Why I Am a Hindu

Tharoor, an Indian writer and member of parliament in the Indian National Congress, embraces his dual role to offer a personal account of his relationship to Hinduism and a trenchant critique of recent Hindu nationalism. The first part of the book is an explication of Hindu theology and the author’s reasons for faith; the second part offers a history and criticism of 20th-century Hindu nationalism. The personal testimony shared in the first half is engrossing as Tharoor nimbly pulls together an overview of key Hindu texts, emphasizing that their heterogeneity is a strength and providing a long bibliography for further reading. His expressions of devotion are also refreshingly genuine, and accessible even to a reader with little knowledge of Hinduism. The second half, however, is less likely to appeal to an audience outside India; while its criticisms are sound, the level of detail makes it tedious reading for readers with no or little interest in Indian politics. With meticulous explanations of his positions in support of pluralism and against “Hindutva” (politicized Hinduism), the tone reads like the campaigning of an opposition politician—which, in fact, Tharoor is. Although general readers will find much here hard to parse, those interested in Indian politics will get a thorough account of Tharoor’s beliefs and the politics of the Indian National Congress. (Dec.)