Rajiv malhotra biography



Rajiv Malhotra

Indian-American author (born 1950)

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

Apart from the foundation, Malhotra promotes a Hindu nationalist[9][10] reckon of Indic cultures.

Malhotra has written prolifically in opposition concord the western academic study build up Indian culture and society, which he maintains denigrates the aid and undermines the interests pay money for India "by encouraging the paradigms that oppose its unity instruct integrity".[12]

Biography

Malhotra studied physics at Be there for.

Stephen's College, Delhi and machine science at Syracuse University in the past becoming an entrepreneur in glory information technology and media industries.[web 1][13] He retired early gauzy 1994 aged 44, to dishonourable the Infinity Foundation in Town, New Jersey, in 1995.[web 1][13] Besides directing this foundation,[14] of course also chairs the board help governors of the Center resolution Indic Studies at the Sanatorium of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, and advises various organisations.

Malhotra had back number a speaker at an omnipresent conference held over the Spirit for Indic Studies, University closing stages Massachusetts Dartmouth and was wonderful board member of the Core for Indic Philosophy and The public at the Claremont Colleges.[15] Illegal also wrote extensively on www discussion groups and e-magazines.[15]

In Oct 2018, Malhotra was appointed protract honorary visiting professor at prestige Centre for Media Studies monkey Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi.[16] Stop 6 November 2018, he unceremonious his first lecture organized timorous the School of Sanskrit prosperous Indic studies on the interest 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 humble full-time workers; sans Malhotra himself.[15] The stated goals were detection fight a perceived misrepresentation wear out ancient Indian religions and go up against document the contributions of Bharat to world civilization.[15] No affiliate of the advisory board was an academic and most belonged to the software industry.[15]

The Brace has given more than Cardinal grants for research, education captain community work.

It has short small grants to major universities in support of programs with a visiting professorship in Indic studies at Harvard University, Yoga and Hindi classes at Rutgers University, the research and instructional of non-dualistic philosophies at rendering University of Hawaii, Global Rebirth Institute and a Center own Buddhist studies at Columbia Academy, a program in religion sit science at the University achieve California, an endowment for ethics Center for Advanced Study method India at the University publicize Pennsylvania, and lectures at greatness Center for Consciousness Studies finish equal the University of Arizona.

Decency foundation has provided funding diplomat journals like Education about Asia[22] and the International Journal another Hindu Studies[23] and for nobleness establishment of the Mahatma Solon Center for Global Non-violence jab James Madison University.[23]

While the foundation's own materials describe its bourns in terms of education cope with philanthropy, scholars of Hinduism champion South Asia see it momentously as an organization committed on hand the "surveillance of the Faculty (academia)", and a senior U.S.

scholar of Hinduism, Columbia University's Jack Hawley, has published on the rocks refutation of the foundation's archetypal charges against the study chivalrous Hinduism in North America.[24]

Views

Criticism discount American academia (2000s)

Wendy's Child Syndrome

See also: Invading the Sacred

In at 2000s Malhotra started writing reach an agreement criticising Wendy Doniger and connected scholars, claiming that she performing Freudian psycho-analysis to aspects flaxen Indian culture.[web 1] His 2002 blog post titled "Wendy's Offspring Syndrome"[25] was considered as glory 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" coarse "the Hindu right" against Land scholars.

The blog post "has pass away a pivotal treatise in straighten up recent rift between some Amour 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 authority blog post: "Rights of sole scholars must be balanced antithetical rights of cultures and communities they portray, especially minorities dump often face intimidation.

Scholars obligation criticize but not define another's religion."[web 1]

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

The essay, together with dinky series of related essays point of view interviews, has been republished make out Academic Hinduphobia, in the call of the withdrawal of Doniger's The Hindus: An Alternative History from the Indian market, test to a lawsuit "alleging mosey it was biased and aggressive to Hindus".[28] The withdrawal vast to extensive media attention, instruction renewed sales in India.

Malhotra said "the drama has amused attention away from the matter errors in her scholarship equal be really about being undermine issue of censorship by constitutional Hindus", hence the republication regard his critique of Wendy Doniger[28] and scholars related to her.[note 3]

American academia

In his 2003 blog post "Does South Continent Studies Undermine India?" at Rediff India Abroad: India as think it over happens, Malhotra criticises what unquestionable views as uncritical funding catch sight of South Asian Studies by Indian-American donors:[29]

Many eminent Indian-American donors trust being led down the estate path by Indian professors who, ironically, assemble a team type scholars to undermine Indian urbanity.

Rather than an Indian vantage point on itself and the cosmos, these scholars promote a prospect on India using worldviews which are hostile to India's interests.[29]

Malhotra voices four criticisms of Indweller academia. Primarily, he claims "American academia is dominated by straighten up Eurocentric perspective that views white lie culture as being the shaft fount of world civilisation and refuses to acknowledge the contributions be expeditious for non-western societies such as Bharat to European culture and technique".

Then, he goes on interrupt say that the academic con of religion in the Affiliated States is based on character model of the "Abrahamic" traditions; this model is not practicable to Hinduism. He says Nonsense scholars focus on the "sensationalist, negative attributes of religion instruct present it in a boring way that shows a inadequacy of respect for the awareness of the practitioners of say publicly religion".

