Book ID: CBB855989850

Holy Science: The Biopolitics of Hindu Nationalism (2019)

unapi

Subramaniam, Banu (Author)


Orient BlackSwan


Publication Date: 2019
Physical Details: 308
Language: English

Behind the euphoric narrative of India as an emerging world power lies a fascinating but untold story of an evolving relationship between science and religion. Evoking the rich mythology of comingled worlds, where humans, animals, and gods transform each other and ancient history, Banu Subramaniam demonstrates how Hindu nationalism weaves an ideal past into technologies of the present to imagine a future nation that is modern and Hindu. As in many parts of the world, India is witnessing a hypernationalism on multiple fronts. Through five illustrative cases involving biological claims, Subramaniam explores an emerging bionationalism. The cases are varied, spanning the revival of Vaastushastra, the codification of unnatural sex in IPC Section 377 (which the Indian Supreme Court recently struck down), the unfolding debates around the veracity of Hanuman and Rama Setu, debates on the geographic origins of Indians through genomic evidence, the revival of traditional systems of Indian medicine through genomics and pharmaceuticals, the growth of and subsequent ban on gestational surrogacy, and the rise of old Vedic gestational sciences. Moving beyond a critique of Indias emerging bionationalism, Holy Science explores generative possibilities that the rich traditions of South Asian story telling practices offer us. This book will be of interest to scholars of science and technology studies, history of science, gender studies, sexuality studies and cultural studies.

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Reviewed By

Review Amit Prasad (2020) Review of "Holy Science: The Biopolitics of Hindu Nationalism". Isis: International Review Devoted to the History of Science and Its Cultural Influences (pp. 694-695). unapi

Citation URI
https://data.isiscb.org/isis/citation/CBB855989850/

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Authors & Contributors
Geraci, Robert M.
Gaudillière, Jean-Paul
Nakazora, Moe
Alyson K. Spurgas
Madhavan, Harilal
Nakachi, Mie
Concepts
Hinduism
India, civilization and culture
Science and religion
Biopolitics
Medicine, ayurvedic
Nationalism
Time Periods
Ancient
19th century
21st century
20th century
20th century, early
18th century
Places
India
Sweden
Europe
Soviet Union
Institutions
Swedish Sterilization Act of 1941
Jesuits (Society of Jesus)
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