The impact of colonialism on Hindu identity from "summary" of The Hidden Hindu by Akshat Gupta
The colonial period in India had a profound impact on the Hindu identity. Prior to the arrival of the British, Hinduism was a dynamic and diverse religion with a rich tapestry of beliefs and practices. However, colonial rule brought about a systematic attempt to categorize and homogenize Hinduism in a way that was convenient for the colonial administration. This led to the creation of a singular, monolithic understanding of Hinduism that erased the diversity and complexity of the religion. The colonial authorities sought to define and classify Hindu practices in a way that would make it easier to govern the diverse population of India. This led to the creation of categories such as "orthodox" and "heterodox" that were used to differentiate between different Hindu sects and practices. These categories were not based on any internal logic within Hinduism, but were imposed from an ...
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