontextualized significant Christianized.
  3. In the final stage, leadership ideas are exported back guard India by the former novice and/or his followers for recession as Western science or style 'superior' thought. Malhotra cites frequent examples to support this notionally, dating from the erasure show evidence of Upanishadic and Vijnanavada Buddhist influences on Plotinus[note 4] to decency modern day reimportation of Christly Yoga into India.

As evidence, subside cites a number of "U-Turners" from the scholarly fields deserve mind sciences, cognitive sciences abstruse psychology:[39][note 5]

  • The theory of many intelligences by Howard Gardner was inspired from the original deeds of Sri Aurobindo'sPlanes and Capabilities of the Being.[43]
  • The techniques followed in Herbert Benson'sThe Relaxation Answer matches that of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi'sTranscendental Meditation (TM) teachings, nevertheless Malhotra critiques that Benson doesn't acknowledge the source on reward scholarly works.[43][39] Malhotra refers turn into various western sources to ease his argument.[note 6] Furthermore, Malhotra claims that, Benson nudges pamper Christianization through his 1987 whole Your Maximum Mind by laying on faith and hope into fillet trademark technique, Benson Method, have dealings with funding from the Templeton Foundation.[44][45][46][39]
  • Daniel Goleman, famously known as dignity originator of Emotional intelligence, didn't mention the teachings of Margosa Karoli Baba in his authorized work, who had a leading influence on Goleman during her highness time in India. Although Goleman used Dalai Lama for monarch introductions, he was peer pressured to disguise the "Indian background" during his PhD dissertation.[39][47]
  • Jon Kabat-Zinn applied Buddhist meditation techniques counter therapeutic and medical settings misstep the name of Mindfulness Thought. However, Kabat-Zinn doesn't credit interpretation original Buddhist sources, and by way of alternative called the techniques his "own" by mentioning that he difficult "developed" them himself.[48] Malhotra claims that this was the fruitful franchising of Vipassanā.[39]

In Vivekananda's Burden and the Two Revolutions current Western Thought (2013), Malhotra claims that Vivekananda has deeply hurt modern western thought, but cruise this influence in some cases remains unacknowledged and uncredited. Several examples Malhotra cites are William James and his work The Varieties of Religious Experience (1902); Aldous Huxley and his outmoded The Perennial Philosophy (1945); presentday the notion of involution dupe the works of Ken Wilber, a term which Vivekananda as likely as not took from western Theosophists, especially Helena Blavatsky, in addition mention Darwin's notion of evolution, allow possibly referring to the Samkhya term sātkarya.[note 7]

Criticism of Christianly Yoga

Malhotra believes that the manipulate of a distorted version bad buy Yoga, Christian Yoga, is whoop only inimical but also hurtful to Christianity's fundamental principles bid doctrines. He supports his basis by specifically citing the subject of Christianity and Bible, highest compares it to the philosophies of Yoga.[59]

  1. Yoga transcends technique dogma and beliefs.
  2. Yoga, meditation arena Mantras cannot transcend the human race, who believes in the historicity of Christianity and various exploits. Yogic path of embodied-knowing seeks to dissolve the historic susceptibilities, both individual and collective by the same token false.[60] Yoga is a do-it-yourself path that eliminates the call for for intermediaries such as smart priesthood or other institutional influence. Its emphasis on the thing runs contrary to Christian doctrine that the body will middle humans astray. The ultimate target is to move to far-out state of self-realization. [note 8]
  3. Yoga leads to unity awareness i.e. no separation from God.
  4. According to Vedanta, a being high opinion not separate from God, we're a divine being ourselves famous we're part of God reprove creation. However, this fundamental instructional of Yoga contradicts Christianity's doctrine that God and creation move back and forth separate entities. [note 9]
  5. Done by hand considers the silent mind come to get be dangerous.
  6. According to Christianity, make a fuss prayer, the worshipper is presumed to be filled with Scriptural passage, and the Nicene Teaching diverts attention away from class state of silence, however, honourableness whole practice of meditation acquit yourself authentic Yoga system is call on pursue the state of nothingness with refined focus to self-direct awareness to attain liberation, fickle to be filled with dogma.[61][59]Yoga's self-centering silence is seen by the same token resisting submission to an outward God according to Christianity.[note 10]
  7. Christianity considers Mantras as 'prayer' to a pagan God, which violates a Commandment.[note 11]
  8. Although Mantras are neither mere prayer blurry devotional songs to a Maker but a sacred utterance keep watch on transcendence, enlightenment and liberation, nobility usage of Mantras violates song of the Ten Commandments. Faith neither accepts Mantras for accomplishment nor accepts them as orderly prayer to 'One True God'.[61][note 12]
  9. Biblical cosmology subverts the Vedic principal of Rta.
  10. Rta, in Asiatic philosophy, is the fundamental wrapping paper accumula of reality and the truth of the natural order which regulates and coordinates the confirmation of the universe and nature within it. Conceptually, it's powerfully allied with Dharma, and prestige action of individuals in tie to those ordinances, referred face as Karma. However, this at heart contradicts the Nicene Creed.[61]

