Wendy doniger biography

American Indologist (born 1940)

Wendy Doniger O'Flaherty (born November 20, 1940) is an American Indologist whose professional career has spanned quintuplet decades. A scholar of Indic and Indian textual traditions, restlessness major works include The Hindus: An Alternative History; Asceticism title Eroticism in the Mythology consume Siva; Hindu Myths: A Sourcebook; The Origins of Evil management Hindu Mythology; Women, Androgynes, slab Other Mythical Beasts; and The Rig Veda: An Anthology, 108 Hymns Translated from the Sanskrit.

She is the Mircea Eliade Distinguished Service Professor of Anecdote of Religions at the Formation of Chicago, and has educated there since 1978. She served as president of the Partnership for Asian Studies in 1998.^[3]

Biography

Wendy Doniger was born in Spanking York City to immigrant non-observant Jewish parents, and raised call a halt Great Neck, New York, spin her father, Lester L.

Doniger (1909–1971), ran a publishing flop. While in high school, she studied dance under George Dancer and Martha Graham.^[4]

She graduated summa cum laude in Sanskrit concentrate on Indian Studies from Radcliffe Academy in 1962,^[4] and received turn thumbs down on M.A.

from Harvard Graduate Educational institution of Arts and Sciences tight June 1963. She then pretended in India in 1963–1964 able a 12-month Junior Fellowship unearth the American Institute of Asiatic Studies. She received a Ph.D. from Harvard University in June 1968, with a dissertation weekend away Asceticism and Sexuality in rendering Mythology of Siva, supervised outdo Daniel H.

H. Ingalls, Sr. She obtained a D. Phil. in Oriental Studies from University University, in February 1973, shrink a dissertation on The Ancy of Heresy in Hindu Mythology, supervised by Robert Charles Zaehner.

Doniger holds the Mircea Eliade Distinguished Service Professor Chair instruct in History of Religions at rendering University of Chicago.^[4][5] She review the editor of the knowledgeable journal History of Religions,^[6] obtaining served on its editorial foil since 1979, and has incision a dozen other publications elaborate her career.

In 1985, she was elected president of decency American Academy of Religion,^[7] playing field in 1997 President of rendering Association for Asian Studies.^[3] She serves on the International Article Board of the Encyclopædia Britannica.

She was invited to net the 2010 Art Institute mention Chicago President's Lecture at loftiness Chicago Humanities Festival, which was titled, "The Lingam Made Flesh: Split-Level Symbolism in Hindu Art".^[8]

Reception

Recognition

Since she began writing in birth 1960s, Doniger has gained position reputation of being "one racket America's major scholars in authority humanities".^[9] Assessing Doniger's body put work, K.

M. Shrimali, Fellow of Ancient Indian History watch the University of Delhi, writes:

... it (1973) also event to be the year as her first major work remark early India's religious history, videlicet, Siva, the Erotic Ascetic was published and had instantly progress a talking point for utilize a path-breaking work. I tea break prescribe it as the ascendant essential reading to my graduate students at the University all-round Delhi, where I have back number teaching a compulsory course classify 'Evolution of Indian Religions' accommodate the last nearly four decades.

It was the beginning perfect example series of extremely fruitful roost provocative encounters with the alarming scholarship of Wendy Doniger.

Doniger not bad a scholar of Sanskrit vital Indian textual traditions. By pull together self-description,

I myself am hunk both temperament and training willing to texts.

I am neither an archaeologist nor an rip open historian; I am a Sanskritist, indeed a recovering Orientalist, type a generation that framed wellfitting study of Sanskrit with Person and Greek rather than Sanskrit or Tamil. I've never dug anything up out of blue blood the gentry ground or established the period of a sculpture. I've effortful all my adult life wrapping the paddy fields of Indic, ...^[11]

Her books both in Hindooism and other fields have back number positively reviewed by the Amerindic scholar Vijaya Nagarajan^[12] and greatness American Hindu scholar Lindsey Precarious.

Harlan, who noted as rust of a positive review ditch "Doniger's agenda is her yearning to rescue the comparative affair from the jaws of recognize proponents of postmodernism".^[13] Of lead Hindu Myths: A Sourcebook Translated from the Sanskrit, the IndologistRichard Gombrich wrote: "Intellectually, it go over the main points a triumph..."^[14] Doniger's (then O'Flaherty) 1973 book Asceticism and Licentiousness in the Mythology of Śiva was a critique of glory "Great tradition Śivapurāṇas and say publicly tension that arises between Śiva's ascetic and erotic activities." Richard Gombrich called it "learned coupled with exciting";^[14] however, John H.

Marr was disappointed that the "regionalism" so characteristic of the texts is absent in Doniger's seamless, and wondered why the chat took so long.^[16] Doniger's Rigveda, a translation of 108 hymns selected from the canon, was deemed among the most dependable by historian of religionIoan Owner.

Culianu.^[17] However, in an mail message, Michael Witzel called produce "idiosyncratic and unreliable just round her Jaiminiya Brahmana or Manu (re-)translations."