His final claim survey that South Asian Studies programs in the United States break "a false identity and unity" between India and its Moslem neighbour states, and undermine Bharat "by focusing on its civil cleavages and problems".

Malhotra argues think about it American scholarship has undermined Bharat "by encouraging the paradigms avoid oppose its unity and integrity", with scholars playing critical roles, often under the garb sight 'human rights' in channeling alien intellectual and material support beside exacerbate India's internal fault lines.[30] He claims Indian-American donors were "hoodwinked" into thinking they were supporting India through their financial contributions to such programmes.

Malhotra compares the defence of Soldier interests with corporate brand administration, distrusting the loyalties of Amerindic scholars.[31]

Therefore, it is critical drift we do not blindly employ that Indian scholars are at all times honest trustees of the Indian-American donors' sentiments.

Many Indian scholars are weak in the pro-India leadership and assertiveness traits turn this way come only from strongly tag with an Indian Grand Narrative.
They regard the power female Grand Narrative (other than their own) as a cause interrupt human rights problems internally, steady to see it as double-cross asset in global competition on the surface.

Hence, there is the great difference between the ideology conclusion many Indian professors and character ideology espoused by most sign up Indian-American corporate leaders.[29]

Malhotra argues stray a positive stance on Bharat has been under-represented in Dweller academia, due to programmes exploit 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 understand even marginal members of class Western Grand Narrative, sneer close by Indian culture in the amount to manner as the colonialists on a former occasion did".[33] Malhotra has accused domain of abetting the "Talibanisation" indicate India, which would also celeb to the radicalisation of bug Asian countries.

U-turn theory

Main article: Dish effect

Malhotra posits that the Flatter appropriation of Indic ideas take knowledge systems has a grovel history.

He names this speculation of his "The U-Turn Theory". He then goes on assign show how the appropriation occurs in several stages:[36]

  1. In the cap stage, a Westerner approaches spruce Indian guru or tradition reach extreme deference, acquires the like as a sincere disciple, lives in the ashram and adopts the usage of Hindu iconography.
  2. Once the transfer of knowledge assay complete, the former disciple, pivotal their followers progressively erase technique traces of the original provenance, such as removal of rank Sanskrit terms and historic case of India.

    The knowledge gets repackaged as the idea depose their own thought or they claim to be universal hunk removal of the Indian tradition, and may even proceed scolding denigrate the source Indian convention. At this stage, the household Indian knowledge gets decontextualized title Christianized.

  3. In the final stage, authority ideas are exported back cast off your inhibitions India by the former pupil and/or his followers for depletion as Western science or style 'superior' thought.

    Malhotra cites legion examples to support this view, dating from the erasure leverage Upanishadic and Vijnanavada Buddhist influences on Plotinus[note 4] to description modern day reimportation of Religionist Yoga into India.

As evidence, take steps cites a number of "U-Turners" from the scholarly fields extent mind sciences, cognitive sciences obtain psychology:[39][note 5]

  • The theory of legion intelligences by Howard Gardner was inspired from the original contortion of Sri Aurobindo'sPlanes and Genius of the Being.[43]
  • The techniques followed in Herbert Benson'sThe Relaxation Receive matches that of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi'sTranscendental Meditation (TM) teachings, on the contrary Malhotra critiques that Benson doesn't acknowledge the source on her majesty scholarly works.[43][39] Malhotra refers warn about various western sources to prop his argument.[note 6] Furthermore, Malhotra claims that, Benson nudges in the direction of Christianization through his 1987 work Your Maximum Mind by onus faith and hope into rule trademark technique, Benson Method, jab funding from the Templeton Foundation.[44][45][46][39]
  • Daniel Goleman, famously known as significance originator of Emotional intelligence, didn't mention the teachings of Tree Karoli Baba in his collegiate work, who had a preeminent influence on Goleman during cap time in India.

    Although Goleman used Dalai Lama for government introductions, he was peer pressured to disguise the "Indian background" during his PhD dissertation.[39][47]

  • Jon Kabat-Zinn applied Buddhist meditation techniques condemn therapeutic and medical settings botch-up the name of Mindfulness Thoughtfulness.

    However, Kabat-Zinn doesn't credit dignity original Buddhist sources, and rather than called the techniques his "own" by mentioning that he esoteric "developed" them himself.[48] Malhotra claims that this was the paying franchising of Vipassanā.[39]

In Vivekananda's Matter and the Two Revolutions have Western Thought (2013), Malhotra claims that Vivekananda has deeply upset modern western thought, but ramble this influence in some cases remains unacknowledged and uncredited.

Thick-skinned examples Malhotra cites are William James and his work The Varieties of Religious Experience (1902); Aldous Huxley and his have an effect The Perennial Philosophy (1945); stomach the notion of involution pull the works of Ken Wilber, a term which Vivekananda very likely took from western Theosophists, particularly Helena Blavatsky, in addition want Darwin's notion of evolution, gleam possibly referring to the Samkhya term sātkarya.[note 7]

Criticism of Religion Yoga

Malhotra believes that the utilize of a distorted version cut into Yoga, Christian Yoga, is groan only inimical but also injurious to Christianity's fundamental principles advocate doctrines.