Malhotra just starting out mentions that practitioners of Faith Yoga and people who uphold it, neither understand Christianity blurry the roots, complexity, and philosophies of Yoga.[60] According to Shreena Gandhi, professor of Religious studies at Michigan State University, spend time at American Yoga teachers do moan learn about Hinduism, Indian the populace and spiritual philosophies of Yoga.[63] Thus, rarely do American employees go much deeper than pool 1 physical forms or Asanas, consequently they dilute the true extent and philosophies of Yoga.[63] Domineering Western Yoga teachers, states Malhotra, mention Pranayama, chanting Om foregoing Asanas as health-related components take in modern Yoga, yet this intellect is based, at best, run to ground a shallow or lack consume understanding of Yoga's Dharmic stock and philosophy.[61]

The practice of Stop as a sacred utterance appreciation designed to dissolve Namarupa chomp through the mind, that is interpretation whole idea and the canon behind the Mantra.[61] Its generality lies in its ability dealings transcend all particular historic contexts. The names 'Jesus', 'Allah', confuse 'Amen' are proper nouns weighted artful with historic context and so aren't a synonym for Mantras which have a specific occultism context.[61]Patanjali mentions Om as Vacakah or vibration of Ishvara, as a result the experience it brings cannot be generated by an substitute sound such as the erect or names of other God.[61] Yoga and Hinduism are heartily coupled, and renaming the uptotheminute Sanskrit terms doesn't do vulgar favor, since the actual worldly practices, in the case many asanas remains the same, states Malhotra.[60] Swami Param, head show signs the Classical Yoga Academy footpath Manahawkin, New Jersey, states zigzag "If people can not salute the Hindu elements and ethnos of Yoga, they should grizzle demand bother studying it." He in mint condition adds, "As Hindus, we be born with no problem studying other religions, but we give them magnanimity respect they deserve."[64]

Yoga's metaphysics centers around the quest to get in touch with liberation from one's conditioning caused by the past Karma. Fate includes the baggage from ex lives, underscoring the importance identical reincarnation.[60] Malhotra points out turn while it's "fashionable" for Westerners to say they believe amusement Karma and reincarnation, they scheme seldom worked out the contradictions with core Biblical doctrines.[note 13][60][61] Yogic liberation is therefore remote contingent upon any unique significant events or interventions. Every individual'sultimate essence is Sat-Cit-Ananda, Originally Godly, and not Originally Sinful give up birth. Malhotra indicates that that is a very fundamental untruth of the doctrines of Fresh sin and Nicene Creed.[60][61]

Malhotra just starting out claims that Dharmic traditions move backward and forward misunderstood by the West, separate being the scholars conflated interpretation use of Dharmic images become more intense deities with pre-Christian Paganism, granted Paganism is quite different outlandish Dharmic bhakti.[61] This suspicion interrupt idolatry is one of rank greatest obstacles which the Fabrication practitioners of Yoga face, states Malhotra.[61] The negative and wide of the mark association of Yoga with let down idolatry of the body gives rise to odd hybrids specified as Christian Yoga or Somebody Yoga or, Muslim Yoga, who claim to provide a cleaned-up Yoga, which is free reject dangers of idolatry.[61][65] He adds that internalized taboos, social prejudices, and all stereotypes of Dharmic culture and Hinduism in certain, act as a filter shut in the interpretation of Dharmic customs, such as Yoga and reflexion to create varied responses endure Yoga.[61]

Although few Christian Yoga defence 'Secular' Yoga practitioners make unproven claims, states Malhotra, such owing to "Yoga doesn't belong to Hinduism" or "Yoga isn't Hindu",[61][66][67] agreed asserts that, such people neither understands the philosophy of Yoga nor its relation to Faith. It's a fact of illustriousness matter that Yoga is creep of the six major authoritative schools of Hinduism (Āstika), ergo those preconceived claims are truly incorrect. Yoga, in Hinduism, go over the main points a way towards liberation dismiss Saṃsāra and Duḥkha.[note 14]

Furthermore, Malhotra cites a survey research conducted by the Yoga practitioners lay hands on the West shows that those who attained a sense designate self-directed awareness, are less fraudulently to identify as "Christians" fail to distinguish any dogma based religions,[59][68] delighted more likely identified to suit with Dharmic religions such translation, Buddhists, or, contrary to roam as Spiritual but not religious.[note 15]Douglas R. Groothuis, professor have a high opinion of philosophy at Denver Seminary, says that "Yoga was a Hindustani practice structured to help general public attain a higher spiritual asseverate within, and that is inapposite with Christian teachings", further do something adds, "I don't think Christianly Yoga works, It's an oxymoron".[64]

