Book Description
A groundbreaking interdisciplinary study of how religious identity and nationalism intersect in modern India. Peter van der Veer explores the historical and ritual foundations of Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh nationalism, focusing on events like the Ayodhya dispute and the Cow Protection Movement. Drawing from anthropology, history, and literary theory, he reveals how religious practices and symbols have been mobilized for political power in both colonial and postcolonial contexts.