Gods Guns & Missionaries: The Making of the Modern Hindu Identity

This book is a thought-provoking exploration of power, politics, and ideology in India’s historical and contemporary landscape. While the writing style may take some time to get used to, it becomes more comfortable as the book progresses. Pillai weaves together historical insights with sharp analysis, making for a compelling read. The book challenges conventional narratives about some historical figures and encourages readers to view history with a critical lens. Overall, it is an engaging and insightful work for those interested in India’s past and present.

Well researched and articulated.

This book sets out to explore Hinduism as it evolved during the colonial period and it delivers well on the premise.It takes us on a journey from the early Portuguese colonists till independence, looking at Hinduism as viewed by the colonisers and the Indians themselves, culminating in Hinduism's role in nationalism.Well researched and relatively easy to read (it took me a while to get used to the writing 😅), it stays true to being historical recounting without venturing into opinion on a dicey topic.The interspersed sketches/photographs offer a nice reprieve from long passages, making the reading experience more pleasant.(About 300 pages of notes though - referred to some of them & I understand the need for easy access to references but still feel it could have been linked online, and make the book less unwieldy)

Fabulous book! Notes make it accessible and easier to understand for a layman. Highly recommend for all History buffs and people with general interest in history..

The book was received in a good condition and the quality of service is amazing

Manu S Pillai has chronicled historical data, tradition al customs practices details about people, leaders in the WORST POSSIBLE LIGHTHe is full of disilussionment and is off loading it on the ReadersI really regret buying this bookI have wasted my hard earned moneyManu S Pillai has no respect for anyone and trashes every belief,custom,religion,kings .Full of NEGATIVITY 😞 I really pity the person Manu S Pillai

The book is full of colourful characters and their encounters that shaped our history. As always , Manu Pillai’s book makes for an easy and entertaining read !!

This book provides an insightful exploration of the forces that have acted upon Hinduism since the arrival of Europeans. While much of our literary and journalistic discourse has focused on the challenges posed by invaders from Samarkand and across the Hindukush, relatively little attention in popular literature has been given to the excesses of European religious forces. This work addresses that gap.