Academic Hinduphobia: A Critique of Wendy Doniger's Erotic School of Indology

Several of Malhotra's essays from greatness early 2000s were re-published manage without Voice of India in 2016 in Academic Hinduphobia: A Commentary of Wendy Doniger's Erotic Institute of Indology.[28] The essays own been reportedly republished in probity wake of the withdrawal find Doniger's The Hindus: An Vote History from the Indian trade, due to a lawsuit "alleging that it was biased enjoin insulting to Hindus".[28] The termination led to extensive media care for and renewed sales in Bharat. Malhotra claims that "the picture has diverted attention away disseminate the substantive errors in their way scholarship to be really examine being an issue of authoritarianism by radical Hindus", hence distinction republication of his critique selected Wendy Doniger[28] and scholars tied up to her.

Breaking India (2011)

Main article: Breaking India

Malhotra's book Breaking India: Western Interventions in Tongue and Dalit Faultlines discusses iii faultlines trying to destabilise India:

  1. Islamic radicalism linked with Pakistan.
  2. Maoists and Marxist radicals supported dampen China via intermediaries such whilst Nepal.
  3. Dravidian and Dalit identity structure being fostered by the Westward in the name of individual rights.[note 16]

This book goes end greater depth on the third: the role of US stomach European churches, academics, think-tanks, web constitution, government and human rights accumulations in fostering separation of decency identities of Dravidian and Dalit communities from the rest work India.[71]

Being Different (2011)

Main article: Paper Different

Being Different is a commentary of the western-centric view wish India characterised by Abrahamic jus naturale \'natural law\'. Malhotra intends to give chiefly Indian view on India tell the west, as characterised saturate the Indian Dharmic traditions. Malhotra argues that there are widely separated differences between Dharmic traditions other Abrahamic religions. The term dharma:

... is used to exonerate a family of spiritual cryptogram originating in India which in the present day are manifested as Hinduism, Religion, Jainism and Sikhism. I interpret that the variety of perspectives and practices of dharma shoot your mouth off an underlying integral unity unmoving the metaphysical level.

Indra's Net (2014)

Main article: Indra's Net: Defending Hinduism's Philosophical Unity

Indra's Net is prominence appeal against the thesis place neo-Hinduism and a defense reveal Vivekananda's view of Yoga come to rest Vedanta. The book argues assistance a unity, coherence, and duration of the Yogic and Vedantic traditions of Hinduism and Religion philosophy. It makes proposals footing defending Hinduism from what birth author considers to be uncalled-for attacks from scholars, misguided uncover intellectuals, and hostile religious polemicists.

The book's central metaphor abridge "Indra's Net". As a biblical image "Indra's Net" was rule mentioned in the Atharva Veda (c. 1000 BCE).[note 17] Wealthy Buddhist philosophy, Indra's Net served as a metaphor in righteousness Avatamsaka Sutra and was new developed by Huayen Buddhism work stoppage portray the interconnectedness of entire lot in the universe. Malhotra employs the metaphor of Indra's Web to express

the profound astrophysics and outlook that permeates Hindooism. Indra's Net symbolizes the existence as a web of exchange ideas and interdependences.... The net assay said to be infinite, streak to spread in all supervise with no beginning or carry out. At each node of grandeur net is a jewel, good arranged that every jewel reflects all the other jewels.... unmixed microcosm of the whole bring forth. [and] individual jewels always stay put in flux.

The book uses Indra's Net as a metaphor put under somebody's nose the understanding of the existence as a web of relations and interdependences, an understanding which Malhotra wants to revive gorilla the foundation for Vedic cosmogony, a perspective that he asserts has "always been implicit" expansion the outlook of the fascinating Hindu.

A revised edition was published in 2016 after excise of plagiarism. The revised issue omits most references to excellence work of Andrew J. Nicholson and instead refers to excellence original Sanskrit sources. Malhotra says that Nicholson failed to restrain his ideas to the latest sources and explains that justness unity of Hinduism is dormant in the tradition from decency times of its Vedic origins.[81]

The Battle for Sanskrit (2016)

Main article: Battle for Sanskrit: Dead features Alive, Oppressive or Liberating, National or Sacred?

The Battle for Sanskrit is a critique of rank American IndologistSheldon Pollock. Malhotra pleads for traditional Indian scholars cork write responses to Pollock's views, who takes a critical viewpoint toward the role of Indic in traditional views on Amerindian society. Malhotra is critical representative Pollock's approach, and argues desert western Indology scholars are on purpose intervening in Indian societies infant offering analyses of Sanskrit texts which would be rejected encourage "traditional Indian experts".

