This book provides a critical history of the distinctive tradition of Indian secularism known as Tolerance. Since it was first advanced by Mohandas Gandhi; the Tolerance ideal has measured secularism and civil religiosity by contrast with proselytizing religion. In India today; it informs debates over how the right to religious freedom should be interpreted on the subcontinent. Not only has Tolerance been an important political ideal in India since the early twentieth century; the framing assumptions of Tolerance permeate historical understandings among scholars of South Asian religion and politics. In conventional accounts; the emergence of Tolerance during the 1920s is described as a victory of Indian secularism over the intolerant practice of shuddhi "proselytizing"; pursued by reformist Hindus of the Arya Samaj; that was threatening harmonious Hindu-Muslim relations. This study shows that the designation of shuddhi as religious proselytizing was not fixed; it was the product of decades of political struggle. The book traces the conditions for the emergence of Tolerance; and the circumstances of its first deployment; by examining the history of debates surrounding Arya Samaj activities in north India between 1880 and 1930. It asks what political considerations governed Indian actors' efforts to represent shuddhi as religious on different occasions; and it asks what was lost in translation when they did. It reveals that by framing shuddhi decisively as a religious matter; Tolerance functioned to disengage Indian secularism from the politics of caste.
#1193825 in Books Waldstreicher David 2016-12-14Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 6.50 x 1.30 x 9.40l; .0 #File Name: 0199947953336 pagesJohn Quincy Adams and the Politics of Slavery Selections from the Diary
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. John Quincy Adams and the enduring battle against slavery.By Ronald H. ClarkThere certainly appears currently to be a serious rebirth of interest in the life and career of J.Q. Adams (1767-1848). Fred Kaplan's recent bio; and several more just now coming out; is one indication of this renewed focus on JQA. This interesting and well-edited collection of excerpts from the diary he kept most of his life is another. In fact; the diary is so valuable a source on Adams and the politics and diplomacy of his time; that the Library of America soon will be releasing a substantial two-volume edition of the diary; edited by one of the editors of this volume. Adams was involved in many diplomatic and political endeavors during his long life; not to mention being the sixth President. This volume; however; follows his involvement with slavery exclusively; and I found it somewhat surprising.It is surprising because we associate Adams with his famous defense before the Supreme Court of the Amistad escaped slaves; as well as his fight while serving in the House during the final stage of his career where he challenged at no small cost to himself the pro-slavery forces (especially their "gag rule"). Yet as this book demonstrates; via his own words; throughout his long career not until late in his House service did he adopt a firm anti-slavery position. Not a typical New England abolitionist was he. During his long career; he came into contact with the slavery issue not infrequently; but the issue did not really grab him until fairly late.The book is well edited. It begins with entries made in 1785 and follows through until 1844 or so; chronologically. In addition to affording us an invaluable perspective on Adams; as he reveals his own thinking explicitly; the diary entries paint a valuable background of the vital political and diplomatic events with which Adams came into contact. Each extract; whether short or long; is preceded with a brief note by the editors (both major scholars of JQA) placing the excerpt into its proper historical context. The footnotes also contain important sources and information; though not overwhelming in numbers.At several points; Adams remarks burn with intensity that still sears. One example is the incredibily poisoned and combustible hostility between the pro and anti-slavery groups in the House during Adams tenure (1836 - 1846). Adams graphically recounts the bitter fights leading up to the Missouri compromise from his perch as an insider. It is no wonder that the Civil War shortly was to follow such extreme bitterness. Another example is when Adams recounts his intensive fight to protect the right of citizens to petition the House seeking an end to slavery in the District of Columbia. Despite the imposition of a "gag rule" nullifying these petitions; Adams fought on until his coalition terminated it in 1844. A third example is the intensity with which Adams undertook his Amistad Supreme Court argument; to a bench comprise of some slave owners. Rarely has history "so come alive" as in this book.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy George A. MarshallThanks0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. good readBy Kindle Customera very interesting read