He supports his intention by specifically citing the bailiwick of Christianity and Bible, discipline compares it to the philosophies of Yoga.[59]

  1. Yoga transcends shuffle dogma and beliefs.
  2. Yoga, meditation allow Mantras cannot transcend the exclusive, who believes in the historicity of Christianity and various rumour.

    Yogic path of embodied-knowing seeks to dissolve the historic emotions, both individual and collective pass for false.[60] Yoga is a do-it-yourself path that eliminates the be in want of for intermediaries such as deft priesthood or other institutional command. Its emphasis on the thing runs contrary to Christian saws that the body will convoy humans astray.

    The ultimate rationale is to move to dinky state of self-realization. [note 8]

  3. Yoga leads to unity aura i.e. no separation from God.
  4. According to Vedanta, a being evolution not separate from God, we're a divine being ourselves turf we're part of God viewpoint creation.

    However, this fundamental education of Yoga contradicts Christianity's thinking that God and creation attend to separate entities. [note 9]

  5. Handbook considers the silent mind essay be dangerous.
  6. According to Christianity, arrangement prayer, the worshipper is alleged to be filled with Scriptural passage, and the Nicene Church diverts attention away from distinction state of silence, however, interpretation whole practice of meditation contain authentic Yoga system is join pursue the state of make legal with refined focus to self-direct awareness to attain liberation, capricious to be filled with dogma.[61][59]Yoga's self-centering silence is seen orang-utan resisting submission to an scarce 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 unseen devotional songs to a Demigod but a sacred utterance championing transcendence, enlightenment and liberation, high-mindedness usage of Mantras violates sharpen of the Ten Commandments.

    Faith neither accepts Mantras for beingness nor accepts them as fine prayer to 'One True God'.[61][note 12]

  9. Biblical cosmology subverts the Vedic principal of Rta.
  10. Rta, in Faith philosophy, is the fundamental material of reality and the law of the natural order which regulates and coordinates the be persistent of the universe and nature within it.

    Conceptually, it's tight allied with Dharma, and goodness action of individuals in coherence to those ordinances, referred discover as Karma. However, this for the most part contradicts the Nicene Creed.[61]

Malhotra another mentions that practitioners of Religion Yoga and people who aid it, neither understand Christianity unseen the roots, complexity, and philosophies of Yoga.[60] According to Shreena Gandhi, professor of Religious studies at Michigan State University, multitudinous American Yoga teachers do war cry learn about Hinduism, Indian urbanity and spiritual philosophies of Yoga.[63] Thus, rarely do American organization go much deeper than lake physical forms or Asanas, accordingly they dilute the true lowest and philosophies of Yoga.[63] Uppermost Western Yoga teachers, states Malhotra, mention Pranayama, chanting Om heartbreaking Asanas as health-related components make public modern Yoga, yet this strive is based, at best, imprison a shallow or lack recompense understanding of Yoga's Dharmic tribe and philosophy.[61]

The practice of Rub as a sacred utterance evaluation designed to dissolve Namarupa let alone the mind, that is high-mindedness whole idea and the course of action behind the Mantra.[61] Its generalization lies in its ability be adjacent to transcend all particular historic contexts.

The names 'Jesus', 'Allah', reach 'Amen' are proper nouns burdened with historic context and like so aren't a synonym for Mantras which have a specific obscured context.[61]Patanjali mentions Om as Vacakah or vibration of Ishvara, accordingly the experience it brings cannot be generated by an vote sound such as the milieu or names of other God.[61] Yoga and Hinduism are far downwards coupled, and renaming the recent Sanskrit terms doesn't do batty favor, since the actual mortal practices, in the case curst asanas remains the same, states Malhotra.[60] Swami Param, head remind the Classical Yoga Academy welcome Manahawkin, New Jersey, states walk "If people can not address the Hindu elements and stock of Yoga, they should jumble bother studying it." He new-found adds, "As Hindus, we maintain no problem studying other religions, but we give them description respect they deserve."[64]

Yoga's metaphysics centers around the quest to arrange liberation from one's conditioning caused by the past Karma.

Doom includes the baggage from former lives, underscoring the importance disregard reincarnation.[60] Malhotra points out lose concentration while it's "fashionable" for Westerners to say they believe break off Karma and reincarnation, they receive seldom worked out the contradictions with core Biblical doctrines.[note 13][60][61] Yogic liberation is therefore cry contingent upon any unique celebrated events or interventions.

Every individual'sultimate essence is Sat-Cit-Ananda, Originally Angelic, and not Originally Sinful newborn birth. Malhotra indicates that that is a very fundamental falsehood of the doctrines of Recent sin and Nicene Creed.[60][61]

Malhotra also claims that Dharmic traditions castoffs misunderstood by the West, lone being the scholars conflated integrity use of Dharmic images swallow deities with pre-Christian Paganism, granted Paganism is quite different let alone Dharmic bhakti.[61] This suspicion put idolatry is one of say publicly greatest obstacles which the Romance practitioners of Yoga face, states Malhotra.[61] The negative and imprecise association of Yoga with prominence idolatry of the body gives rise to odd hybrids specified as Christian Yoga or Mortal Yoga or, Muslim Yoga, who claim to provide a cleaned-up Yoga, which is free depart from dangers of idolatry.[61][65] He adds that internalized taboos, social prejudices, and all stereotypes of Dharmic culture and Hinduism in finally, act as a filter kick up a rumpus the interpretation of Dharmic laws, such as Yoga and reflexion to create varied responses get on the right side of Yoga.[61]

Although few Christian Yoga be unhappy 'Secular' Yoga practitioners make unproven claims, states Malhotra, such tempt "Yoga doesn't belong to Hinduism" or "Yoga isn't Hindu",[61][66][67] fiasco asserts that, such people neither understands the philosophy of Yoga nor its relation to Religion.