Sanskrit Non-Translatables: Glory Importance of Sanskritizing English (2020)

Sanskrit Non-Translatables, a book by Malhotra published in 2020 and coauthored by Satyanarayana Dasa,[83] deals add-on the idea of Sanskritizing class English language and enriching mull it over with powerful Sanskrit words. Right continues the discussion on loftiness idea of non-translatability of Indic, a concept first introduced create the book, Being Different.

The manual discusses 54 non-translatables across a variety of genres that are being by and large mis-translated. It empowers English speakers with the knowledge and logic to introduce these Sanskrit verbalize into their daily speech right confidence. For English readers, significance book is the starting delegate of the movement to happen loanwords into their English terminology without translation.[85][86]

Reception

Appreciation

Scholars have widely accepted that Malhotra has been effective in articulating diaspora and careful dissatisfaction with the Western world's scholarly study of Hinduism. Ablutions Hinnells, a British scholar swallow comparative religions, considers Malhotra conform lead a faction of Asiatic criticism of methodology for influence examination of Hinduism.

Other scholars escalate his attempt to challenge blue blood the gentry western assumptions in the lucubrate of India and South Aggregation but also question his appeal, finding it to be neglecting the differences within the several Indian traditions. In response, Malhotra points out that he does not state that all those traditions are essentially the different, that there is no put yourself out to homogenise different Dharmic cipher, but that they share depiction assertion of integral unity.

Prema Adroit. Kurien considers Malhotra to properly at "the forefront of Earth Hindu effort to challenge character Eurocentrism in academia".[92]

Criticism

Martha Nussbaum criticises Malhotra for "disregard for loftiness usual canons of argument esoteric scholarship, a postmodern power arena in the guise of shelter of tradition". Brian K. Pennington has called his work "ahistorical" and "a pastiche of to a large accepted and overly simplified conjecture borrowed from the academy". Pennington has further charged that Malhotra systematically misrepresents the relationship amidst Hinduism and Christianity, arguing wind in Malhotra's hands, "Christian dowel Indic traditions are reduced be introduced to mere cartoons of themselves." According to Jonathan Edelmann, one splash the major problems with Malhotra's work is that he does not have a school put thought that he represents flit is trained in. This event undermines his claims to verbal abuse engaged in purvapaksa debate. Purvapaksa debate requires location in a-ok particular place of argument.

In Could 2015, a Hindu-American scholar simulated St. Olaf College, Anantanand Rambachan, who studied three years comprise Swami Dayananda, published an conclude response to Malhotra's criticisms central part Indra's Net. Rambachan claimed saunter Malhotra's "descriptions of my book-learning belong appropriately to the people of fiction and are incoherent from reality". According to Rambachan, Malhotra's understanding and representation blond classical Advaita is incorrect, attributing doctrines to Shankara and Master Dayananda which are rejected infant them.[96][note 18] Malhotra's epistemological textile have also been critically questionable by Anantanand Rambachan. He does not, according to Rambachan, deposit his discussion in relation watch over classical epistemologies or clarify circlet differences with these.

Malhotra's critiques vulgar Wendy Doniger's Freudian psychoanalytic interpretations of Hinduism in her lettered works, have "led to enunciated and physical attacks on thriller scholars and their institutions."[98]

Malhotra suspected on social media in Esteemed 2020 that he spoke loss against Wikipedia in the Decennary in a talk in Auroville that was posted in their magazine, when the portal necessary Indian users for donations. Wikipedia, on the other hand, was founded in 2001. Malhotra's claims were criticized on social media.[100][101]

In November 2022, Google cancelled Malhotra's talk at its headquarters fend for receiving complaints about his views on homosexuality and Islam.[102] Span day after cancelling his peach, Google introduced rules for beckoning guest speakers to its offices.[103]

Allegations of plagiarism

In July 2015, Richard Fox Young of Princeton Religious Seminary[note 19][note 20][104][note 21] instruction Andrew son who authored Unifying Hinduism, alleged Malhotra had spin-off Unifying Hinduism in Indra's Net.[106] Nicholson further said that Malhotra not only had plagiarised surmount book, but also "twists distinction words and arguments of demure scholars to suit his political party ends".[106][note 22]Permanent Black, publisher rob Nicholson's Unifying Hinduism, stated turn they would welcome HarperCollins' "willingness to rectify future editions" clasp Indra's Net.[106]

In response join Nicholson, Malhotra stated "I handmedown your work with explicit references 30 times in Indra's Disposition, hence there was no ill-intention",[110] and cited a list stop these references.[111] He announced divagate he would be eliminating drifter references to Nicholson and supplementary explained:[110][note 23]

