{"product_id":"religious-freedom-and-mass-conversion-in-india-hardback-9780812250923","title":"Religious Freedom and Mass Conversion in India (Hardback) 9780812250923","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eReligious Freedom and Mass Conversion in India\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eLaura Dudley Jenkins (Author)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9780812250923\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eHardback, published 31 May 2019\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e320 pages, 1 illus.\u003cbr\u003e22.9 x 15.2 x 2.9 cm, 0.694 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\"The book is analytically insightful and methodologically innovative and provides a vital contribution to understanding the relationship between religion, the state, and citizenship rights in India.\" (\u003ci\u003eAsian Ethnology\u003c\/i\u003e) \"The primary argument of \u003ci\u003eReligious Freedom and Mass Conversion\u003c\/i\u003e in India is absolutely clear: The prototypical and normative convert constructed in international human rights discourse from the 1930s onward-one characterized primarily by \u003ci\u003eagency\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003esincerity\u003c\/i\u003e-is inadequate both theoretically and politically . . . Jenkins approaches the topic innovatively, intentionally juxtaposing to the normative narrative of the ideal agential and sincere convert counternarratives that call this normative narrative into question.\" (\u003ci\u003eJournal of Church and State\u003c\/i\u003e) \"\u003ci\u003eReligious Freedom and Mass Conversion in India\u003c\/i\u003e is unparalleled in its reach. It explores mass conversion over time-from the late colonial period to the modern era; across communities-among the lower castes, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, and women; and in several different regions of India. It is a much needed contribution to scholarship on India and to comparative studies of religion, politics, and constitutional law.\" (Amrita Basu, Amherst College)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHinduism is the largest religion in India, encompassing roughly 80 percent of the population, while 14 percent of the population practices Islam and the remaining 6 percent adheres to other religions. The right to \"freely profess, practice, and propagate religion\" in India's constitution is one of the most comprehensive articulations of the right to religious freedom. Yet from the late colonial era to the present, mass conversions to minority religions have inflamed majority-minority relations in India and complicated the exercise of this right.\u003cbr\u003e In \u003ci\u003eReligious Freedom and Mass Conversion in India\u003c\/i\u003e, Laura Dudley Jenkins examines three mass conversion movements in India: among Christians in the 1930s, Dalit Buddhists in the 1950s, and Mizo Jews in the 2000s. Critics of these movements claimed mass converts were victims of overzealous proselytizers promising material benefits, but defenders insisted the converts were individuals choosing to convert for spiritual reasons. Jenkins traces the origins of these opposing arguments to the 1930s and 1940s, when emerging human rights frameworks and early social scientific studies of religion posited an ideal convert: an individual making a purely spiritual choice. However, she observes that India's mass conversions did not adhere to this model and therefore sparked scrutiny of mass converts' individual agency and spiritual sincerity.\u003cbr\u003e Jenkins demonstrates that the preoccupation with converts' agency and sincerity has resulted in significant challenges to religious freedom. One is the proliferation of legislation limiting induced conversions. Another is the restriction of affirmative action rights of low caste people who choose to practice Islam or Christianity. Last, incendiary rumors are intentionally spread of women being converted to Islam via seduction. \u003ci\u003eReligious Freedom and Mass Conversion in India\u003c\/i\u003e illuminates the ways in which these tactics immobilize potential converts, reinforce damaging assumptions about women, lower castes, and religious minorities, and continue to restrict religious freedom in India today.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eIntroduction: Religious Freedom and the Right to Convert\u003cbr\u003e PART I. MOBILITY\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 1. Mass Movement Christians: Religious and Social Mobility\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 2. Ambedkarite Buddhists: Religious and Political Mobility\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 3. Mizo Jews: Religious and Spatial Mobility\u003cbr\u003e PART II. IMMOBILITY\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 4. Prosecution: Anticonversion Legislation\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 5. Prevention: Losing Affirmative Action\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 6. Persecution: The Love Jihad Rumor\u003cbr\u003e Conclusion. A More Equal Freedom\u003cbr\u003e Notes\u003cbr\u003e Bibliography\u003cbr\u003e Index\u003cbr\u003e Acknowledgments\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"University of Pennsylvania Press","offers":[{"title":"Brand New","offer_id":52559225389336,"sku":"9780812250923","price":59.48,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/religious-freedom-and-mass-conversion-in-india-hardback-9780812250923","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}