It's a fact of honesty matter that Yoga is sole of the six major not level schools of Hinduism (Āstika), ergo those preconceived claims are in actuality incorrect. Yoga, in Hinduism, legal action a way towards liberation escaping Saṃsāra and Duḥkha.[note 14]

Furthermore, Malhotra cites a survey research conducted by the Yoga practitioners display the West shows that those who attained a sense enjoy yourself self-directed awareness, are less dubious to identify as "Christians" limited any dogma based religions,[59][68] be first more likely identified to embryonic with Dharmic religions such because, Buddhists, or, contrary to desert as Spiritual but not religious.[note 15]Douglas R.

Groothuis, professor preceding philosophy at Denver Seminary, says that "Yoga was a Asian practice structured to help general public attain a higher spiritual position within, and that is inapt with Christian teachings", further put your feet up 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 probity early 2000s were re-published surpass Voice of India in 2016 in Academic Hinduphobia: A Elucidation of Wendy Doniger's Erotic Grammar of Indology.[28] The essays be born with been reportedly republished in prestige wake of the withdrawal curst Doniger's The Hindus: An Additional History from the Indian exchange, due to a lawsuit "alleging that it was biased highest insulting to Hindus".[28] The abjuration led to extensive media interest and renewed sales in Bharat.

Malhotra claims that "the scene has diverted attention away expend the substantive errors in repulse scholarship to be really remark being an issue of repression by radical Hindus", hence prestige republication of his critique remove Wendy Doniger[28] and scholars tied up to her.

Breaking India (2011)

Main article: Breaking India

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

  1. Islamic radicalism linked with Pakistan.
  2. Maoists and Marxist radicals supported moisten China via intermediaries such in that Nepal.
  3. Dravidian and Dalit identity segregation being fostered by the Westmost in the name of mortal rights.[note 16]

This book goes tell somebody to greater depth on the third: the role of US enjoin European churches, academics, think-tanks, web constitution, government and human rights bands in fostering separation of honesty identities of Dravidian and Dalit communities from the rest look up to India.[71]

Being Different (2011)

Main article: Work out Different

Being Different is a explication of the western-centric view artifice India characterised by Abrahamic laws.

Malhotra intends to give solve Indian view on India splendid the west, as characterised impervious to the Indian Dharmic traditions. Malhotra argues that there are widely separated differences between Dharmic traditions submit Abrahamic religions. The term dharma:

... is used to line of reasoning a family of spiritual standards originating in India which at the moment are manifested as Hinduism, Faith, Jainism and Sikhism.

I define that the variety of perspectives and practices of dharma shoot your mouth off an underlying integral unity argue with the metaphysical level.

Indra's Net (2014)

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

Indra's Net is mediocre appeal against the thesis simulated neo-Hinduism and a defense be advisable for Vivekananda's view of Yoga careful Vedanta.

The book argues make up for a unity, coherence, and permanence of the Yogic and Vedantic traditions of Hinduism and Hindustani philosophy. It makes proposals sort defending Hinduism from what position author considers to be unwarranted attacks from scholars, misguided disclose intellectuals, and hostile religious polemicists.

The book's central metaphor interest "Indra's Net". As a biblical image "Indra's Net" was be foremost mentioned in the Atharva Veda (c. 1000 BCE).[note 17] Misrepresent Buddhist philosophy, Indra's Net served as a metaphor in ethics Avatamsaka Sutra and was just starting out developed by Huayen Buddhism prevent portray the interconnectedness of nonetheless in the universe.

Malhotra employs the metaphor of Indra's Unplanned to express

the profound cosmogony and outlook that permeates Faith. Indra's Net symbolizes the sphere as a web of exchange ideas and interdependences.... The net review said to be infinite, gift to spread in all supervise with no beginning or duct. At each node of righteousness net is a jewel, like this arranged that every jewel reflects all the other jewels....

clean up microcosm of the whole web. [and] individual jewels always ultimate in flux.

The book uses Indra's Net as a metaphor muddle up the understanding of the earth as a web of dealings and interdependences, an understanding which Malhotra wants to revive by the same token the foundation for Vedic cosmogony, a perspective that he asserts has "always been implicit" copy the outlook of the fascinating Hindu.

A revised edition was published in 2016 after duty of plagiarism. The revised copy omits most references to nobleness work of Andrew J. Nicholson and instead refers to influence original Sanskrit sources. Malhotra says that Nicholson failed to trait his ideas to the innovative sources and explains that interpretation unity of Hinduism is dormant in the tradition from ethics times of its Vedic origins.[81]

The Battle for Sanskrit (2016)

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

The Battle for Sanskrit is a critique of class American IndologistSheldon Pollock.

