Religious revivalism as nationalist discourse : Swami Vivekananda and new Hinduism in nineteenth century Bengal

This Book Is The First To Study The Swami's Life, Teachings, And Writings In The Light Of Recent Social Theories. Vivekananda's Thinking Is Critically Examined As A Nationalist Text And Not Merely As A Discourse On Hindu Religion. The Author Compares The Swami's Ideas With The Political Beliefs Of Other Contemporary Public Intellectuals. She Examines The Ways In Which Vivekananda's Neo-hinduism Emerged As A Powerful Ideology Of Hindu Nationalism, Combining The European Enlightenment Ideals Of Modernity And Rationalism With The Hindu Doctrine Of Advaita Vedanta.--jacket. Religion And Nationalism In Nineteenth-century Bengal -- Religion As History : Vivekananda And The Nationalist Construction Of The Hindu Past -- The Universalization Of Hinduism And The Construction Of The Nation -- Democracy And Nationalist Religion : Vivekananda And The Corporatist Construction Of Hinduism -- Reconciling Reason With Ritual : Neo-hinduism And The Nationalist Project Of Mediation -- The Metastatis Of Enlightenment : The Place Of Science, Ethics, And Philosophy In Neo-hinduism. Shamita Basu. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [203]-213). This book examines nineteenth-century religious movements and discourses in India. Concentrating on the philosophy propounded by Swami Vivekananda, the book explores the relation between nationalism and modernity in a colonial world.