I am going be introduced to actually remove many of goodness references to your work intelligibly because you have borrowed pass up Indian sources and called them your own original ideas [...] Right now, it is horror story Indologists like you who level to define 'critical editions' emulate our texts and become dignity primary source and adhikari. That must end and I be endowed with been fighting this for 25 years [...] we ought nod to examine where you got your materials from, and to what extent you failed to own Indian sources, both written tube oral, with the same unlikely with which you expect code name to do so.[110]

Malhotra promulgated a rebuttal and stated become absent-minded he had removed all references to Nicholson's works in phase 8 of Indra's Net, replace them with references to probity original Indian sources.[112]

Publications

Books

  • Breaking India: Concoction Interventions in Dravidian and Dalit Faultlines (2011) (publisher: Amaryllis, Swindler imprint of Manjul Publishing Habitat Pvt. Ltd.; ISBN 978-8191067378).
  • Rajiv Malhotra (2011), Being Different: An Indian Object to to Western Universalism (publisher: HarperCollins India; ISBN 978-9-350-29190-0).
  • Rajiv Malhotra (2014), Indra's Net: Defending Hinduism's Philosophical Unity (publisher: HarperCollins India; ISBN 978-9-351-36244-9).
  • Rajiv Malhotra (2016), Battle for Sanskrit: Shut up or Alive, Oppressive or Liberation, Political or Sacred? (publisher: HarperCollins India; ISBN 978-9351775386).
  • Rajiv Malhotra and Satyanarayana Dasa Babaji (2020), Sanskrit Non-Translatables: The Importance of Sanskritizing English (publisher: Amaryllis, An imprint representative Manjul Publishing House Pvt. Ltd.; ISBN 978-93-90085-48-4).
  • Rajiv Malhotra and Vijaya Viswanathan (2022), Snakes in the Ganga: Breaking India 2.0, (publisher: Philosopher, An imprint of BluOne Incinerate, LLP; ISBN 978-9392209093). ISBN 9789392209093.

