The Saffron Wave

Rating:
Summary: Truly Bizarre
Review: A discussion of hindu nationalism in India which does not include the Shah Bano judgement or the Khalistan movement, is like discussing civil rights in the USA but never mentioning the dred scott decision or Abolitionist movements.

I have previously been contemptuous of claims that foreign scholars use India as a kind of laundry bag into which they stuff their more eccentric theories. However, after reading texts of this type, I realize this is only far too kind a characterization.

Instead of this drivel, I would recommend the writings of M. J. Akbar (leading indian political journalist) as much more insightful. His "India: The Siege Within" is a nuanced and careful work. Other excellent commentators are Mark Tully and Khushwant Singh. oooops, I forgot, they are mere indians and not resident at some BIG US/European university....

Rating:
Summary: Fails in its Analysis
Review: Hansen doesn't quite get it. He looks at the Indian political scence using Eurocentric categories, without caring to analyze the control the bureaucracy holds on the strings of power and the alienation of wide classes of people. His arguments explaining the rise of the Hindu parties are not convincing. He has not examined the effect that Pakistani policies and the contiuing Islamic terrorism have had on Hindu morale.

Rating:
Summary: A Landmark Work
Review: This is a landmark work on a subject that the rest of the world should become aware of, but unfourtunately not enough is written about it. The Author has clear insights into the hindu nationalist movement and his writing keeps you interested throughout the book. A previous poster said that the percentage of minorities in Pakistan was 40% in 1947 when in fact it was only 15 percent. 40% is actually the percentage of muslims that were in British India before partition. I am not sure where he is getting his numbers but they are not correct. I am quoting my numbers from the South Asian Analysis group.