Many Threads of Hinduism: Selected Essays

by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyaya is well-known as the creator of India's national song, 'Bande Mataram', and as a novelist who pioneered the art form in India with acclaimed classics like Ananda Math, Bishabrikha and Devi Chaudhurani. As critics have recognized, few writers in world literature have been so accomplished in both philosophy and art. So extensive was his output on religion and Hinduism, and so erudite his articulation, that Aurobindo Ghosh called him a rishi, while Nirad C. Chaudhuri believed that Bankim had 'one of the greatest Hindu minds, perhaps equalled in the past - whole of the Hindu past - only by the great Samkara'.

Many Threads of Hinduism brings together some of Bankim's important writings on religion, Hinduism in particular, and includes his thoughts on the Vedas, nationalism, the origins of religion, the conflict between one god and many gods, and the need for mass education. There are also pieces comparing the Brahmins of yore to India's colonial masters at the time, the British, and excerpts from his translation of and commentary on the Bhagavadgita, which remained incomplete when he died.

Beautifully translated by Alo Shome, this is an introduction to a different facet of a celebrated novelist and an important addition to the corpus of books on religion.

Genres: Philosophy, India

232 pages, Paperback

Published March 22, 2016

About the author

Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay (Bengali: বঙ্কিম চন্দ্র চট্টোপাধ্যায়) ('Chattopadhyay' in the original Bengali; 'Chatterjee' as spelt by the British) was a Bengali poet, novelist, essayist and journalist, most famous as the author of Vande Mataram or Bande Mataram, that inspired the freedom fighters of India, and was later declared the National Song of India.

Complete works of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay (বঙ্কিম রচনাবলী) is now available in this third party website (in Bengali):
https://bankim-rachanabali.nltr.org/

Chatterjee is considered as a key figure in literary renaissance of Bengal as well as India. Some of his writings, including novels, essays and commentaries, were a breakaway from traditional verse-oriented Indian writings, and provided an inspiration for authors across India.

Reviews

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting read. I would say this is an introduction to Hinduism, and explains the role it has had in shaping India as a country.

[Shobana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another wonderful read from BCC and excellent translation by Alo Shome.

[T Vignesh Nayak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reinterpretation of history by Bankim Chandra

Bankim Chandra tries to reinterpret veda, hindu gods, Bhagavad-Gita, and try to relate withpresent situation in Bengal. Last part of the book even discuss effects of nationalism, mass education etc. Many of his ideas may be outdated ( author urges readers to think) but it is still important to read and see the effect of his thinking on indian intellectuals. He was constantly trying to reform Hinduism so that it can give a stong answer to British colonialism, the same thing can be can be see throughout the book.

[nishtha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5; im a hindu, more devoted than others my age, and i was quite intrigued by this book. it was more educational than i thought it would be and an easy read for those interested in the subject. however, i didn’t like a lot of the religious division created by bankim- but i cant really be too angry about that in a text written centuries ago.