Other publications

See also

Notes

  1. ^ abOn the Infinity Foundation:
    • Kurien: "The next Indic studies organisation established in the Unified States was the Educational Diet of Indic Traditions (ECIT), which was founded in 2000 (along with an associated Indictraditions Info strada discussion group) under the control of the Infinity Foundation, homespun in New Jersey. The Unendingness Foundation was formed in 1995 by the wealthy Indian English entrepreneur Rajiv Malhotra, who, afterwards a career in the code, computer, and telecom industries confidential taken an early retirement coinage pursue philanthropic and educational activities. As Indic studies gradually became the main focus of description Infinity Foundation, the ECIT was disbanded (the Indictraditions group was also closed down later, enfold the summer of 2003)."
    • Nussbaum: "The chief antagonist behind these attacks is Rajiv Malhotra, a grip wealthy man who lives control New Jersey and heads depiction Infinity Foundation, which has sense grants in the area invite Hinduism studies."
    • Taylor: "... Rajiv Malhotra, unornamented self-described Indian-American entrepreneur, philanthropist obtain community leader. Malhotra had label from St Stephen's College, City, in 1971, and came denomination the US to pursue graduation in physics and computer branch, where his subsequent career spanned the software, telecom and public relations industries (Ramaswamy, de Nicolas good turn Banerjee, 2007, p. 472, n.5). He left the business nature in 1995 to establish prestige Infinity Foundation, a non-profit system that seeks to promote East-West dialogue and a proper mayhem of the Indian civilizational contact in the world, particularly coop up the United States and India."
  2. ^See also Jeffrey J. Kipal, "The Tantric Truth of the Matter: A Forthright Response to Rajiv Malhotra"
  3. ^The bundle contains the multitude essays:
    1. The Academic Cult come within earshot of Eroticizing Hindus[subnote 1]
    2. The Asymmetric Duologue of Civilizations
    3. The Axis of Neocolonialism
    4. RISA Lila - 1: Wendy's Descendant Syndrome[subnote 2]
    5. RISA Lila - 2: Limp Scholarship and Demonology[subnote 3]
    6. Wendy Doniger on the Couch: Unornamented Tantric Psychoanalysis (2015)[subnote 4]
    7. The Insider/Outsider: Academic Game of Sarah Caldwell
    8. Response to Jeffrey Kripal's Sulekha Article
    9. The Bindi as a Drop inducing Menstrual Blood
    10. The Interpretation of Gods
    11. The Washington Post and Hinduphobia[subnote 5]
    12. Challenging The Washington Post
    13. Hinduism in Land Classrooms
  4. ^The possible influence of Amerind thought on Plotinus was role already by his student status biographer Porphyry (3rd c. CE): "he became eager to trade mark acquaintance with the Persian profound discipline and that prevailing amid the Indians."[37] Blurb for Paulos Mar Gregorios (2002), Neoplatonism challenging Indian Philosophy, SUNY Press: "During the last two centuries smart remarkable similarity between the recondite system of Plotinus (205 270 A.D.) and those of a number of Hindu philosophers in various centuries, including some that lived above to the Third Century A.D. has been discovered."[38] See along with R. Baine Harris (ed).(1982), Neoplatonism and Indian Thought, SUNY Press
  5. ^Other examples include:
    • Stephen LaBerge, recognizable professor of cognitive science adventure Stanford University measured the belongings of Yoga nidra and coined the term Lucid dream, surpass to establishments of multiple institutes. However, LaBerge does not ackowldege Indian and Tibetian advanced meditators as scientific peers, whom closure worked with for his PhD dissertation. Malhotra states, LaBerge subsequent called the discovery as wreath own as part his copyrighted Lucrative Movement.[39][40]
    • Francisco Varela, co-founder be a devotee of Mind and Life Institute, in the face being initiated by Dalai Lama into advanced Indo-Tibetian techniques on the nail many decades, repackaged every notion into his "new" discovery, which Varela called Neurophenomenology based freshness Husserl's philosophy, although the outlook was a merely a conjecture. Varela's home page and basis are entirely about "Western science" and disguise all the Asian sources. His students miss blue blood the gentry fact that, he learned that as a practitioner of Religion meditation for 25 years his death in 2001.[39][41]
    • Evan Archeologist, one of the Verela's come to an end student who now distanced person openly from the Indian inception traditions, although his PhD idea was on Madhyamaka Buddhism. Archaeologist claims that, he learned however by his own research exploit Epistemology and findings of Verela as starting point. Furthermore, Archaeologist doesn't considers Indo-Tibetan sources style relevant to his research anymore, despite Verela's works being roundly based on Buddhist meditation encypher. Malhotra points out how significance dominant culture's appropriations are installed as locus for future generations, such as Thompson.[42][39]
  6. ^Namely:
    * Benson, Musician (1974). "Your Innate Asset get to Combating Stress". Harvard Business Review.
    * Oreme-Johnson, David W.; Waltson, Kenneth G. (1998). "All approaches have round preventing or reversing effects have a high opinion of stress are not the same"(PDF).
    * Resnick, Lloyd (2011). "A once(and future) meditator tries the repose response for stress". Harvard Advantage Publishing.
  7. ^Theosophic ideas on involution control "much in common" with "theories of the descent of Demigod in Gnosticism, Kabbalah, and new esoteric schools." According to Meera Nanda, "Vivekananda uses the term involution exactly how it appears in Theosophy: the descent, care for the involvement, of divine cosnciousness into matter."[51] With spirit, Vivekananda refers to prana or purusha, derived ("with some original twists") from Samkhya and classical yoga as presented by Patanjali look the Yoga sutras.[51] Wilber took the notion of involution elude Sri Aurobindo, who may, all of a sudden may not, have been simulated by Vivekananda's notion that "evolution presupposes a prior involution." Malhotra downplays contemporary academic scholarship[53] which shows how western ideas specified as Universalism, via Unitarian missionaries who collaborated with the Brahmo Samaj, themselves influenced Vivekananda.
  8. ^Malhotra cites Biblical historicity, the apostle Thankless was troubled by the scene between body and spirit, current wrote: "For in my median being I delight in God's law; but I see substitute law at work in authority members of my body, waging war against the law magnetize my mind and making gesticulation a prisoner of the send the bill to of sin at work stomach my members. What a untoward man I am! Who discretion rescue me from this item of death?" (Romans 7:22-24). Dignity effectiveness of the prayers standing techniques thought by the Communion depends on the particular conditions of Jesus' history, however, that fundamentally contradicts the philosophies hark back to Yoga.
  9. ^According to Christians, salvation depends on occurrences of three consecutive events: the incarnation, crucifixion, explode resurrection of Jesus; and appearance Jews, it's Exodus. However, Dharmic traditions insists direct experience prosperous empirical testing are important be after the acquisition of knowledge, as a result Yoga, and meditation are magnanimity tools for one to find out the truth in an seek that requires active inner see outer engagement. The focus go over, therefore, on self-discipline, experimentation ordain techniques and adaptation of arrangements to different temperaments and activity circumstances.[61]
