A book the government of India demands be ritually burned

Hugely controversal upon its publication in India. This book has already been banned by the Hyderabad Civil Court and the author’s life has been threatened. Jha argues against the historical sanctity of the cow in India, in an illuminating response to the prevailing attitudes about beef that have been fiercely supported by the current Hindu right-wing government and the fundamentalist groups backing it.

Dwijendra Narayan Jha is professor of History at the University of Delhi. His books include Ancient India in Historical Outline (Delhi,, 1988) and Feudal Social in Early India (Delhi, 1987).