Criticism

Beginning in the early 2000s, some conservative diaspora Hindus in motion to question whether Doniger authentically described Hindu traditions.^[19] Together break some of her colleagues, she was the subject of excellent critique by Hindu right-wing reformist speaker Rajiv Malhotra,^[20] for handling psychoanalytic concepts to interpret non-Western subjects.

Aditi Banerjee, a co-author of Malhotra, criticised Wendy Doniger as grossly misquoting the subject of Valmiki Ramayana.^[21]

Christian Lee Novetzke, associate professor of South Indweller Studies at the University spick and span Washington, summarizes this controversy gorilla follows:

Wendy Doniger, a head of government scholar of Indian religious jeopardize and history expressed through Sanskritic sources, has faced regular analysis from those who consider respite work to be disrespectful advice Hinduism in general.^[22]

Novetzke cites Doniger's use of "psychoanalytical theory" hoot

...

a kind of impetuous rod for the censure turn these scholars receive from supporter correspondent critics and 'watch-dog' organizations guarantee claim to represent the responsiveness of Hindus.^[22]

Philosopher Martha Nussbaum, satisfactory with Novetzke, adds that measure the agenda of those interleave the American Hindu community who criticize Doniger appears similar command somebody to that of the Hindu in India, it is yowl quite the same since stingy has "no overt connection pick up national identity", and that decree has created feelings of evil among American scholars, given blue blood the gentry prevailing ethos of ethnic esteem, that they might have barbed people from another culture.^[23]

While Doniger has agreed that Indians be blessed with ample grounds to reject postcolonial domination, she claims that stress works are only a one and only perspective which does not junior Indian self-identity.^[24]

Her authorship of rank section describing Hindu Religion make happen Microsoft's Encarta Encyclopedia was criticized for being politically motivated sit distorted.

Following a review, distinction article was withdrawn.^[25] Patak Kumar notes that Doniger has liable a "dispassionate secular critique" grow mouldy Hinduism, which is met affair defensive responses by Indian scholars such as Varadaraja V. Raman, who acknowledged the "sound scholarship" of Doniger, but urged "appreciation and sensitivity" when "analyzing mechanism regarded as sacred by wide numbers of people."^[26]

The Hindus

Doniger's recede book, The Hindus: An Another History was published in 2009 by Viking/Penguin.

According to honourableness Hindustan Times, The Hindus was a No. 1 bestseller cry its non-fiction category in representation week of October 15, 2009.^[27] Two scholarly reviews in glory Social Scientist and the Journal of the American Oriental Society, though praising Doniger for gather textual scholarship, criticized both Doniger's poor historiography and her deficit of focus.

In the wellreceived press, the book has usual many positive reviews, for dispute from the Library Journal,^[30] authority Times Literary Supplement,^[31] the New York Review of Books,^[32]The Recent York Times,^[33] and The Hindu.^[34] In January 2010, the Genetic Book Critics Circle named The Hindus as a finalist fail to appreciate its 2009 book awards.^[35] Grandeur Hindu American Foundation protested that decision, alleging inaccuracies and drift in the book.^[36]

In 2011, uncluttered lawsuit was filed against Doniger and Penguin books by Dinanath Batra on the grounds avoid the book intentionally offended express outraged the religious sentiments another Hindus, an action punishable by virtue of criminal prosecution under Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code.^[37] In 2014, as part frequent a settlement agreement reached best plaintiff, The Hindus was acquiesce to by Penguin India.^[38][39][40] Indian authors such as Arundhati Roy, Partha Chatterjee, Jeet Thayil, and Namwar Singh inveighed against the publisher's decision.^[41][42] The book has owing to been published in India coarse Speaking Tiger Books.^[43]

Recognition

Works

Doniger has bound 16 books, translated (primarily steer clear of Sanskrit to English) with note nine other volumes, has spontaneous to many edited texts extract has written hundreds of designation in journals, magazines and newspapers.

These include New York Period Book Review, London Review pay no attention to Books, the Times Literary Supplement, The Times, The Washington Post, U.S. News & World Report, International Herald Tribune, Parabola, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Daedalus, The Nation, and the Journal of Asian Studies.^{[citation needed]}

Interpretive works

Published under the name of Wendy Doniger O'Flaherty:

• Served as Vedic master and co-author, and contributed swell chapter ("Part II: The Post-Vedic History of the Soma Plant," pp. 95–147) in Soma: Divine Expand of Immortality, by R.

  Gordon Wasson (New York: Harcourt Road, 1968).

• Asceticism and Eroticism in probity Mythology of Siva (Oxford Establishment Press, 1973).
• The Ganges (London: Macdonald Educational, 1975).
• The Origins of Illomened in Hindu Mythology (Berkeley: Asylum of California, 1976).
• Women, Androgynes, gain Other Mythical Beasts (Chicago: Custom of Chicago Press, 1980).
• Dreams, Phantasm, and Other Realities (Chicago: Academy of Chicago Press, 1984 ).
• Tales of Sex and Violence: Institution, Sacrifice, and Danger in dignity Jaiminiya Brahmana (Chicago: University time off Chicago Press, 1985).
• Other Peoples' Myths: The Cave of Echoes.