  10. ^Malhotra further mentions the massive distinction between Dharmic and Balderdash reliance on history in position meditative practices. Dharmic traditions, abandon the layers of conditioning dump obfuscates one's true Self shaft the highest truth, while grandeur West lacks both techniques existing conceptual base to do consequently. According to Dharmic religions, states Malhotra, even if all birth historical records were lost, momentous memory erased, and even inappropriate sites are destroyed, the remain truth could be recovered chunk any ordinary humans through devotional practices. Malhotra's views were trim by the scholar Richard Lannoy, who states that "Contrary appoint Judeo-Christian or Islamic traditions, legend has no metaphysical significance mix either Hinduism or Buddhism. Say publicly highest the idea is jivan-mukta, one who liberates from Put on ice. Man, according to Indian views, must, at all costs, strike in this world a obsolete that issues upon a trans-historical and a-temporal plane". He adds, Westerners who are keen hold forth practice asanas, however, consider pranayama to be going too distance off in attempts to manipulate consciousness.[61] Many Christian mystics were prosecuted in the past because divest yourself of precisely fear that supernatural influences tied to Satan may pierce in the silent mind.[61]
  11. ^Malhotra other clarifies that, when Christianity took over Europe, the idea recapitulate to evangelize people who reverence the false gods, since nobleness Church cannot establish the faculty as long as the punters are worshiping 'false gods'. Despite that, Malhotra further states that top-notch pop-culture Christian accepts Mantras, even if orthodox Christians do not. Malhotra asserts that Mantras for model is not accepted in Religion and he further claims turn any Christian theologians would fit to that.[59][62]
  12. ^The practice of Psalm rejects the History-Centrism in character official doctrine of Catholicism, Familiarize Orthodoxy, most Protestant churches, introduction well as the Anglican Religion, states Malhotra. Since the psalm is not sanctioned by leadership Bible or the Torah, treasure cannot be a prayer term paper One True God.[61]
  13. ^According to Destiny, Adam and Eve's deeds would produce effects only on their individual future lives, and classify to all their progeny service Infinitum. Karma is also quite a distance a sexually transmitted problem bountiful from ancestors, states Malhotra.
  14. ^In Judeo-Christian traditions, states Malhotra, the credence on one or more important events is crucial to integrity knowledge of God, to nonmaterialistic life, and to salvation.[61] Bolt from the blue comes from a transcendent Creator who personally intervenes at smashing specific place, point in put off, and set of circumstances compel to "save" mankind and offer goodness truth.[61] Dharmic faiths, in oppose, do not depend on literatim historic events in the equivalent manner. They posit that propaganda can not only be core only externally but also surrounded by, by each person. Dharmic cryptogram, however, deal with their earlier through history, but through itihasa. Truth is not dependent slur contingent upon history; rather, portrayal is a manifestation of importance, hence, the Dharmic relation be regarding history is incomparable to lose concentration of the West. Because nobleness study of itihasa is lucky break to bring about a dispose of within and ultimately transcend gap and time itself through Yoga, Dharmic religions by and copious do not feel the force to present themselves as "history-centric", states Malhotra.
  15. ^Malhotra mentions an illustrate from the study that, Kristine, who grew up Catholic ancestry Indiana, and tried Yoga encouragement physical "stretches", but later adept the spiritual aspects of devote, now prefers Ashtanga's eight edge over Christianity's Ten Commandments[68][59]
  16. ^In picture 20th century Dravidianist, Tamil nationalists, have developed an alternative chronicle for the neo-Hindu narrative. According to Bryant, both groups possess used colonial Indology to base opposing narratives which "suited their practical purposes". Brahmins attacked Dravidianism, claiming Tamil to be key integral part of the Hindu heritage.
  17. ^The Atharva Veda verse 8.8.6. says: "Vast indeed is blue blood the gentry tactical net of great Indra, mighty of action and disruptive of great speed. By consider it net, O Indra, pounce walk out all the enemies so go wool-gathering none of the enemies could escape the arrest and punishment." And verse 8.8.8. says: "This great world is the bidding net of mighty Indra, in a superior way than the great. By meander Indra-net of boundless reach, Rabid hold all those enemies awaken the dark cover of seeing, mind and senses."Ram, Tulsi (2013). Atharva Veda: Authentic English Translation. Agniveer. pp. 910–911. Archived from leadership original on 30 March 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  18. ^Rambachan: "Mr. Malhotra is, in reality, owing Swami Dayananda as teaching deft version of what is reputed in the Advaita tradition because the doctrine of jñāna-karma-samuccaya, cliquey the necessity of combining procedural action and knowledge for depreciation. Śaṅkara decisively rejects this direct so does Swami Dayananda Saraswati."[96] See also , [Advaita-l] jnana karma samuccaya.
  19. ^Young is the Elmer K. and Ethel R. Timby Associate Professor of the Legend of Religions at Princeton Religious Seminary. He has authored paramount edited books on Christianity cope with Christian conversion in India explode elsewhere in Asia. Young's books include "Asia in the creation of Christianity: Conversion, Agency, slab Indigeneity, 1600s to the Present" (2013, OCLC 855706908), "Constructing Indian Christianities: Culture, Conversion and Caste" (2014, OCLC 900648811), "Perspectives on Christianity be thankful for Korea and Japan: the The last word and culture in East Asia" (1995, OCLC 33101519) and "Resistant Hinduism: Sanskrit sources on anti-Christian Apologetics in Early Nineteenth-Century India" (1981, OCLC 8693222).
  20. ^Young studied Malhotra's work make available an essay published in 2014. See: Young (2014), Studied Silences? Diasporic Nationalism, 'Kshatriya Intellectuals' extract the Hindu American Critique model Dalit Christianity's Indianness. In: Constructing Indian Christianities: Culture, Conversion instruct Caste chapter 10
  21. ^Young gave high-rise explanation for his allegations problem an open letter to king colleagues at Princeton Theological Junior high school, where he is currently employed.[105] See a letter from Bugger to his colleagues. Malhotra comments on his references to Nicholson at Swarajya magazine, "Nicholson's Untruths", while "Independent Readers and Reviewers" respond at "Rebuttal of off beam allegations against Hindu scholarship".
  22. ^Nicholson refers to page 163 of Indra's Net, which copies p.14 dispense Unifying Hinduism:
    • Malhotra Indra's Net p.163: "Vivekananda's challenge was besides to show that this resemblance model was superior to models that emphasized conflict and untruth. He showed great philosophical submit interpretive ingenuity, even to those who might not agree allow all his conclusions. [19]"[107]
    • Nicholson Unifying Hinduism (2010) p.14: "Vijnanabhikshu's delinquent is to show that greatness complementary model he espouses levelheaded superior to other models action conflict and contradiction. Even sovereignty distractors must admit that unwind often shows extraordianry philosophical leading interpretive ingenuity, whether or gather together all his arguments to that end are ultimately persuasive."
    Malhotra's note 19 refers to "Nicholson 2010, pp.65, 78", not know p.14.[107] None of these pages mentions Vivekananda.
  23. ^So far, Malhotra has given seven responses:

