Kathmandu, 24 August (H.S.):

The Nepali translation of Why I Am a Hindu, a book authored by Indian politician and intellectual Dr. Shashi Tharoor, will be launched in Kathmandu.

The launch, organised as part of the Nepal Literature Festival, will be held on August 26 at the Nepal Academy in Kathmandu. During the event, Dr. Tharoor will engage in a discussion on pluralism, faith and secular democracy in South Asia.

In the book, Tharoor explains various concepts of Hinduism through a combination of personal belief and scholarly analysis. He discusses the contributions of eminent figures such as Adi Shankaracharya, Patanjali, Swami Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi, while also examining philosophical traditions and concepts including the Vedas, Advaita Vedanta and Bhakti Yoga.

The book also examines traditional religious practices, the rise of Hindutva and its contemporary political influence. Tharoor presents his views on the role of the Hindu majority community in the context of Indian secularism. He also warns that religious extremism poses a threat to India’s cultural heritage.

The Nepali translation has been carried out by journalist Swechchha Raut. Active in journalism for nearly a decade, Raut began her career in radio and later gained experience in online journalism with the BBC Nepali Service.

Why I Am a Hindu has been published in Nepal by FinePrint, one of the country’s prominent publishing houses. FinePrint has published significant works on literature, history, politics and public discourse.

According to the organisers, Tharoor’s views on faith, secularism and democratic values will provide an important opportunity to promote informed, balanced and constructive dialogue on these issues.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar