Engaging South Asian Religions: Boundaries, Appropriations, and Resistances (SUNY series in Hindu Studies)

__Looks at Western understandings of South Asian religions and indigenous responses from precolonial to contemporary times.__ Focusing On Boundaries, Appropriations, And Resistances Involved In Western Engagements With South Asian Religions, This Volume Considers Both The Pre- And Postcolonial Period In India, Pakistan, And Bangladesh. It Pays Particular Attention To Contemporary Controversies Surrounding The Study Of South Asian Religions, Including Several Scholars' Reflections On The Contentious Reaction To Their Own Work. Other Issues Explored Include British Colonial Epistemologies, He-gel's Study Of South Asia, Hindu-christian Interactions In Charismatic Catholicism And The Canonization Of Francis Xavier, Feminist Interpretations Of The Mother Of The Buddha, And Theological Controversies Among Muslims In Bangladesh And Pakistan. By Using The Themes Of Boundaries, Appropriations, And Resistances, This Work Offers Insight Into The Dynamics And Diversity Of Western Approaches To South Asian Religions And The Indigenous Responses To, Involvements With, And Influences On Them. --book Jacket. A Science Of Defining Boundaries : Classification, Categorization, And The Census Of India / Peter Gottschalk -- The Repetition Of Past Imperialisms : Hegel, Historical Difference, And The Theorization Of Indic Religions / Arvind Mandair -- Beyond National Borders And Religious Boundaries : Muslim And Hindu Veneration Of Bonbibi / Sufia Uddin -- Boundaries And Appropriations In North Indian Charismatic Catholicism / Mathew N. Schmalz -- The Corpse And Cult Of St. Francis Xavier, 1552-1623 / William R. Pinch -- Sati Or Female Supremacy? : Feminist Appropriations Of Gotami's Parinirvana / Liz Wilson -- Resisting My Attackers, Resisting My Defenders : Representing The Shivaji Narratives / James W. Laine -- Resisting Assimilation : Encounters With A Small Islamic Sect In Contemporary Pakistan / Shahzad Bashir -- Climbing Through Paradigms / Paul B. Courtright -- Afterword : Scandals, Scholars, Subjects / Saurabh Dube -- Response 1 : A Phantasmatic Reading / Arvind Mandair -- Response 2 : Legend Versus Myth / Sufia Uddin -- Response 3 : Staying With And Thinking Through / Mathew N. Schmalz. Edited By Matthew N. Schmalz And Peter Gottschalk. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Focusing on boundaries, appropriations, and resistances involved in Western engagements with South Asian religions, this edited volume considers both the pre- and postcolonial period in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. It pays particular attention to contemporary controversies surrounding the study of South Asian religions, including several scholars'reflection on the contentious reaction to their own work. Other chapters consider such issues as British colonial epistemologies, the relevance of Hegel for the study of South Asia, the canonization of Francis Xavier, feminist interpretations of the mother of the Buddha, and theological dispute among Muslims in Bangladesh and Pakistan. By using the themes of boundaries, appropriations and resistances, this work offers insight into the dynamics and diversity of Western approaches to South Asian religions, and the indigenous responses to them, that avoids simple active/passive binaries.