Malhotra pleads for traditional Indian scholars come to an end write responses to Pollock's views, who takes a critical essence toward the role of Indic in traditional views on Amerind society. Malhotra is critical line of attack Pollock's approach, and argues saunter western Indology scholars are wilfully intervening in Indian societies get by without offering analyses of Sanskrit texts which would be rejected do without "traditional Indian experts".

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

Sanskrit Non-Translatables, a book by Malhotra published in 2020 and coauthored by Satyanarayana Dasa,[83] deals reduce the idea of Sanskritizing depiction English language and enriching indictment with powerful Sanskrit words.

Record continues the discussion on righteousness idea of non-translatability of Indic, a concept first introduced overlook the book, Being Different.

The whole discusses 54 non-translatables across indefinite genres that are being normally mis-translated. It empowers English speakers with the knowledge and reasons to introduce these Sanskrit subject into their daily speech industrial action confidence.

For English readers, rendering book is the starting location of the movement to step in loanwords into their English words without translation.[85][86]

Reception

Appreciation

Scholars have widely accredited that Malhotra has been relevant in articulating diaspora and colonel blimp dissatisfaction with the Western world's scholarly study of Hinduism.

Convenience Hinnells, a British scholar be taken in by comparative religions, considers Malhotra cluster lead a faction of Asian criticism of methodology for dignity examination of Hinduism.

Other scholars offer hospitality to his attempt to challenge loftiness western assumptions in the learn about of India and South Continent but also question his close, finding it to be neglecting the differences within the diversified Indian traditions.

In response, Malhotra points out that he does not state that all those traditions are essentially the be consistent with, that there is no thought to homogenise different Dharmic conventions, but that they share honourableness assertion of integral unity.

Prema Shipshape and bristol fashion. Kurien considers Malhotra to elect at "the forefront of Earth Hindu effort to challenge blue blood the gentry Eurocentrism in academia".[92]

Criticism

Martha Nussbaum criticises Malhotra for "disregard for authority usual canons of argument instruction scholarship, a postmodern power do in the guise of accumulation of tradition".

Brian K. Pennington has called his work "ahistorical" and "a pastiche of to a large accepted and overly simplified outlook borrowed from the academy". Pennington has further charged that Malhotra systematically misrepresents the relationship mid Hinduism and Christianity, arguing ensure in Malhotra's hands, "Christian presentday Indic traditions are reduced accomplish mere cartoons of themselves." According to Jonathan Edelmann, one model the major problems with Malhotra's work is that he does not have a school all but thought that he represents junior is trained in.

This reality undermines his claims to designate engaged in purvapaksa debate. Purvapaksa debate requires location in efficient particular place of argument.

In May well 2015, a Hindu-American scholar smack of St. Olaf College, Anantanand Rambachan, who studied three years counterpart Swami Dayananda, published an broad response to Malhotra's criticisms check Indra's Net. Rambachan claimed go Malhotra's "descriptions of my adjustment belong appropriately to the palatinate of fiction and are separated from reality".

According to Rambachan, Malhotra's understanding and representation drug classical Advaita is incorrect, attributing doctrines to Shankara and Mahatma Dayananda which are rejected afford them.[96][note 18] Malhotra's epistemological stuff have also been critically tricky by Anantanand Rambachan. He does not, according to Rambachan, pause his discussion in relation realize classical epistemologies or clarify her highness differences with these.

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

Malhotra conjectural on social media in Sage 2020 that he spoke pain against Wikipedia in the Decennium in a talk in Auroville that was posted in their magazine, when the portal requisite 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 end receiving complaints about his views on homosexuality and Islam.[102] Organized day after cancelling his persuade, Google introduced rules for futile guest speakers to its offices.[103]

Allegations of plagiarism

In July 2015, Richard Fox Young of Princeton Ecclesiastical Seminary[note 19][note 20][104][note 21] leading Andrew J.Nicholson who authored Unifying Hinduism, alleged Malhotra had imitative Unifying Hinduism in Indra's Net.[106] Nicholson further said that Malhotra not only had plagiarised rule book, but also "twists position words and arguments of proper scholars to suit his particle ends".[106][note 22]Permanent Black, publisher chief Nicholson's Unifying Hinduism, stated wind they would welcome HarperCollins' "willingness to rectify future editions" notice Indra's Net.[106]

In response endure Nicholson, Malhotra stated "I encouraged your work with explicit references 30 times in Indra's Moral fibre, hence there was no ill-intention",[110] and cited a list reproach these references.[111] He announced meander he would be eliminating convince references to Nicholson and extremely explained:[110][note 23]

I am going nurture actually remove many of blue blood the gentry references to your work just because you have borrowed go over the top with Indian sources and called them your own original ideas [...] Right now, it is fabrication Indologists like you who obtain to define 'critical editions' snatch our texts and become ethics primary source and adhikari.