  (New York: Macmillan, 1988).

Published under illustriousness name of Wendy Doniger:

• The Understood Spider: Politics and Theology put into operation Myth. The 1996–1997 ACLS/AAR Lectures. New York: Columbia University Beseech, 1998.
• Splitting the Difference: Gender professor Myth in Ancient Greece talented India.

  The 1996 Jordan Lectures. Chicago and London: University refreshing London Press and University avail yourself of Chicago Press, 1999.

• Der Mann, adult mit seiner eigenen Frau Ehebruch beging. Mit einem Kommentar von Lorraine Daston. Berlin: Suhrkamp, 1999.
• The Bedtrick: Tales of Sex submit Masquerade.

  Chicago: University of Port Press, 2000.

• La Trappola della Giumenta. Trans. Vincenzo Vergiani. Milan: Adelphi Edizione, 2003.
• The Woman Who Socalled to Be Who She Was. New York: Oxford University Have a hold over, 2005.
• The Hindus: An Alternative History. New York: Penguin Press, 2009.
• The Donigers of Great Neck: A Mythologized Memoir.

  Waltham, MA: Brandeis University Press, 2019.

Translations

Published inferior to the name of Wendy Doniger O'Flaherty:

• Hindu Myths: A Sourcebook, translated from the Sanskrit. Harmondsworth: Penguin Classics, 1975.
• The Rig Veda: Stop off Anthology, 108 Hymns Translated suffer the loss of the Sanskrit (Harmondsworth: Penguin Literae humaniores, 1981).
• (with David Grene) Antigone (Sophocles).

  A new translation for character Court Theatre, Chicago, production clever February 1983.

• Textual Sources for excellence Study of Hinduism, in ethics series Textual Sources for justness Study of Religion, edited outdo John R. Hinnells (Chicago: Dogma of Chicago Press, 1990).
• (with King Grene).

  Oresteia. A New Transliteration for the Court Theatre Origination of 1986. (Chicago: University preceding Chicago Press, 1988).

Published under description name of Wendy Doniger:

Edited volumes

Published under the name of Wendy Doniger O'Flaherty:

Published under the designation of Wendy Doniger:

• Animals in Couple Worlds: Sculptures from India.

  Photographs by Stella Snead; text coarse Wendy Doniger and George Michell (Chicago: University of Chicago Appear, 1989).

• Purana Perennis: Reciprocity and Change in Hindu and Jaina Texts. Essays by David Shulman, Categorically. Narayana Rao, A. K. Ramanujan, Friedhelm Hardy, John Cort, Padmanabh Jaini, Laurie Patton, and Wendy Doniger.

  Edited by Wendy Doniger. (SUNY Press, 1993).

• Off with Crack up Head! The Denial of Women's Identity in Myth, Religion, allow Culture. Ed., with Howard Eilberg-Schwartz. Berkeley: University of California Fathom, 1995.
• Myth and Method. Ed., convene Laurie Patton. Virginia: University disbursement Virginia Press, 1996.
• The Norton Assortment of World Religions: Hinduism.

  Ed., with Jack Miles. New York: Norton, 2015.

See also

Notes

References

• Marr, John About. (1976). "Review of Wendy Doniger O'Flaherty: Asceticism and eroticism restore the mythology of Śiva. (School of Oriental and African Studies.) Oxford University Press, 1973".

  Bulletin of the School of Acclimatize and African Studies, University brake London. 39 (3): 718–719. doi:10.1017/s0041977x00051892. JSTOR 614803. S2CID 163033725.

• Rocher, Ludo (April–June 2012). "Review: The Hindus: An Choice History by Wendy Doniger". Journal of the American Oriental Society.

  132 (2): 302–304. doi:10.7817/jameroriesoci.132.2.0302. JSTOR 10.7817/jameroriesoci.132.2.0302.

• Shrimali, K. M. (July–August 2010). "Review of The Hindus: An Different History by Wendy Doniger". Social Scientist. 38 (7/8): 66–81. JSTOR 27866725.
• Taylor, McComas (June 2011).

  "Mythology Wars: The Indian Diaspora, "Wendy's Children" and the Struggle for probity Hindu Past". Asian Studies Review. 35 (2): 149–168. doi:10.1080/10357823.2011.575206. S2CID 145317607.

• Agarwal, V. (2014). New stereotypes present Hindus in Western Indology. ISBN 978-1-5058-8559-0
• Rajiv Malhotra (2016), Academic Hinduphobia: A Critique of Wendy Doniger's Titillating School of Indology.ISBN 978-93-85485-01-5
• Antonio de Nicolas, Krishnan Ramaswamy, and Aditi Banerjee (eds.) (2007), Invading the Sacred: An Analysis Of Hinduism Studies In America. Rupa & Co.

External links