Reviews of Lies, Lies and More Lies

Seth J Frantzman (Amazon top 100 reviewer calls Lies,Lies and More Lies (Avaliable on Amazon.com ) Brilliant. He concludes : In the final analysis this book, which is a collection of discussions of various issues affecting modern India, is one of the most important books on the subject today and far surpasses most of the other books that examine the post-Independence period of Indian history.
Below is the full review.
This brilliant and irrefutable text conjures up not only the grandeur of what was Hindu India but also takes aim at the machinations of post-independence Indian politicians. He points out the attempt to make the colonization of India by Islam into a 'Golden period' and also notes the very dissimilar reactions to the massacre of Hindus in Gujarat and the massacre of Muslims. Most importantly he assembles a great amount of quotes from noted historians such as John Keay to show that the ideas of Hindutva are not mere conjecture. Important asides relate to V.S Naipaul's view of India and show that attempts to compare the BJP to the Nazis are without merit, that the actions are of the Nazis are better mirrored in those who hate the BJP.

The author examines in detail the question of Hindu Temple destruction at the ahnds of the Muslim colonizers of India and refutes those academics such as Richard Eaton who have whitewashed this destruction or tried to justify it. Subsequent sections examine Kashmir, the boundary dispute and the ethnic-cleansing of Hindus from Kashmir.

Most importantly this book takes aim at the lies disseminated by India's secular intellectual class. Whether it is supporting terrorism, re-writing Indian history, blaming the Indian government for terrorist acts, or simply making up fake atrocities to blame on 'Hindu nationalism' the academics and intellectuals in India have played the most nefarious role in the country's affairs. An expert understanding of the press and frequent quotes illustrate the depth of the misinformation campaign directed against Hindutva and also the depth of self-deception that the press and others will go to in order to justify terrorism and ethnic-cleansing in India. The author reminds us that "Compared to the pessimism that pervades the writings of Indian
authors, Western writers tend to be more fair and balanced about
India." He adds important rejoinders such as "Conversion represents a
retreat in the course of man's spiritual progress." In the final analysis this book, which is a collection of discussions of various issues affecting modern India, is one of the most important books on the subject today and far surpasses most of the other books that examine the post-Independence period of Indian history.

Lies,Lies and More Lies. The campaign to defame Hindu Nationalism

Title: Lies, Lies and More Lies

ISBN: 978-0-595-43549-4

ISBN (10): 0595435491

LCCN: 2007904121

Publisher: iUniverse (1-800-288-4677)

Publication date: June 26, 2007.

Author: Vivek

The last decade has seen the publication of a plethora of books like Christophe Jaffrelot’s, The Hindu Nationalist Movement in India, Thomas Hansen’s The Saffron Wave and more recently Martha Nussbaum’s The Clash Within that have been highly critical of the Hindu Nationalist Movement in India. This genre of books has been a one-sided, prejudged narration that has failed look at the movement from the Hindu perspective or even accord Hindu Nationalism a fair and scholarly treatment. At times these books have highlighted dubious incidents to put forth their point of view or held up radical fringe elements as representative of Hindu Nationalism. Lies, Lies and More Lies presents the other side of the story in a balanced manner with tangible proof backed by sound references that puts to paid many of the false innuendoes against Hindu Nationalism that have been bandied around for years; in fact it is inadvertently a point by point counter to many charges found in Nussbaum’s The Clash Within.

Over a span of 22 readable, concise chapters divided into three sections (Genesis, Kashmir and Contemporary India) and spread out over 163 pages with detailed references (at the end of the book), Lies, Lies and More Lies makes a convincing argument in favor of Hindu Nationalism, characterizes the true nature of the movement and debunks the charge that it is a hate rant or a negative ideology. According to the author: It (Hindu Nationalism) is the agonizing cry for justice and dignity of a people long suppressed and tortured; a cry that embodies the agony of the past and a new-found confidence of the present which together hopes to ensure a secure future.

The Genesis section contains an introduction that succinctly traces the origin of Hindutva: not a long winded treatise but a logical explanation put in plain words. For example, the author’s definition of Hindutva is simple: a feeling ‘which seeks dignity and justice through civilized assertiveness”. Other chapters include a critique of Naipaul’s idea of the Hindu land as a “Wounded Civilisation”, the concept of India as a nation and a review of the theories of temple destruction that occurred during the Muslim invasion. Extremely revealing is the chapter on the changing demography of South Asia: with statistics and impressive graphs this chapter spells out the dire strait of the Hindu community in Pakistan and Bangladesh and projects the changing demography of India in an all telling graph. The author makes a chilling prediction: I predict that (unless there are drastic changes) the present democratic secular republic of India in its present format has a maximum lifespan of another 50 to 100 years. The boundaries of India will shrink further with the appearance of a greater Bangladesh in the east and the secession of Kashmir in the north.

While Pakistan and Bangladesh represent the consequences of an age gone by, Kashmir is a standing preview of the events to follow in the remaining rump of the Indian sub-continent. Titled Kashmir, this section has 4 well written chapters focusing predominantly on the plight of the Kashmiri Pandits. There is an interesting article on how the CM of J&K is chosen: tongue in cheek, the title of one chapter asks: A Hindu CM for J&K: Any takers and goes on to show how the dice is loaded against the Hindu.

The last section, Contemporary India addresses the Godhra issue, the state of temples in secular India, discourses on the lack of intellectual leadership in the country and finally proposes ‘three new pillars’ of a New Secularism: Religious Détente, Demographic Status Quo and Equality.

The author ends with a note of caution: Without proper guidance, there is a real danger of Hindutva degenerating into a rampage of revenge. Hindutva is not to be equated with communal riots that kill innocent humans. Hindutva cannot be an ideology that relegates another individual to second-class status. It should be a force that makes all Indians conform to the pluralistic, secular tradition of our land that respects one and all.

In other words, Hindutva should always evoke the image of Sri Ram: strong and powerful, yet humane and compassionate.

This is a “must read” for all Indians and non-Indians as well especially (businessman, academics and others alike) who wish to understand the Hindu/Indian psyche better.

Links

http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?&isbn=0-595-43549-1

http://www.amazon.com/Lies-More-Campaign-Defame-Nationalism/dp/0595435491/

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780595435494&itm=4

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