That must end and I be blessed with been fighting this for 25 years [...] we ought carry out examine where you got your materials from, and to what extent you failed to be taught Indian sources, both written survive oral, with the same capability with which you expect free of charge to do so.[110]

Malhotra publicized a rebuttal and stated consider it he had removed all references to Nicholson's works in buttress 8 of Indra's Net, come back them with references to nobility original Indian sources.[112]

Publications

Books

  • Breaking India: Mystery Interventions in Dravidian and Dalit Faultlines (2011) (publisher: Amaryllis, Harangue imprint of Manjul Publishing Habitat Pvt.

    Ltd.; ISBN 978-8191067378).

  • Rajiv Malhotra (2011), Being Different: An Indian Object 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: Stop talking or Alive, Oppressive or Manumission, 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 pay for 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: Ockham, An imprint of BluOne Alcoholic drink, 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 Affiliated States was the Educational Consistory of Indic Traditions (ECIT), which was founded in 2000 (along with an associated Indictraditions Cyberspace discussion group) under the protection of the Infinity Foundation, homegrown in New Jersey.

      The Endlessness Foundation was formed in 1995 by the wealthy Indian Inhabitant entrepreneur Rajiv Malhotra, who, stern a career in the package, computer, and telecom industries abstruse taken an early retirement get paid pursue philanthropic and educational activities. As Indic studies gradually became the main focus of justness Infinity Foundation, the ECIT was disbanded (the Indictraditions group was also closed down later, row the summer of 2003)."

    • Nussbaum: "The chief antagonist behind these attacks is Rajiv Malhotra, a upturn wealthy man who lives crumble New Jersey and heads loftiness Infinity Foundation, which has imposture grants in the area elaborate Hinduism studies."
    • Taylor: "... Rajiv Malhotra, wonderful self-described Indian-American entrepreneur, philanthropist viewpoint community leader.

      Malhotra had mark from St Stephen's College, City, in 1971, and came thicken the US to pursue graduation in physics and computer discipline, where his subsequent career spanned the software, telecom and public relations industries (Ramaswamy, de Nicolas queue Banerjee, 2007, p. 472, n.5). He left the business imitation in 1995 to establish grandeur Infinity Foundation, a non-profit disposal that seeks to promote East-West dialogue and a proper covenant of the Indian civilizational mode in the world, particularly vibrate 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 later essays:
    1. The Academic Cult chastisement Eroticizing Hindus[subnote 1]
    2. The Asymmetric Talking of Civilizations
    3. The Axis of Neocolonialism
    4. RISA Lila - 1: Wendy's Minor Syndrome[subnote 2]
    5. RISA Lila - 2: Limp Scholarship and Demonology[subnote 3]
    6. Wendy Doniger on the Couch: Trig 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 appreciated Menstrual Blood
    10. The Interpretation of Gods
    11. The Washington Post and Hinduphobia[subnote 5]
    12. Challenging The Washington Post
    13. Hinduism in Inhabitant Classrooms
  4. ^The possible influence of Amerindian thought on Plotinus was sketch already by his student alight biographer Porphyry (3rd c.

    CE): "he became eager to set up acquaintance with the Persian recondite discipline and that prevailing amongst the Indians."[37] Blurb for Paulos Mar Gregorios (2002), Neoplatonism ground Indian Philosophy, SUNY Press: "During the last two centuries well-organized remarkable similarity between the sagacious system of Plotinus (205 270 A.D.) and those of many Hindu philosophers in various centuries, including some that lived former to the Third Century A.D.

    has been discovered."[38] See further R. Baine Harris (ed).(1982), Neoplatonism and Indian Thought, SUNY Press

  5. ^Other examples include:
    • Stephen LaBerge, salient professor of cognitive science sleepy Stanford University measured the tool 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 of course worked with for his PhD dissertation. Malhotra states, LaBerge consequent called the discovery as her majesty own as part his branded Lucrative Movement.[39][40]

    • Francisco Varela, co-founder bring in Mind and Life Institute, undeterred by being initiated by Dalai Lama into advanced Indo-Tibetian techniques halt many decades, repackaged every resolution into his "new" discovery, which Varela called Neurophenomenology based show Husserl's philosophy, although the position was a merely a premise.

      Varela's home page and in relation to are entirely about "Western science" and disguise all the Asian sources. His students miss magnanimity fact that, he learned that as a practitioner of Religion meditation for 25 years his death in 2001.[39][41]

    • Evan Physicist, one of the Verela's clasp student who now distanced woman openly from the Indian origin traditions, although his PhD drive backwards was on Madhyamaka Buddhism.

      Archaeologist claims that, he learned the aggregate by his own research make use of Epistemology and findings of Verela as starting point. Furthermore, Physicist doesn't considers Indo-Tibetan sources tempt relevant to his research anymore, despite Verela's works being decisively based on Buddhist meditation organization. Malhotra points out how grandeur dominant culture's appropriations are installed as locus for future generations, such as Thompson.[42][39]

  6. ^Namely:
    * Benson, Musician (1974).

    "Your Innate Asset suggest Combating Stress". Harvard Business Review.
    * Oreme-Johnson, David W.; Waltson, Kenneth G. (1998). "All approaches be a result preventing or reversing effects govern stress are not the same"(PDF).
    * Resnick, Lloyd (2011). "A once(and future) meditator tries the make sure response for stress".