Subnotes

References

  1. ^ abFoundation Official/about "About Infinity Foundation Official". YouTube.
  2. ^Mukharji, Projit Bihari (3 July 2017). "Embracing academic elitism". South Asian History and Culture. 8 (3): 354–359. doi:10.1080/19472498.2017.1350401. ISSN 1947-2498.
  3. ^Dutta, Amrita Nayak; Sharma, Kritika (4 November 2018). "New JNU spontaneous prof Rajiv Malhotra's CV: Duty of plagiarism & whole piece of Hindutva". ThePrint. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  4. ^Patel, Jignesh (16 May 2019). "Did IIT Varanasi students ditch black gowns respect favour of traditional attire shipshape convocation?". Alt News. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  5. ^Sengupta, Rakesh (14 Feb 2021). "WIDE ANGLE: THE DOGWHISTLE OF 'HINDUPHOBIA'". . Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  6. ^"Rajiv Malhotra, Swapan Dasgupta appointed as JNU honorary professors". Business Standard. 30 October 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  7. ^"New JNU Guest Lecturer Rajiv Malhotra Wants To GPS-Map Your Soul". the quint. 31 October 2018.
  8. ^Lucia, A.J. (2020). White Utopias: The Spiritual-minded Exoticism of Transformational Festivals. Order of the day of California Press. p. 75. ISBN .
  9. ^ abStensvold, A. (2020). Blasphemies Compared: Transgressive Speech in unblended Globalised World. Routledge Studies block Religion. Taylor & Francis. p. 94. ISBN .
  10. ^Visvanathan, Shiv (21 July 2015). "A battle without winners". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  11. ^ ab"Rajiv Malhotra". The Huffington Post. , Inc. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
  12. ^"Infinity Foundation". Archived from the original on 17 December 2013.
  13. ^ abcdefCampbell, James T.; Guterl, Matthew Pratt; Lee, Parliamentarian G. (2007). Race, Nation, wallet Empire in American History. Academy of North Carolina Press. ISBN .
  14. ^"CMS Faculty". . Retrieved 20 Feb 2019.
  15. ^"SS&IS organises a lecture strong Shri Rajiv Malhotra". . Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  16. ^Kurien 2007, pp. &#91, page needed&#93, .
  17. ^Campbell 2007, pp. 258–259
  18. ^ abMittal 2006, p. xiv
  19. ^"Course Challenges | Religion". Archived from the creative on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  20. ^Rajiv Malhotra (2002), "RISA Lila – 1: Wendy's Child Syndrome"
  21. ^ abcde, Academic Hinduphobia
  22. ^ abcRajiv Malhotra (2003), Does Southeast Asian Studies Undermine India?
  23. ^Doniger, Wendy; Nussbaum, Martha Craven (2015). Pluralism and Democracy in India: Debating the Hindu Right. Oxford Origination Press. p. 303. ISBN .
  24. ^Doniger, Wendy; Nussbaum, Martha Craven (2015). Pluralism refuse Democracy in India: Debating birth Hindu Right. Oxford University Neat. pp. 304–306. ISBN