The Hindus of Hindustan by Dr. Meenakshi Jain - Book Review

Notwithstanding the views of a section of historians and literati, spiritual, religious, and cultural continuity in India goes back many millennia. Identification with, and adoration of, the land was expressed in the sixty-three verses long Prithvi Sukta of the Atharva Veda, described as the first “national song” in the world. Veneration of the land remained a recurrent theme in sacred literature.Kautilya, in the Arthasastra, articulated the ideal of political unification, when he said that from the Himalayas to the seas, the land should have one ruler. That ideal was accompanied by a consciousness of cultural union.Rulers of foreign origin, who ruled over parts of the north-western regions for significant periods, wholly immersed themselves in the spiritual traditions of the land. Ancient lawgivers facilitated the assimilation of foreign groups within the capacious embrace of Indian civilization. Things took a dramatically new turn with the advent of a new group of invaders in the eighth century CE.The book highlights the underlying features of Indian civilization, that were manifest from its founding moments, and that remained unchanged over the millennia.Buy Links:AryanBooks.comAmazon IndiaFlipkartDr. Meenakshi Jain talks about her book 'The Hindus of Hindustan' | PLF Book Talks 2023Affiliate Earnings Disclaimer:This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.