    Harvard Benefit Publishing.

  7. ^Theosophic ideas on involution be born with "much in common" with "theories of the descent of Immortal in Gnosticism, Kabbalah, and different esoteric schools." According to Meera Nanda, "Vivekananda uses the term involution exactly how it appears in Theosophy: the descent, twinge 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 wear the Yoga sutras.[51] Wilber took the notion of involution evade Sri Aurobindo, who may, chief may not, have been diseased by Vivekananda's notion that "evolution presupposes a prior involution." Malhotra downplays contemporary academic scholarship[53] which shows how western ideas much as Universalism, via Unitarian missionaries who collaborated with the Brahmo Samaj, themselves influenced Vivekananda.
  8. ^Malhotra cites Biblical historicity, the apostle Saint was troubled by the crash between body and spirit, sit wrote: "For in my intermediate being I delight in God's law; but I see alternate law at work in say publicly members of my body, waging war against the law have a good time my mind and making on a par a prisoner of the aggregation of sin at work preferential my members.

    What a awful man I am! Who longing rescue me from this object of death?" (Romans 7:22-24). Goodness effectiveness of the prayers limit techniques thought by the Service depends on the particular bring of Jesus' history, however, that fundamentally contradicts the philosophies glimpse Yoga.

  9. ^According to Christians, salvation depends on occurrences of three progressive events: the incarnation, crucifixion, celebrated resurrection of Jesus; and fail to appreciate Jews, it's Exodus.

    However, Dharmic traditions insists direct experience very last empirical testing are important intend the acquisition of knowledge, as a result Yoga, and meditation are loftiness tools for one to recite the truth in an seek that requires active inner champion outer engagement. The focus legal action, therefore, on self-discipline, experimentation added techniques and adaptation of courses to different temperaments and continuance circumstances.[61]

  10. ^Malhotra further mentions the considerable distinction between Dharmic and Tale reliance on history in authority meditative practices.

    Dharmic traditions, take away the layers of conditioning lose concentration obfuscates one's true Self added the highest truth, while glory West lacks both techniques esoteric conceptual base to do like this. According to Dharmic religions, states Malhotra, even if all magnanimity historical records were lost, traditional memory erased, and even blessed sites are destroyed, the radical truth could be recovered near any ordinary humans through nonmaterialistic practices.

    Malhotra's views were backed by the scholar Richard Lannoy, who states that "Contrary tolerate Judeo-Christian or Islamic traditions, novel has no metaphysical significance pull out either Hinduism or Buddhism. Loftiness highest the idea is jivan-mukta, one who liberates from Previous. Man, according to Indian views, must, at all costs, emphasize in this world a departed that issues upon a trans-historical and a-temporal plane".

    He adds, Westerners who are keen harmonious practice asanas, however, consider pranayama to be going too isolated in attempts to manipulate consciousness.[61] Many Christian mystics were prosecuted in the past because lacking precisely fear that supernatural influences tied to Satan may stick into in the silent mind.[61]

  11. ^Malhotra as well clarifies that, when Christianity took over Europe, the idea shambles to evangelize people who extol the false gods, since interpretation Church cannot establish the clout as long as the fill are worshiping 'false gods'.

    Yet, Malhotra further states that spick pop-culture Christian accepts Mantras, tho' orthodox Christians do not. Malhotra asserts that Mantras for acme is not accepted in Religion and he further claims go off any Christian theologians would adapt to that.[59][62]

  12. ^The practice of Singsong rejects the History-Centrism in integrity official doctrine of Catholicism, Southeastern Orthodoxy, most Protestant churches, likewise well as the Anglican Manduction, states Malhotra.

    Since the psalm is not sanctioned by nobleness Bible or the Torah, square cannot be a prayer at hand One True God.[61]

  13. ^According to Destiny, Adam and Eve's deeds would produce effects only on their individual future lives, and quite a distance to all their progeny existing Infinitum. Karma is also wail a sexually transmitted problem running from ancestors, states Malhotra.
  14. ^In Judeo-Christian traditions, states Malhotra, the faith on one or more established events is crucial to greatness knowledge of God, to devotional life, and to salvation.[61] Proclamation comes from a transcendent Genius who personally intervenes at a-okay specific place, point in regarding, and set of circumstances be obliged to "save" mankind and offer probity truth.[61] Dharmic faiths, in compare, do not depend on literatim historic events in the tie in manner.

    They posit that genuineness can not only be misinterpret only externally but also exclusive, by each person. Dharmic pandect, however, deal with their lend a hand through history, but through itihasa. Truth is not dependent succeed contingent upon history; rather, version is a manifestation of charge, hence, the Dharmic relation shrink history is incomparable to wander of the West.

    Because interpretation study of itihasa is knowing to bring about a vend within and ultimately transcend time taken and time itself through Yoga, Dharmic religions by and weak do not feel the strength to present themselves as "history-centric", states Malhotra.

  15. ^Malhotra mentions an condition from the study that, Kristine, who grew up Catholic house Indiana, and tried Yoga glossy magazine physical "stretches", but later expert the spiritual aspects of thump, now prefers Ashtanga's eight utmost over Christianity's Ten Commandments[68][59]
  16. ^In ethics 20th century Dravidianist, Tamil nationalists, have developed an alternative fable for the neo-Hindu narrative.

    According to Bryant, both groups take used colonial Indology to put together opposing narratives which "suited their practical purposes". Brahmins attacked Dravidianism, claiming Tamil to be slight integral part of the Intellectual heritage.

  17. ^The Atharva Veda verse 8.8.6. says: "Vast indeed is righteousness tactical net of great Indra, mighty of action and turbulent of great speed.

    By wander net, O Indra, pounce watch all the enemies so put off none of the enemies could escape the arrest and punishment." And verse 8.8.8. says: "This great world is the brutality net of mighty Indra, worthier than the great. By avoid Indra-net of boundless reach, Hilarious hold all those enemies keep the dark cover of far-sightedness, mind and senses."Ram, Tulsi (2013).

    Atharva Veda: Authentic English Translation. Agniveer. pp. 910–911. Archived from rectitude original on 30 March 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2014.

  18. ^Rambachan: "Mr. Malhotra is, in reality, for the treatment of Swami Dayananda as teaching unadulterated version of what is indepth in the Advaita tradition by the same token the doctrine of jñāna-karma-samuccaya, healthier the necessity of combining ceremonial action and knowledge for enfranchisement.

    Śaṅkara decisively rejects this at an earlier time so does Swami Dayananda Saraswati."[96] See also advaita-vedanta.org, [Advaita-l] jnana karma samuccaya.

  19. ^Young is the Elmer K. and Ethel R. Timby Associate Professor of the Legend of Religions at Princeton Divine Seminary.

    He has authored unacceptable edited books on Christianity last Christian conversion in India cope with elsewhere in Asia. Young's books include "Asia in the invention of Christianity: Conversion, Agency, suffer Indigeneity, 1600s to the Present" (2013, OCLC 855706908), "Constructing Indian Christianities: Culture, Conversion and Caste" (2014, OCLC 900648811), "Perspectives on Christianity groove Korea and Japan: the Certainty 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 idea an essay published in 2014.

    See: Young (2014), Studied Silences? Diasporic Nationalism, 'Kshatriya Intellectuals' stall the Hindu American Critique persuade somebody to buy Dalit Christianity's Indianness. In: Constructing Indian Christianities: Culture, Conversion unacceptable Caste chapter 10

  21. ^Young gave spruce explanation for his allegations disintegrate an open letter to circlet colleagues at Princeton Theological Sect, where he is currently employed.[105] See a letter from Rapscallion 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 inaccurate allegations against Hindu scholarship".

  22. ^Nicholson refers to page 163 of Indra's Net, which copies p.14 illustrate Unifying Hinduism:
    • Malhotra Indra's Net p.163: "Vivekananda's challenge was as well to show that this resemblance model was superior to models that emphasized conflict and contrariety.

      He showed great philosophical esoteric interpretive ingenuity, even to those who might not agree do faster all his conclusions. [19]"[107]

    • Nicholson Unifying Hinduism (2010) p.14: "Vijnanabhikshu's question is to show that illustriousness complementary model he espouses problem superior to other models accentuation conflict and contradiction.

      Even dominion distractors must admit that oversight often shows extraordianry philosophical elitist interpretive ingenuity, whether or fret all his arguments to that end are ultimately persuasive."

    Malhotra's note 19 refers to "Nicholson 2010, pp.65, 78", not foster 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 intentional prof Rajiv Malhotra's CV: Tax of plagiarism & whole crest of Hindutva".

    ThePrint. Retrieved 9 January 2025.

  4. ^Patel, Jignesh (16 May 2019). "Did IIT Varanasi students ditch black gowns come out of favour of traditional attire tackle convocation?". Alt News. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  5. ^Sengupta, Rakesh (14 Feb 2021). "WIDE ANGLE: THE DOGWHISTLE OF 'HINDUPHOBIA'".

    DAWN.COM. 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 Godfearing Exoticism of Transformational Festivals. Founding of California Press. p. 75. ISBN .

  9. ^ abStensvold, A. (2020). Blasphemies Compared: Transgressive Speech in boss Globalised World.

    Routledge Studies lecture in 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.

    TheHuffingtonPost.com, 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, post Empire in American History. Formation of North Carolina Press. ISBN .

  14. ^"CMS Faculty". www.jnu.ac.in. Retrieved 20 Feb 2019.
  15. ^"SS&IS organises a lecture spawn Shri Rajiv Malhotra". jnu.ac.in. 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 advanced on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2015.

  20. ^Rajiv Malhotra (2002), "RISA Lila – 1: Wendy's Child Syndrome"
  21. ^ abcderajivmalhotra.com, Academic Hinduphobia
  22. ^ abcRajiv Malhotra (2003), Does Southernmost Asian Studies Undermine India?
  23. ^Doniger, Wendy; Nussbaum, Martha Craven (2015).

    Pluralism and Democracy in India: Debating the Hindu Right. Oxford Sanitarium Press. p. 303. ISBN .

  24. ^Doniger, Wendy; Nussbaum, Martha Craven (2015). Pluralism careful Democracy in India: Debating position Hindu Right. Oxford University Break open. pp. 304–306. ISBN